What) Rogers Pass rises 5,610 feet (1,710 m) above sea level and is located on the continental divide in the U.S. state of Montana. The pass is adjacent to Helena National Forest and is traversed by Montana Highway 200. The pass is the best route between the cities of Great Falls and Missoula, Montana, more than 800 feet (244 m) lower than Lewis and Clark Pass 5.3 miles (8.5 km) to the northwest that was used by Meriwether Lewis of the eponymous expedition on July 7, 1806. Rogers Pass is the location of the coldest temperature ever recorded in the United States outside of Alaska. On January 20, 1954 a low temperature of −70 °F (−56.7 °C) was recorded during a severe cold wave. (1)
 
    Major A. B. Rogers surveying career was curtailed after he was badly injured falling from his horse while surveying the right-of-way for the Great Northern Railway near Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. He died on May 4, 1889 at Waterville, Minnesota. Although some sources report that he died as a result of his injuries, others indicate that he suffered from cancer of the stomach.

    Why) As Western Canadians, Pam and I know the story of and have driven through the Canadian Rogers Pass a number of times.  When I discovered that there was also an American Rogers Pass I knew that we would probably drive through it on our way to Reno, Nevada.  When I read about the record −70 °F temperature I was left with no choice.  The following pictures were not taken exactly at Rogers Pass but at the first beautiful location thereabouts.