I grew up in Montana, but spent the latter half of my life in the Chicago area. Apparently I had forgotten the vast rawness of the western part of the US. Seriously, other than the highway itself, it felt like man had never stepped foot into many of the scenic byways of Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Wyoming, and the Dakotas.
As I drove through the eastern side of Yellowstone in Wyoming, the steam from geysers melted the snow-covered timbers burned from a previous wildfire, boulders tumbled down the sheer granite cliffs, bison and elk grazed steps away. I spent several nights on public land, boondocking miles away from modern civilization. I went up and over so many rugged mountain passes, I felt like a sherpa. It was a climate-controlled, leather-bound, front-row seat to an unforgettable experience!
I just wish the weather would have cooperated. The last month has been some of the most nasty, most dreary, most unpleasant weather of the last year. Many of my photographs just didn’t capture the natural beauty of the West.
- Thornburg Draw in Colorado
- Dugway Recreation Site near Sinclair, Wyoming
- Dugway Recreation Site near Sinclair, Wyoming
- Antelope, a very familiar site across Wyoming
- Nap time!
- "Not So" Grand Tetons with bad weather
- Yellowstone National Park
- Elk in Yellowstone
- Obligatory shot of Old Faithful
- Yellowstone in June
- Buffalo Bill Dam
- Buffalo Bill Dam
- Bighorn National Forest
- Mount Rushmore National Memorial
- A different view of Mount Rushmore
- Crazy Horse Mountain Memorial
Your pictures are gorgeous. My Mom and I drove out to Rapid City two summers ago when I had to attend a meeting…yes, it was like being in the middle of nowhere. But it was so beautiful…much more so than I had expected.
Awesome pics!