Crabapples against a brilliant blue sky... Red Lodge, MT!

While wandering around Red Lodge with Mike's cousin Tom and his wife Helen, we saw this crab apple tree (at least I think that's what it is) and I couldn't resist capturing the red and green against the brilliant blue Montana sky.

Mount Rearguard stands above the Hellroaring Plateau... near Red Lodge, MT

Mount Rearguard at 12280 feet elevation exceeds the approximately 10,000 feet elevation of most of the Hellroaring Plateau... it's possible to hike to the summit but we didn't as we weren't properly prepared for such a hike... this year! (refer to the previous post for information on accessing the Hellroaring Plateau) NOTE: I do realize that the rule of threes is not followed in this photographic image... but we love the Montana vividly blue sky so much that I couldn't bear to crop this!

Rock Creek Valley near Red Lodge, MT as seen from the Beartooth Highway...

Every year we go to Red Lodge, MT... we simply must go up the Beartooth Highway at least once... and I always take LOTS of photos.... here's one showing the valley with Rock Creek Road alongside Rock Creek down in the valley with the Beartooth Mountains in the background.

Sunflowers at Café Regis in Red Lodge, MT

Our day's adventure for September 8, 2009 included a stop at Café Regis in Red Lodge, MT for lunch before heading up the road to the Hellroaring Plateau... they invited us to visit the garden (where they grow much of what they serve) while we were waiting for our sandwiches to be made... the sunflowers against the clear blue sky caught my eye... our adventure up Hellroaring is detailed (with more photos of the spectacular scenery) on my vacation blog for those of you who might be interested!