We heart US 212......

Date: July 16, 2008
Weather: chillier.. especially at 10,500 feet altitude
Health: Good- no altitude sickness
Morale: The Hills are alive with the sound of music
Food: Bear Tooth Pale Ale, Glacier Ale, and Bent Nail IPA by Red Lodge Brewery
Current location: Red Lodge MT
Next Landmark: Black Hills and Mount Rushmore, SD
Miles Traveled: approx. 4100

We traveled the most beautiful highway- US 212 over the Bear Tooth Mountains- to the Top of the World- and down to Red Lodge. The poppy made it just fine and the scenery was amazing! The combination of meadows, snow, and lakes were breathtaking and the switchback road provided scenic outlooks one after another. Russ thinks this highway was even better than the road through Rocky Mountain National Park and we highly recommend it as an escape from Yellowstone as it can be taken from the East Entrance.
Here's some pictures from the ride....



Watch me- I can make this jump.....


Can you believe that is the road?



The next best find of the trip is Red Lodge, Montana. It is a great mountain town full of cool shops, great brews, yummy food, and ice cream.

Jess died and went to her second heaven…. The Montana Candy Emporium! It’s like Blacks’ store’s penny candy section multiplied ten fold. Imagine Willy Wonka’s candy factory in the mountains of Montana!!! To tide her over for the night… she filled a bag. But don’t worry- she’ll be back to stock up for the long haul home!


We spent a night sampling the brew at Sam’s Tap Room where they brew Red Lodge Ales. This is the best brewery of the trip. We got a mixed case to share and a growler of the Glacier Ale (our favorite). Not only could you sample at the Tap room, but also listen to little girls sing show tunes for money, roll around on the floor with about 5 dogs (Ro enjoyed this) and eat popcorn straight from the machine.



We rented a guest house from a Milwaukee, WI family with a summer home in Red Lodge. They were so kind and offered yummy fresh brewed coffee in the morning, and showers for us stinky hikers even after we checked out. The guest house was a log cabin on a roaring river. It was so great and our “resort treat.”



Not only is the food amazing, but also the shopping and hiking. We had the chance to do a little of both. The first day was a family hike to Glacier Lake climbing 1,000 feet in altitude over 1 ½ miles. This after a 8 mile dirt road to the trail head which was so rocky and full of holes and little brown creatures that it took 45 minutes to drive. Jess’ knuckles were white by the end of the drive and we were thankful that Ro was beyond Shaken Baby Syndrome. Good way to work off those beer calories. It was amazing at the top.



The second day was Russ and Ro embarking on a 11 mile hike of the Beartooth loop- Ro’s longest hike to date. They saw lots of bear prints so spent lots of time on the hike singing the “hey bear, whoa bear” song to alert any bears around. Ask them to sing it for you. Jess spent the day in town finishing her souvenir shopping and drooling yet again at the candy emporium.

Check out this bear print next to Russ' foot...

Guilty pleasure wise, this town filled a dream for each of us- Ro’s love of ice cream was met at the Red Caboose and Scoops, Jess’ love of candy was met at the Candy Emporium, and Russ’ love of beer was met at Sam’s Tap Room- home of the Red Lodge ales. Not only that but it was the most beautiful scenery and hiking. We fell in love with Montana and can’t wait to go back!