Ten Sleep Canyon Walls

CODY WYOMING July 13, 2004

I think we must be on another planet!

We have seen the landscape of western South Dakota and Wyoming on TV shows and in the movies but seeing it first hand with your own eyes is simply awesome.

We left Custer, SD about 8:00 a.m. this morning heading for Cody.  We were not more than 10 miles out of Custer when we ran into road construction.  But, unlike the construction we are accustomed to back home they simply tear the existing road out and leave a dirt trail for traffic to follow.  The light rain last night turned the dirt into mud that is all over the truck and camper.  We did not get back onto solid pavement until we crossed the state line into Wyoming.  There we picked up I-90 and rolled over some of the most amazing landscape we have ever seen for about 100 miles.  The highway is basically flat with some rolling hills.  You can see ahead until the road disappears over the Horizon.  The speed limit here is 80 mph, which is pretty much a joke as we were constantly passed by cars like we were standing still (our speed was about 65 mph).  Small oil wells dot the landscape along with cattle, horses and Mule Deer.  There are bright red-topped mesas that rise abruptly like and hills.

We exited I-90 onto US 16 at Gillette, WY, and began our climb over what is known as the Big Horn Mountain and The Sweet Sixteen.  This route takes you through the Big Horn Notational Forest along the Cloud Peek Scenic By-way.  This was unlike anything we have ever climbed.  We kept going up, up, and up for miles until we finally hit the top at over 9,000 feet elevation.  Other than an airplane, this is the highest I have ever been that I can remember.

Going down the mountain was even more exciting.  The road was narrow with switchback turns and a frail guard rail separating us from the canyon below.  There were several places where the guard rail was pushed out or broken.  I guess some poor soul took the wrong route.

Having both an exhaust brake and an engine compression brake was a blessing.  I shifted down to 8th gear and let the engine do most of the downhill braking.

There are no houses out here.  Wayne was running low on diesel fuel and the one station we found in some little town did not have any diesel fuel.  Fortunately Lee has an auxiliary fuel tank in the bed of his truck and transferred about 10 gallons of diesel into Wayne's tank.  We had plenty of fuel but no way to transfer it to another vehicle.  We would be in sorry shape if we had a breakdown out here and needed a tow truck.  Traveling with friends on this highway is our only security.

Back on relatively flat ground we got into Cody some 8 hours and 360 miles later.

Nancy made over 100 photos as we were crossing the landscape.  Trying to decide which ones to share is a real dilemma.

We are set up on a level campsite in Cody and I am ready to call it a day and go to bed.  Tomorrow we will check out Cody and then go into Yellowstone Monday.  

Remember, if you are using a PC you can click on any picture to enlarge.  This feature probably will not work on a Smart Phone. 

Photos are not sorted in order due to a very slow internet connection.  But, I think you can get the general idea.  There are many, many more that I do not have the bandwidth to share now..

Yes, the sign is real.  The speed limit on I-90 is 80 mph.  Like most Interstate highways, this means drivers go 10 to 15 mph fastener than the posted speed limit.

 Yes, that is 9,055 feet above sea level as we crossed the top of Big Horn and began our decedent into Ten Sleep Canyon..

Down on flatter ground, mounds rise like the Egyptian Pyramids.

The rock walls and formations going down the mountain and into the canyon are breathtaking.

On I-90 before Highway 16 the road just seems to disappear on the horizon into the Big Horn mountains.

 The dirt road we had to follow out of Custer.

Small oil wells dot the landscape.  I wonder how it would be to have an oil well in your backyard?  Other than an occasional bovine critter or oil well, the signs of human life out here are far and few between.

 That white stuff on the mountain is SNOW left over from winter.  We are at a little over 8,000 feet elevation.

Looking down into what is part of Ten Sleep Canyon.