This was the final day of paradise – this time in the very high mountains north of Yellowstone. The Beartooth Highway doesn’t bother taking the lowest pass, it just heads straight up and over the summit plateau. The best way to describe the area is that it is like the Cairngorms on speed! Tundra on the plateau, huge snow patches, massive corries and cliffs, highountain lakes. Wow!

Fortified by last nights steak – and a good sleep – we cruised up a 700ft warm up climb, descended for 10 miles, and then began the main climb. 

   The picture above is of the Bear’s Tooth itself. Tim has put it on his ‘to do’ list. 
At about 8000 ft, as the trees thinned, we entered an alpine scene, with beautiful flowers in the meadows. There was, unexpectedly, a coffee stop.  

     
The final 1000 ft snaked up hairpins.

   
We even impressed the motorcyclists, who shouted encouragement. On the top we caused quite a stir, and a kind family took our picture.

   We were on the top by 12.30.  At 10947 ft, this is by far the highest place I have ever been on a bike. There is nothing so high in Europe, so unless I go to Colorado ……

The descent was epic, right down the wall of a huge canyon, on massive hairpins. About 5000ft in one go. 

We stopped at Red Lodge for chicken salad, and then blasted out the last 40 miles down a 1% grade in well under 2 hours. This was despite 2 miles of dirt through some roadworks, amd changing a rear snakebite puncture! We were flying! 

Sadly, we are back to nondescript edge of town motels and nearby fast food outlets. But the Yellowstone river is still close by – now with a chemical works on the bank! An easier day tomorrow. And this is where we stop messing about sightseeing, pin our ears back, and head east.