This is one of the peaks along the crest of Specimen Ridge, about 7,980 feet in elevation. That's Mt. Washburn on the horizon to the south, socked in solid with snow-laden clouds. The broad sweep of meadows that lie on the south side of Specimen Ridge are in the middle distance, with the walls of the Yellowstone River canyon visible where they slice through the landscape. On the left side of the photo, the meadow slopes off into the Quartz Creek drainage, with the Agate Creek Canyon just beyond. I've probably spent more time roaming the region between the top of Specimen Ridge and Agate Creek than in all the rest of Yellowstone combined. It's a place that I never get tired of.

In the bottom photo, Paul checks out the drainage of Crystal Creek, far below his vantage point. That's Slough Creek wandering through the landscape in the distance, and Lamar River enters the photo from the right (east.) I often drop off the ridge at this point on long loop hikes, in order to explore the forests on the north face of Specimen Ridge. It's also a good point to climb to the top of Specimen from the trailhead at the Lamar River bridge, but be prepared for a lung-busting climb. It's an elk trail that climbs straight up the fall-line. On those loops, I usually head east towards Amethyst Mountain and drop off the ridge somewhere along the way to cut back across the Bench at the bottom.