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

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

they are beautiful, but the implications are not. 1950m here.

2230m all bare (l). Sad to see bare slopes all the way up to 2650m (r).

the 30-day temp. anomalies and precip. averages. frightening, the warmth from here S over the entire Wrn. US. Even as far N as Central OR/Srn ID missed out on precip. in this crucial month. Almost nothing CA/AZ/NM 😒 You can see how the jet stream tracked in the precip. systems in WNW flow were generous from here Nward. Just E of WA Cascades downsloped in that flow.

2250m here, quite the difference in 11 days due to the record breaking heat 17th-21st.

Silver Run Rd/trail run 1900-2280m up/back today side gulch off W-fork Cyn. Spring has advanced 4 weeks ahead of "average" all thru. Pasque flowers pushing up 1900-2100m on S-facing slopes. A moth flying around at 1950. Snowpack gone below 2250m. #climatecrisis #running #dogs #montana #gye #spring

Weird icing on Silver Run Crk 2230m. I think it starts off snags.

a good month early to see Pasques coming up here 2100m. not a good sign.

sometimes antipodal views are required. Sundance cools off (l) at 2250m. We turned back here (r) 2280m where the trail steepens quickly. Shaded, very icy, even w spikes it would be dicey. it had dropped to around -10C here last nite.

I actually saw one of these flying around a week ago first time.

Silver Run Rd/trail run 1900-2280m up/back today side gulch off W-fork Cyn. Spring has advanced 4 weeks ahead of "average" all thru. Pasque flowers pushing up 1900-2100m on S-facing slopes. A moth flying around at 1950. Snowpack gone below 2250m. #climatecrisis #running #dogs #montana #gye #spring

got up to 2480m, walked down slope to rest by Rock Crk (l), 2C in sun w stiff up-canyon breeze. beautiful spring day. Sundance at 2C still needs bathing to cool off (r). Otter not so much.

2250m snowpack gone (l). little bit seen there is from overnite weak system. 2350m (r) just patches off the road with 2-3cm new.

this has never happened before in recorded history, this kind of early snowpack loss in all the Western US. sad and frightening. I do think a tipping point has been crossed due to so much more heat now in the oceans. trying not to think about 5-10 years from now, much less this summer 🔥

our rest area Sundance will always choose snowpack to lay about on ❤️

Rock Crk. Canyon, last in here 17th on skis (had carry in first 2K). Before record MAR warmth 18th-21st. 4 days frzng levels 4000m + melted snowpack below 2300m, what's left further up half gone. 2200-2450m then back our hike. Sad but scary rest of Wrn US. #climatecrisis #hiking #dogs #montana #gye

quite a bit more open here 7K in from where we started. 2450m here along Rock Crk. Turned back just up a bit from here, soft 15-25cm snowpack on road, postholing.

road erosion here near 2200m start from rapid snowmelt during warm spell.

hard to see but Aspen here buds swelling, looks more like early May. 2450m here.

2350m here still snow on road because wind sheltered/some shading. was able to walk another 3K up from here on right side, made it much easier.

Rock Crk. Canyon, last in here 17th on skis (had carry in first 2K). Before record MAR warmth 18th-21st. 4 days frzng levels 4000m + melted snowpack below 2300m, what's left further up half gone. 2200-2450m then back our hike. Sad but scary rest of Wrn US. #climatecrisis #hiking #dogs #montana #gye

turned back here 2500m (l), too soft for kidz, they were postholing. I was too. That did not stop Otter from her zoomies.

nice cornice up there 3200m +. a slide came down avalanche path from up there, probably Tue or yest.

barely windy here 2470m and so warm.

5 days ago almost all MT had snow cover and snowpacks were below 0C. Now low elevation pack is gone, and melting all the way up to 3300m or more. New March record Red Lodge today 24.5C (76F), Billings 28C (82F).

Equinoctial greetings tho seems Solsticial. MT probably never seen MAR day so warm 125K years or more 😔. Monthly records set all over, including Red Lodge and Billings. Never thought I'd be running in shorts up Hellroaring Rd. from 2220m to 2500m and back. #climatecrisis #running #dogs #montana #gye

mosh pit 2400m packed down enough for us to make it OK

the side gulch Hellroaring Rd. goes up toward that Plateau in back. 2480m here, turned back just up the way.

Poor Sundance was really slow today in his northern coat. note how he sticks to snow surfaces. Keeping foot pads cool is one of their ways of heat regulation.

looking up Rock Crk. Canyon from near the start. so dry now, could get grass-fires for sure. timber is still moist at least. not real windy in there today.

Equinoctial greetings tho seems Solsticial. MT probably never seen MAR day so warm 125K years or more 😔. Monthly records set all over, including Red Lodge and Billings. Never thought I'd be running in shorts up Hellroaring Rd. from 2220m to 2500m and back. #climatecrisis #running #dogs #montana #gye

mandatory stop on the way in, the incredible Sunlight Crk. Canyon. always walk across the bridge and look down 130m. incredible views all directions. Lower chest high guard-rail on me. so hunker down looking over w strong winds.

2550m here W facing slope, 1m snowpack. This area is favored in SW-W flow, if cool enough, will get good snow. Unlike our poor Ern fringe of GYE near Red Lodge.

our side detour near start, side road/trail. but hit some real soft spots and it was hard on Sundance/Otter. only did 2km.

Cole Crk SNOTEL on top behind Red Lodge 2400m well below normal. Beartooth Lake SNOTEL 2840m up the highway from us today, above normal SWE. but melting fast. a little cooling late Sat. on, but still warm.

GYE is on nrn fringe of extreme ridge bringing record MAR heat to Wrn US. Red Lodge tied all-time MAR high yest. 22C (72F). Drove in thru WY-296 to US-212, to ski up that from 2213m to 2580m. Side detour ridge above Lily Lake. Dry at start 14C better 2450m +. #climate #skiing #dogs #wyoming #gye

We ❤️ US-212 aka the Beartooth Highway. Better snowpack these areas above 2400m. strong W wind push uphill, loved that. slowed me some on the return, but that was OK, just glad to be on skis.

someone was out recently. Otter did bark at something in the woods nearby, but did not see what it was, fled 😜

starting to thin out here 2350m. looking west to 3594 Pilot Peak. YNP boundary is behind that.

down low (l) near start, barely enough to tussle. had to walk my skis up 500m from road closure, bare since it was last moved up. i bet it will be moved up again before this weekend. a lot of snowmachiners are on it then, but today just had 4. a little further up (r) you can see Beartooth Plateau edge 3200m +.

GYE is on nrn fringe of extreme ridge bringing record MAR heat to Wrn US. Red Lodge tied all-time MAR high yest. 22C (72F). Drove in thru WY-296 to US-212, to ski up that from 2213m to 2580m. Side detour ridge above Lily Lake. Dry at start 14C better 2450m +. #climate #skiing #dogs #wyoming #gye

looking SW from where we halted in gale force wind to turn around. 2480m here Beartooth Plateau in back. would have liked to go further, but Otter/Sundance were postholing. Even here the snowpack was fairly soft.

rite where I put my skis on heading out (l). down at the bottom 15-20cm base. On return (r) at 2450m good 40-60cm base.

Cole Crk. SNOTEL (l) 2400m at ski area got great boost last storm, up to 56% of avg. SWE. Yet our large-scale basin wide SWE is 103%. Because wrn upstream areas that are helped in SW-W have done well this winter. here on ern edge of high terrain, all downsloped. Will be interesting to see what these like look in a week. SW US/Srn Rockies snowpack, such as they are, will be in dire straits.

camera focused on little pine in these windy conditions 😜. 2450m gale force winds turned back just up little further. slow heading in, but great w wind push on the return.

WTF 13C this morn. our place 0630, felt like desert wind. Strong warm chinook pattern back. Got nice spring ski in Rock Crk. Cyn tho first after 2km hike from 2200m start, 11C. After that increasing snowpack good skiing, but windy. Got to 2480m then too windy. #climate #skiing #dogs #montana #gye

turned back here at the windy corner 2480m around 5C. too warm for BLSN so at least my face not getting shredded. road completely blown over.

heading out this morn. (l) not enough to ski here, walked w my ski bag and boots on to just past lip in distance. good there on out. return this aftn. (r) a lot of melt.

still trying to wrap my head around seeing a hot summer-time strength upper-air ridge over the SW US in Mar. Lots of records will be broken. the 597 contour is height of 500mb pressure surface, 5970m. That would be a hot ridge in July. Climate breakdown.

looking S in Rock Crk Cyn to Beartooth Plateau (l) 3200m + from 2450m. decent snowpack here. on our return (r) past windy corner you can see how road is blown over and sculpted snowpack. fun w wind pushing me back.

WTF 13C this morn. our place 0630, felt like desert wind. Strong warm chinook pattern back. Got nice spring ski in Rock Crk. Cyn tho first after 2km hike from 2200m start, 11C. After that increasing snowpack good skiing, but windy. Got to 2480m then too windy. #climate #skiing #dogs #montana #gye

Got home just in time, SN/BLSN 40-70kph N winds. -4C and falling, can barely see 200m. An actual blizzard, not unknown on Beartooth Front. This will be our last ❄️ for at least 8-9 days if not longer. Sundance isn't all that enthused about being out in it 😜. #climate #weather #dogs #montana #gye

turned back here 2500m in the mosh pit. 8-10cm new. hard times in there

One thing about this warmest ever winter here. Have had to keep combing Sundance out every week, he has never stopped shedding his thick undercoat. skimpy snowpack for skiing (r) 2200m only possible on pavement. skied thru all 3 campgrounds down low.

so wish I could have skied the main gravel road way back, would have been great 3km past here.

a little clearing heading back down Hellroaring Rd. this afternoon, Beartooth Plateau 3200m just coming into view.

Weak cold trough brought Beartooth Front 5cm ❄️, -6C this morn. Could only short ski Rock Crk Cyn. After that hiked 4K up Hellroaring Rd., to 2500m. -8C in mosh pit there 1m base had return. Turbulent here next 7 days, extreme heat SW developing 😒. #climatecrisis #skiing #hiking #dogs #montana #gye

some old tracks make it easy getting around this part of the E Bench. 6C up there stiff SE wind. always windy on it, w the drop to the east.

turned back (l) shaded area very sticky. going uphill is worse packs it in. only 1km out from start (r) very thin. solid track tho so good glide on the gradual down-canyon return.

why Sundance looks right at home here on the East Bench w Rock Crk. Canyon and the Silver Run plateau back in the distance.

had to stop and unclog my skis twice heading up. not at all on the return 👍🏽 it will be getting very windy in there tonight thru Mon. so much of the snowpack will be lost, before next shot late Mon/Tue.

First time skiing W-fork Cyn all winter this morn. Barely enough 1950m start but 30cm shaded area 4K out 2050m. Had to turn back there too sticky. 4C full sun, but at least not windy yet. Sundance/Otter after hike on E Bench 1780-1900m. 6C melting fast. #climate #hiking #skiing #dogs #montana #gye

atop the East Bench, from here drops all the way down to the desert to the NE-SE 1100-1300m.

looking E from the bench toward Pryors and Bighorns way in back. dry desert just below.

The good shepherd looking out over town on the left.

W Fork of Rock Crk. this morning 2000m, thin ice but nice powder on top

First time skiing W-fork Cyn all winter this morn. Barely enough 1950m start but 30cm shaded area 4K out 2050m. Had to turn back there too sticky. 4C full sun, but at least not windy yet. Sundance/Otter after hike on E Bench 1780-1900m. 6C melting fast. #climate #hiking #skiing #dogs #montana #gye

Wished it was a little colder so the snow wouldn't melt so quickly. But sure enjoy these kind of days, rare this season.

Looking ENE from 2000m into town.

some nice rocks on this trail

this trail just winds around the Beartooth Front, N to connect with Palisades trail in the campground.

It is obvious this is the case
agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10..... Warmest winter ever here Beartooth Front is disorienting. First time since 03 Dec. got 15cm ❄️ in town/our place. 15cm on Palisades Connector trail run 1850-2000m then back, 1C. #climatecrisis #running #dogs #montana #gye

Looking SE along Beartooth Front. Bases of the Bighorns got some fresh powder, way back, but not the dry basin beneath.

Tie for our heaviest snowfall of the season with 03 Dec. Melting faster in the strong sun tho, mild Pacific system too.

Under the timber (l) pretty fast with less depth. Looking N along Beartooth Front from 2000m here. Palisades rocks back there. Interesting to get to, very steep.

-2C, mild, moderate N wind this morn. by our place. not quite done w the snow. 13-15 cm already.

It is obvious this is the case
agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10..... Warmest winter ever here Beartooth Front is disorienting. First time since 03 Dec. got 15cm ❄️ in town/our place. 15cm on Palisades Connector trail run 1850-2000m then back, 1C. #climatecrisis #running #dogs #montana #gye

heading out from start (top) all bare. 2C moderate W wind. 2K further up (bottom) biggest slide chute had lots rocks down. probably happened on warmest days.

looking up Rock Crk. Canyon this morn. already snowing way back.

our local SNOTEL (top) 2400m in ski area has worst ever snowpack since measurements began been that way all winter, more or less. yet upstream in SW-W flow-favored areas for moisture, much better snowpacks. ours and adjacent best in the West averaged out. dismal, frightening implications unless the West as a whole gets stronger colder, moist systems next several weeks.

-2C 2530m stiff W wind. had to wear spikes halfway up from 2300m start.

Calm before storm today, before what could be our heaviest snowfall of season. Moderate ❄️ 0C our place now, hoping 20cm in morn. Good time see what's become of Beartooth Hwy last few weeks. Almost all snowpack blown out, remaining bits hard/crusty, not skiable. #climate #hiking #dogs #montana #gye

go left or die, sums it up for the nation, eventually the World. end of first switchback 2480m here

Beartooth Plateau 3200m + (top) lost a lot of snow past week. Near 2300m start (bottom), interesting sky developing.

Turned back here (l) 2550m. my fav. tree down low (r) 2450m old growth weather-beaten Englemann Spruce. very windy here, thin rocky soil. top did not get blown off, sharply tapers due to very strong winds.

looking up Rock Crk. Canyon (WSW) on way back. snowing further in.

Calm before storm today, before what could be our heaviest snowfall of season. Moderate ❄️ 0C our place now, hoping 20cm in morn. Good time see what's become of Beartooth Hwy last few weeks. Almost all snowpack blown out, remaining bits hard/crusty, not skiable. #climate #hiking #dogs #montana #gye

looking SW up-canyon near start 2230m. not even any real snowpack on the road margins.

thin 10-15cm snowpack 2250m (L). we had to turn back here (R) 2350m. getting soft, post-holing. 20-30cm snowpack here.

mild 7C, but glad to have clouds at least. always a plus in here too not to be windy. a weak system will bring a little ❄️ Wed/Thu this week.

the proximate reason much of the Western US has had warmest ever fall/winter. On left mean upper air pattern since 10/01. With anomalies in it on right. Much higher 500 mb heights Western US with subtle ridging pattern. Strong long ridging periods/warmth since Oct. Only weak systems breaking thru. Jet stream flow further N. Just one colder precip. burst CA last month. the real reason of course is climate collapse. My hunch is that very warm SSTs in Western/Central Pacific since OCT are responsible.

Rock Crk. Canyon check-up run 2200-2350m run today showed quite a bit of melt over the last week. Not skiable until 3K in, where it is more wind sheltered/shaded. Snowpack was ripening, soft turned back just 5K in. Warmest fall/winter ever here, but not driest. #climate #running #dogs #montana #gye

Interesting rocks in the burn area here, natural arching even. just grass/few shrubs so far in the recovery process.

where we headed, on left. you can see where burn stopped evening of 15JUN2021 when hot dry winds eased as weak cool front came in with higher RHs. winds shifted to W and dropped off. almost all of the 12000 ha burned in 6 hrs.

one day at a time. at least it was cooler today with a weak dry upper trough passage. 13C yesterday in here, but 2-3C today.

little stream here crosses the road. burn stopped near here when winds eased in evening.

Who with any brains and a conscience supports bombing innocent people? Apt we ran thru 15JUN2021 12000 ha burn on Meteetsee Trail today, S of town. When/how will we be rid of psychopaths in power destroying civilization? Cooler 2-3C today. 430ppm CO2 now. #climate #running #dogs #montana #gye

looking ESE across WY line down into the cool desert Bighorn Basin, with Bighorn Mtns. way back. Much of that basin is drier than Phoenix.

Meteetsee trail "road" is a mess much of the time. winds along the Beartooth Front 1700-2000m.

at least the Aspen aren't budding yet.

had to turn back here 6K out, side ditch off Meteetsee trail rd. slippery mud, could barely stay upright. wanted get closer to the interesting rocks.

Who with any brains and a conscience supports bombing innocent people? Apt we ran thru 15JUN2021 12000 ha burn on Meteetsee Trail today, S of town. When/how will we be rid of psychopaths in power destroying civilization? Cooler 2-3C today. 430ppm CO2 now. #climate #running #dogs #montana #gye

even tho deeply shaded much of day here, no snowpack 2100m. sure hope we get adequate spring precip, or there will be trouble. March and April often are quite snowy months along Beartooth Front. Not getting any hopes up.

2825m Mt. Maurice only visible briefly from trail few spots. Most of the time a green tunnel. Old logging road mostly. This eventually gets up to Line Crk. Plateau 3000m +. We only went halfway.

this little patch of snowpack due to drifting. 2050m here looking N out to RL and the Plains. If there is snow, Sundance will bathe in it.

go off the trail and you can find openings. 2200m here 9C stiff SW breeze.

One Spring day after another since Oct. continues apace in warmest ever fall/winter. Red Lodge snowfall 89cm is only 40% average since 01 OCT. Quite apparent our Mt. Maurice trail hike 1850-2250m, no real snowpack. Forecast models have been struggling w pattern. #climate #hiking #dogs #montana #gye

never good seeing Hellroaring Plateau 3200m + in play before even starting out

first gulch up Hellroaring Rd. (l) 2350m solid snowpack. but just after that (r), this. so no good skiing here.

got up Hellroaring Rd. hiking to 2550m here. wind-packed, but started post-holing in 1m snowpack. had to turn around. stiff W breeze 2C but better now than just few hours previous.

such a bummer, so wanted to ski in here. but gale force headwind, which would be storm force at the 2500m windy corner 8K up. had some bad experiences there over the years. as it was, my skis here were being blown around, hard to walk. 5C at 2200m start.

Good snow for skiing on Rock Crk. Rd. 3km past 2200m closure if u can get to it. Not at gate, need pack skis/boots in. But so windy at start, hazardous, abort. 8km up-canyon at 2500m would be even worse, round the windy corner. Hellroaring hike instead 👍🏽. #climate #skiing #hiking #dogs #montana #gye

heading up (l) into the mosh pit 2400m protected gulchg. nothing on wheels getting thru that. heading up side gulch (r) from main Rock Crk. Canyon, solid snowpack here 2550m. Fortunately some old ski/snowmachine tracks under wind-blown powder gave some firm-ness.

looking up (SW) Rock Crk. Canyon on our finish 2250m. getting windy again.

not too bad here in side gulch 2530m off main Rock Crk. Canyon. glad to have bare road edge for easier hiking

Hellroaring Plateau (l) 3200m + finally some cornicing. no slides tho, we just never have gotten strong systems w a deep snow-dump all winter. chinook skyes are nice (r) at least, heading down. mountain wave clouds there, fasten seat belts flight attendants be seated.

Good snow for skiing on Rock Crk. Rd. 3km past 2200m closure if u can get to it. Not at gate, need pack skis/boots in. But so windy at start, hazardous, abort. 8km up-canyon at 2500m would be even worse, round the windy corner. Hellroaring hike instead 👍🏽. #climate #skiing #hiking #dogs #montana #gye

glad it was not real windy, it can get brutal here. which is why it is bare. 2350m.

Greenough L. ice has real snow on it now. Plenty thick no worries. Rock Crk. looking upstream from 2250m.

looking up-stream in Rock Crk. Canyon from 2350m. still snowing way back over 3300m + high country.

most of the West has dismal snowpacks. ours is mis-leading as there is no low elev. snowpack below 2200m large area, but near-average amounts above 2500m upstream areas. dismal warm SW-W flow pattern to continue UFN, so Red Lodge will stay bare.

Same elevations as yesterday skiing but 100km ENE here on downslope end of mtns. in SW-W flow here Rock Crk. Cyn. Big difference since that mild Pacific flow pattern so persistent this winter. 13K loop run Rock Crk. Cyn 2200-2400m then back. 3-5C bit new ❄️. #climate #running #dogs #montana #gye

drier downslope side of the canyon, heading E. almost nothing on road here, 2250m.

the large open meadow half-way out 2350m looking up-canyon. it was bare w some drifts two weeks ago. so at least a little new moisture.

you can see the thick melting powder atop the ice thru Sundance's prints. really bad a few weeks ago, ran without spikes barely made it. now much better had spikes, never slipped once.

upstream Beartooth Lake SNOTEL 2805m is doing well with its SWE. while downstream at our Cole Crk. site 2400m, lowest ever 1991-present. for the date, most of this winter.

Same elevations as yesterday skiing but 100km ENE here on downslope end of mtns. in SW-W flow here Rock Crk. Cyn. Big difference since that mild Pacific flow pattern so persistent this winter. 13K loop run Rock Crk. Cyn 2200-2400m then back. 3-5C bit new ❄️. #climate #running #dogs #montana #gye

why aren't these on an adult beverage can? Pilot and Index Peaks 3594/3472m respectively.

getting windy on these 2500-3200m slopes/ridges. and enough snow for slides some of those chutes. going to be very windy here much of this week.

ven tho 2-3C, heading down, east. had good glide on this wide open area, we all enjoyed that.

went thru Fox Crk. campground 2350m on the way up to get off the busy highway 😜. 2 skiers we came across were wondering about Sundance's prints. I had to explain..

Good skiing to be had almost 2 hrs WSW of here. US-212 just W of Chief Joseph Biway intersection is closed at 2105m. 25-30cm hardpack on the road at start. This moister side of Beartooth Plateau complex, W-SW flow provides there 👍🏽. Short weather window 2-5C. #climate #skiing #dogs #wyoming #gye