mastodon 4.8.0-nightly.2026-10-06Wilderness/outdoor and science oriented living in and documenting the changes we are seeing with environmental/climate collapse in the GYE. Live in Red Lodge, MT since 2020 with my two helpers Sundance (the big one) and Otter (the littler one). Before that, Missoula MT (1990-98 and 2014-20), and Alaska (1998-2014, JNU/FAI/ANC). Semi-retired professional meteorologist (NWS/USFS/FWS).
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. Otherwise honks/waves as people rolled thru on US-212, our Broadway. Largest yet here, it does feel more hopeful now here tiny Purple town in Red Sea of Central MT. No more MAGAt crazy houses/cars. Got kidz out this morn, to see more month early blooms. #NoKings #climate #dogs #montana #hiking
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. Otherwise honks/waves as people rolled thru on US-212, our Broadway. Largest yet here, it does feel more hopeful now here tiny Purple town in Red Sea of Central MT. No more MAGAt crazy houses/cars. Got kidz out this morn, to see more month early blooms. #NoKings #climate #dogs #montana #hiking
Phantom Crk. trail is the route up to 3100-3850m + Froze to Death Plateau. Starting from 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 starting so we had to return. No ice anywhere and Slough Lake is quite low. Snowpack gone below 2200m, melting fast above free air freezing level 3500m. Weak cool system coming in tonight, but not much moisture .😔 #climatecrisis #hiking #dogs #montana #mountains
Equinoctial greetings tho it seems Solsticial. Bulk of MT has probably never seen March day this warm in 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 on this day. 18C at the start. Melting fast all round, free-air frzng level probably 4000m. Very dry too, RHs 7-15% last few days. Some cooling starting Sun., thank goodness. #climatecrisis #running #dogs #montana #gye
24.5C w gale force S wind 0930 this morn. coming out Clarks Fk. Yellowstone R. Cyn 1330m, unreal. River up some, not near spring flush. Hiking beat-down on return at least 120kph gust ripped hat off my neck, broke chin strap. Sunglasses flew off too, but was able find those. Almost blown over, but recovered. This deep canyon drains NE GYE high country, usually windy. Did get to Bridalveil Falls too. Nice to see Bighorn friends on our departure 👍🏽. #climatecrisis #hiking #wyoming #dogs #wildlife
Beartooth Front had got 25-30cm ❄️ during our strongest winter storm. Which is what we saw on our Silver Run Gulch/trail run today. A few ski/snowshoe tracks made it easier for us, except on shaded trail 2230m, soft and knee deep with only one track. Start is 1850m in W-fork Cyn. Moose detour on return, we knew coming up we'd see one of our friends. Easy to go around her, she was placid, and healthy looking 👍🏽. Fast melting starting tomorrow, all week. #climate #running #dogs #wildlife #montana
Beartooth Front had got 25-30cm ❄️ during our strongest winter storm. Which is what we saw on our Silver Run Gulch/trail run today. A few ski/snowshoe tracks made it easier for us, except on shaded trail 2230m, soft and knee deep with only one track. Start is 1850m in W-fork Cyn. Moose detour on return, we knew coming up we'd see one of our friends. Easy to go around her, she was placid, and healthy looking 👍🏽. Fast melting starting tomorrow, all week. #climate #running #dogs #wildlife #montana
Incredible difference 11 mild days made, Hellroaring Rd. completely melted out almost to 2600m bridge. Couldn't make it near there 02APR. Worrisome for sure. But cool pattern this week, more ❄️ here late tmrw/Thu. Made for easy run, starting 2350m up to shaded side of steep gulch 2680m. Turned back there, road completely covered. 0C and windy, few flurries. Still nice cornices on Hellroaring Plateau 3200m +. #climatecrisis #running #dogs #montana #gye #mountains
Incredible difference 11 mild days made, Hellroaring Rd. completely melted out almost to 2600m bridge. Couldn't make it near there 02APR. Worrisome for sure. But cool pattern this week, more ❄️ here late tmrw/Thu. Made for easy run, starting 2350m up to shaded side of steep gulch 2680m. Turned back there, road completely covered. 0C and windy, few flurries. Still nice cornices on Hellroaring Plateau 3200m +. #climatecrisis #running #dogs #montana #gye #mountains
Basin Lakes are short steep hikes from W-fork Canyon 2000m. Lower lake is 2440m 4K from start, upper 2770m is 7.5K up. Got 1km past lower lake 2580m, then too deep ice/frozen slush. Even w spikes, not appealing. Disorienting indeed to see area completely bare almost to the lake. Even more to see it completely open w no real ice/snow around or on. We are in cooler pattern at least, -1C at turn-back 👍🏽. Trail was frozen most of the time. #climatecrisis #hiking #dogs #montana #mountains #gye
Upper low traversed GYE to far N to put town in favorable N-NE upslope low-mid level flow. NW mainly which is downslope for Beartooth Front. But higher terrain did get more, 15-20cm new ❄️ 2200m overlook off Nichols Crk. trail behind W-fork Cyn. 5-7cm new at 1850m start. No pre-existing snowpack so no ice on the trail which was helpful. -1C at 2200m NW wind. We will get another quick shot late Tue/Wed. Snowpack here still record low SWE, but not further W. #climate #running #dogs #montana #gye
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 👍🏽. We are fortunate to have this much compared to rest of the W. 8C at start moderate W wind. Models keep showing ❄️ colder next week, believe it when I'm skiing on it. #climatecrisis #skiing #dogs #montana #wildlife
Glad to have colder trough moving thru. 5-10cm new ❄️ in W-fork Canyon and up side gulch, 2350m to 2635m and back on Timberline Lk. trail. Road is now open a month early all the way in. All in 8000ha Cascade burn area from 26-28JUL2008. Stand-replacing hot fire, left dangerous landscape. Steep rocky trail with hazardous snags, no place to be in strong winds. Add snow/ice on top, we had to be careful. Had spikes on. Last cold system for while. #climatecrisis #hiking #dogs #wildlife #montana #gye
Basin Lakes are short steep hikes from W-fork Canyon 2000m. Lower lake is 2440m 4K from start, upper 2770m is 7.5K up. Got 1km past lower lake 2580m, then too deep ice/frozen slush. Even w spikes, not appealing. Disorienting indeed to see area completely bare almost to the lake. Even more to see it completely open w no real ice/snow around or on. We are in cooler pattern at least, -1C at turn-back 👍🏽. Trail was frozen most of the time. #climatecrisis #hiking #dogs #montana #mountains #gye
24.5C w gale force S wind 0930 this morn. coming out Clarks Fk. Yellowstone R. Cyn 1330m, unreal. River up some, not near spring flush. Hiking beat-down on return at least 120kph gust ripped hat off my neck, broke chin strap. Sunglasses flew off too, but was able find those. Almost blown over, but recovered. This deep canyon drains NE GYE high country, usually windy. Did get to Bridalveil Falls too. Nice to see Bighorn friends on our departure 👍🏽. #climatecrisis #hiking #wyoming #dogs #wildlife
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. from Rock Crk. Cyn 2230m. 7C windy there getting colder. Something on wheels yest. made it to 2600m, crazy. Made it easy for us, but no further. Too deep/soft. Wind ❄️ starting. First ⚡️ of season in town. Early, as to be expected in the new regime. Cooler overall tho next few weeks looks like. #climate #hiking #dogs #montana #weather
Glad to have colder trough moving thru. 5-10cm new ❄️ in W-fork Canyon and up side gulch, 2350m to 2635m and back on Timberline Lk. trail. Road is now open a month early all the way in. All in 8000ha Cascade burn area from 26-28JUL2008. Stand-replacing hot fire, left dangerous landscape. Steep rocky trail with hazardous snags, no place to be in strong winds. Add snow/ice on top, we had to be careful. Had spikes on. Last cold system for while. #climatecrisis #hiking #dogs #wildlife #montana #gye
Phantom Crk. trail is the route up to 3100-3850m + Froze to Death Plateau. Starting from 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 starting so we had to return. No ice anywhere and Slough Lake is quite low. Snowpack gone below 2200m, melting fast above free air freezing level 3500m. Weak cool system coming in tonight, but not much moisture .😔 #climatecrisis #hiking #dogs #montana #mountains
Upper low traversed GYE to far N to put town in favorable N-NE upslope low-mid level flow. NW mainly which is downslope for Beartooth Front. But higher terrain did get more, 15-20cm new ❄️ 2200m overlook off Nichols Crk. trail behind W-fork Cyn. 5-7cm new at 1850m start. No pre-existing snowpack so no ice on the trail which was helpful. -1C at 2200m NW wind. We will get another quick shot late Tue/Wed. Snowpack here still record low SWE, but not further W. #climate #running #dogs #montana #gye
Big change in conditions last 14 days in Lake Fk. of Rock Crk. Cyn. Snowpack essentially gone below 2200m. Thin up to 2450m where we turned back on our run. The record 4-day MAR warmth last week accelerated the already too far along spring melt. It looks now what late April/early May used to look like. Buds on Cottonwood/Aspen are swelling. Crk. is much more open, rotting ice. Didn't need spikes, trail ice soft now. 11C lite breeze at 2080m start. #climatecrisis #running #montana #dogs
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 👍🏽. We are fortunate to have this much compared to rest of the W. 8C at start moderate W wind. Models keep showing ❄️ colder next week, believe it when I'm skiing on it. #climatecrisis #skiing #dogs #montana #wildlife
Equinoctial greetings tho it seems Solsticial. Bulk of MT has probably never seen March day this warm in 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 on this day. 18C at the start. Melting fast all round, free-air frzng level probably 4000m. Very dry too, RHs 7-15% last few days. Some cooling starting Sun., thank goodness. #climatecrisis #running #dogs #montana #gye
Actual blizzard for at least 4 hrs. last nite our place. Very difficult to measure snowfall amounts w the strong winds. 25-30cm ❄️ at least in town. -15C this morn. Cole Crk. SNOTEL at ski area 2400m picked up 41cm w 41mm SWE 👍🏽. Biggest storm of season. Fast warm up starting now tho thanks to strongest ridge ever to occur in March over CA and SW US, this week. Should see our first 21C + day (70F) Beartooth Front Thu. Slow ski our place in that thick powder. #climate #skiing #dogs #montana
First run of the year in shorts/t-shirt today W-fork Canyon, then up side gulch to old cabin. 1850m-2300m then back. Drying out fast, all ❄️ gone. Not too warm 17.5C RH 22% according to Timbercrest RAWS nearby. Cooler moister pattern developing, weak upper trough may bring us ⚡️. A little early, as to be expected now in new regime. Hopefully models are accurate for precip. over next 7 days. #climatecrisis #running #dogs #montana #gye #weather
Quite a lot of 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. Easy running/hiking would have gone further but started late. Mild spring day 12C 2500m, easy to see how much earlier Spring is this year than any we have seen here before. #climatecrisis #hiking #dogs #montana #gye
Last survey of Beartooth Hwy from 2300m closure, on up was 3/05. Only able to hike partway in 2nd switchback, soft knee-deep slush protected gulch. Otherwise completely bare til then, 2500m. Lots new rocks on road. Warmest ever MAR certainly is apparent in loss of snowpack near start, thinner above to top of Plateaus, 3200m +. Mild windy 12C at 2300m, but 2 troughs coming will help bring more ❄️ this week. 2nd one Thu/Fri most promising here. #climate #hiking #dogs #montana #gye
Silver Run Rd/trail run 1900-2280m up and back today in side gulch off W-fork Cyn shows 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 1950m. Snowpack gone below 2250m. Quite the change in 11 days since we were last in. The big MAR heatwave gave us some of the warmest anomalies in the W, but at least it has not been dry from here N. #climatecrisis #running #dogs #montana #gye #spring
Rock Crk. Canyon survey, last in here 17th on skis (carried them in first 2K). Before our record MAR warmth 18th-21st. 4 days free-air frzng levels 4000m + melted snowpack below 2300m, what's left further up half gone. Aspen buds swelling looks like early May. Still, not nearly as bad as further S, much of the Western US now has record low SWE this date. Dire implications for rest of year. Weak system brought bit ❄️ cooling here overnite, 2-4C our hike. #climatecrisis #hiking #dogs #montana #gye
A weak moist atmospheric river pattern is feeding moisture in over the high country. With WSW flow Beartooth Front, mainly dry. S even S+ at times tho on Beartooth Hwy from 2300m closure to 2450m. Just hiked 4km up then back. 5cm new ❄️ at gate but 12-15cm further up. Windy gale force at times -2C 2450m. Couldn't see much, just glad there is moisture coming in. This will be heaviest snowfall of winter here thru Sun. Will raise slide potential markedly. #climate #hiking #dogs #winter #weather
Big change in conditions last 14 days in Lake Fk. of Rock Crk. Cyn. Snowpack essentially gone below 2200m. Thin up to 2450m where we turned back on our run. The record 4-day MAR warmth last week accelerated the already too far along spring melt. It looks now what late April/early May used to look like. Buds on Cottonwood/Aspen are swelling. Crk. is much more open, rotting ice. Didn't need spikes, trail ice soft now. 11C lite breeze at 2080m start. #climatecrisis #running #montana #dogs
Rock Crk. Canyon survey, last in here 17th on skis (carried them in first 2K). Before our record MAR warmth 18th-21st. 4 days free-air frzng levels 4000m + melted snowpack below 2300m, what's left further up half gone. Aspen buds swelling looks like early May. Still, not nearly as bad as further S, much of the Western US now has record low SWE this date. Dire implications for rest of year. Weak system brought bit ❄️ cooling here overnite, 2-4C our hike. #climatecrisis #hiking #dogs #montana #gye
Had go big city today so got us up on the Rim 1100m, that is on N side of Billings/Yellowstone R. canyon. It got to 28.5C here on 20th. Breaking previous all-time Mar record of 27C. Hot in summer, rattlesnakes. None today 15C lite breeze, but they must be stirring. Locusts are starting out I think it will be bad year like 2021 for that. Because of the warm winter/spring. Nice pines on the rim with view of all the ranges SE-S-SW, interesting rocks too. #climatecrisis #hiking #dogs #montana
GYE is on nrn fringe of the extreme heat dome bringing all-time record MAR heat to Wrn US. Red Lodge tied all-time MAR high yest. 22C (72F). Previously 3/27 and 31/2015. Drove in thru WY-296 to US-212, to ski up that from 2213m to 2580m. Side detour near start ridge above Lily Lake. 14C at the start, 10C or so when we turned back. Dismal snowpack lower, but above 2400m looking good. Melting rapidly, everything. More deer out w the mild winter, had close call. #climate #skiing #dogs #wyoming #gye
Quite a lot of 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. Easy running/hiking would have gone further but started late. Mild spring day 12C 2500m, easy to see how much earlier Spring is this year than any we have seen here before. #climatecrisis #hiking #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 the 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 at the moment 😜. The 12Z today run of the NOAA/NWS NAM 3km hi-res forecast model was 30 min. early forecasting start of this. Better than the alternative! We will have our first 21C + day next Thu. #climate #weather #dogs #montana #gye
Silver Run Rd/trail run 1900-2280m up and back today in side gulch off W-fork Cyn shows 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 1950m. Snowpack gone below 2250m. Quite the change in 11 days since we were last in. The big MAR heatwave gave us some of the warmest anomalies in the W, but at least it has not been dry from here N. 8C at 1900m start. #climatecrisis #running #dogs #montana #gye #spring
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 by carrying them in bag 2km from 2200m start. After that increasing snowpack decent glide, but windy. Had to turn back windy corner 2480m, gale force, Sundance/Otter not keen. Snowmachine tracks from Sun/Mon sure helped. 30-60cm base 2300m and above, but much will melt next 8-9 days. Free-air frzg lvls will rise to 3500m + 😔. #climate #skiing #dogs #montana #gye
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. from Rock Crk. Cyn 2230m. 7C windy there getting colder. Something on wheels yest. made it to 2600m, crazy. Made it easy for us, but no further. Too deep/soft. Wind ❄️ starting. First ⚡️️ of season in town. Early, as to be expected in the new regime. Cooler overall tho next few weeks looks like. #climate #hiking #dogs #montana #weather
GYE is on nrn fringe of the extreme heat dome bringing all-time record MAR heat to Wrn US. Red Lodge tied all-time MAR high yest. 22C (72F). Previously 3/27 and 31/2015. Drove in thru WY-296 to US-212, to ski up that from 2213m to 2580m. Side detour near start ridge above Lily Lake. 14C at the start, 10C or so when we turned back. Dismal snowpack lower, but above 2400m looking good. Melting rapidly, everything. More deer out w the mild winter, had close call. #climate #skiing #dogs #wyoming #gye
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 by carrying them in bag 2km from 2200m start. After that increasing snowpack decent glide, but windy. Had to turn back windy corner 2480m, gale force, Sundance/Otter not keen. Snowmachine tracks from Sun/Mon sure helped. 30-60cm base 2300m and above, but much will melt next 8-9 days. Free-air frzg lvls will rise to 3500m + 😔. #climate #skiing #dogs #montana #gye