The Way is Shut

Argh! Done in today by the weather, but not from snow or from cold... this time its the wind! The temperature has been in the upper 40's throughout the day, but the wind has been increasing throughout. I tried to head toward Yellowstone via Hwy 16, but alas, closed due to high winds and drifting. So I headed back to town and then up the interstate further. I tried Hwy 14, which runs back west to Yellowstone as well, this time from Sheridan, WY. This too was closed due to high winds.

Frustrated, I headed further up I-90 and into Montana. Wow! Awesome country up here! Again, I tried to head to Yellowstone, this time from the North via 212, but again, I was shut off. Heading further west, the winds really started to blow, to the point that driving was becomming too hazardous. I have pulled off for the night in Livingston, MT, which has the nickname of the "windy city", like Chicago. Well, "city", I'm not so sure about. "town" would be more accurate, but "windy", why yes, I can vouch for that. The reason that the winds really accelerate here is that the town is located at the end of two "funnels" that channel the cold, dense air falling from Yellowstone. The falling air accelerates down the mountains and it all gets channeled here! Right now, the temperature is a balmy 48 degrees, but the wind is blowing 40 mph, and they are forecasting gusts upwards of 70.

Check it out: http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/forecast/MapClick.php?site=byz&smap=1&textField1=45.6625&textField2=-110.56028

Well, I may be held up here for a awhile, but I'll try to head south down US 89 towards the northern part of Yellowstone. If this is unsuccessful, I'll head further west and then try again via Bozeman, MT. If all else fails, I'll head further up 90 towards Idaho and Washington. Then swing around down to Utah and Nevada, then loop back to Yellowstone and the Tetons from there. It just might not happen while I'm out here this time. C'est la vie.

Oh, I attached the pictures of the climbers at Devil's Tower from yesterday. Pretty cool. I tried to enhance and magnify the climbers using Photshop, and it came out ok. I'll post another all picture update soon, once I get some new stuff.