Bear Lake Bird Sanctuary to Butte

We left the Perry Campground in the sun and made it as far as Pocatello before the wind started up it buffeted us around and then things went from bad to worse on a long detour around some construction on the I15 which meant we were had the wind blowing against the sides of our vehicles both ways. It was nerve wracking and slowed us down. When we finally got onto the highway the wind got stronger.  We stopped for a break and a walk through the lava fields then I was tired, tried to nap, but the wind rattled the van so much it spooked me out. 

There were weather reports of rain and snow in the passes ahead and it just made me more nervous than driving.  We could see the clear line of the clouds and as we got closer the wind blew harder.  Once into the rain the wind died down so we really just traded one problem for another.  Then as we climbed up the Monida pass the rain turned to snow. The road down from the pass was really steep, thank god Strider has manual shift. It didn't help that there was a big sign that said 55 people have died on the highway since the beginning or the year. 

 The saving grace was having my friends driving in front and behind me.  At one point the snow was so thick I couldn't see ahead.  If Gary hadn't come ahead of me with his red truck and red flashing lights I would have been in big trouble. When we finally came out of the blizzard the valley was beautiful with snow on the dark evergreens and on the new green of the aspens and the fields. The saving grace was there was almost no traffic and Strider has manual shift which made it feel a lot safer driving. There was more snow after that but it was mostly wet and slushy and a slog to drive through.

All in all we were on the road for almost 10 hours.  My longest driving day. We stayed at the Comfort Inn.  I think they cater to snowbirds as they gave us a special deal, offered free fresh baked cookies and soup in lobby as well as a complimentary breakfast.  We were all tired and treated ourselves to an unexpectedly great dinner and a tour of the old town then crashed.  Just a couple of pics of the Lava fields. To get the real drama shots we had no safe place to stop and no inclination to do so.