“I’m in love with Montana. For other states I have admiration, respect, recognition, even some affection. But with Montana it is love. And it’s difficult to analyze love when you’re in it.” – John Steinbeck
A few months ago a friend signed up for a crazy mountain race in Montana called Run the Rut. He decided to rent a cabin in Big Sky for the weekend and extended an invitation to join. Montana?! Absolutely! Other than a train ride through Glacier many years ago Montana has somehow eluded me. And now that I’m here I have no idea how I have NOT been here before!
I found a cheap $100 flight to Bozeman out of Seattle and flew over Wednesday night to have an extra 2 days of exploring before spending the weekend in Big Sky. Most of my friends told me to skip through Yellowstone and head straight to the Tetons. So in my normal “I sorta have a plan but not really” kind of way I hit the road Thursday from Bozeman with the intention of sightseeing through Yellowstone on my way to the Tetons. A big trip for just 2 days but I love road trips.
Unfortunately the road south from Yellowstone is now closed for the season making for a very long detour. I stopped so many times on the drive from Bozeman to marvel at the scenery that it became apparent there was no way I was making it to the Tetons. Once I got to Yellowstone I was so enamored I took all day just to drive from West Yellowstone to Old Faithful and back and managed to see barely a quarter of the massive National Park.
Yellowstone may not have craggy mountains but it’s simply stunning. I saw geysers, hot springs, elk, and bison, and beautiful rivers, and lots and lots of gorgeous blue sky. Montana, I’m not sure how you do it but the sky really IS bigger here. I’m looking forward to the weekend in Big Sky but one thing is for sure: I will be back for an extended trip very soon!!
A full gallery of Yellowstone photos
