Finally … There It Is! =>
…The ZMM Narrator’s “Twin Walls of Snow”. View Southwest.
…...Made From Trees The Tall Wooden Poles Help Guide The Snow Plows Not To “Lose The Pavement”.


….. “ We move through twin walls, almost a tunnel of snow. “

ZMM Route, Second Major Snow Fields, Beartooth Highway, WY. Elevation is 10,736 feet.
….In the /\ Above /\ Photo => Note grass and mud in melt water stream, along pavement. In these high elevations of the Beartooth Plateau, there is generally very little topsoil, as may be seen in the rocks piled from road construction bulldozers most places along the road. Thus it takes some flowing water to make a collection of mud.
….As stated in Previous Photos => The deep snow here is => Apparently, local snow “drop-out” from the strong NW wind coming up the adjacent steep slopes, where the snow then drops out.
….This is like the action at the previously seen ski slope, Somehow this is in a "back-current area” shielded from wind, combined with a North facing slope which is turned away from melting heat of the sun.
..****************..

Here We Pause To Note The Narrator’s Enthusiastic Snowfields Description of The Stunted Trees, Grass, Lichens, Pin-Points-Of-Color Flowers.
…..The Following Summarizes The Narrators High Country Series On ZMM Page 110. =>

..." Stunted trees;
….no trees, just grass; grass and flowers and lichens;
…. into the snow fields; and
….finally between banks of old snow."

(A Ski Area & go over a crest unmentioned by Narrator.) Then more
…."grass, flowers, mud, melt water." Then
…"walls of heavy snow, and finally
….the highest twin wall tunnel of snow."

…. The Narrative Step By Step, Accurately, Factually, Fits The ZMM Travel Scenery Landscape Experiences.
….Prior to the Narrator’s above "walls of heavy snow ", the road goes down along a long South facing slope, which should have plenty of sun and warmth for followers. And eventually the road goes through a low area, which most assuredly would have an even deeper muddy snow-melt stream along the pavement than is shown in the /\ Above /\ Photo
….Although the Narrator here omits five switchbacks, the factual accuracy continues as we move into more of the high country, towards the physical high country climax at “the summit”, which is factually the highest elevation of this highway at 10,982 ft.

….This Accuracy Seen So Many Places In ZMM Indeed Is> “Consistently Responsible To The Landscape” scroll down to find Professor Robert Nelson on my links page..

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(Photo = 106-0626 ...... ZMM Page = 110 ...... WayPt = 142w 10,679ft)

Finally … There It Is … CLOSE UP =>
…The ZMM Narrator’s “Twin Banks Of Snow” !
…….But The Scenery, Beyond The Twin Walls Banks of Snow, Only Partly Fits The ZMM Narrative.

…. “Then the tunnel opens onto dark sky again and when we emerge we see we’re at the summit. .. Beyond is another country. Mountain lakes and pines and snowfields are below. Above and beyond them as far as we can see are farther mountain ranges covered with snow. The high country."

ZMM Route, Second Major Snow Fields, Beartooth Highway, WY. From my travel in 2002 => I must confess that I do not remember what the landscape looks like precisely straight ahead, immediately after the Narrator’s “twin banks of snow”. This is because I wanted to get my car moved as soon as possible away from the curve, with obviously obstructed view of oncoming traffic.
….Although my car was safely to the right of the pavement edge, my attention was entirely focused on being sure I did not have an accident, as I pulled away from my tight-against-the-snow-bank-parking-position.
….I remember that my plan was to drive on ahead to a good parking spot, then walk back where I could then get a photo exactly for this above ZMM Passage. But apparently I waited too long! Sure enough, distracted by the challenge of the next scenes, I never walked back for the proper photograph.

However, The /\ Above /\ Photo Showing The Entrance To The Tunnel
….Somewhat Does Show Just A Bit Of What The Narrator Tells Us => “
…Then the tunnel opens onto dark sky again and when we emerge we see we’re at the summit. .. Beyond is another country. "
…Looking closely in the crack ahead of my car, you can see some of the far mountain side and patches of light blue sky streaked with clouds. If you click on the WayPoint number below, you will see from the Topozone Map that the road ahead points NW.

However, The Narrator Is Only Partly Correct To Say =>
…. " and when we emerge we see we’re at the summit. "
As you will see from the next four photos, our ZMM riders must climb four more switch backs and drive a mile SW, before they can say "we see we’re at the summit.".

The NEXT Photo Is A NW View, Thanks To Google Street View (GSV),
…. This GSV shows exactly, what the country straight ahead, beyond the tunnel of snow, looks like. You will see what the Narrator tells us =>“Then the tunnel opens onto dark sky again and when we emerge we see .. . "
….AND ALSO wonderful, in this GSV shows a beautiful sunny, low atmospheric moisture day: Thus there is the ADDED BONUS OF “darker blue-black sky” looking up.
….Good to have this, because all my own photos completely fail to show the ZMM Narrator’s,“ High Country ” with “ Dark Blue Sky”,” Bright Sun” and “Dark Shadows. ”.

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(Photo = 106-0626cz1.9 ...... ZMM Page = 110 ...... WayPt = 142i)

On A Beautiful Sunny Day =>
…This GSV Shows Exactly What Is Beyond The ZMM Narrator’s
……. “ Then The Tunnel Opens Onto Dark Sky Again, And When We Emerge … .“
..****************..
….Such Scenery Metaphorically Helps The ZMM Narrator To Finish His Poetic Preparation for =>
….His Physical Landscape ”High Country” AND His ”High Country Of The Mind.”
..****************..

….NOTE1: Just Above The Word “Google” At The Bottom Of /\ Above /\ Photo, You See A Strip Of Grey. This Is The Highway, One Tier Down.
….NOTE2: Please Remember (As Is Shown Above) That The Narrator’s “ … almost a tunnel of snow. “ Is located TWO Switchbacks Up On “The Hogback”: This means that this “Almost A Tunnel of Snow” Is On The Third Tier Up:
….NOTE3: To better understand “The Hogback”, you may have to go back 14-to 16 photos to study Previously Much Discussed => a) Aerial Photo, b) Satellite View, and c) Topographical Map.
..****************..

….[ “ Then the tunnel opens onto dark sky again and when we emerge we see we’re at the summit.
….Beyond is another country. Mountain lakes and pines and snowfields are below.
…… Above and beyond them as far as we can see are farther mountain ranges covered with snow. The high country.“ ]

Looking Beyond The Narrator’s “Twin Walls of Snow” , ZMM Route, Second Major Snowfields, Beartooth Highway, WY. In the /\ Above /\ GSV Photo (Altitude 10,589 ft), an example of the Narrator’s “Dark Shadows” are seen in the “Medium Dark Cloud Shadows” at lower right. AND an example of the Narrator’s “Dark Sky” is seen as the “Darker Blue-Black Sky at Top Of Photo, to right of center,
…. EXPLANATION: To see better see this “Darker Blue-Black Sky” (Top Right of /\ Above / \Photo) is indeed a Darker Blue, trending towards a Darker “Blue-Black”, please watch the darkest blue area, and move your head up & down, as you view your computer screen, at top right. .
..****************..
.... In Earlier Photo Captions, We Have Reviewed The Narrator’s Accuracy Of Grass & Flowers, Alternating With Ever Deepening Snow.
….This Is Double Emphasis Of What Is Seen In The Physical Landscape =>
……AND this is the Narrator's "poetic preparation" for us to understand his upcoming Philosophy Chautauquas: These Chautauquas, The Narrator calls the "High Country of the Mind"!.
..****************..
To Totally Remember The Narrator’s “Poetic Preparation” And Fixate Into Your Understanding =>
….Let's Summarize His Three Italic Statements, Which Are Master Motifs As Fully Discussed In Previous Photos:
..1) Before the "Tunnel".=> We have the alternating contrasts of: “Dark sky now and cold. ”
..2) In the "tunnel". => We leave the hum drum confined world of ~ordinary daily life: We move through twin walls, almost a tunnel of snow.
3) After the "Tunnel".=> We emerge clean and pure into the high rarefied world created by human imagination (“High Country of the Mind ”) where: .... the tunnel opens onto dark sky again. .which is (as best possible), illustrated in the /\ Above /\ Photo.
…. Good to have this, because all my own photos completely fail to show the ZMM Narrator’s “ High Country ” with “ Dark Blue Sky”, “Bright Sun” and “Dark Shadows. ”

..****************..
Of Course, The ZMM Narrator’s “ Dark Sky Again“ Means Darker Black-Blue Sky That Is Trending To Black Sky … Almost No Sky At All.
….This Very Thin, High Altitude Air, With Greatly Reduced Moisture, Lets In The Searing Search Light Illumination Of The Brilliant Sun That Allows Us To Examine Closely (& Philosophically) Everything.
….Bright areas vividly contrast with really dark shadows. This is a trend toward the extreme, black sky, and black shadows in photos taken in outer space
..****************..
To Do Your OWN GSV of the /\ Above Photo Scene => The RIGHT CLICK AND SELECT “NEW TAB” => …After Google Street View (GSV) Comes Up, Then =>
Click the Google Street View Image, WHERE you want the “VIEW” To go. => At any time, you can Click On The Plus & Minus To Zoom AND You can “ClickDrag” the Image On Screen in any direction for a better view.
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(Photo = GoogStVu 100ftAftTunnelSno2ndSwBkHogbackBeartooothHyDkBluSky&DkShdw.jpg...... ZMM Page = 110-111 ...... WayPt = 142i2 10,580ft.)

…. “Then The Tunnel Opens Onto Dark Sky Again. [… and … ]
….Beyond Is Another Country. ….
…… As Far As We Can See Are Farther Mountain Ranges …. The High Country”. “
..****************..

….This Is A SECOND Photo Illustrating The ZMM Narrator’s Vision =>
……. Scenery With “ Dark Sky “ As Well As Bright Sun with Very Dark, Nearly Black Shadows, Such Scenery Metaphorically Helps The ZMM Narrator To Finish His Poetic Preparation for His "High Country” => ….BOTH Physical Landscape and Mental Philosophic.

Many Miles South Of The Narrator’s Twin Walls of Snow, Beartooth Highway, WY. In the /\ Above /\ Photo (Altitude estimated~9,600 ft), please note the Really Brightly Illuminated Rocks. AND please note the Contrasting, Really Dark Shadows, that are Almost Black, trending to be like Outer Space. AND at Top Of Photo, to right of center, note the “Darker Blue-Black Sky”
…. EXPLANATION: To see that this “Darker Blue-Black Sky” (Top Right of /\ Above /\ Photo) is indeed trending to a Darker Blue-Black => Please watch the darkest blue area, and move your head up & down, as you view your computer screen, at top right.
..****************..
Repeating Previous Photo =>
….Of Course, The ZMM Narrator’s “ Dark Sky Again“ Means Darker Black-Blue Sky, That Is Trending To Almost Black Sky.
….This Very Thin, High Altitude Air With Greatly Reduced Moisture, Lets In The Searing Search Light Illumination Of The Brilliant Sun That Allows Us To Examine Closely (& Philosophically) Everything.
….In the /\ Above /\ Photo => notice the Bright Areas Vividly Contrast With Really Dark Shadows. This is a trend toward the extreme, black sky, and black shadows in photos taken in Outer Space, such as the Moon Surface, Link Below. You have to understand that it is our earth’s atmosphere that makes our sky “blue”, as we normally see it.
… To See Outer Space Extreme Example Of Dark Sky And Black Shadows. RIGHT CLICK HERE AND OPEN IN A NEW BROWSER Will Window. This link shows A Really Wide
=> “Panorama View of Astronaut Running On Moon’s Surface”.!!


So Now, Dear Reader, It Is Up To You => To Go From The /\ Above /\ Photo View, And Mentally Visualize, the Scenery as if it was at higher & higher in elevation (with less & less atmosphere & moisture)
… Then you should visualize result that will tend (more & more) toward being in outer space where there is NO atmospheric air: This is where there are the absolutely black shadows, and absolutely black sky, as is seen in the above mentioned “Panorama .. On Moon’s Surface”.!!
..****************..
…. However, All This Is Quite Contrary To My Photographs Of The High Country.
…. In my photos you are seeing the effect of higher humidity spring time atmospheric conditions, which show clouds, hazy, no sun, no shadows.
….And, because of the higher humidity, where there does happen to be a break in the clouds, the sky is at best whitish blue.
SUMMARY:
….The ZMM Narrator’s Master Motifs Repeatedly Emphasize =>
…. How Super Bright Areas Vividly Contrast With Really Dark Shadows And Dark Sky Which Are The Result Of High Altitude and Very Thin Low Humidity Atmosphere.
….With the exception of my Sept 2006 photos, most of this Album’s 2002 Beartooth Plateau Photos, show effects of High Humidity, Overcast Cloudy Sky, & and No Sun: These are the opposite conditions to show what the Really Dark Shadows And Dark Sky ZMM Narrator emphasizes.

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(Photo =.September 2006 DSC_0120 ..... ZMM Page = 110-111 ...... WayPt = 142 10580ft. Photo at = 148`|w|' 9578ft estimated)

The Road Is Climbing The “Hogback Formation To The ZMM Narrator’s Summit.
….A View Four Minutes After And One Tier Up From The ZMM Narrator’s Twin Walls of Snow
….Standing On The Fourth Tier, Looking DOWN & A Bit East of North, Two More Tiers And One Switchback Are Seen


….“[Then the tunnel opens onto dark sky again and when we emerge we see….“ ]

Steep Slope On Hogback Formation, Beartooth Highway, WY. The Narrator omits any mention of the Four Switchbacks and Five Tiers on the Hogback Formation. .
….Despite this, I thought you should see this /\ Above /\ Photo, and the Next Four Photos of the scenery on the way to A Factual Altitude Climax for the Narrator’s “Summit” of his “High Country”. .

Here, On The Fourth Tier Up, We See A Scene Similar The Narrator’s “ When We Emerge We See ….“,
….The upper half of /\ Above /\ Photo shows the landscape & distant Upper Rock Creek "Gorge" : This is a view similar to what our ZMM Riders may have seen immediately after emerging from the Twin Snow Banks. I believe the “tunnel of snow” is out of view, to the right of the /\ Above /\ Photo.
….Standing on this higher Fourth Tier, we see the long grey curve of Third Tier next down. And then looking carefully thru the Guard Rail of this Third Tier, you see a patch of white snow and the short grey curve of the Switchback and Second Tier. … For the ZMM Traveler arriving onto the “Hogback”, this is the First Switchback they would see.
….The /\ Above /\ Photo gives a good view of the distant Upper Rock Creek "Gorge" , and is a view very similar to the Google Street View which was the SECOND Previous Photo:
….These two “Views” of course look a lot like the Previous Ski Lift Photo, where the. Narrator says “ I look over my shoulder for one last view of the gorge. .”

EXPLANATION:
As Discussed Above, It Is Indeed Possible To See The Narrator’s "Gorge" , From The Hogback Formation.
…. Thus, factually the Ski Lift Area is NOT “ one last view of the gorge. ”. This is because (as shown in the /\ Above /\ Photo), you can indeed see the upper reaches of Rock Creek Gorge / Canyon in the Far Distance:
….However, when a traveler is actually ON the Hogback Formation, it is not so obvious that Rock Creek "Gorge" " Is seen in the distance (as technical matter of fact).

The /\ Above /\ Photo Showing The Narrator’s =>
….. “ When We Emerge We SEE ….“, Of Course, Also Reminds Us Of =>
..A) Those Previous Photos (after Red Lodge) which showed the 5 Zig-Zag Switch-Backs up to the Rest Area “Turn Out”. …(( In the /\ Above /\ Photo these “Zig-Zags” are “down valley” to the right, some 18 miles “as the crow flies”.))
..B) AND reminds us of Previous Photos where “Up valley” is trending Southwest to central Yellowstone National Park some 80 miles by the same measure. Of course, the distance by road is considerably greater! … ((In the /\ Above /\ Photo these “up valley to NYP” are to the left.))

To See A GSV from Top Of “Hogback”, On Fifth Tier … AND Then Do Your Own “GSV Drive” South To See The Narrator’s “High Country” => RIGHT CLICK AND SELECT “NEW TAB” => …After Google Street View (GSV) Comes Up, Then =>
..1) On This GSV Fifth Tier => Study carefully to see Tiers 4 & 3, then look close between the poles (further down) to see a small strip of Grey that is the First Tier. THEN to the left, you can discern the Switchback Curve of this Tier. … Be sure you are finished THEN =>
..2) Click the Google Street View Image WHERE you want the “VIEW” To go. => At any time, you can Click On The Plus & Minus To Zoom AND You can “ClickDrag” the Image On Screen in any direction for a better view
….AND, Moving South, A Continuing View Of The Narrator’s “Summit” & “High Country” .

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(Photo = 106-0627 ...... ZMM Page = 110 ...... WayPt = 143w)

Continued Climbing The “Hogback Formation” To The ZMM Narrator’s Summit.
….View Six Minutes After, And Continuing On One Tier Up From, And Looking Back Towards The ZMM Narrator’s Twin Walls of Snow
….And Still On The Fourth Tier, But Have Moved Left & Turned The Camera Left, So View Is Looking STEEPLY DOWN Northwest, To See One Tier And Part of A Switchback.
….View Includes White and Yellow Wild Flowers, and Slope On-Down To The Marmot.

….[ “Then the tunnel opens onto dark sky again and when we emerge we see….“ ]

Steep Slope On Hogback Formation, At Gravel Edge of Beartooth Highway, WY. …New grass grows out of the gravel beside the highway pavement. We also see a variety of small plants, some of which have white or yellow flowers. Look closely and you will see the in the bottom center, several of the red brown broad leaf plants. I accidently discovered this ~”flower Garden” only because I had decided I would park my car and climb down this slope to participate the reality of the Marmot killed on the highway below. You can see the abandoned critter in the center of the highway right lane, this side of the melt water patches.
….(To See The Marmot Close Up In My Personal ZMM Route Experiences Album, Click Here.)
..****************..
OBJECT LESSON => Prior To My Climb Down This Slope, I Had Entirely Missed These Wild Flowers
….Also Missed The Flowers Further Down As Shown In NEXT THREE Photos!
….I thus discover that it is easy to completely miss what had been looking for, even though I had been looking for Beartooth Plateau Flowers, ever since The Rock Cree Vista Point !!
….For example, I had just driven the highway seen below, parked somewhat beyond to the left of the Marmot location, and had walked around down there to take the previous photo over the guard rail, a portion of which is seen in /\ Above /\ Photo.
….Despite all this looking & taking photos, I had not seen any flowers there (nor down this slope) until I started to climb down this steep slope!
AGAIN THE MAJOR ZMM MESSAGE =>
….Stop! Get Out Of Your Car, and Go Hiking!!
Most Often You Will Be Totally Surprised, Even Delighted, By What You Find!!
….Either Way: Participate! Be There!!
..****************..
In /\ Above /\ Photo, notice the washed out white sky. This is the effect of photographing in a direction towards the PM sun. Please remember this and contrast to forthcoming photos, some of which show similar washed out white sky, and others do not.
….AND That wood pole is NOT a tree! (Answer in later photos.) For Topo Map, Click on WayPt Number below.
..****************..
To See Two More Good Examples Of High-Altitude “Darker Blue Sky & Black Shadows.“
….AND A Super High-Altitude Balloon View.
..A) To Appreciate The “Darker Blue Sky & Black Shadows.“ => Click Till Get Largest View.
..B) To Appreciate The “Darker Blue Sky & Black Shadows.“ => Click Till Get Largest View.
..C) At The TOP of this View, You see the Bold Blue Curve Of Earth’s Uppermost Atmosphere. Looking Further Up. The Bold Blue Shades To The TOTALLY BLACK Of Outer space. Click Till Get Largest View.
*************************

(Photo = 106-0630 ...... ZMM Page = 110 ...... WayPt = WayPt = 144w > After Map Come Up > Upper left > Immediately Click Upper Left > For full Screen.)

Eight Minutes After The ZMM Narrator’s Twin Walls of Snow,
….An Unexpected Discovery: Little Purple Flowers Highlight the Rocks and Last Summer’s Grass. Of Course, There Are NO Trees!

….[ “There’s not a tree anywhere, only grass everywhere filled with little pink and blue and white dots of intense color.“]

Climbing Down Steep Slope On Hogback Formation, Beartooth Highway, WY. The Narrator's descriptions of all the beautiful flowers in the "High Country" had alerted me to be looking for flowers all along the highways of my ZMM Route Research.
….After The Rock Creek Vista Point, I especially was looking for flowers near locations that would best fit the ZMM Narrator’s passage above. This looking was at my Way Point 136, but none were seen in that area.
….In retrospect, I imagine that there could have been warm sunny slopes for flowers all around WayPt = 136. But I just did not know where to look for them, or more likely, the flowers were there, I just did not see them!..
….By pure chance, at Way Point 145 /\ Above /\ Photo, I had decided to climb down the steep slope to photograph a marmot killed along the highway. This was steep down to the next tier, and by a switchback. To do this I climbed straight down a steep Northwestern facing slope. And, here by pure chance, I discovered some very nice wild flowers! The Previous Photo 106-0630 shows a view of the slope I climbed down.

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(Photo = 106-0632 ...... ZMM Page = 110 ...... WayPt = 136i3 …… Photo at WayPt = 145w)

Nine Minutes After The ZMM Narrator’s Twin Walls of Snow,
…. Close Up To An Unexpected Discovery: More Little Purple Flowers Highlight the Rocks and Last Summer’s Grass. Of Course, There Are NO Trees!

….[ “There’s not a tree anywhere, only grass everywhere filled with little pink and blue and white dots of intense color.“]

Climbing Down Steep Slope On Hogback Formation, Beartooth Highway, WY. What is the reason these flowers can flourish here (somewhat better than other places) at these elevations? I think it is this steep Northwest facing hill side was / is on a slope and orientation that got much greater sun & daily warmth. This would occur in the Mid Summer, several hours a day, Mid to Late Afternoon, while the sun is actually to the Northwest, and somewhat perpendicular to the steep slope. This sunshine condition my photos happen to duplicate.
….The warmth advances these flowers well in advance of the surrounding land. I came through here June 21, two weeks prior to the Narrator and crew, so I may have gotten to this area a bit too early in the growing season, to really expect to see the Narrator's flowers.
….What my photos show on this "extra warm sun enhanced slope”, surely would appear later all over the higher and more level areas of open tundra seen in my photos. AND now I know => Warm sunny slopes would be the best locations to find flowers to properly fit-in with the ZMM Narrative.

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(Photo = 106-0631 ...... ZMM Page = 110 ...... WayPt = 136i3 …… Photo at WayPt = 145w)

Unexpected Discoveries, Ten Minutes After The ZMM Narrator’s Twin Walls of Snow,
….Close Up: Rocks, with Lichens, and Last Summer’s Grass In the Highest Elevations of the ZMM Route. Of Course, There Are NO Trees!

….[ “There’s not a tree anywhere, only grass everywhere filled with little pink and blue and white dots of intense color.“]…. “ These [flowers] and grasses and mosses and lichens are all that can live here, now. We’ve reached the high country, above the timberline.“

Climbing Down Steep Slope On Hogback Formation, Beartooth Highway, WY. As mentioned in the 2nd previous photo:
..1) I just did not know where to look for wild flowers, or more likely, the flowers were there, I just did not see them!
..2) And: It was only by pure chance that I found the lichens in the above photo (as well as those flowers of previous two photos)!
….I found them ONLY because I had decided to climb down the grass covered slope to see the Marmot.

A Major Object Lesson Continued:
….To really see "what is there" on any trip, you must stop and get out of your car and go on short hikes. … Even if you don’t want to! … Even if you have no expectation of finding something … you must go explore!
….It is an important real fact => Some of my most enjoyable experiences were when I least expected them! Some of my best discoveries happened, and best photos found, when I was forced to stop, even when I did not want to!
….Or course, once stopped, you must get out of the car, and go for a long hike, like the Narrator.

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(Photo = 106-0634 ...... ZMM Page = 110 ...... WayPt = 136i3 …… Photo at WayPt = 145w)

This Photo, Taken At The Highest Beartooth Highway Elevation, Really Is The ZMM Narrator’s “The Summit” !
….Valleys, Lakes, and Snow Covered Mountains Are Seen Twenty Two Minutes After the Tunnel of Snow.

….[ “ …. and when we emerge, we see we’re at the summit. Beyond is another country. Mountain lakes and pines and snowfields are below. Above and beyond them as far as we can see are farther mountain ranges covered with snow. The high country.“ ]

About A Mile SW Of BM 10,947 feet, ”Beartooth Pass”, Beartooth Highway, WY. Click on the photo to get the largest view.
….As may be seen in a Topo Map (link NEXT Photo) the road before the Hogback Formation had traveled down a hillside, gone thru a low area close by a Benchmark (BM = 10,536 feet), and then slowly changes to a steady climbs at ~6 % Grade up the Hogback with all those four switchbacks. Going by the “Twin Wall Snow”, the road is at 10,736 feet, and must then continue climbing another 211 feet “Up The Hogback”, to arrive at /\ Above /\ Photo, AND The ZMM Narrator’s “at the summit“.
….Topo maps confirm that this is indeed the factual climax of our travel over what is officially here called “Beartooth Pass”. Here the highway elevation maxes-out at a Benchmark (BM = 10,947 feet), just nine feet higher the previous highway maximum mentioned earlier.
….As mentioned in NEXT Photo, there is knoll nearby, just to the East, named “Stockaid”. This knoll has the highest altitude anywhere around here (11,029 feet). If you clicked on my WayPoint = 144 = Beartooth Plateau Topo Map, you would see this is indeed a yet higher “summit “!!
….And in the /\ Above /\ Photo we are high enough to again to see the Wyoming high country to the South. You saw this same cloud formation and patch of light blue sky (West & Southwest) in previous photos.
….However, we are now seven miles further South. And from this high vantage point, you can see (mid screen) three small lakes, fitting those mentioned in the above ZMM Passage. You see as well, a nearer range of partly snow covered dark brown low mountains not seen in that previous high area photo.
….We are again on a high vantage point, somewhat level with the ridge in the medium distance: But the mountains on the far distant horizon are completely white snow covered, and thus considerably higher (13,140 feet).
….Be sure to notice in the /\ Above /\ Photo the road at left: This is Beartooth Highway, now on its way down, down, down, into the lower valleys ahead, which are before the Blue Haze Mountains, seen above the highway. And in these lower valleys we will again see lakes & rushing mountain streams.
….Note poles by highway These are to guide the snow plows.

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(Photo = 106-0635-0636stitch ...... ZMM Page = ...... WayPt Assigned = ~145r = About a mile SW of BM 10,947ft)

The ZMM Turnoff Where Tourists Take Pictures. .

…. “We stop and park at a turnoff where a number of tourists take pictures and look around at the view and at one other. At the back of his cycle John removes his camera from the saddlebag. From my own machine I remove the tool kit and spread it out on the seat, then take the screwdriver, start the engine and with the screwdriver adjust the carburetors until the idling sound changes from a really bad loping to just slightly bad.“

Second Roadside Rest Area, Beartooth Highway, WY. In 2002, I somehow I missed the “turnoff“ to the place where “tourists take pictures“. This turnoff area with Parking Loop is shown in the topo map link below.
….This topo map also shows that the turnoff parking lot is high enough to have a Dramatic Full Panorama View in most direction except East. This would include Beartooth Mountain to the West, and Granite Peak to the Northwest. Granite Peak is the highest in Montana at 12,799 feet.
…. A Really Grand & Full Panorama View, including East, is but a short hike away. The Topo Map shows =>
..A) A knoll North & A Bit West of the parking lot. AND
..B) A second somewhat Higher knoll, East of the Parking Lot: This is “Stockaid” Peak at BM Bench Mark 11,029 ft.

Google Finds =>
..C) A Short Ascent Report and How To Find The Bench Mark.
..D) A Full Hike Report + ~8 Photos + Gobbs Advertisements
..****************..

… And When We Emerge We See We’re At The Summit.
….Beyond Is Another Country. Mountain Lakes And Pines And Snowfields Are Below. Above And Beyond Them As Far As We Can See Are Farther Mountain Ranges Covered With Snow. The High Country.
….The Blue Link below, also shows, OH WOW, Lakes All Over The Place, as attested by the Narrator. But ZMM Traveler, such as myself, does not experience this many lakes: This is due to the irregular landscape and the return of dense forests!
….TopoZone Map Showing “Beartooth Pass” and Turnoff To “Overlook Roadside Park”. > After Map Comes Up > Upper left > Immediately Click-On Square > For full Screen.
..****************..
SIDE NOTE: Paper Road Maps Are Not Generally Not Good Enough To Show All The Switchbacks Of The Beartooth Highway.
… Pirsig Pilgrims, especially since they really need to "go hiking", should bring good topo maps. Consider the Topozone Maps already mentioned. You of course may print one of these directly off your computer, or order a color plastic coated version from Topozone. .

************************************
(Photo = September 2006 0092 ...... ZMM Page = 111 ...... WayPt Assigned = ~145q = BM 10,947 ft)

Soon “ We’ll Be Going Down “
…Loose “Rock-soil” and Rocks Pushed Out By Bulldozer To Level The Roadbed.
…….These Rocks, Beside Pavement Face Southwest And Are Warmed By Sun Exposure =>
…… And Sun Warmth Brings On New Grass and Tiny Purple Flowers, And Even Nice For A Marmot Den.

…. “I’m surprised at how all the way up it backfired and sputtered and kicked and gave every indication it was going to quit but never did. I didn’t adjust them, out of curiosity to see what eleven thousand feet of altitude would do. Now I’m leaving them rich and sounding just bad because we’ll be going down some now toward Yellowstone Park and if they aren’t slightly rich now they’ll get too lean later on, which is dangerous because it overheats the engine.“

Beartooth Highway, WY. My notes say “Marmot digging hole in gravel area.”. My memory says it was this was in the bank of road fill beside the pavement! (Or a place just like it!) A Marmot is a ground burrow dwelling vegetarian rodent that is similar in most respects, to what is called in Northcentral & Northeastern USA a “Ground Hog”. This is the critter of folklore that => “Sees Its Shadow” on the infamous “Ground Hog Day”, February 2nd, thus predicting 6 more weeks of winter
….There Were Marmot Burrows All Over This Area. I wish I could have taken a photo of their habitat. Later my notes say “Saw two more big fuzzy-wuzzy Marmots.”
….Apparently this elevation and these mountains are a favorite habitat, because I saw all together some seven scampering Marmots. But I was never able to get a good photograph, because they are very hard to pick out in the brown grass. The only time I actually saw them, they were rapidly galloping directly to their burrow, and instantly gone from sight!

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(Photo = 106-0637...... ZMM Page = 110-111...... WayPt Assigned = ~145r = Road edge, about a mile SW of BM 10,947ft)

Five More Switchbacks Are Ahead As We Get Ready To Head Down.
….“The backfiring is still fairly heavy on the way down from the summit with the engine dragging in second gear, …. “

About A Mile SW Of Narrator’s “The Summit “, Beartooth Highway, MT. About a mile after the “a turnoff” Roadside Rest Area & Scenic Park, the Beartooth Highway starts another series of five switchbacks on a slope down, as steep and twisty, as scenic as those on the way up! Soon after that, there are two more switchbacks, which bring the ZMM traveler to the valleys with “ mountain lakes and pines ”.
….These switchbacks and the lakes are shown in the next two photos, which were taken ~ another mile further SW..

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(Photo = 106-0636 cz2.6. ...... ZMM Page = 111 ...... WayPt Assigned = ~145r = Road edge, about a mile SW of BM 10,947 ft)

Another View From The ZMM Turnoff Where Tourists Take Pictures.
…This Photo and the Next Show Adjacent Views Which Are
…..Looking Over Where There Will Be A Series of Seven Switchbacks
…….As We Get Ready To Head On Down To the Lakes and Valleys Below.

…. ["The backfiring is still fairly heavy on the way down from the summit with the engine dragging in second gear, …. "]

Southwest Rocky Pinnacle Edge Of, Second Roadside Rest Area, Beartooth Highway, WY. …The /\ Above Photo and the next (showing view to right) were taken from the high area of the previous shown & mentioned "a turnoff", which is the Second Roadside Rest Area & Scenic Park.
….As mentioned in the Previous Photo the Beartooth Highway soon starts another series of five switchbacks on a slope down, as steep and twisty, as scenic as those on the way up! Soon after that, there are two more switchbacks, which bring the ZMM traveler to the valleys with “ mountain lakes and pines ”.
….These switchbacks and the lakes, will also be shown in the NEXT Photos, taken ~ another mile further SW. As you will see from the Next Photo, it’s not far until the highway starts the slope on the way down..

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(Photo = September 2006 0100 ...... ZMM Page = 111 ...... WayPt Assigned = ~145q = BM 10,947 ft)

From The Previous Photo The Continuing View To The Right.
…. We See the Switchbacks and Lakes Ahead, As We Get Ready To Head On Down,
….We Thus Leave the Real High Country and Enter the Narrator's "The High Country of the Mind” Where He Reviews Western Thought and Western Philosophy.

…. ["The backfiring is still fairly heavy on the way down from the summit with the engine dragging in second gear, …. "]

Southwest Rocky Pinnacle Edge Of, Second Roadside Rest Area, Beartooth Highway, WY. …The /\ Above Photo (and the Previous Photo), were taken from the high area of the previous shown & mentioned, "a turnoff" Roadside Rest Area & Scenic Park.
…As you can see from the /\ Above /\ Photo, it’s not far, until the highway starts the slope on the way down, and soon will be into another series of seven switchbacks, on a slope as steep as those on the way up! And soon we will be in the Lakes and Valleys of the Narrator's Philosophic High Country.
….To get to Yellowstone National Park (YNP) (Northeast gate), this road must go South deeper into Wyoming as it swings around the mountain range that forms the headwaters of Rock Creek. After that it goes West for ~10 miles, then heads somewhat Northwest thrrough a different and wider valley and leads to crossing yet another mountain range.

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(Photo = September2006 0101 ...... ZMM Page = 111 ...... WayPt Assigned = ~145q = BM 10,947ft)

Friday, July 12, 2024: … A 4 Photo Panorama View Of The ZMM Narrator’s ->
… “Mountain Lakes And Pines And Snowfields Are Below. Above And Beyond Them As Far As We Can See, Are Farther Mountain Ranges Covered With Snow. The High Country.”

*** STUDY THIS CLOSELY!!! ***
…Be Sure To Click On The Photo, To Get Largest View, Then With Magnifying Glass =>

…. In Addition To The ZMM Narrator’s Sights In His Italic Passage Above, You Can See FOUR Tier Levels Of The Pavement Of Our Highway, One Of Which Is A Narrow Hard-To-See Strip, Above Where You See Water Right Of Center.
...These FOUR Tier Levels Were Traveled In 1968 By Robert Pirsig, Chris, John & Syvia Sutherland. AND Are The Location Of The ZMM Narrator’s ->
… “The Backfiring Is Still Fairly Heavy On The Way Down From The Summit With The Engine Dragging In Second Gear,” Which Is In The Larger ZMM Passage Given Below.

…The Photos For The Above Panorama, Were Taken From A High Southern Road Edge, Just After Leaving The ZMM Narrator’s Turnoff Where A Number Of Tourists Take Pictures” which included me!

Along The Beartooth Highway, About 9 Miles West The Center Of The Beartooth Plateau, MN-WY Border Region, And About 27.5 Miles Southwest of Red Lodge, MT.
…*******************

The ZMM Narrator’s Larger Description =>
…. ”We stop and park at a turnoff where a number of tourists take pictures and look around at the view and at one other. At the back of his cycle John removes his camera from the saddlebag. From my own machine I remove the tool kit and spread it out on the seat, then take the screwdriver, start the engine and with the screwdriver adjust the carburetors until the idling sound changes from a really bad loping to just slightly bad. I’m surprised at how all the way up it backfired and sputtered and kicked and gave every indication it was going to quit but never did. I didn’t adjust them, out of curiosity to see what eleven thousand feet of altitude would do. Now I’m leaving them rich and sounding just bad because we’ll be going down some now toward Yellowstone Park and if they aren’t slightly rich now they’ll get too lean later on, which is dangerous because it overheats the engine.
The backfiring is still fairly heavy on the way down from the summit with the engine dragging in second gear, but then the noise diminishes as we reach lower altitudes. The forests return. We move among rocks and lakes and trees now, taking beautiful turns and curves of the road,”
…*******************

File = DSC_0251 PhSetOfHGUploadAug9.2025_PanoUS212BeartoothHyViewLakes&MountainsRz3296

Oh Ho!! So THAT’S The “Beartooth”!!

…. “ …. but then the [engine].noise diminishes …. “

~Half Mile Southeast Of Island Lake Campground, At Intersection of Rt 149, Beartooth Highway, WY. Suddenly to the West, a gap in the mountains and trees opened up, and there it was! The “Beartooth!”! More properly the twin peaks of Beartooth Mountain.
….Until this split second of recognition, I never knew why my Rand McNally said of this road “Bear Tooth Pass Elevation 10940" (sic).
...The next split second my car was slowing to a stop! My “take a photo” reflex was finally becoming reliable!
….Remember this view as we travel the next 30 miles, first towards this mountain, and then skirt around its Northern flank. In the process, you will see good Photo Examples of the reasons why a name, such as “Beartooth”, gets singled out and transferred from the original landmark to other local land forms.
….For example, the name Beartooth is “applied to” 1) Beartooth Campground, 2) Beartooth Lake, 3) Beartooth Pass, 4) The Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness, 5) This entire geographical area of the country (Beartooth Plateau), and 6) Even this Beartooth Highway.
….In Previous Photos and other contexts => You have seen many examples of this. Even cities are named after geographical areas, such as Rivers or Mountain Ranges.
….As we travel the next thirty miles, you will also see why “Beartooth!” was historically so important as a point of reference, in this otherwise trackless rough mountain terrain.

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(Photo = 106-0638 ...... ZMM Page = 111 ...... WayPt = 147w)

Friday, July 12, 2024: … At The Yellowstone Overlook Rest Area, Our ZMM Riders Can See Yet Another View Of The Famed “Beartooth”, Which Is A Very Noteworthy Shaped Twin-Peaked Mountain.
…You Will See The “Beartooth”, Which Is West & Slightly North, In The Far Foggy Gray Distance, Mid Panorama, To Right Of Three People At The Information Display.
…At first, this mountain may have been named “Beartooth” by the Native Americans, but for any traveler in these mountains, this distinctive Twin Mountain shape, is a necessary Landmark. Of course, when Surveying Teams came in, the highest mountains, including the highest of the “Beartooth” Twin Peaks, would quickly get a Brass Surveyors Benchmark..

At The Yellowstone Overlook, A Turnoff From US-212, Beartooth Highway
Cody, WY 82414

NOTE:
…The PREVIOUS photo was taken near the Island Lake Campground. And in July 2024, we had to drive further West along US-212, to then arrive at The Yellowstone Overlook Rest Area.

File = DSC_0256 PhotoSetOfHGUploadAug9.2025 BeartoHyZmmRidersSeeBeatoothMtResiz6242.jpg
… Click Here For A Satellite View Of This Yellowstone Overlook, Location, Marked By Red PinPoint. …. Upper Left, You See “Beartooth Pass Vista Point”(Mentioned previous photos), and below is the 7 Switchback Road, Mentioned In The Previous “Panorama View Of The ZMM Narrator’s -> … “Mountain Lakes And Pines And Snowfields Are Below. Above And Beyond Them As Far As We Can See, Are Farther Mountain Ranges Covered With Snow. The High Country.” ….AFTER This Comes Up, You Can Click Upper Left For Over 100 Good Photos, Including At First, An Excellent Photo Of “The Beartooth”. …. These Photos Show The Scenery Of The Region, Many Of Which Are Beautiful Wild Flowers. About 4 Photos Likely Show The Information Pannels (Such As Are Seen In /\Above/\ Photo), Taken At This Above-Mentioned, Yellowstone Overlook, Location,

MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE TWO PEAKS OF THE BEARTOOTH:
…AFTER the above Blue Link comes up => At left edge, you will see “Pilot Peak and Index Peak”, which are prominent neighboring mountains in the Absaroka Range in Wyoming, visible from the Beartooth Highway. Pilot Peak is the sharper, taller summit at 11,699 feet, while Index Peak is just over 1,000 feet shorter, "Index" was formerly taller than Pilot Peak but, due to weak rock, was diminished by an earthquake in 1888.
...Both peaks are iconic landmarks along the Beartooth Highway and are frequently photographed together.
...Ernest Hemingway famously viewed these peaks from a nearby ranch where he wrote some of “For Whom the Bell Tolls”