In September and October, 2014, Elaine and Mike Von der Porten

embarked on the second part of a venture to Montana. Here are

some notes and photos.

view a pdf map of part 2 of the trip

Day 14 - October 6, 2014 - Monday

Stayed in West Yellowstone at the Brandin' Iron Hotel - worked out fine, good breakfast.

Visited the West Yellowstone Museum again. It's quite good with sections dedicated to

the history of Yellowstone tourism, the 1988 fires, the earthquake, winter tourism,

train travel and air travel.

Into Yellowstone National Park, across to the east.

Stopped at Lake Yellowstone sites.

Saw the spiral road -- way below the current road. Imagine having to take you Model-T

down that road and acoss the spiral! This is also called The Corkscrew!

On to Cody, WY.

Had dinner at the historic Cody Hotel.

Day 15 -- October 7, 2014

We visited the Visitor Center. Wyoming has an interesting 'sticker' program in which official

visitor centers hand out stickers such as those people used to put on their cars from the 1940s

to the 1970s. It was interesting to see all the attactions that were 'closed for the season' --

something we don't see ins Santa Rosa!

Spent most of the day at the Buffalo Bill Museum. It's really five museums in one. It certainly can take more than a day to see most of it.

Stayed a second night in Cody.

Day 16 -- October 8, 2014

Went back to the Museum. Checked with staff to find out the dates the Wild West Show came through Sonoma County: Sept. 4, 1902 and April 29, 1914. Those dates could be interesting reading in local papers.

We checked out the railroads in Cody -- they are on the north side of the river. Did they ever cross the river?

Back into Yellowstone, headed south to Grand Teton National Park.

Up and over the Continental Divide one of the last times.

Along the way, we saw two separate fox sightings!

Stayed in the Super 8 in Jackson, WY.

Day 17 -- October 9, 2014 - Thursday

Into Grand Teton NP.

We headed northeast to Gross Ventre where a huge slide blocked the river in 1925. The

geologists declared the slide "stable," so the downstream folks were happy. But, less

than two years later, the slide gave way. A lucky warning saved most folks, but six were

lost. It's an impressive site to walk the rocks and gravel that make up the slide.

On to the Visitor Center.

Headed out of the Visitor Center, Elaine spotted an interpretive panel that identified

a nearby National Historic Landmark -- the Murie Ranch.

We walked the 1/2 mile over to the site, a ranch house, a number of cabins and

outbuildings.

The place was locked up, but we looked around. A man was in the Murie Center

offices. He came out and asked if we wanted to see the home. "Sure." He asked

if we had a bit of time. "Sure, we have half an hour..."

]

Dan'l McIlHenny pulled up some chairs in front of the home and began to tell

us about Olaus Murie and his wife Mardy Murie who led the environmental

efforts after John Muir. This led to the Wilderness Act which "brought animals

and nature to the table" since National Parks were more about human access

and recreation. Of course, that's important in our Point Reyes National Seashore

where the court fight to finish that wilderness is just wrapping up. The Wilderness

Act is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.

What we didn't know is that Dan'l is an accomplished musician, producer,

etc. and that we had bought one of his CDs in Martinez, CA a few months

previously!

Two hours later, we headed back down the trail!

That evening, at Dan'l's suggestion, we attended an opening at the

National Wildlife Museum.

Day 18 -- October 10, 2014 - Friday

We extended our stay in Jackson since we didn't get too far on Thursday.

We looped up the east side of the park, then back down the west side.

The beaver dams created many very flat lake areas where numerous

photographers set up for the "perfect shot."

Day 19 -- October 11, 2014 - Saturday

From Jackson, WY to Arco, ID.

Went through the area where 50 nuclear reactors have been tested,

to the pride of the area. One period article said hundreds of thousands

of acres of "wasteland" were needed in the 1940s and this was the

place!

In Arco, the City Hall proclaims itself as the "Atomic City," the first

to be powered by atomic power. (Click on the image to see the City's

animation!)

Nearby the first Breeder Reactor is a historic site. Unfortunately, like

so many other sites, it was already closed for the season.

We got into Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve.

We managed a few of the shorter hikes before daylight left us.

Day 20 -- October 12, 2014 - Sunday

From Arco, ID to Twin Falls, ID.

We went back into Craters of the Moon where we walked most

of the shorter trails in the park.

Indian Cave and Beautiful Cave are quite worth doing. Boy

Scout Cave and the first cave at the intersection are really only

for "hard core" cave explorers. The hike out of Indian Cave is

quite good -- over the top of the lava flows with posts to make

sure people don't get lost.

We headed to the Fossil Beds -- be careful, you need to go

to the museum which is not near the site! The signage is not

good. The museum is a minor one with a few reconstructed

dinosaurs. The internment camp exhibit is modest, but better.

Then, off to the Minidoka Internment Camp. This is a National

Monument "in progress." Part of the site has been acquired and

several buildings have been restored and/or moved to the site.

There is a 1.6 mile walking loop and a good number of

interpretive panels. (You don't need to go to the Fossil Museum

to get infomation as some guidebooks say.)

We stayed at Twin Falls.

Day 21 -- October 13, 2014 - Monday

Twin Falls to Boise to Gibbons Springs, ID.

We headed to the nearby Perine Bridge - a very high bridge over

the Snake River at Twin Falls. This is one of a few authorized

STAR jump sites. And, sure enough, we saw three jumpers.

The landing site is next to the river, and, from there, the guys

have to walk the 800 feet back up to the rim.

We traveled some back roads - scenic routes out of Twin

Falls. At one place, we found a business processing antlers

for sale. The primary product is a cut antler piece sold as

dog chews.

We headed to northern Boise to visit Elaine's aunt Cathy

and her son Don. After dinner, we headed south.

At Gibbon Springs, we stayed with Maria and Joe Richards.

Maria is our daughter-in-law's aunt

Day 22 -- October 14, 2014 - Tuesday

Joe gave us a tour of the sky park in which they live -- each

home has its own hanger and the community owns an airstrip.

We headed to a county park where 5,000 to 8,000 year old

petroglyphs are visible. We happened to meet the county

archaeologist who gave us a tour! She knew exactly where

the key rocks are located -- much faster than hunting them

down using a rough map!

We headed to a Mexican restaurant for dinner.

Day 23 -- October 15, 2014 - Wednesday

The longest drive of the trip - Gibbon Springs, ID to Weed, CA.

Day 24 -- October 16, 2014 - Thursday

In and aound Weed with our friends, Bruce and Cindy Barrows

In Weed, we saw the outside of where 100 homes recently burned,

and we saw evidence of the town and community pulling together.

Visited the Cantara Loop. This is the tightest, steepest grade in active

mainline railroad service.

This is where a major derailment and chemical spill took place in 1991.

Note the new "fence" to make sure no later derailments cause spills into

the Sacramento River.

Since this site is a public access for catch-and-release fishing, the site

can be visited.

We headed to McCloud, an old lumbering town.

Day 25 -- October 17, 2014 - Friday

Left the Barrows home in Weed. A few minor stops along the way, but

headed home through Lake County.

5,840 miles for the whole trip Santa Rosa to Santa Rosa.

Great trip!

Montana Trip header - and link to MS Word File