#5: [22-Aug-20]

#4: [24-May-13]

#3: [24-Aug-05]

#1: [06-Oct-00]

10-Jul-2003 -- Diane and I were planning to drive the Bear Tooth Highway from Red Lodge, Montana through Cooke City, Montana and then on into the Northeast Entrance to Yellowstone National Park. I found that this confluence would be on our way. I knew in advance that I would only be able to make an attempt since I didn’t have the proper equipment to cross the stream mentioned by the prior visitor. He had visited in October when stream flow would be much lower than in early July.

We parked next to the highway in a turnout that was already occupied by a US Government vehicle. Soda Butte Creek was across the highway and about 50 meters away. The GPS indicated that the confluence was about 0.47 km away and on the other side of the stream.

We started walking and soon met two young men who had arrived in the government vehicle. They were USGS (United States Geological Survey) employees doing stream flow measurements. They had just located a brass cap marking the border between Wyoming and Montana. The GPS showed the cap to be at about 45.00232 degrees North latitude.

We explained our goal and had a nice conversation with them. They pointed out a small shack next to the stream, so we went in that direction. It contained the control equipment for a stream flow measuring device which was underwater in Soda Butte Creek. I didn’t ever see or hear of any numbers about the quantity of water flowing in the creek, but it certainly looked like a lot more than in the prior visitor’s photo. It would have been foolhardy to attempt a crossing by wading.

We stood next to the shack, took photos in the cardinal directions and also of a couple of wild flowers. We were happy to count this visit as an attempt. Thanks for getting us out!