AK1 Day 11

MS Day 11 – 14 Jun 12, Thursday

Ennis, Montana to Gillette, Wyoming

Mileage – 486

WX – sunny but cold, especially at 9,400 ft

States – Montana, Wyoming

Hwy 287, 287/191, 20/191/287, Hwy 89 Grand Loop Rd, Norris Canyon Rd, Hwy 212 NE Entrance Rd, Chief Joseph Scenic Hwy 296, Hwy 120, 20/14/16, Hwy 14, I-90

Note 1: We entered Yellowstone from the west and departed using the Northeast Entrance Road exit. We used the Norris Canyon Road to cut across Yellowstone and there are some fantastic side roads off the main road that give you some excellent views of waterfalls. On one side road it was barely wide enough for a car and the outside edge was crumbling. I’m trying to stop and take picture while at the same time I am way too close to the drop-off to suit me. I was glad to get moving again and off that ledge.

Note 2: While in Yellowstone we come upon a herd (20-30) of buffalo with several in the middle of the road. We were in front of several cars but we were not going to ride up to those buffalo on motorcycles so we just stopped and waited. Finally a pickup with yellow lights came around us and pushed his way through the herd. We quickly rode through the gap before they could decide to take out a motorcycle.

Note 3: As we left Yellowstone we used Highway 212 to Chief Joseph Scenic Highway. This is a fantastic motorcycle ride that rivals anything we had seen up to now. I enjoyed this almost as much as Jasper National Park, and really more than Yellowstone.

Note 4: During this day’s ride we crossed 3 mountain ranges with 2 in the 8000+ feet range and one up to 9400 feet. It was the coldest I had been on the trip. I had my electric jacket liner and gloves on for 2 of the 3 crossings and wish I had kept them on for the 3^rd. I had thought we were out of the mountains so took them off just before crossing the 3^rd range on our way to hitting I-90.

Note 5: Once on I-90 we made miles getting to Gillette, WY so we would be staged to hit Devils Tower, Deadwood and Sturgis the next morning.