Looking South And A Bit East => ….A Mid September 2006 View of Rock Creek and Bluffs.

~6 miles South of Red Lodge, MT.

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Beartooth Highway’s Wild Wild West.=> “The History of a Wild Highway”.
…. ((The below Is an excerpt from The Full Original Post With 3 Really Neat 1930s Historical Photos. Click Here. ))

....It could be said that events leading to the construction of the Beartooth Highway were set in motion on March 1, 1872 when the Congress of the United States set aside Yellowstone National Park, the world’s first national park, a full 70 years before its eventual opening on June 14, 1936.
....Mining + Tourism = A Highway
....By 1880, following years of exploration by trappers, gold seekers, and government expeditions, followed by a rapid influx of tourists anxious to view the wonders of Yellowstone National Park, the mining communities of Cooke City and Red Lodge, Montana were well established. With gold, coal, and tourists to be moved these two communities recognized the importance of building transportation infrastructure for the area.
....It was quickly determined that building railways for hauling ore through Yellowstone National Park was not going to be an option. At the same time it was determined that, in order to take advantage of the economic development that tourism generated for a community, access from Red Lodge to Yellowstone National Park would need to be secured. Then, in the 1920’s the automobile became the preferred mode of transportation for visitors to the area and the need to develop a road system into and out of Yellowstone from the two communities galvanized community leaders to action. After years of lobbying by area citizen groups Montana’s then Congressman Scott Leavitt sponsored legislation called the Park Approach Act (H. R. 12404). The Park Approach Act provide for construction roads that led to National Parks and allowed construction of the Beartooth Highway to begin in 1931. Although it was originally intended to authorize a major national program of access roads to National Parks only one road was actually constructed under the legislation – the Beartooth Highway. (Excerpt Continued Next Photo.)

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(Photo = Summer2006 0493 ...... ZMM Page = NA ...... WayPt = 128p)

A Mid September 2006 View Deeper Into Rock Creek Canyon.
….The Valley Is Very Narrow, And “V”-Shape Is Seen.

~7 miles South of Red Lodge, MT.

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Beartooth Highway’s Wild Wild West.=>.The History of a Wild Highway
(Excerpt Continued From Previous Photo.)....
....Early Years of Road Construction
....A majority of the Beartooth Highway was built between 1932 and 1936. The engineering aspects of the project were impressive, even by today’s standards. For example, the 4,000-foot descent into the Rock Creek Canyon (7.5 miles at over 6 percent grade) on a very steep sidehill slope required creative field engineering. The project was completed on time and within budget; but at the cost of the lives of two workers. Considering the difficult terrain, short construction season, and harsh weather the progress was remarkable. The highway was officially dedicated on June 14, 1936 with a ceremony and caravan of supporters.
....Most names given to geographic points on the highway during construction have not survived, but definitely represented some meaningful interpretation to workers in 1936: “Primal Point”, “Lunch Meadow”, “High Lonesome Ridge”, “Grizzly Knob”, “Frozen Man’s Curve”, and “Inspiration Point” to name a few. Today’s Rock Creek Vista was known as “Knox Point”, and at nearby Wyoming Creek, a curving switchback that doubles back on itself was referred to as “Mae West Curve”!
…. ((The above is an excerpt from The Full Original Post. With 3 Really Neat 1930s Historical Photos Of Construction Workers & Machinery. Click Here. ))

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(Photo = Summer2006 0495 ...... ZMM Page = NA ...... WayPt = 128n)

Road Has Curved, So View Is Looking West Along the Road Ahead =>
…The Valley Is Changing To a Canyon.
…..Even More Pine Trees Now In Addition To the Broad Leafs Along the Stream. View Southwest

Beartooth Highway, MT. In the /\ Above /\ Photo the valley is getting even narrower yet. The light green of the broad leaf trees along the stream, at left, is just discernable through the darker green of the pines.
….The roadblock signifies one lane traffic ahead for highway repair. I use the stop opportunity to take this photograph of the road ahead (Southwest).
…Please => Remember this “valley size” and contrast with that of next photo, looking back at the road just traveled.
….After I resumed motion, my notes say: “[cross] mountain stream – road now steep – use lower gear -- ears pop.”

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(Photo = 106-0604c ...... ZMM Page = NA ...... WayPt = 129w)

A View Looking East, Because Road From Red Lodge Has Curved.
….We See the Broad Leafs Along the Stream And 1988 Fire Damage In Pine Trees At Left.

Beartooth Highway, MT. The /\ Above /\ Photo shows the road I just came up.. ….It’s almost my turn at the “roadblock”. I don’t have time even to walk far enough to keep my car out of the photo.
….The fire damage in the pines must be part of the major 1988 Yellowstone National Park fire. This also will be seen in my later photos.
….You can see why my notes said, [car shifts to] “lower gear”.
….************** …
The ZMM Book’s Main Focus In Every Chapter Is The Chautauqua Lecture.
….Consequently, Much Of The Passing Landscape Remains Unmentioned
….. No passing scenery, no matter how spectacular or interesting is “written about” unless it “poetically amplifies” the lectures ahead or just passed.
….Otherwise, what is (was) great scenery had to be bypassed by Author Pirsig, with no comment, no descriptions, nor indication of its presence.
….Such is the case for the road from Red Lodge to the mountain switch-backs. Similar requirements constrain me, in my choice of photographs to be included in this Gallery.
….But sometimes, even if there is no applicable ZMM passage as is the case at this WayPt = 129, I opt to show additional photos to fill in the gaps in the travel scenery.

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(Photo = 106-0605c ...... ZMM Page = NA ...... WayPt = 129k)

An Even Narrower and Deeper Valley Is Now Seen. Canyon Walls Are Steep In This Upstream View Looking South And A Bit West.
….And If You Look Just Below The Snowy Peaks, You Can Discern The “U”-Shaped Glacial Valley Form.

…. [ZMM passage repeat] [ “The sun is bright and hot when we’re in it, but when we pass under trees along the road, it’s suddenly cold.” ]

Entering Rock Creek Canyon, by a shade tree, Beartooth Highway, MT. “U”-shaped valleys are caused by the grinding action of the valley filled with Glacier Ice, as it slides further down the valley. The Glacier Ice incorporates many rocks which do the actual grinding, and this greatly speeds up the cutting action.
….Compared to a Glacial Valley, If a narrow valley is geologically “new” and is primarily carved out by water of a stream, it is generally “V”-shaped.
.…And by contrast with the above => If the valley is very, very old, it generally will be quite wide and relatively flat, like we have seen in the previous photos of the Yellowstone River Valley.
….By happenstance, the /\ Above /\ Photo location is the only place where I recall finding “over the highway shade”. This is why I stopped here to cool off.
…. Here, this shade tree was behind me, but at this time of day, the shade had not reached the highway. Only later in the day would it cover the highway.
….Properly done, you should actually see a photo of this shade. However, this is one of several places where I thought I had taken a photo, but it was not in the camera when I got back. What happened?
….At certain WayPt’s along the travel route, more than one photo is needed to properly show the scenery. => Generally I have a choice: a) 360 degree panorama. b) Two or three side by side. or c) One forward + one rear.
…. At this location a second photo to the rear, really NorthNorthwest, is shown NEXT Photo.

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(Photo = 106-0606 ...... ZMM Page = 105 ...... WayPt = 130w)

Dense Close-up Trees Partly Obscure the Opposite Side of the Valley.
….Looking North Northeast, A Downstream View.

Entrance to Rock Creek Canyon, by a shade tree, Beartooth Highway, MT. at WayPt 130. Same Location as Previous Photo. Here we can see some of the shade trees and some of the valley’s West side.
….It was not possible a to get a good shot “down valley”, nor to get a good shot of the road just traveled up this point.

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(Photo = 106-0607 ...... ZMM Page = NA ...... WayPt = 130k)

The Camera Location For => This View Of A “V”-Cut Valley Happens Be Where Road Goes By A Melt Water Stream Called Quad Creek
….From Red Lodge, On The Second Tier Up, We Can See Two More Tiers.

“ ….. and [we] have soon traveled to the first of many switchback turns across the face of the mountain”

Beartooth Highway, At the Third Switchback After Red Lodge, MT. ….….My paper research notes say: “Altitude 7964 -- My traveling here, as is true for traveling my life -- this moment -- I will not be back ever again -- this moment -- these moments -- way way down – [I can see]… the U-shape valley and stream.
..****************..
….In the /\ Above /\ Photo you can see the continuing road, next tier up, which continues to where it reappears at the upper left edge of The photo.
… Now look carefully higher up. That’s the highway “on the way back” after going around the mountain, out of view at the left, completing a switchback (seen in forthcoming photos), and then coming back around the mountain again and continuing as the gray line which continues off the photo to the right.
By This Time I Have Lost Track Of The Number Of Tiers And Switchbacks.
….But as I write these Photo Captions (you are reading right now), this is NOT a problem, => This is because I use an excellent the Computer Application called GoogleEarth, into which I have imported the GPS Coordinates, for each of my 2002 Photos.
….With GoogleEarth, I can view each of my WayPoints added to an excellent Satellite View of The Beartooth Highway, climbing the Switchbacks on these mountains.
….This is a really good way to be sure where each of my photos exactly fit into the “Tiers” and “Switchbacks”.
….An especially nice feature => The GoogleEarth Display somewhat reveals the 3D .of these mountains, by manually doing a Clk&Drag of the landscape.
..****************..
…The Next Photo shows, very likely, where the ZMM Narrator’s above passage must have happened.

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(Photo = 106-0608 ...... ZMM Page = 109 ...... WayPt = 131w)

Continued From Previous Photo => The Road Then Abruptly Turns Right, To Follow The “Curve Around” The Melt-Water Cut Of Quad Creek.

…. “The asphalt of the road is much wider and safer than it occurred in memory. On a cycle you have all sorts of extra room. John and Sylvia take the hairpin turns up ahead and then come back above us, facing us, and have smiles. Soon we take the turn and see their backs again. Then another turn for them and we meet them again, laughing. It’s so hard when contemplated in advance, and so easy when you do it.”

An Abrupt Turn Right, To Follow The “Curve Around” A Melt-Water Ravine Cut, After Red Lodge, Second Tier Up, Beartooth Highway, MT. In the /\ Above /\ Photo You See => The Highway Entering A Melt-Water Ravine Cut, Quad Creek, Where The Road Abruptly Turns Right To Follow The “Curve Around” The Melt-Water Cut.
…. Then => The continuing road is the gray line angling up (6 % grade), up & off the photo to the right.)
… Now look carefully higher up. That’s the highway “on the way back” after going around the mountain out of view right, completing a switchback (next photo), and then came back around the mountain again!
…THUS the /\ Above /\ Photo, shows very likely where the ZMM Narrator’s above description must have happened: We can then approximately imagine where their motorcycles could have been => One cycle at the camera location for the /\ Above /\ Photo, and the second cycle at the next “higher up” tier shown.
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…..INSTRUCTIONS HOW => TO SEE A TOPO MAP OF THE /\ ABOVE /\ PHOTO LOCATION, ALONG THE US-212 HIGHWAY.
..A) Short Instructions => Using The ONLINE Version of TopoZone Maps.=>
..1) On The Blue WayPt = Number Below => RIGHT CLICK AND SELECT “NEW TAB” =>
..2) After Map Comes Up => Use Scroll Bar At Far Right => Adjust Green Topo Map Until Upper Left => You SEE-JUST-BELOW The [[ Plus & Minus]] => [[Box]] => Click Go To “Full Screen” =>
..3) Use Plus & Minus To Zoom. You can “ClickDrag” Map In Any Direction to See More Off Your Screen Edges.
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Suggestions To User: =>
..4) Although TopoZone Maps are a really great resource, they unfortunately do not mark the “WayPt =” ….
..5) When the TopoZone Map comes up the “WayPt =” is in the Exact Center of your computer Screen.
..6) Suggestion => As best you can estimate, place a SMALL ~”Sticky Tag Pointer” to mark screen center.=> Then Click-On => [[ Plus & Minus]] => And IF your “Pointer” is CORRECT, it will still mark the same relative place on map.
..6) Since this ~”Sticky Tag Pointer” will likely be useful when look at a future TopoZone Map, I suggest you leave it there temporarily.
****
TopoZone Maps have successfully been used on my Windows & Linux Computers (both Firefox & Chrome).
….Please send email re how well this works for you on other computers/software.
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To Read FULL INSTRUCTIONS => For Using The ONLINE Version of TopoZone Maps. AFTER this Page Comes Up, PLEASE** IGNORE** THE PHOTO & TOP HALF OF READING*** YOU SHOULD IMMEDIATELY => SCROLL DOWN TO AND READ => “FULL INSTRUCTIONS”. Click Here.
(Photo = 106-0609 ...... ZMM Page = 109 ...... WayPt = 132w )

East View, On The Next Switchback Up. And The First Patch Of Snow I Saw.
….You Can See The Narrator’s Passage, Next Down.

…. “The broad-leafed trees are all gone. Only small pines are left. Many of these have twisted and stunted shapes. “

Beartooth Highway ~14 Miles South of Red Lodge, MT. This is the next switchback, 12 minutes and one mile after the Previous Photo.
….In the /\ Above /\ Photo, we see the conditions that hold the snow, and reduce melting: 1) Recessed corner to catch drifts. 2) Northern slope for reduced heat from sun.
….Because it had just started to rain hard, this photo was taken by leaning out the window from the driver’s seat. You see that the pavement is shiny-wet, and can see the white of the smaller snow patch reflected in the darker pavement left lane.
… All the rain drops on the camera lens occurred in just the few seconds my camera was just at the window edge.
….************** …
…This above ZMM passage actually comes after the ZMM Narrator’s “ turnout on the road .. “
….This is a rest area, which is next photo.

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(Photo = 106-0612 ...... ZMM Page = 110 ...... WayPt = 134 w)

Be Sure to Stop At This Rest Area!
….The Way, Way, Way, Down Views Are Just Spectacular!!.

…. “At a turnout on the road we stop, take some record photographs to show we have been here .… “

First Roadside Rest Area “Turnout”, Beartooth Highway ~14 Miles South of Red Lodge, MT. …. Note; This is the first of two roadside rest areas along this stretch of road. However the next “facilities” are only at Cooke City, MT.
….As mentioned in earlier Photos, the ZMM Narrator is very negative about “Tourist Attractions”, hence above rather glum “ take some record photographs“, and saying absolutely nothing about the Spectacular Views here.
….************** …
….Concerning The Above- Mentioned “Record Photographs” : Mr. Robert Pirsig Sent Copies To Me (Which You May View All 12 Of Them At Blue Link Below), And In The Two Photos Taken At This “ Turnout “, You Will See => These Same Mountains In The Distance, Of The /\ Above /\ Photo.
….In These Two Above-Mentioned Photos Respectively (Blue Link Below), Please Notice =>
….A) Mr. Pirsig’s first photograph shows the brilliant sun light, dark sharp shadows, and light green on the distant mountains.
….B) But in Mr. Pirsig’s second photograph, his film could not handle the harsh contrast. So, both the sky and the pavement are washed-out white, and do not show the dark black blue sky, or even the pure blue sky as is seen, for example, in his first three photos.
....An overcast haze must have moved in for his 2nd mountain photo, since in this one, there are no shadows and less eye squinting.
….Notice how my /\ Above /\ Photo shows deep dark clouds and no green. This contrasts with the A) & B) above, mentioned of Robert Pirsig’s 1968 Picture at this same location. (Click Blue Link Below.)
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TOURIST EXPLANATION => The ZMM Narrator Generally Avoids Any “Tourist” Emphasis Or Even Mention.
….For Example=> In The ZMM Passage Above => The Above Curt, Glum, Grim, Gloomy, Admission To The Existence Of These Photos: … They Are Just & Merely For The “Record“! .
…..From this and other ZMM passages about “Tourist Attractions”, we learn that the ZMM Narrator would have us take the extra time, to really, fully experience the vast reality of these mountains at all levels of connecting & participating (my words). For Example, as we are engaged in => Camping, mountain climbing, etc, we should learn to practice => Being there, being fully aware, being fully alive, connect and participate in the reality of what is immediately there.
….************** …
AN ADDED EXPLANATION OF WHAT WE SHOULD => LEARN TO PRACTICE =>
….The ZMM Narrator in discussing “stuckness” Ends Chapter 25 saying => “Now we must head forward across this baking desert to wherever the road leads.” And in the next Chapters “the problem of stuckness was discussed “ along with “inner peace of mind occurs on three levels of understanding….
… What produces this involvement is, at the cutting edge of consciousness, an absence of any sense of separateness of subject and object. "Being with it," "being a natural," "taking hold"—there are a lot of idiomatic expressions for what I mean.” ]
….From the above ZMM passages, we see that The Narrator (and Author Robert Pirsig), are saying, in general, how we should respond in our life & work, even at “Tourist Attractions”!
… AND from this => Mr Pirsig wants us to realize & understand that => Most tourist locations, in responding to the typical “primary America“ visitor, do NOT help in ANY of this vital learning. And even worse, typical touristy attractions end up promoting everything opposite!
….Consequently it is up to us to Remember & Practice The Narrators Admonitions, in our daily life, and thus (even at a “Tourist Attraction”), we are => . "Being with it," "being a natural," "taking hold".
In other words “Be There”, “Be Fully Alive”. Fully Participate IN and OF Reality !!
….************** …

To View => Robert Pirsig's Fifth & Sixth Of Twelve Color Photos.
….FIRST METHOD => RIGHT CLICK AND SELECT “NEW TAB” =>, and THEN AFTER The Five Albums Page Comes Up => Please read the SECOND DOWN Album Description => Then Click On => The Small Photo, and scroll down to (and read) The Fifth & Sixth Small Photos. Then, as for all our Gallery Photos, Click Any Photo Several Times to get a medium size or the largest view.
….SECOND METHO =>
Alternatively these photos are available from => The First Photo Album In Main Menu At Left. RIGHT CLICK AND SELECT “NEW TAB” =>, and THEN AFTER ZMMQ Home Page Comes Up => Scroll down to the FIRST Small Photo In Main Menu At Left, And Click On It … Then after Five Albums Page Comes up, Please read the SECOND DOWN Album Description => Then Click On The Photo, And on The 9 Small Photos Page Comes up => Scroll down to (and read) The Fifth & Sixth Small Photos. Then, as for all our Gallery Photos, Click Any Photo Several Times to get a medium size or the largest view.
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(Photo = 106-0613 ...... ZMM Page = 110 ...... WayPt = 135`|e|' 9234ft)

The Narrator’s “Little Path“ That Leads from the Parking Lot to the Rocky Promontory, Dramatic, Spectacular, Take-Your-Breath-Away, Viewing Site.
“ ...and then walk to a little path ..... “

First Roadside Rest Area “Turnout”, Beartooth Highway ~14 Miles South of Red Lodge, MT. When I was here at the “walk to a little path“ back in 2002, I was aware of the need to illustrate this ZMM passage. In fact, I had raised my camera to take the needed photo. But canceled the idea because the scene was not sufficiently "photogenic".
….But, alas, the "take-a-photo now" inspiration, totally evaporated. :-(( This resulted in NO photo until my trip here in 2006 as you see in /\ Above /\ Photo.
….************** …

Moral Of This Story?
….As mentioned several times previously: If you reach for your camera, take a picture! No second thoughts!!
….************** …

The Next Two Photos From This Path Show Respectively =>
…A) Looking Northeast, a general view Of Wyoming Creek Canyon.
…B) Looking North, a view way, way, way, down into Wyoming Creek Canyon.
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(Photo = Summer2006 0022 ...... ZMM Page = 110...... WayPt = 135k)

Looking Northeast, A General View Of Wyoming Creek Canyon.
….And In The Distance Seeing Over Rock Creek Canon To The Opposite Side.

… [ .“walk to a little path ] “

First Roadside Rest Area “Turnout”, Beartooth Highway ~14 Miles South of Red Lodge, MT. You will notice that all of my 2006 Montana Photos show quite a bit of blueish haze, especially in distant views as you see in the /\ Above /\ Photo. ….This was due to extensive forest fires in Colorado while we were here.
….My 2002 shots also show quite a bit of whitish haze, but this is due to atmospheric moisture, and on this account are somewhat more whiteish, as opposed to blueish haze in 2006.
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(Photo = Summer2006 0027 ...... ZMM Page = 110...... WayPt = 135q)

View North and Way, Way, Way, Down To a Side Stream In Wyoming Creek Canyon, Coming From The Southeast.

[ “ .... a little path] that takes us out to .... “ ]

First Roadside Rest Area “Turnout”, Rock Creek Vista Point, Beartooth Highway ~14 Miles South of Red Lodge, MT. As you can see along the bottom of the /\ Above /\ Photo, there is a Stone Wall. When the ZMM Traveler walks the “little path“, this is the view (and stone wall) at their right.
…You can see at least one broadleaf tree, as well as the white rushing water of the , Wyoming Creek, -- way –way ~ below!
….The stones at the bottom of the /\ Above /\ Photo are at the edge of the wall. I had to lean way over this very solid protective stone wall to take this photo. The next photo shows the continued view to the left.
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…..INSTRUCTIONS HOW => TO SEE AN ONLINE TOPO MAP OF THE /\ ABOVE /\ PHOTO LOCATION AT THIS REST AREA’s “ROCK CREEK VISTA POINT”.
..A) Short Instructions => Using The ONLINE Version of TopoZone Maps.=>
..1) On The Blue WayPt = Number Below => RIGHT CLICK AND SELECT “NEW TAB” =>
..2) After Map Comes Up => Use Scroll Bar At Far Right => Adjust Green Topo Map Until Upper Left => You SEE-JUST-BELOW The [[ Plus & Minus]] => [[Box]] => Click Go To “Full Screen” =>
..3) Use Plus & Minus To Zoom. You can “ClickDrag” Map In Any Direction to See More Off Your Screen Edges.
****
Suggestions To User: =>
..4) Although TopoZone Maps are a really great resource, they unfortunately do not mark the “WayPt =” ….
..5) When the TopoZone Map comes up, the “WayPt =” is in the Exact Center of your computer Screen.
..6) Suggestion => As best you can estimate, place a SMALL~”Sticky Tag Pointer” to mark screen center.=> Then Click-On => [[ Plus & Minus]] => AND IF=> your “Pointer” is CORRECT, it will still mark the same relative place on map.
..6) Since this ~”Sticky Tag Pointer”, will likely be useful when looking at a future TopoZone Map, I suggest you leave it there temporarily.
****
TopoZone Maps have successfully been used on my Windows & Linux Computers (both Firefox & Chrome).
….Please send email re how well this works for you on other computers/software.
..*************************..
FULL INSTRUCTIONS => Using The ONLINE Version of TopoZone Maps. AFTER this Page Comes Up, PLEASE** IGNORE** THE PHOTO & TOP HALF OF READING** YOU SHOULD IMMEDIATELY => SCROLL DOWN TO, AND READ => “FULL INSTRUCTIONS”. Click Here.

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(Photo = 106-0617...... ZMM Page = 110...... WayPt = 135k )

From The High-Up Rocky Promontory Rock Creek Vista Point, A View North
….You Can See The Tiny Road From Red Lodge, At The Bottom Of Rock Creek Canyon, Down-Stream.

…. “a little path that takes us out to the edge of a cliff. “

Rock Creek Vista Point, First Roadside Rest Area, Beartooth Highway ~14 Miles South of Red Lodge, MT. The views are indeed “breathtaking”!... ! When I am at the edge of a high precipice, as happened here, I feel as if I am being drawn out of balance over the edge! So, I hang tightly onto the very solid secure railing, and just wait as calmly as I can until the queasy sensation gradually goes away.
….In the /\ Above /\ Photo => Where the tiny road disappears in the distance, you see two humps. The nearer hump is WayPt = 130w, where this U-shaped valley was first seen.
.. The exposed rocks you see are part of the Narrator's “cliff“. This is an original part of this major rock promontory, which owes its existence to the geological cutting action a side stream, Wyoming Creek, from the Southeast (see previous photo). This stream cut its deep chasm (perpendicular) to the main N-S canyon of Rock Creek seen here.
…Thus this cliff is formed by the projecting corner of the intersection of these two deeply cut canyons. (These two respective “canyon cuts” will be seen more clearly in the 5th photo next. Or click on the Blue WayPt below for a topo map, which will show this Promontory, Parking Area, & Rock Creek Vista Point.)
….During Highway Construction, The Larger Parts Of This Rock Promontory (Nearer To The Mountain) No Doubt Were Chosen To Be A Service & Storage Area.
….This is because, as found, this area was wide and already somewhat level. The parking lot here was probably originally bulldozer leveled-off for a work-area plus a much needed place along these steep slopes to “park” construction machinery, and materials. Plus level space to have temporary work buildings, dormitories, etc. On these steep rockslide prone slopes, such needed places are hard to come by!
…. For the NEXT PHOTO, I turned my camera left, which also shows more of these cliff-edge close-up exposed rocks.

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(Photo = 106-0616 ...... ZMM Page = 110...... WayPt = 135m )

From The High-Up Rocky Promontory Rock Creek Vista Point, A View Upstream, Southwest
….Can See At The Bottom Of Rock Creek Canyon => Fields, Tiny Road, & Tiny Rock Creek.
…. Closer At Right, Center, & Left => Many, Many, Highway Tiers, On the Way Up.

….“A motorcycle on the road almost straight down beneath us could hardly be seen from up here. “

Rock Creek Vista Point, First Roadside Rest Area, Beartooth Highway ~14 Miles South of Red Lodge, MT.. Notice the different tiers of the highway that were the subject of several previous photographs.…
….The ZMM Narrator mentions seeing a motorcycle way below. I don’t recall seeing any motorcycles the whole time from Laurel, MT, to Gardiner, MT. It was a dark gloomy day when I traveled this part of the Beartooth Highway. Thus few people were on the road, and I saw only several other cars at this Roadside Rest Area. Was I there too early in the season? Or was it too gloomy, cloudy, & rainy?
….By contrast, the next day, there was an overflow crowd of vehicles in the parking lots at Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National Park.
…A 2004 Google Search for Web or Images …Beartooth… discovered perhaps 15% motorcycles among the scenery photos. But a quick look at my June 2006 showed very few. Puzzle. Quite apparently we can not necessarily conclude mountain scenery is always (or will be), popular with the bikers.
…Later in my trip, I did see motorcycles regularly other places on my ZMM Route, most notable was in the parking lots at Crater Lake National Park. In general, motorcycles along the ZMM Route seem to be in about the same proportion as one sees anywhere else in the USA.
…. For the NEXT PHOTO, my camera was turned left, which then shows more Beartooth Highway Tiers.

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(Photo = 106-0615 ...... ZMM Page = 110...... WayPt = 135n)

[ “The Broad-Leafed Trees Are All Gone. Only Small Pines Are Left. Many Of These Have Twisted And Stunted Shapes. “]

…..From The High-Up Rocky Promontory Rock Creek Vista Point, A Southwest View of, Rock Creek Canyon, Upstream
….At Photo Upper Center, Can Discern, U-Shape Of Upper Rock Creek Canyon => Where The Whitewater of Tiny Rock Creek Can Be Seem.
…. Closer & Angling Up From Right, Thru Center => See Three Tiers of Beartooth Highway, On the Way Up.
….Plus Further On => A Very Nice Switchback! This Is A Really Very Nice Hair-pin Turn!

Rock Creek Vista Point, First Roadside Rest Area, Beartooth Highway ~14 Miles South of Red Lodge, MT. In /\ Above Photo (lower left corner), please note the two stunted pine trees and no broad-leafs on the bare slope. This well confirms => The above ZMM Narrator’s Words.
A 360 Degree Panorama Really Needed.
…. After I took the /\ Above /\ Photo, my next photo SHOULD have been swing the camera 45 degrees to the left, take next photo, and then keep taking the series of 8 photos for A Full 360 Degree Panorama. This would have shown the mountainside at the road entrance to this Rest Area.
….Moreover … and I don’t know why … I had stopped my general practice of …=> Every important opportunity => Take Full 360 Degree Panorama Shots. I don’t know why I did not take Panorama Photo good places in the many miles ahead, especially considering this was in The ZMM Narrator’s High Country .
….
Puzzling? .Why Did I Wait Until Well Into YNP For My Next 360 Panorama?
… The thin high altitude air must have lowered my gumption, although I was not aware of it at the time. You, Dear Reader … should watch for this … when you get in similar circumstances.
…DATE-LINE: March 25, 2021. by Henry Gurr.
In Retrospect => Thinking Further About Above Mentioned IN-Adequate Panorama,
….Where I Really Needed A Good One!
…. Capturing this VERY DEEP CANYON, which was opposite to HIGH MOUNTAIN PEAKS, is clearly a difficult Panorama Photography Challenge! This calls for special “imaginative & creative” camera work that unfortunately I did not possess at the time.
….Before I walked away from the Rock Creek Vista Point => The thought should have arrived => “Stop. > Ignore photos already taken. > Start over. > Turn Camera From “Landscape” to “Portrait” for Highest Vertical Field > Make a mental plan > Now capture it ALL.”


This Google Street View (GSV) Shows => The Highway Approach To The First Beartooth Highway Rest Area & Rock Creek Vista Point.
…Here A GSV Is Perhaps Better Than A 360 Deg Full Circle Panorama, Since It Can In Addition A) Look Farther Up AND Down, Plus B) Offers Ability To Zoom Magnify, And See Better Distant Details!! RIGHT CLICK AND SELECT “NEW TAB” =>
INSTRUCTIONS => After Google Street View (GSV) Comes Up, Then => Click the Google Street View Image WHERE you want the “VIEW” To go. => Thus you can Successively Click-Click-Click = “GSV Drive” The street you see on your computer screen. You can even click-on a Side Street, to “GSV Drive” the Side Street !!
… You can always “GSV Drive” further to see more & more sights!! AND 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.
Every Google Street View (GSV) Has Available A “Strip-Map” => If You Click-On The ‘Expand Small Map’ At Lower Left, The Strip Map Will Go To Complete Screen Width.
….AND everything said about how to “manage” the GSV Image, ALSO applies to this Strip Map. MOREOVER => If you want to “jump’ to a longer distance location, you can simply “ClickDrag” the Strip Map to new locations. THEN a click on the Map, which will then jump your GSV to that place.
…. This Strip Map at bottom, may have a note saying => "Click highlighted areas to see images.” This means you should look just above it => For one or several Small Circles. Try clicking your mouse (several times) all around that area, and One Or Several Photos will be displayed.
….The pointer at the base of the Yellow Pegman may show the direction of this photo view.

…. For More Hints On Using Google Street View (GSV), And What To Do If GSV Fails-To Respond Normally.

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…. Click Here To See Google Street View’s DRAMATIC 360 deg 3D Panorama Type Photo From => Beartooth Highway, Rest Area & Rock Creek Vista Point. => AFTER Page Comes up, you will see a Google Street View (GSV) 360 3D Camera Photo, . The camera for this is located on a higher rock outcrop, beside (and looking North along) the ZMM Narrator’s “a little path that takes us out to the edge of a cliff. “
If things are working correctly =>
..1) You will see A Google 360 deg 3D Street View “Capture” from a single “higher rock outcrop” location on The Rock Creek Vista Point Area. For this SINGLE LOCATION => You can do all the normal Zoom and ClickDrag on The Scene to rotate and see 360 Full Circle.
.SIDE NOTE: This GSV wrongly says “Gasparilla Island State Park”, AND The Direction-Of-View-Pointer at the base of The Little Yellow Pegman points OPPOSITE of the GSV shown on your computer screen.

For the NEXT PHOTO, my camera was turned 180 degrees back toward the Parking Lot. And in this view, you will see more Beartooth Highway Tiers climbing even higher!

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(Photo = 106-0614 ...... ZMM Page = 110 ...... WayPt = 135p)

View South, Looking BACK At The Rest Area’s Parking Lot
…Notice The Works Progress Administration’s (WPA) Hand Made, Very Wide And Solid Stone Walls,
…..Which Are Along The ZMM Narrator’s “Little Path”, at Rock Creek Vista Point,.
……..Higher Up, Look Close, You Can See the Road Is Continuing Ever Higher.

…. “ We bundle up more tightly against the cold and continue upward.“

ZMM Narrator’s “Little Path, Rock Creek Vista Point, First Roadside Rest Area, < First Roadside Rest Area, Beartooth Highway ~14 Miles South of Red Lodge, MT. This photograph shows the Narrator's “Little Path on the way back from the cliff edge to the parking lot. Look closely, you will see the narrow path all the way to a lamp post, beyond which you can discern the pavement of the parking lot..

….At Right Notice The High Rocks Above The Wall => This Is The Location Of The => “Higher Rock Outcrop” 360 deg Camera Location”, Which Was Mentioned In The Previous Photo, With Link To Go See “A Dramatic GSV Type Panorama”.

….Also be Sure To Notice The Works Progress Administration (WPA) Hand Made, Very Wide And Solid Stone Wall (Or Iron Railings). Clearly To Protect The Visitor From Falling Over The Edge.
….As discussed in earlier photos => This highway was a 1930-1935 WPA Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) project. And I further surmise that this rest area plus, this stone wall, were hand made from local hand cut rock by the CCC men. Rarely do more recent highway constructions make such labor intensive installations that make this much use of local materials! Thus this is all pretty special! And you should take special notice of these walls when you are there!!!
….In the /\ Above /\ Photo => On the distant mountain, note the landslides from the rubble of constructing the road-cut. You can imagine the continuation of the switchbacks ever higher up!
….This rest area is over ½ way up the mountain. Altitude here is 9233 feet. So, it is a long way yet to the top at ~11,000 feet!
… You better hope your engine is in good shape, or you will have to perform some very inconvenient on the spot maintenance! And make sure the weather will allow safe passage. This is no place for rookies, tender-feet, or the ill-prepared!! Author Robert’s Quality is the order of the day!!

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…. Click Here To See 9 More of Google Street View’s Own Collection of 360 Degree 3D Panorama Type Photos Of => Beartooth Highway, Rest Area & Rock Creek Vista Point. => AFTER Page Comes up, you will see the first of some 9 Google Street View, 360 3D Camera Photos.
If things are working correctly =>
..1) You will see A Google 360 deg 3D Street View “Capture” of a single location in The Rock Creek Vista Point Area. For this SINGLE LOCATION => You can do all the normal Zoom and ClickDrag The Scene to rotate and see 360 Full Circle.
..2) You can then ClickOn => The Big Photo’s Lower Center Arrows (( < > )) => To go through the remainder of these. When I do this, all 9 appear of these “Captures” are much like 1) above, but show different people.
..3) The Panel At Left, when ClickDrag to full width, shows a Quick View of all 9, 360 3D GSV Camera Photo Versions: You can scroll up or down to see all these.

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(Photo = 106-018 ...... ZMM Page = 110 ...... WayPt = 135q)

A Second 2006 Larger & Higher Resolution Photo
… From The Rock Creek Vista Point Observation Area, Another View South, Looking BACK Along The ZMM Narrator’s “little path“ On The Way Back From The Rock Creek Vista Point Observation Area At Cliff Edge To The Parking Lot.

….At The Right Edge, You Can Discern The US-212 Climbing To This Parking Lot Location: AND Higher Up, Look Close, You Can See the Road, US-212 Is Continuing Ever Higher!

….In The /\ Above /\ Photo You Can See The Narrator’s “little path”: AND You Can See => “The Higher Rock Outcrop” 360 deg Camera Location” Which Was Mentioned In The Second Previous Photo.

…. [ “ We bundle up more tightly against the cold and continue upward.“ ]

Rock Creek Vista Point, First Roadside Rest Area, Beartooth Highway ~14 Miles South of Red Lodge, MT. .

….Again, Be Sure To Notice The Works Progress Administration (WPA) Hand Made Very Wide And Solid Stone Wall (Or Iron Railings)
….Which Are Along The ZMM Narrator’s “Little Path”.


The NEXT Photo was taken from where you see in the /\ Above /\ Photo, “US-212 Is Continuing Ever Higher”. This Next Photo Location was after the next tier’s switchback, and had a good place to show => Looking Back Down At this Rest Area Parking Lot, and the ZMM Narrator’s “Little Path.


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(Photo = Summer2006 0029 ...... ZMM Page = 110...... WayPt = 135s)