Starting the ignition, we drove north on Montana 86, out of Bozeman. The winding road meanders through the stunning, raw beauty of the Bridger Canyon. This byway delves into the heart of The Bridger Mountain Range, in the shadow of Sacajawea Peak and chiseled snow-capped ridges constructed through millions of years of volcanism, erosion and glaciation. The range is named for famed trapper and folklorist (tall tale yarner') Jim Bridger.
This drive through the canyon only begins to peel away at the layers of geology, history and unbridled beauty. The peaceful and restless backcountry of the Bridger Mountains, is home to world classing skiing, including Bridger Bowl and Bohart Ranch, and countless backcountry recreation, and hidden beauty including backcountry lakes like the mystical Fairy Lake.
The snow has melted significantly over a few days. This left the road completely clear, a relief to me, as the slick roads can lead to dangerous accidents.
It is sixteen miles from our house in downtown Bozeman to Bridger Bowl, one of the area's best ski spots. This ski area is a co-op and affordable without sacrificing high quality runs and services. I'm not a skier due to knee and neck injuries from a car accident, still I appreciate the investment Bridger brings to the area. It is a true treasure for downhill and cross country skiers as well as snow-shoeing.
Exiting the canyon, the resplendent glow of the sunlight, radiated warmth, as we drove into the vast beauty of the Montana countryside. The sky a cerulean cloudless expanse, an ocean of sky, readily lived up to its reputation, 'Big Sky Country.' Miles of snow dusted Montana ranchland, tumbling buttes, tall golden grasses and burnt plains, are contrasted by the formidable glacial peaks of the surrounding Bridger and Crazy Mountains. The word 'sweeping' falls short of describing this glorious scene, a symphony of nuances.
This is the heart of cattle country, the place of forgotten dreams and beautiful memories, where the lost and wandering find solace and a peace of redemption in the unsung wild lonely expanse.
We continued north on MT 86 until it merged into US 89, a scenic road that runs from Glacier NP-Great Falls-Gardiner MT and then into WY and beyond.
At this point the topography shifted slightly, entering a region known as The Shields Valley. This stretch of highway is surrounded by The Bridger's to the west and Crazy Mountains to the east. The Shields River snakes roadside, it's water shimmering in the midst of the sun like sparkling glass. It is a popular fishing spot in the summer.
We approached the small, yet hardy town of Wilsall, a ranching community with a café, bank, bar and Mercantile. Even in Montana's rural areas, communities form, and bonds are made.
We passed through the hamlet of Clyde before reaching I-90. We crossed a bridge atop the mighty, holy waters, of the Yellowstone River. The wind picking up, frenetic at times. The area around Livingston is prone to high winds as it acts like a funnel for air tunneling through the surrounding mountain ranges. Luckily today's crosswinds were easy enough to deal with.
We stopped briefly in Livingston for a walk in Sacajawea Park along the banks of the Yellowstone River. William Clark and Sacajawea camped in this area during the Corps of Discovery (Lewis and Clark briefly split up to explore separate areas of Montana, meeting back at their rendezvous point of the Yellowstone River near Billings).
The Yellowstone River is the longest free-flowing (undammed river) in the U.S., at around 600 miles, running from its headwaters at Yellowstone Lake in Yellowstone NP to western North Dakota. The river makes my heart dance, it is solitude and chaos in motion.
We concluded our day, enjoying a meal in downtown Bozeman at Taco del Sol...this day will be one for the memory books...
Adele Gibbes is the author of the Playhouse Mystery Series. Murder in Custer State Park is available on Amazon now.
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