Monday, July 16, 2007

Gravelly Range

Today, we took a ride on the Gravelly Range, which is in the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest in Montana. We drove about 60 miles on forest roads, which are gravel. Some sections were quite good, and others were definitely for high clearance vehicles. We wondered a couple of times if we might have to turn around if the road deteriorated further, but we made it through. The road elevation varied from 7000 to 9600 feet. Another wonderful ride.


The road ahead, disappearing over the next hill. (On the left side of the picture.)



The view back down to the valley and the next mountain range.


Two ranch hands keeping watch over a herd in Clover Meadow. The national forest allows ranchers to graze cattle on the land.


Wolverine Basin.



Rolling meadows above the tree line.


A rain storm in the distance.


Looks like a jigsaw puzzle picture.



A sampling of the thousands of butterflies out on this beautiful sunny day.



A high mountain creek. The water is crystal clear.