After a 10.5 hr day of work, a 7hr drive to camp, and about 5 hrs of sleep, I woke to a fine sunrise over the Middle Fork of the Powder River and Outlaw Cave in WY. Nice to be back here. 

Camp. Sleeping in the back of the 4runner makes things easy.

Looking down on the Middle Fork of the Powder River, WY.

Looking down on Outlaw Cave. Not the one you’d think it would be.

Ready to get back to chasing that horizon north. Still about 7 hrs of driving to go.

Looking west towards Barnum, WY.

Hole-in-the-Wall, somewhere in the haze.

Looking for some rock art. Took me a minute to remind myself where they were.

Hole in the Wall Ranch. Always enjoy the views here.

After another long day of driving, felt good to see that wonderful Missouri River again.

Evening sets in on the Missouri. First night on the river.

Spent my first night at Kipp Recreation area, next to the Missouri River. Waited here the next morning for Drew and Martin to show up from Bozeman, MT.

Sleeping Buffalo Rock.

Some good company.

The first official night of the “Outlaws Run”. We camped next to Nelson Reservoir. Some fantastic sunsets thanks to all the smoke from the fires around the west. Though made for some bad visibility, less than two miles at times around Malta, MT.

Most of the gang.

First morning of the run. Had to diagnose Drew’s check engine light on his 100 series. We suspected a bad coil pack.

Diving in deeper to Drew’s check engine light.

Outside Malta, MT (some 60 miles from the Canadian boarder), we stopped at the railroad bridge for Exeter Creek. Where the Great Northern, out of Malta was robbed by Butch Cassidy, The Sundance Kid and Kid Curry on the 3rd of July, 1901

The Great Northern Train Robbery:

Taylor Divide.

Bear Paw Battlefield- Nez Perce.

Bear Paw Battle: The Bear Paw battle was the last battle of the Nez- Perce Indians and the US Army. The battle occurred in October of 1877 during the Nez Perce’s long flight to Canada. The battle was only 40 miles from the Canadian border. After a long fight with casualties on both sides, Chief Joseph surrendered to Colonel Nelson Miles and General Oliver Otis Howard. Upon surrendering his weapon, Chief Joseph ending with: ” From where the sun now stands, I will fight no more fore ever”

Only 40 miles from Canada. The Nez Perce made a stop here during there long flight from the US Army. It’s believed by some, that the leaders thought they were already in Canada. It was hard to tell back then where the boarders were. I can only imagine the flight to this point, an amazing feet.

We crossed through the Ft. Belknap Reservation to get to Hays, MT and the Little Rockies. The people from the Ft. Belknap Reservation we’d find out to be some wonderful people. Opening up to our group and telling us places to check out. 

Martin and his paparazzi.

Gas stop in Hays. MT. Seems showing up into some small town with a bunch of built rigs is one way to break the ice. 

Mission Canyon. One of the spots recommended to us by the locals.

Chase.

Good to know.

The road through Mission Canyon ends at a locked gate. We came across a local there who recommended this back road to get to Landusky, MT.

A downed tree to clear as we made our way through the Little Rockies. Matt Farr and Daniel Linn would be waiting for us in Zortman, MT.

Was an awesome drive through the forest.

Marco and Martin.

Landusky, Mt. A place Kid Curry would spend a lot of time. Was named after Pike Landusky. Miner and just a mean man. Kid Curry and Landusky would have personal hatred for each other over the years. Probably didn’t help that one of Kid’s brothers had the hots for Pikes daughter. The feud of the two would end with a post Christmas bar fight, leaving Landusky dead.

Zortman, MT. We meet up with Matt and Dan at the local watering hole in Zortman. Once inside, we’d find bullet holes in the roof. Was a good evening catching up with friends.

Our camp for the evening, just outside Zortman, MT.

We stopped back in Zortman the next morning for breakfast and to check out the town a bit more. Here, I inspect the town jail. Wouldn’t be a fun place to spend some time!

Getting a quick lesson on gold panning from the locals.

Zortman Jail.

While at the local watering hole the previous night, the chef recommended a spot for us to check out. So before leaving the Little Rockies, we did just that.

Looked like a nice spot for a dip if it was warmer out.

We spent some time checking this spot out.

Reflections.

Daniel Linn taking a rest.

End.