Some days in the United States... Tour of Montana

Among the many trips that a camper dream is to cross the U.S. from coast to coast, the Caravan Club Italy, has organized and we are a member. It was a long time since we talked about it with friends, others, or alone with other organizations, there had been, but always in very limited locations: California, Nevada and Utah, no one knew that we had made the "coast to coast . Given the program, we noticed that was very broad, but limited in time, in a nutshell: you had to run, but could be done. After two meetings in Bologna, home of the club and one in Bergamo, where we had all the details and final costs, and you decide to go. The cost, inclusive (unfortunately not the case) was set at € 12,500. Twenty days before departure there was a balance in favor or against, the value of the dollar / euro and this then has not come true, for about € 400. It 'was decided to do the same for all cost for the camper even though they were of different sizes because not everyone could have the small ones, so it was chosen by lot. The maximum of the participants had to be 20 campers with two executives, would have made two groups, unfortunately one of the two animals for health reasons had to give up, we were asked if we wanted to start with a single charge and we all agreed, however, the cost of the second person had been charged and has not been repaid to the various participants. Many have requested a refund but there was no response.
To enter multiple photos and make reading faster, I wanted to mention this trip is divided into states, each group in addition to related photos, there will be a diary of the days associated with that state.

 

From Devil’s Tower, Wyoming to Harding, Montana km. 360

We left the camp on an Indian reservation and we head to Devil's Tower, the scenic mountain stage of the Steven Spielberg film "Close Encounters of the Third Kind." It 'so unique and extraordinary! You see a lot before you get there, but as you approach, the proportions become really scary. It is a cone cut in peak 2590 meters high, which stretches towards the sky from a plain, however, anonymous. It 's a unique volcanic rock, shot out of the ground and then raffreddatasi in its current form, shining in the moonlight. It seems decidedly supernatural, as if someone had lying there in time so that the aliens did use it. Going up a very narrow road for our campers, we stop at a lookout near the tower and go out to better observe and photograph. A sign indicates that the tower was considered sacred by the Indians in 1906 and was first declared a National Monument of America, along the path that leads us to the base of this mountain lies the trees, pines, decorated with colored pieces of cloth, Are prayers addressed to the deity of the mountain.
It starts neatly, taking up our header 90. We are just outside the state South Dakota and we are about to cross a large part of Montana, with deserts, prairies, plains, canyons and rivers wild. This offers opportunities for outdoor recreation such as fishing, canoeing, cycling, sailing, camping and winter sports in the context of scenery and unique, all at a height of 1600 meters. with a hot muggy.
We arrive at Little Bighorn Battlefield (N 45 34 53 - 107 27 03 W). Inside the Crow Indian Reservation is the battlefield of Custer, place a memorable moment in American history, known as "Custer's Last Stand (Custer's last stand). The last outpost of Custer is surrounded by a black fence. A sandstone monument marks the common grave of 210 soldiers of the Seventh Cavalry, led by the impulsive General Custer, wiped out by Sioux and Cheyenne Indians in 2000, led by the legendary Sitting Bull, who reacted against this attack on the large Indian encampment along Little Bighorn River. No one knows the number of Indians killed because their bodies were all taken away. Memorial stone in memory of the fallen and even the exact place where he was killed General Custer. Scattered in this way, in a place so desolate and windswept, the stones seem surprisingly poignant, almost touching. Interestingly, the small museum, the Lame Deer Mountain Tribal Museum, which recreates the weapons used in battle, the clothes of the Indians and soldiers, photographs and furnishings belonging to Custer and more.
Arrived at camp we find that is not provided with water supply and discharge gray and black, some campers had problems, a group went out to dinner, and we were also invited to celebrate our wedding anniversary, but I was tired and I did not I felt and therefore reluctantly we gave up, drink to our health ....
Group I and others have sent e-mail to DC to complain all'Hotelplan Italy and the state media and the lack of assistance.
Hardin Koa Camping - 45 49 N 45 W 107 36 51

From Harding to Great Falls, Montana km. 450

Camping Great Falls - N 47 ° 29'24 111 ° 13'18 W
Departure 7.30 am
Continue crossing the Montana immense meadows, hills and plains of un'intercalare on a dual carriageway with the bottom not too good.
The weather today has not been gracious, almost always covered with some sprinkling of rain.
At number 15 has lit the lamp oil, immediately became concerned, but then reassured when power is off.
Before arriving at camp, visit the Falls Great Falls, (N 47 ° 31'08 111 ° 15'35 W)
nothing special, just a cascade of an artificial dam to feed a power plant.
Camping beautiful and peaceful, full exhaust
Camping Great Falls - N 47 ° 29'24 111 ° 13'18 W

from Great Falls to West Yellowstone, Montana km. 420.

Departure at 7.30.
Stage of transfer, we had to stop for lunch at the Guest Ranch, a kind of farm, but much more distinctive, but the site was still closed, the tourist season was not yet open.
Reach 2000 meters in the afternoon. West Yellowstone National Park and our campsite. It pretty cool ... .. indeed, cool. Celebrating the birthday of Chantal. We're sure that this evening there will find the Yogi Bear ... .. stay prefer the warmth in his den, so the cake there are already eaten all of us ..
Camping West Yellowstone Grizzly Campground - 39 23 N 44 W 111 06 17

From Yellowstone, Montana to Jackson, Wyoming km. 260.

Today we visit the beautiful Yellowstone Park. We realize now that is the leader. Without him, the concept of protected area would not be the same. The region's legendary "yellow stone" or "stone gelatin-Jellystone-crippled as cartoons. We remain speechless in front of a paradise unique. Should imagine an area the size of Umbria where Mother Nature wanted to add lakes, gorges, forests, grasslands, mountains, including spectacular phenomena such as volcanic mud pools, hot springs, geysers that do not exist elsewhere on the Planet. Located slightly northwest of Wyoming and bordering on Idaho and Montana in the heart of the Rocky Mountains, Yellowstone National Park is not only the first park established in the world, but also the largest in the United States. Its surface is about 9000 sq. km. We are facing a landscape of mountains winding roads, but beautiful, a furrow between 2000 and 2700 meters and where the geological activity within its underground hot springs in intermittent bursts. Actually contained in its 200 largest geysers are the largest caldera in the world and have no equal except in Iceland and New Zealand. It 's the result of the thinness of the crust (just 5 km 50 km against the average in other continental areas) that floats on a boiling temperature of lava. If you add the rain (1 mt. Per year) is obtained by a conjunction of forces within the fissures of the soil, originating strange phenomena. Although the water stored in the bottom of the column of geysers can not come to a boil because of too much pressure, in contrast, half of the column is heated and turns into steam welling up. Then the cycle begins again with a new supply of water, the depth of cracks near the magma melting renew the reaction. The main areas of interest in the park are served by the Grand Loop Road, a road of 235 hm. figure eight. We explored the bottom of the eight, the most important one with the best sites. Here the movement is often hindered by the presence of animals, as Yellowstone has the largest reserves in the United States, after Alaska. First there is the bear, we saw a baby and there were rangers that prevented us from approaching. Today it has become difficult to spot, while before 1970, he used to follow the tourist and his family to remedy some delicacy. Secondly there is the bison, despite its systematic slaughter by the white man at the end of last century, today the park is the world's largest herd of 3000 heads. Roam undisturbed to the park also blocking traffic. They can also be dangerous and should not be teasing though, if you want to approach them, you should always do it against the wind. We have also seen several before our means fearless and unafraid calmly through the streets. Also you can encounter deer in Canada that exceeds the European species in stature and size. At one point we were divided into groups of four campers not to interfere too much traffic in lay-bys, left turns at intervals of 15 minutes apart. Old Faithful Geyser to reach 13 in half hour Time delay determined by PL. His name is linked to the range of its eruption cycle of 90 minutes. His steam is 36 to 55 meters. And the symbol of the park. We crowd on the bridge of wood waiting to observe the jet, it was nice and interesting but I expected much higher and powerful. There are also of a visit to Mammoth Hot Springs hundreds of geothermal springs that form pools of hot water colored and full of minerals which create the travertine formations on rock terraces. One for all is the Grand Prismatic Spring, 113 m wide. which is located near Old Faithful. This rainbow colored hot spring along the riverbank Firebole, is one of the largest in the world. We even lose sight of the Falls Upper and Lower Falls. Many trails along the rim of the canyon offers beautiful views. And yet the 'Uncle Tom's Trail "down a steep staircase to a platform overlooking the falls. How many photos we have taken? Over a thousand? Crazy, but everything must remain in us for a long time. Take the road and enter the National Park with Yellowstone Teton that form a huge natural area that stretches over 160 km. We pass Moose and reach 10 miles south of Jackson Hole, where, on the banks of the Snake River is our Snake River South Jackson Koa Campground. Place the camper, a shower, dinner and then to bed.
Snake River South Camp Jackson Koa - 43 20 N 27 W 110 43 27

The end

Many efforts and hard work for this trip that gave us emotions difficult to describe. Every day was unique, unmissable, extraordinary, thanks to the commitment and willingness of all our partners in adventure. What we remember most? Hard to say. Every place of its kind, it was wonderful. This trip will be memorable. Our thoughts, in order, rushing to the charm of Niagara Falls, the gullies of the Badlands, the faces of presidents carved into the mountain, the magnificent Dewil Tower, Old Faithful and all the exciting dell'Yellowstone Park (although we did not see Yogi Bear and Booboo), Monument Valley, and its delicate arches and its spire, the light filtered through Antelope Canyon Lake Powell with the legendary Glen Canyon Dam, the proud, the great, the beautiful, the breathtaking Grand Canyon, lights, sounds of Las Vegas to Badwater in Death Valley hot, very big and the very old General Sherman and the unexpected snowfall in Sequoia National Park, the beautiful Golden Gate Bridge and the skyline of San Francisco saw the romantic Sausalito, and finally, the greatest New York, its skyscrapers, Central Park, Brooklyn Bridge, the Statue of Liberty (seen from a distance). There were many other things to tell that we have not included in this text. Others that we could say but who are in all the guidebooks. Still others, like the most intimate feelings and emotions. ... That they can never describe but which will remain trapped forever in us. Now it is all over. It 's time to go home, review my friends, to continue our life forever, waiting for another wonderful trip to enjoy together.