Hwy 212, the Beartooth Highway, has had an open/closed thing going on over the past couple of weeks due to late-spring snow. They usually target opening day for Memorial Day weekend but the weather was not completely cooperative. It finally opened a few day ago and I decided that today was a good time to check it out.
I took along my rain gear and some cold weather clothing because you just never know at this time of year. I left about 1 pm after stopping for gas and road The Slab to Laurel. From there it was the new Hwy 212 to Rockvale where I pulled over for short stop. I needed to fiddle with the music thing on my phone and to take a couple photos. I also wanted to look at the weather map and get an idea of what those clouds to the south had in mind. It appears they are headed east.
The ride to Red Lodge was uneventful and a bit slow since there were quite a few cars ahead of me and they seemed happy to travel at 58 mph. I’m in no hurry and just enjoying being out. I did pick up a few rain drops around Boyd.
In Red Lodge I stopped at the parking area by their park to use the restroom and to put on my sweatshirt and put the rain liner in my jacket. I didn’t expect rain but wanted it as a wind breaker.
I headed up Hwy 212 and stopped by a sign for a photo.
On the way up, about where the switchbacks start, I stopped for a few minutes.
The next stop was Vista Point.
Just after I got going again, I pulled over to let another motorcycle go by. He was wanting to go much faster than me. We both pulled out at the same place a bit further up. He was riding a kTM adventure bike and had a passenger.
In years past I have seen deeper snow than what is in the mountains now but there are still some deep drifts.
The next stop is my turnaround, Beartooth Pass. I took the requisite photos.
On the way down I pulled over somewhere.
Back in Red Lodge I stopped at the same place I did on the way up and shed the cold weather stuff. It wasn’t that cold on top, only about 51°. The ride back was great, cruised at 70 mph and got home at 5:56 pm, a nice 5 hour excursion.
187 miles.
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