Ennis to West Yellowstone June 30 2022

Ennis to West Yellowstone

June 30 2022

Today was the nicest weather I have ever encountered coming out of Ennis.  It has been cold and pouring rain, cold with a howling head wind, and cold, pouring rain with a howling head wind. However today was sunny and warm.

The ride down from Ennis to the corner where you turn to make the climb up to Earthquake Lake actually is quite pretty.  There is a beautiful river which meanders along the highway and to day being so nice had a lot of fly fisherman in dories and in waders.  The hills are beautiful shades of green and the mountains offset the valley with snow-capped peaks.  Along the river they built platforms for the osprey to build nests. Almost all of the nests had birds sitting on nests while their mate was off fishing in the river.  It was really beautiful.

At the 45 mile mark the highway turns and makes the climb to Earthquake Lake.  This lake was created when a 7.5 earthquake broke the side of the mountain off and dammed up the valley.  This is the largest earthquake in the Madison Valley and occurred in 1959.   The ride takes you up to the very top of the rock slide where picnic is.  The view down the valley is incredible.  Again this was the nicest day ever.  I hung around picnic filling up on goodies and just enjoying the view and great food.   

After picnic it was only 28 miles into West Yellowstone.  There was a lite tail wind and so I made good time.  It was great flying down the highway with the lake on one side and the mountains on the other.

Tonight is going to 37F so it should be a little chilly in the tent tonight.  However I have a good sleeping bag.

Terry