Day 12 - Billings, MT to Helena, MT via Yellowstone National Park

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I woke up before the alarm after a really good nights sleep. Coffee, pack, and on the road by 7:00. There was a short bit of interstate before getting off onto US 212 and heading toward Red Lodge. Leaving Red Lodge is where the Beartooth Scenic Highway starts. 

 This was just as the mountains were really coming into view. It was an absolutely beautiful stretch of brand new pavement - the entire Montana side was re-paved this summer! Very soon the twisties started, and the elevation increased dramatically. 

10 miles up the road was the first parking area with a viewpoint

If you look closely in the photo above, you can see the road winding below. Shortly after this, the road went above the treeline, and the landscape was pretty barren and windswept.

A few miles later, I reached the highest elevation of the pass. This is by far the highest pass I have ever ridden a motorcycle over. The wind up here was pretty strong, so there was a bit of white-knuckle riding up and over the top. 

The next stop was at Top of the World store. The requisite stickers and postcards were purchased, and the photo was taken.

From here, it was down the other side of the pass through Cook City and Silvergate.

Somewhere along here I passed into Wyoming, but for some reason they didn't put up a sign like all the other states do. US 212 then goes right into Yellowstone National Park. 

Kate and I were in Yellowstone last September for 10 days, so I didn't stop for too many photos. I was just enjoying the ride on this pass through. It is one place I plan on coming back to a few more times. I think Yellowstone is my favorite National Park. If you haven't been, you should plan a trip here. It is absolutely incredible landscape. 

I left the park via the north entrance, and continued north, stopped for some fuel and got on the dreaded interstate. Just before the exit to head to Helena, the bike started acting up again. Exactly the same as yesterday. I parked it for a bit, and it corrected itself - only 60 more miles until the hotel. It ran ok for about 40 miles, then did the same thing. Pulled off on the side of the road and it corrected itself again. I am certainly glad it did, as I was truly in the middle of NOWHERE.

I am thinking that I have a fuel filter problem. Either that or some sort of short in the feed to the fuel pump - "fuel pump failure" is the message that keeps flashing when it acts up. I have to go through Missoula tomorrow, and the largest KTM dealer in the state is there. I really hope this trip doesn't turn into a tour of US KTM dealers.

I'll do my best to think positive and be confident they can get the bike permanently sorted tomorrow.

Today's miles - 354

Total miles - 2886