incredible rocks and relief. very crumbly tho, dangerous to climb.

15C lite W wind at start.

near the start on US Alt-14 wish we could have skied more.

hose frightening temp. anomalies, 14/30/60/90 day and 6 month all look the same. we have had below-avg. precip. along w that Beartooth Front. In essence we have had a Srn CO fall/winter/spring so far, and fire season there starts early, Mar/Apr, so there you have it. We now have a Srn CO fire season.

30 min. on skis. Barely enough ❄️ ski on road margin from 2620m start. Got to 2750m looking better, but WY DOT doing clearing. Best not be near that turned back. Hiked Little Cottonwood Crk. trail below. Slot canyon in Bighorns w 1000m sheer relief. #climatecrisis #hiking #dogs #wyoming #skiing

plow way in the distance from 2750m here. look how much melt, snowpack even at 2900m not continuous. Medicine Wheel is behind ridge on left.

very steep and rocky trail, have to be careful on the descent. warm the entire time, thank goodness for the creek.

Incredible rocks in that narrow slot canyon. this is a finger of a ridge sticking out.

on return to camp, it is the little orange dot. plume from E-Side fire S of Red Lodge visible way in distance. Sounds like the worst is over...

30 min. on skis. Barely enough ❄️ ski on road margin from 2620m start. Got to 2750m looking better, but WY DOT doing clearing. Best not be near that turned back. Hiked Little Cottonwood Crk. trail below. Slot canyon in Bighorns w 1000m sheer relief. #climatecrisis #hiking #dogs #wyoming #skiing

carbon-alert-carbonmt.hub.arcgis.com keep up w this…

5 springs falls elev 2100m

patch break 2400m they needed it! 20C but no wind..

never had trailer before but last Aug had strong compulsion to get one. light enough the 4cyl AWD Sienna can pull it without working too hard. then last week had overwhelming urge get out on first trip now, here. can actualy see the plume from here. my higher self looking out for us... i fully trust my hunches and intuition.

turned back here 2500m. trail very faint and increasing thick slush patches. really steep too.

First big 🔥 Nrn Rockies threatens Red Lodge. carbon-alert-carbonmt.hub.arcgis.com Hoping for the best... 💦❄️ coming late Wed-Fri. Got nice run in today 5 springs falls toward 2940m WY Bighorns Medicine Wheel from 2100m. Got to 2500m then had return. #climatecrisis #running #dogs #wyoming #mountains

tried steep trail by falls, no good. actual trail to the Wheel starts at very top of upper 5 springs campground (l). Phloxy all around 2100m (r)

Otter and Sundance were too afraid get close to the falls.

The Bighorn Range is really series of elevated plateaus. Grazing is allowed nrn 2/3 of it, f...ing sacrilege. all the way to top 3200m +, and even near the Wheel. sickening in these sensitive subalpine enironments. if it were up to me it would be banned above 2500m. WY is like that, nothing sacred but oil greed and grazing.

the Wheel is atop that ridge center-right. this is a very steep trail, got about 2/3 up then lots slush patches.

First big 🔥 Nrn Rockies threatens Red Lodge. carbon-alert-carbonmt.hub.arcgis.com Hoping for the best... 💦❄️ coming late Wed-Fri. Got nice run in today 5 springs falls toward 2940m WY Bighorns Medicine Wheel from 2100m. Got to 2500m then had return. #climatecrisis #running #dogs #wyoming #mountains

we grow hardy Pasques here -9C this morn. after the snow yest., still upright.

turned back just up the way. ice under the snow and very steep. without spikes would be trouble.

happy spring love GYE

steep chute is just behind us. -1C here in that spring sun felt great.

Silver Run rd/trail starts W-fork Cyn 1850m ascends steeply toward Plateau 3000m +. We got to 2350m, ice under 3-4cm new ❄️, didn't have spikes on running there. Only 1-2cm fell at start yest., like town. More than double that above 2250m. -2C up top 👍🏽. #climate #running #dogs #montana #mountains

SE-S facing slope 2200m here. love the unstable sky.

trail at 2250m (l) and entering the steep chute 2300m.

little side stream 2300m icing over.

Silver Run Crk. 2000m freezing over again -9C this morn.

Silver Run rd/trail starts W-fork Cyn 1850m ascends steeply toward Plateau 3000m +. We got to 2350m, ice under 3-4cm new ❄️, didn't have spikes on running there. Only 1-2cm fell at start yest., like town. More than double that above 2250m. -2C up top 👍🏽. #climate #running #dogs #montana #mountains

on ascent (l) 2500m. and descent (l) 2450m. can't be in hurry, loose rocks, wet erosion bars, ice patches all invisible under the snow. spikes were essential.

nice ice patch on this side stream in wall of Silver Run Plateau (highest point 3824m). Timberline Crk. drains this narrow side gulch off W-fork Canyon. Burned 5K into the gulch.

turned back when started snowing harder. did not want to lose my tracks on the descent. -4C here lite E wind.

deepest snowpack area here 2500m where turns into side gulch, pre-existing plus 8cm new. no pre-existing snowpack from 2350m start to 2450m. they were doing me a solid here, packing it down.

Glad to have colder trough give 5-10cm ❄️ in W-fork Cyn and up side gulch, 2350m-2635m and back Timberline Lk. trail. Road open month early all way in. In 8000ha Cascade burn area from 26-28JUL2008. Stand-replacing fire, left dangerous landscape. #climatecrisis #hiking #dogs #wildlife #montana #gye

Otter was doing this a lot 2550m (l). worried she could slip but never did. open water all the little and larger streams (r). 2600m here.

obviously some old growth was still here when it burned 26-28JUL2008. we had to be very methodical getting thru here, only 2K from start.

only moose we saw was on drive in W-Fork canyon just past Silver Run trlhd. -1C at 1850m here. she looks healthy.

Timberline Crk. near where we turned back 2635m mostly open. -4C here.

Glad to have colder trough give 5-10cm ❄️ in W-fork Cyn and up side gulch, 2350m-2635m and back Timberline Lk. trail. Road open month early all way in. In 8000ha Cascade burn area from 26-28JUL2008. Stand-replacing fire, left dangerous landscape. #climatecrisis #hiking #dogs #wildlife #montana #gye

2300m (l) and 2400m (r).

turned back here. someone made frightening postholes when it was warmer last weekend. some snowpack at least 2550m on up.

what it used to be like in Mid-April in the old days (l). I had to yell at Otter that day get her off the softening ice. Which did not exist today (r). No snowpack either really, few patches.

we had to start 3K back on W-fork Rd. winter closure. it may open tomorrow. glad it was not windy, it often is here.

Basin Lakes are steep hike from W-fork Canyon 2000m. Lower lake is 2440m 4K from start, upper lake 2770m is 7.5K up. Got 1km past lower lake to 2580m, then deep ice/frozen slush. Disorienting indeed to see area completely bare almost to the lake. #climatecrisis #hiking #dogs #montana #mountains

Lower Basin Lake 2440m completely open, a few ducks. Silver Run Plateau 3100m + in back. Highest point way back on it 3860m

falls on Basin Crk. no ice very shaded gulch 2100m.

the W Fork of Rock Crk. 2000m no snow or ice

we were all a little confused. 2300m here.

Basin Lakes are steep hike from W-fork Canyon 2000m. Lower lake is 2440m 4K from start, upper lake 2770m is 7.5K up. Got 1km past lower lake to 2580m, then deep ice/frozen slush. Disorienting indeed to see area completely bare almost to the lake. #climatecrisis #hiking #dogs #montana #mountains

still can't quite believe it.

color line has moved up to 2450m, unprecedented. as was the MAR warmth.

Hellroaring Plateau 3200m + still has good cornices but thinning

0C with a strong WNW wind didn't hang around up top very long.

11 mild days, Hellroaring Rd. completely melted out to 2600m bridge. Couldn't make it near there 02APR. Worrisome for sure. But cool pattern this week, more ❄️ here late tmrw/Thu. Easy run, starting 2350m up to shaded side of steep gulch 2680m. #climatecrisis #running #dogs #montana #gye #mountains

looking N toward the 3200m + Plateau. didn't go much further than this.

at first just past 2600m bridge a nice bare side (l). further up covered again (r). our friend John's prints are there from Sun. He ran up then, lots postholing. I was able to stay on top since it was colder, firmer snowpack.

the gulch off Rock Crk. Canyon the road goes up. still snowpack in the bottom at 2500m +.

this is as far as I ever drive up this road, you can see why. so bare/dry Rock Crk. Canyon lower reaches now.

11 mild days, Hellroaring Rd. completely melted out to 2600m bridge. Couldn't make it near there 02APR. Worrisome for sure. But cool pattern this week, more ❄️ here late tmrw/Thu. Easy run, starting 2350m up to shaded side of steep gulch 2680m. #climatecrisis #running #dogs #montana #gye #mountains

Timbercrest Remote Automated Weather Station 1950m here. Silver Run Plateau 3200m + behind.

nice to see these, but not that they are weeks early.

so far this month we are still above-"average" temp. -wise but not nearly like March. Next week should be near, maybe even slightly below, and moist. sure hope so.

those are some decent snowfall amounts forecast over the next week, heaviest from colder system next late Wed-Fri. But falling on bare ground not as helpful for moisture storage for later.

First run of year in shorts/t-shirt today W-fork Canyon, up side gulch to old cabin. 1850m-2300m and back. Drying out fast, all ❄️ gone. Cooler moister pattern developing weak upper trough may bring us ⚡️️. A little early, as to be expected now in new regime. #climatecrisis #running #dogs #montana #gye

happy Spring love GYE. 2500m here looking SW to Beartooth Plateau 3200m +. just patchy here up to 2700m.

these are in shaded/sheltered area near M-K campground 2350m. only tiniest of patches in here. Clarity on Photoshop, when dropped to 0 is interesting.

this was mostly ice covered on Rock Crk. here 2380m 15 days ago.

glad it was easy getting in this far, but wish we could have skied it more. just once this season. not too windy here, that was a plus.

Lots melt in Rock Crk. Canyon lower elevations since we last hiked up the road 15 days ago. From 2200m start road completely bare 3K up. Past that just patchy up thru 2500m 7K out. Easy see how much earlier Spring is this year than any we have seen before. #climatecrisis #hiking #dogs #montana #gye

Happy Spring love GYE. Seemed more like that was all we had last OCT-now.

amazed we could get this far to the Windy Corner 2480m. almost 1m snowpack on road here 15 days ago.

hard to see in fine detail for lower elevations, but higher elevations snowpack is holding in.

on return 2450m, just patchy, not too bad to go thru or around.

Lots melt in Rock Crk. Canyon lower elevations since we last hiked up the road 15 days ago. From 2200m start road completely bare 3K up. Past that just patchy up thru 2500m 7K out. Easy see how much earlier Spring is this year than any we have seen before. #climatecrisis #hiking #dogs #montana #gye

about as big as a Lodgepole Pine can get round these parts (l). another nice old-growth Englemann Spruce (r) 2450m.

nice to see some elk on way in. they almost look like Llamas w their shaggy necks.

lots of ruts on the road, not groomed anymore. was last time we were here. thank goodness it was soft, not icy.

it will be a miracle if much of the West does not have a bad fire season this year. 2021 was the last Nrn. Rockies extreme year.

3 weeks since we last skied up to 2500m Colter Pass from E on winter-closed US-212. 2 hr. drive from RL only 90km direct. Had to start higher 2160m. Rd. closure 2070m was bare. Ripe spring slush melting fast but still over 1m base both sides of pass 👍🏽. #climatecrisis #skiing #dogs #montana #wildlife

3594m Pilot Peak just visible near start.

higher peaks 3200m + visible from the Pass.

old slide from last winter (l) becoming visible. very dirty slush but soft enough easy to stay in control on descent (r).

such nice timber in this moist area that gets great upslope in SW-W flow 2400-2500m. these same elevations behind RL all bare now. oh look a ring cloud, we get these a lot here.

3 weeks since we last skied up to 2500m Colter Pass from E on winter-closed US-212. 2 hr. drive from RL only 90km direct. Had to start higher 2160m. Rd. closure 2070m was bare. Ripe spring slush melting fast but still over 1m base both sides of pass 👍🏽. #climatecrisis #skiing #dogs #montana #wildlife

1930m E Rosebud Lake this morning (l) and this afternoon (r) getting windier

E Rosebud Plateau this morning 3300m + getting windy up there. 1500-1800m of relief here.

2300m Slough "Lake" is quite low. I think we will have a rapid and early snowpack melt-off this year.

there are some nice troutlings in Slough Lake

Phantom Crk. trail goes up to 3100-3850m + Froze to Death Plateau. Starts near 1930m E Rosebud Lake in that canyon. Ascends steeply to 3100m in 13K, but we only got to 2450m 7K in. Above 2300m Slough Lake. Strong winds so we had to return. Very dry. #climatecrisis #hiking #dogs #montana #mountains

lots Pasques down low near start (l) up to 2000m, W facing, at 2300m Slough Lake 5K in, barely enough water to play in. around 8C increasing W wind here.

lots Pasques down low near start (l) up to 2000m, W facing, at 2300m Slough Lake 5K in, barely enough water to play in. around 8C increasing W wind here.

it seems like there was a little more high elev. snow even in late April, of 2021 here. and we all know what 2021 was like here and in Nrn Rockies 🔥

looking East above Slough Lake, heading back down.

Phantom Crk. trail goes up to 3100-3850m + Froze to Death Plateau. Starts near 1930m E Rosebud Lake in that canyon. Ascends steeply to 3100m in 13K, but we only got to 2450m 7K in. Above 2300m Slough Lake. Strong winds so we had to return. Very dry. #climatecrisis #hiking #dogs #montana #mountains

quadruple feature here near start 1930m a month early

all streams are completely open now

melting slush here 2200m

turned back here 2250m. back behind the trail gets very steep, deeper.

Still some snowpack left above 2100m Silver Run gulch, off W-fork Canyon, on 1900m-2250m road/trail run. But soft and melting fast, no real cold, wet systems in the offing now, bummer. Spring got kicked 4 weeks early MAR heat wave, wildflowers, insects. #climatecrisis #running #dogs #montana #gye

this moth was slow, with the coolness. been seeing these for about 3 weeks now.

some Pasques all the S-facing slopes up to 2250m

they play hard but love each other. 2230m here getting steep.

slightly inclined N facing still some soft slush left

Still some snowpack left above 2100m Silver Run gulch, off W-fork Canyon, on 1900m-2250m road/trail run. But soft and melting fast, no real cold, wet systems in the offing now, bummer. Spring got kicked 4 weeks early MAR heat wave, wildflowers, insects. #climatecrisis #running #dogs #montana #gye

looking NE toward Billings. Some Palisades rocks back there

side trail up to 2200m overlook, off Nichols Crk. trail. 15cm here 2130m.

that tail... majestic. as Sundance is entirely. loved the -1C NW wind here 2200m.

2840m Beartooth Lake SNOTEL (top) is on moist side of Beartooth Plateau gets good upslope in SW-W flow. 3 AR river events brought rain in Dec., but was absorbed into the snowpack. Cole Crk. SNOTEL 2400m in ski area behind town still record low SWE, been that way most of the winter. the MAR warmth took away some.

Upper low traversed GYE to far N to put town in favorable N-NE upslope low-mid level flow. Was NW mainly, downslope for Beartooth Front. Higher terrain did get more, 15-20cm new ❄️ 2200m overlook off Nichols Crk. trail behind W-fork Cyn. 5-7cm new at 1850m start. #climate #running #dogs #montana #gye

looking ESE toward town from 2200m.

only 5-7cm new snow here 2000m.

starting to get deeper 10cm or more steep section of Nichols Crk. trail 2070m. glad there was no ice underneath, tho loose rocks were a problem. ran slow on downhill return.

steepest section just below 2200m overlook had 15-20cm NE facing.

Upper low traversed GYE to far N to put town in favorable N-NE upslope low-mid level flow. Was NW mainly, downslope for Beartooth Front. Higher terrain did get more, 15-20cm new ❄️ 2200m overlook off Nichols Crk. trail behind W-fork Cyn. 5-7cm new at 1850m start. #climate #running #dogs #montana #gye

looking up to 3050m Hellroaring Plateau. around -1C here 2550m.

where we all turned back 2600m. not quite to the bridge.

We have some of the best snowpack in the West which is not saying much. our lower elevations below 2400m never built one up over the winter. still we are fortunate compared to further S. cooler pattern generally next week plus above 40N w few weak systems.

Active GYE weather day upper low moving thru centered over YNP, just S of Beartooth Front. As such, very tight weather window hike up Hellroaring Rd. Something yest. made it to 2600m, crazy. Made it easy for us, no further. Wind ❄️ starting. First ⚡️ of season. #climate #hiking #dogs #montana #weather

never seen the like. Phlox in bloom early April 2300m lat. 45.2N. S facing slope sure, but the extreme heat wave 10 days ago warmed up the ground.

gale force gusts at times. Otter and Sundance stay behind me when it is like this. I take it for them.

pretty crazy come up here on this narrow rd with steep drops, on wheels with this much snow.

a slump onto the rd. (top). best not keep too close. Rock Crk Cyn from near 2230m start. instability growing as low got nearer

Active GYE weather day upper low moving thru centered over YNP, just S of Beartooth Front. As such, very tight weather window hike up Hellroaring Rd. Something yest. made it to 2600m, crazy. Made it easy for us, no further. Wind ❄️ starting. First ⚡️ of season. #climate #hiking #dogs #montana #weather

20 cm new ❄️ overnite even our moose friend across the street was surprised. Dropped to -8C briefly too. We really needed the moisture and more coming Thursday/Friday 👍🏽. #wildlife #climate #weather #dogs #montana #gye

sure do miss 2022 (l). actually on skis here then. our new regime (r). guess we'll have to get used to it.

so much snowpack has been lost in the past 30 days, looking up Rock Crk. Canyon.

much of this was due to the extreme ridging/heat dome of 17th-21st which broke MAR temp. records all over the W. turns out the 2 Kona lows that brought terrible flooding to HI during that period were at least partially responsible. Extra warm oceans fueled the heavy rains there, the latent heat of condensation release from that was huge. transported NE by the jet stream, piling up over Wrn US as the monster heat dome. https://weatherwest.com/archives/43769

2nd switchback 2470m here. starting to get gale force W wind, good time to return. so glad more moisture is coming. 11C at the start, cooler here.

Last survey of Beartooth Hwy from 2300m closure, on up was 3/05. Only ablebhike partway in 2nd switchback, knee-deep slush protected gulch. Otherwise completely bare til then, 2500m. Lots new rocks on road. Warmest ever MAR is apparent in loss of snowpack all thru. #climate #hiking #dogs #montana

first protected area near start (l) 2350m melted out. turn left or die (r), w psychopath/demented madman trying to blow up Terra in Casa Blanca, never more timely.

turned back here 2500m shelted gulch. much thinner than last time, completely soft.

more of these will come down after this week's new snowfall, then melt. 2 systems coming in, tonight, then thu/fri

2230m Greenough "Lake" melting out a month early.

Last survey of Beartooth Hwy from 2300m closure, on up was 3/05. Only ablebhike partway in 2nd switchback, knee-deep slush protected gulch. Otherwise completely bare til then, 2500m. Lots new rocks on road. Warmest ever MAR is apparent in loss of snowpack all thru. #climate #hiking #dogs #montana

Pasques 2050m SE facing slope. Never saw these when I lived in Missoula, west of the Divide.

what it all boils down to. my favorite sign

Looking SE on Broadway. so glad we had a good turnout. I feel relatively comfortable here as a progressive, but do miss the immersion of Missoula. Where it is the majority. Missoula is the Berkeley/Eugene of the Nrn. Rockies, most progressive city along I-90 between SEA and MSP.

some good news for us this warmest ever fall/winter/early spring. a good amount of moisture next 8 days, most late Wed-early Fri. Some real snow possible then even in town. cooler pattern.

No Kings march along Beartooth Front in tiny ski/wilderness town of Red Lodge (pop. 3500) saw at least 250 of us out to resist evil. Not bad for town w/out stoplight. Only 8 flip-offs, no coal-rolling. Got kidz out this morn, to see more month early blooms. #NoKings #climate #dogs #montana #hiking