Another check-out day, this time from the Days-Inn, West Yellowstone. Bound for Cody (WY) we entered the Park's West entrance and headed North on the Upper Loop Road. The scenery in the northern half of Yellowstone is distinctly different from the Geyser Valley area, but equally pleasant. Our first stop was at Mammoth Hot Springs "Cascades" area where a short drive and several board-walk hikes reveal a unique landscape carved out by thermal springs and micro-organisms that grow in the super-hot waters.
Having driven the loop twice (by accident!) we called in at the new Visitor Centre Complex for a quick coffee.....and the village setting is so different to that at 'Old Faithful'. But the queues for parking and coffee were identical!! As the tour buses began to swarm in we pulled, taking the road towards the North East exit and the Beartooth Highway.
This exit led into some very alpine-like villages where ski-dos and track vehicles lay idle awaiting future snow falls. After sixteen miles, we headed south on the Chief Joseph Scenic Highway and a series of switch-back mountain roads on which every turn revealed breath-taking views. At the summit of one mountain road we stopped to take-in our final 'Big Sky' view fro a while.....and of course met some great people (Jack & Christine) who were from Carolina and were also road-tripping!
Jack gave me his e-mail and has promised to give me the low=down on visiting their part of the States. By now some clouds had gathered, which soon dispersed as we continued our way on fast traffic-free roads to our final destination.....and sunnier skies! Cody was the home of Buffalo Bill and is true 'Wild West' territory. Upon checking-in I was told that shorts and shirt were the 'dress code' for fine dining around here!! I heard the following today and it simply reminds me of driving through those mountain passes......
Having driven the loop twice (by accident!) we called in at the new Visitor Centre Complex for a quick coffee.....and the village setting is so different to that at 'Old Faithful'. But the queues for parking and coffee were identical!! As the tour buses began to swarm in we pulled, taking the road towards the North East exit and the Beartooth Highway. 
This exit led into some very alpine-like villages where ski-dos and track vehicles lay idle awaiting future snow falls. After sixteen miles, we headed south on the Chief Joseph Scenic Highway and a series of switch-back mountain roads on which every turn revealed breath-taking views. At the summit of one mountain road we stopped to take-in our final 'Big Sky' view fro a while.....and of course met some great people (Jack & Christine) who were from Carolina and were also road-tripping!
Jack gave me his e-mail and has promised to give me the low=down on visiting their part of the States. By now some clouds had gathered, which soon dispersed as we continued our way on fast traffic-free roads to our final destination.....and sunnier skies! Cody was the home of Buffalo Bill and is true 'Wild West' territory. Upon checking-in I was told that shorts and shirt were the 'dress code' for fine dining around here!! I heard the following today and it simply reminds me of driving through those mountain passes......
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