Their outward voyage took over two months to traverse this same territory and I would enjoy spending at least that time here. In retreat from the United States army Chief Joseph led his small band of Nez Perce from central Idaho down through the Rockies into what is now the Yellowstone Park area of northwest Wyoming, then north across Montana almost to the safety of Canada. Heavily outmanned and outgunned, he yet fought four battles along this thousand mile journey, outgeneraling the federal forces and finally giving in only when his people were near starvation. Indeed, not all was lost for news of these encounters changed Eastern attitudes and the army's harsh policies became increasingly unacceptable. Eastern Montana is rolling open country with a strong west wind constantly blowing.
Dust devils swirl and move east.
Locals tell us that the state is rapidly moving to the Dakotas. It is about this country and the mountains to the west that his elegant series of western novels are written. Over the broad prairie, itself only marred here and there by fence lines and of course by the long stripe of highway, that infinite blue sky seems broader and more expansive than ours in the east. In fact it is. Our horizon is always broken by buildings and trees.