Big Sky and high water on the Yellowstone

Have you ever driven I90 through Montana? Did you ever wonder what's hiding behind the trees next to the interstate? Some of the red Lodge crew and i decided to have a look see a few days ago. The high water usually keeps people off the water all the more for us. High water opens up braided side channels that are inaccessible as summer dries out the flows. ***See end note after post.***

we put in at Itch-kep-peein in Columbus MT. The major draw back here is the shuttle on I90 (including construction zones).

This was Florence's first run on a MT river. Also her first time hanging out with a micro dog. Lucky for me Ping (the dog) had someone to look after them,  Heather.

Soon after the put in there was a wave train. I mean a wave train and a train. It was a hugely Montana moment and par for the course on the Yellowstone.

The boys in the raft and i switched the lead back and forth as we followed all of the right braids (away from the highway).

Before long all that rite braiding pays off as the first big wall climbs up out of the riverbank.

The views are fantastic. In fact i think there might even be some climbing potential in there.

And they just go on and on forever.

At some point we noticed a few Swallows. Then a few more, and suddenly they were falling out of nests in the cliffs above.

Thousands and thousands of swallows circling in a huge flock. It looked like a school of herring.

As the river opens up  so does the sky. The big sky wasn't disappointing, storms miles away were showing off as we continued.

Flocks of pelicans are always a good find.

We got to Laurel just as the sun was getting low on the horizon.

Even driving home in the dusk, its beautiful, despite the deer constantly lurking in the ditch.

***The Yellowstone is free flowing, no major dams. This makes for a boating experience that cannot be replicates on many western rivers.***