Beartooth Highway in late September

[N&B4PSU]

Italy is a confirmed bust, so we re-booted and are doing 2 weeks in Wyoming and Montana in late Sept into early Oct.

Anyone traveled the Beartooth Highway that late in the season... and are we biting off more than we can chew (without getting spit out on somne snow covered mountain).

Mille Grazie! [Not going to Italy but the feelings are still there lol]

 

[TheGLOV]

Quench your thirst in Jackson Hole Wyoming

 

[N&B4PSU]

Quench your thirst in Jackson Hole Wyoming

That is the destination after the drive. From there, onward to Ennis/Bozeman for a family week.

Unless they close Montana... in which case we're all screwed.

 

[TheGLOV]

That is the destination after the drive. From there, onward to Ennis/Bozeman for a family week.

Unless they close Montana... in which case we're all screwed.

I’ll be living in Lander again soon sir

 

[WyomingLion]

Italy is a confirmed bust, so we re-booted and are doing 2 weeks in Wyoming and Montana in late Sept into early Oct.

Anyone traveled the Beartooth Highway that late in the season... and are we biting off more than we can chew (without getting spit out on somne snow covered mountain).

Mille Grazie! [Not going to Italy but the feelings are still there lol]

The last week of September onward usually brings road closures for snow temporarily in Yellowstone. The Beartooth closes early I cannot remember when but the park website has information regarding it. I think the park map has a date for closure on it. It can be incredibly beautiful at that time of year but the high country brings winter early .

 

[bkmtnittany1]

That is the destination after the drive. From there, onward to Ennis/Bozeman for a family week.

Unless they close Montana... in which case we're all screwed.

There is a Philly bar in Jackson Hole..awesome cheesesteaks. We watched the PSU/Illinois fri nite game there a few years ago. can't think of the name but it was a great time.

 

[RedBankerEngr]

There is a Philly bar in Jackson Hole..awesome cheesesteaks. We watched the PSU/Illinois fri nite game there a few years ago. can't think of the name but it was a great time.

Cutty's Bar & Grill

http://cuttysgrill.com/#:~:text=Wel...corner,drink specials and friendly atmosphere.

 

[ClarkstonMark]

I’ll be living in Lander again soon sir

Lander, PA? That's where dem and I went to high school smack in the middle of Amish and farmland

 

[WDLion]

Italy is a confirmed bust, so we re-booted and are doing 2 weeks in Wyoming and Montana in late Sept into early Oct.

Anyone traveled the Beartooth Highway that late in the season... and are we biting off more than we can chew (without getting spit out on somne snow covered mountain).

Mille Grazie! [Not going to Italy but the feelings are still there lol]

Hit or miss at that time of the year. It closes for winter in mid October. Once you get to Cooke City, Rt 212 the road across the northern part of Yellowstone to Gardiner Mt. is open year round, weather permitting.

 

[WyomingLion]

Lander, PA? That's where dem and I went to high school smack in the middle of Amish and farmland

No, I believe he means Lander Wyoming, on the east slope of the Wind River Mountains.

 

[Sproul]

That is the destination after the drive. From there, onward to Ennis/Bozeman for a family week.

Unless they close Montana... in which case we're all screwed.

Just drove through Gardiner to Jackson this week. The eastern loop of Yellowstone is closed for construction so if you come in in e northeast you have to drive over to mammoth to go south

 

[N&B4PSU]

Thanks to all for gthe comments... my wife is most concerned (and i agree) about the elevation -- going from florida to over 10,000 on the highway. I'm told climbing steps in the house doesn't count lol.

 

[WDLion]

Thanks to all for gthe comments... my wife is most concerned (and i agree) about the elevation -- going from florida to over 10,000 on the highway. I'm told climbing steps in the house doesn't count lol.

Why would the elevation bother you? I live at 450 ft. and 14,000 at Pikes Peak was no problem. Late 60s at the time.

 

[N&B4PSU]

The medi

Why would the elevation bother you? I live at 450 ft. and 14,000 at Pikes Peak was no problem. Late 60s at the time.

The medical advice is that it can bother people once past 8,000' (wife's friend was at machu picchu wihich is about denver elevation and she had all kinds of problems that subsided when she returned to lower elevation).

The recommendation is to allow yourself to slowly acclimate to increased elevation. Since we're planning to leave the airport and head straight into the drive, we won't have time to acclimate, and if I have any issues we're down a driver in a rather precarious location (considering my wife wants nothing to do with driving in the mountains lol).

Moroeover, coming off covid I have not had the chance to do any climbing... so while I'm fine in the gym, I do notice that climbing stairs is a little tougher than it should be and the doc thinks it could be remnants of the disease. In short, I'm likely to be more susceptible to altitude problems now than i would have been previously.

 

[TheGLOV]

Lander, PA? That's where dem and I went to high school smack in the middle of Amish and farmland

Lander Wyoming!!

 

[TheGLOV]

No, I believe he means Lander Wyoming, on the east slope of the Wind River Mountains.

Bingo!!

 

[doublehaul]

I've done it in late Sept, but it's a crapshoot. If it's raining in the park, most likely it's snowing up there. There is usually a sign at the turnoff at Tower Junction, whether the pass is open or not. It is a neat drive, elevation, with a lot of switchbacks. If you want a picture of the Bear's Tooth, get it early, cause it's not visible the whole trip.
I was on a float on the Bighorn years back and a huge thunderstorm came up the valley. Luckily, the river bent one way and the storm missed us by a bit. That storm went over the Beartooth Mts and dropped a couple feet of snow and landslides on the pass. Screwed things up for months.

 

[The Spin Meister]

The medi

The medical advice is that it can bother people once past 8,000' (wife's friend was at machu picchu wihich is about denver elevation and she had all kinds of problems that subsided when she returned to lower elevation).

The recommendation is to allow yourself to slowly acclimate to increased elevation. Since we're planning to leave the airport and head straight into the drive, we won't have time to acclimate, and if I have any issues we're down a driver in a rather precarious location (considering my wife wants nothing to do with driving in the mountains lol).

Moroeover, coming off covid I have not had the chance to do any climbing... so while I'm fine in the gym, I do notice that climbing stairs is a little tougher than it should be and the doc thinks it could be remnants of the disease. In short, I'm likely to be more susceptible to altitude problems now than i would have been previously.

Machu Picchu is at 8000’, 3000’ higher than Denver. And you will be up and down instead of steady peak elevation. Start feeling problems, drive down to a valley for a day.

 

[doublehaul]

I don't think you will have any trouble with elevation. You will be stopping for photo opts and the road switchbacks a lot. There are lakes and icefields,lots to see. I never had trouble with elevation, till I went to Colorado. Was on an interstate that went up quickly to a lmost 10,000 feet and felt terrible. Dizzy and upset stomach. It can happen if you go up too fast.

 

[Ranger Dan]

Italy is a confirmed bust, so we re-booted and are doing 2 weeks in Wyoming and Montana in late Sept into early Oct.

Anyone traveled the Beartooth Highway that late in the season... and are we biting off more than we can chew (without getting spit out on somne snow covered mountain).

Mille Grazie! [Not going to Italy but the feelings are still there lol]

Was there in July. There were flurries at the top...

 

[WDLion]

Machu Picchu is at 8000’, 3000’ higher than Denver. And you will be up and down instead of steady peak elevation. Start feeling problems, drive down to a valley for a day.

Was there in July. There were flurries at the top...

In July 2015 we entered the park via the Beartooth Highway an Northeast entrance. Beautiful day. Talked to people the next night at the motel who came that route earlier in the day, they drove through light snow at the higher elevations.

 

[N&B4PSU]

Machu Picchu is at 8000’, 3000’ higher than Denver. And you will be up and down instead of steady peak elevation. Start feeling problems, drive down to a valley for a day.

Not sure why I keep thinking Denver is 7000.... Colorado Springs at 6k was where I set up before going up pikes peak... but that was long ago and one very heavy backpack. lol. Thanx for the correction

 

[TheBigUglies]

Say hi to the Duttons while in Montana

 

[lj4heisman1]

That is the destination after the drive. From there, onward to Ennis/Bozeman for a family week.

Unless they close Montana... in which case we're all screwed.

Going from the end of beartoith all the way down to Jackson hole and then back up to bozeman?

 

[The Spin Meister]

Not sure why I keep thinking Denver is 7000.... Colorado Springs at 6k was where I set up before going up pikes peak... but that was long ago and one very heavy backpack. lol. Thanx for the correction

Only know that because the stadium is called Mile High Stadium. 5,280’

 

[N&B4PSU]

Going from the end of beartoith all the way down to Jackson hole and then back up to bozeman?

Looks like from airport down towards yellowstone, then hit the highway and take it til we land at our cabin site for the night. Spin around the next day and head down to Jackson.

Still doing the logistics... hafta take a closer look at where the cabin site is exactly with regard to the highway to red lodge (not going that far).

EDIT: ok, seems the cabins are just outside the northeast entrance to yellowstone (what do i know lol). I'm guessing if we want to really see anything on the highway we're going to need to drive a lot further past there toward red lodge. Correct? TIA if anyone can advise.

 

[GTACSA]

Lander Wyoming!!

I spent the night there three years ago while I was doing the Oregon Trail. Nice town and a great state. I got spoiled by the lack of traffic so that one time when I was getting on the main road from a secondary road, I had to wait for one car to pass and cussed at him for being on "my road."

 

[WDLion]

Looks like from airport down towards yellowstone, then hit the highway and take it til we land at our cabin site for the night. Spin around the next day and head down to Jackson.

Still doing the logistics... hafta take a closer look at where the cabin site is exactly with regard to the highway to red lodge (not going that far).

EDIT: ok, seems the cabins are just outside the northeast entrance to yellowstone (what do i know lol). I'm guessing if we want to really see anything on the highway we're going to need to drive a lot further past there toward red lodge. Correct? TIA if anyone can advise.

Where are you flying to?

 

[WDLion]

Looks like from airport down towards yellowstone, then hit the highway and take it til we land at our cabin site for the night. Spin around the next day and head down to Jackson.

Still doing the logistics... hafta take a closer look at where the cabin site is exactly with regard to the highway to red lodge (not going that far).

EDIT: ok, seems the cabins are just outside the northeast entrance to yellowstone (what do i know lol). I'm guessing if we want to really see anything on the highway we're going to need to drive a lot further past there toward red lodge. Correct? TIA if anyone can advise.

Highway runs from Red Lodge to the northeast entrance to Yellowstone. 65 mi.

 

[fastlax16]

Did it in late sept for a wedding two years ago. Great drive. Highly recommend getting something that handles well. We had an suv at my wife’s insistence and there were some hairpins that made me uneasy. Would have preferred to be in something a bit sportier with a lot less body roll.

 

[bkmtnittany1]

Did Beartooth in 2000. July....stayed in Red Lodge on a friday nite. Could not go back into Yellowstone via Beartooth on Saturday morning because it was closed due to snow. September..crapshoot for sure. But gorgeous!

 

[olelion]

In July 2015 we entered the park via the Beartooth Highway an Northeast entrance. Beautiful day. Talked to people the next night at the motel who came that route earlier in the day, they drove through light snow at the higher elevations.

did you go up through Red Lodge Mt.?

 

[N&B4PSU]

Where are you flying to?

At the moment, Bozeman. Even giving thought to flying further north and doing Glacier, then driving back... but 9 hrs to JH would make my wife consider divorce. Given the time of year, I'm wondering if maybe we take a pass on the Beartooth and be happy just driving all arounbd most of MT and WY. Might be a lot less stress.

 

[WDLion]

did you go up through Red Lodge Mt.?

Yes. Stayed overnight in Billings.

 

[WDLion]

At the moment, Bozeman. Even giving thought to flying further north and doing Glacier, then driving back... but 9 hrs to JH would make my wife consider divorce. Given the time of year, I'm wondering if maybe we take a pass on the Beartooth and be happy just driving all arounbd most of MT and WY. Might be a lot less stress.

If your cabin is at the northeast entrance, you could take 90 east to just west of Billings. Rt 212 is the Beartooth Highway and it will take you to the northeast entrance. Don't be afraid of the highway, it's 100 times safer than the interstate, weather depending.

 

[WDLion]

At the moment, Bozeman. Even giving thought to flying further north and doing Glacier, then driving back... but 9 hrs to JH would make my wife consider divorce. Given the time of year, I'm wondering if maybe we take a pass on the Beartooth and be happy just driving all arounbd most of MT and WY. Might be a lot less stress.

The Going to the Sun Road is just as likely to be closed as the Beartooth.

 

[N&B4PSU]

sounds like we can go about an hour past our cabin in silver gate and that would get us up to about 11,000 feet and certainly provide the scenery we had in mind. If the weather is bad, we'll know and cancel... otherwise, it's just a couple hrs up and back.

Now... to convince her... lol

 

[WDLion]

sounds like we can go about an hour past our cabin in silver lake and that would get us up to about 11,000 feet and certainly provide the scenery we had in mind. If the weather is bad, we'll know and cancel... otherwise, it's just a couple hrs up and back.

Now... to convince her... lol

That's the easy side of the mountains. Less switchbacks and a more gradual clime. Its Silver Gate.

 

[doublehaul]

Another tip. Weather permitting, if you decide to do the Beartooth, stop at Rock Creek. There is an observation site with an amazing view of the valley below.

 

[N&B4PSU]

Another tip. Weather permitting, if you decide to do the Beartooth, stop at Rock Creek. There is an observation site with an amazing view of the valley below.

I appreciate this and all the inside tips... didn't know this so we'll put it on the list to things to do!

Apparently wife had no problems in her youth (the utes, i think) at yellowstone. Ergo, I suspect we'll be just fine most places in WY and MT (watch me be the spoiler lol).