The Little Bighorn near Hardin, MT

Our first time to visit the Custer Battlefield was chilling and exciting at the same time. To look over the battlefield from various high points east of the river where the attacks on the village started and where the retreats ended. To see all the markers spread over the battlefield where members of the 7th Calvary fell. A lot of the markers especially on Last Stand Hill and just over the ridge to the east are clustered together as if they where surrounded and no way out! 

Here I am with Ernie LaPointe, great grandson of Sitting Bull and guest speaker at the Little Bighorn

National Monument. A fellow paratrooper, he served with the 101st Airborne.

One way to keep visitors on the trail.....rattlesnakes!

Last Stand Hill taken from top of the ridge looking west toward the river. Custer's marker, where he fell is in the center with the dark Lettering.

Looking east up Last Stand Hill from atop deep ravine. Deep ravine was the route the Indians used to approach Custer while being concealed from gunfire.

Markers along the deep ravine walking trail where soldiers of the 7th Calvary fell trying to escape last stand hill to the perceived safety of the timber along the river. Last stand hill can be seen in the distance over Karen's left shoulder.

The head of deep ravine looking east toward last stand hill.

Atop Weir Point where Capt. Thomas Weir leads his company in an attempt to locate Custer but is forced to retreat further south to Reno's entrenchment 

Looking west toward the Little Bighorn River where Major Reno retreated back across the river after his failed attempt to attack the village

Big day tomorrow, floating the Bighorn River !!