The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1935-08-02
THE new SCENIC ROUTE
TO YELLOWSTONE PARK

AVN 434SAS
and yet in an incredibly short
time we are loo feet above the
valley floor. At intervals, there
are turnouts where the motorist
may stop to view the wonderful
sight below him.
The final switch-back curves
around a shoulder of the noun
tain and then continues on, SUD
denly coming out ION top of the
world" Here is a surprise! From
Red Lodge these mountains look
as if their tops would be jagged
peaks. There are a few tall
peaks, but most of the mountain
tops are a great plateau. There
are no trees-just stubble grass
and rocks, for we are above the
timber line. The elevation is
$500 feet where the road first
comes owe the rim. Over a
plateau broken here and there
by blue mountain lakes we have
risen gradually to the highest
point on the highway-11.0 900 feet
above sea level. The view from
this point is unsurpassed any
where. From here, by moving a
few feet in any direction, thirty
two lakes are visible. Lakes of
crystal clear water and full of
prlze-winning trout.
This is the land of pink snow!
One great bank of it lies Just
west of and slightly above the
road. And it really is pink. The
only pink snow in the world and
made so by the fern and insect
life of the mountain tops. On
nearby mountains may be seen
other great banks of snow which
remain throughout the year and
which feed the many mountain
streams of the reoion.
Then the road begins to descend
the southwest side of the Bear
toothS toward Cooke City an6
Yellowstone Park. 1t passes the
Clarke's Fork valley, long the
home of cowboys and cattle. Here
and there may be seen many
| fine ranches and herds. Then
through a heavily timbered dis.
trict and into Cooke Citv with
its old-time false fronted build
ings and log shacks. Once a
boom town, it is again experience
ing a little of the life of the goot
old days because of the road
crews and a revival of placer
mining.
Three miles beyond Cooke City
the road enters Yellowstone Ma
tional park. Although it is opel
for necessary travel at present
the highway will not be completed
until the summer of 1885. Nc
work car be done during the win.
ter months as the snow on many
sections of the project has ar
average fall of twenty feet! Ever
in summer. the road builders have
frozen ground to contend with
Most of the dirt which was move,
above the 9.000-foot level had tt
be dynamited out because at tina
altitude, the ground is eternal,
frozen. The engineers have at.
tempted to construct the road 81
that it may be kent open il
winter. The" have studied tn,
drift of the SHOWS and have triet
to route the road away from tn,
deeper drifting places. Upon com,
pletion. the road will be oiled TO
a width of 16 feet.
When, in Februarv, 1881. Con
gress passed the bill authorizing
the construction of this grea
new road. it marked the end of
s~ix-vear battle to have the roat
built. The fight was carried o.
by the people of Red Lodge an,
surrounding TERRITORY. In 1927,
group of Red Lodge resident
went over what is now the rout
of the road. They suggested tina
this wonderful territory be open
ed up to motorists. A workin
fund was raised and a committe
headed by O.. H. P. Shelley wa
Continued on Page Four)