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On my way to some Geological Society of America Meetings in Bozeman, Montana last week, I took the drive from Dillon to Twin Bridges to Whitehall to Bozeman on the way there. And on the way back I drove the road from Bozeman to Norris to Ennis to Virginia City and then back to Twin Bridges. The scenery was spectacular. I can see why the people of Montana love their state. The map below is courtesy of Arrow Real Estate, Ennis, Montana.

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[Image] Our trip in Montana began along I-15 as we stopped at the rest stop near Lima. The sky was clouding over but I took this shot of the Lima Peaks.

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I wondered what the Lima Peaks might look like on a nice sunny day with just a few clouds, so I Photoshopped the sky into this picture. You can see what the sky really looked like in the photo above.

[Image] After stopping in Twin Bridges to drop my wife off at her brother's ranch, I headed north toward I-90 and the town of Whitehall. Thunderclouds were gathering, but the sun was leaking through as I passed this scenic spot.

[Image] After the meetings in Bozeman, I drove west along Highway 84 towards Norris. The ranches were beautiful, particularly this one with the Spanish Peaks covered in snow as a backdrop.

[Image] Even the barbed wire seemed to need a photo.

[Image] A bit farther along Highway 84 near the western edge of Gallatin Valley. The farms and mountains were incredibly beautiful.

[Image] In Bozeman Pass, I stopped to look at the rocks. I am a geologists, after all. These Precambrian biotite schists were folded and faulted into this interesting pattern.

[Image] Coming down out of the pass, I found the Madison Valley to be equally lovely. The Madison Range is the backdrop on east side of the valley.

[Image]  On the west side of the valley, the ranches sit at the foot of the Tobacco Root Mountains.

[Image] Looking down from Highway 287 towards Ennis in the valley and the Madison Range in the back.

[Image] Another view back across the Madison Valley, with Sphinx Mountain in about the center of the photo.

[Image] A close up of Sphinx Mountain taken with my zoom lens. I can see why it was called Sphinx Mountain.

[Image] Another ranch situated at the foot of the Tobacco Root Mountains near Alder.

[Image] A close-up of the Tobacco Root Mountains in the view above.