Dead Indian Pass, Wyoming

On a hot, lazy late morning we took a drive and encountered ‘Dead Indian Pass’ on our way to Cooke City in Montana. There is a sign at the turn off, WY 296 (Chief Joseph Highway), “Vehicles over 40′ use highway 212”. Since we were not pulling Rosalita (although Rosalita is nowhere near 40′), we proceeded up and down the switchbacks of the 7% grade. The landscape changes from almost desert terrain with red stone monuments rising out of the valley floor to the wooded and breath-taking pass 8000 feet above sea level.

Dead Indian Pass’ history is no less horrendous than anywhere else in the United States (or world) whether it happened in the 1500’s, 1800’s or the 1900’s (as the photos of the plaques will reveal – all in the name of revenge!). When will we ‘live and let live’ — in my lifetime, probably not, but hopefully in my Grandson’s lifetime?!?!?

On the top of Dead Indian Pass the view is spectacular! The valley below stretching from Northern Wyoming into Southern Montana is filled with canyons deep and wide, and the Clarks Fork Yellowstone River crashing over rocks and feeding the lands further downstream.

After the pass we encounter, not only majestic pines, but aspens are now the canopy that lead us into Montana. Colorado is not the only state to show off the golden aspen.

We now leave Wyoming & steer to Cooke City, Montana (the northern entrance to Yellowstone, which remains open all winter).