Michael Richmond (@beartoothskier)

Record heat here, drying rapidly. 35.5C town yest., new daily record (old 32C-2003). Near 38C now, approaches all-time record RL tied 12th. Monsoon pattern brought 💦 but drier now w heat 8 days +. All apparent on our 1850-2030m Palisades trail walk, 33C then 🔥. #climate #hiking #dogs #montana #gye

Willow Crk. is definitely lower now, since source is ski area 2600m. even a few small trout in it 👍🏽 without this Sundance would be in duress.

looking N from 2000m out to plains 1100-1200m where it is now 37-42C 😔

we needed a rest day but the heat is taxing. worse down lower and W of the Divide lower elevations.

Fire Danger Indices w 7-day forecast for Srn ID Panhandle and Bitterroots/Sapphire ranges west of here. Show reaching 97th percentile values (extreme) raising fire potential. Fire season been a little slow so far this year NRN Rockies, coming now. Terrible in OR/WA even BC already.

Michael Richmond@beartoothskier· 18d

Record heat here, drying rapidly. 35.5C town yest., new daily record (old 32C-2003). Near 38C now, approaches all-time record RL tied 12th. Monsoon pattern brought 💦 but drier now w heat 8 days +. All apparent on our 1850-2030m Palisades trail walk, 33C then 🔥. #climate #hiking #dogs #montana #gye

fireweed says at least two more months of summer. I'm sure it will still be quite warm in OCT too, like the last 2 have been.

Sundance moving slowly in the heat (l). lots of snapped trees this area, wind or ⚡️? wind my guess. Some of the Palisades rocks are near (r) but very steep trail get to these. not after yesterdays exertions 😜

dry thunderstorms yest. evening brought strong winds here. the storms were over the plateaus. outflow winds from them accelerated coming off the Beartooth Front and warmed 1C/100m. thus it was still 27C here 2200 hrs., and got gusts 100-120 kph. never have seen it so warm so late in evening here. awful.

this S-SW facing area Beartooth Front 1900m or so has some beautiful old growth like this 30m tall Ponderosa Pine. very little of that around here.

Michael Richmond@beartoothskier· 19d

Sweltering humid 21C 2200m start of our signature long hike, up to 3365m Sundance's Pass. 34K total hike up/back Lakefork Cyn approach. Gale force winds at pass could only stay 15 min. Lowlands heating up again, thermal low pressure. Baby moose at 3050m. 👍🏽 #climate #hiking #dogs #montana #mountains

looking NNW from the pass. so grateful I can still do this long hike. one of my fav. places anywhere. even after living 16 years in AK.

looking down toward our return thru the Lakefork Canyon to our start, from the pass. such a long way... a little hazy, some wildfire smoke from OR. had to do this now, it will be smokier here on out. probably won't do this again until its cooler in Sept.

3824m Whitetail Pk. behind us at 3365m Pass. wind was strengthening rapidly early afternoon, had to descend quickly. probably 18C up there, 35C in town today 😔. it grieves me strongly to think that this kind of hot pattern now will be average in 20 years or less. probably less, climate modeling has been underestimating timing/intensity of the warming from excess atmospheric CO2/CH4 from fossil fuel combustion.

this little patch right beneath the pass is on maps as permanent feature. much thinner now, melted out completely last year, will again this, for sure. so much thinner.

Michael Richmond@beartoothskier· 19d

Sweltering humid 21C 2200m start of our signature long hike, up to 3365m Sundance's Pass. 34K total hike up/back Lakefork Cyn approach. Gale force winds at pass could only stay 15 min. Lowlands heating up again, thermal low pressure. Baby moose at 3050m. 👍🏽 #climate #hiking #dogs #montana #mountains

Why Sundance looks rite at home on his pass, and swimming in 3030m Sept. Morn. Lake beneath, on the way up.

just below 3030m Sept. Morn Lake, 14K from start first views of alpine terrain, a hint of what is to come at the pass. First and second Rock Crk. Lakes there from 2950m.

looking NW/N from 3365m Sundance's Pass. harshest terrain in lower 48. permafrost favored slopes above 3000-3100m. melting now, so some slopes will be unstable. rockfall off 3824m Whitetail Peak late June 2021 killed a young woman heading up. very likely that is what happened.

cutest baby moose 3050m above Sept. Morn Lake. Ma was lurking in timber (l). Sundance cooling off in patches 3200m below the pass.

Michael Richmond@beartoothskier· 22d

Beartooth Plateau today assess melt rate 3150m ice patch regular survey route. Melting slower than last year, but expect it be gone again by Oct., like last year. Hiked ridges around too 3200m-2970m then back. Still soft, the tundra 👍🏽, for now. #climate #hiking #dogs #montana #mountains #wildlife

on our hike back from Line Crk., which was not easily crossable. a mini Lakes District here on the slightly drier east side of Beartooth Plateau. smaller lakes, but still nice. 3200m here.

this melted out completely last year, first time in thousands of years. expecting that again. melt does seem a little slower so far this year than last. all the snow that falls on upslope (to SW-W flow) side of plateau settles out here in ceaseless strong winds NOV-APR.

two goat groups out, this was larger one. those babes are so cute. 3280m here. can't imagine what they do in the harsh windy winters here.

Michael Richmond@beartoothskier· 22d

Beartooth Plateau today assess melt rate 3150m ice patch regular survey route. Melting slower than last year, but expect it be gone again by Oct., like last year. Hiked ridges around too 3200m-2970m then back. Still soft, the tundra 👍🏽, for now. #climate #hiking #dogs #montana #mountains #wildlife

this rock 3000m warms up area for fireweed. which are saying a lot more summer to come. modeling certainly agreeing on that.

youngster passed just below guardrail on the highway to head other group. could have traversed much further out. i hope no one is feeding them. love that new coat coming up.

this group the single goat was returning to. 3030m Glacier Lake way back there, atop headwall of Rock Crk. Canyon.

below the first melting ice patch is this one 3000m, nice tunnel.

Michael Richmond@beartoothskier· 23d

Been few months ran Ingles Crk. trail up side gulch from W-fork Canyon. 1850m start, turned back 2230m past 2nd stream crossing. Still fairly moist, ⚡️️⚡️️💦💦 last 6 days, until today. So fire danger lower now after extreme heat before that 👍🏽. Warm 28C. #climate #running #dogs #montana #mountains #gye

Sundance in his stately heat pace (l) 2050m. No breeze heading up. First stream crossing (r) 2100m, they so need that. Lower now, but will always provide.

open areas in this narrow gulch from some likely Mtn. Wave windstorm I'm guessing 25-35 years ago. Goes up quite a ways, 1-2km. Would have been deadly be in there for that. 2150m here.

you can see how just the gulch bottom timber was flattened (l). this weird giant fungi came up thru these rocks, all the moisture we've had last several days (r).

second Ingles Crk. stream crossing 2200m (l), nice shady spot. Sundance loves it in there (r). turned back 1km up from there.

Michael Richmond@beartoothskier· 27d

Sundance/Otter's Aunt Mischelle is visiting from San Diego. Tundra roams, hiked few hours Beartooth Plateau 3280m-3050m then back. Lots water/❄️ for kidz stay cool in, 16C lite SW breeze. After got in quick 5K from 3300m down to 3050m Gardiner Lake/back. #climate #hiking #dogs #wyoming #mountains

Forget Me Nots 3100m still vibrant/moist 👍🏽

Mischelle did quite well for Sea Level inhabitant. We def. went slow, up and down. Only kidz and I did Gardiner Lake hike. Destabilizing rapidly, in wet storm now here our place. 👍🏽

looking back up the steep/rocky trail to where highway/start is. not many hikes these altitudes you go down first then back up on return. got back in time before ⚡️

Gardiner Lake is really beautiful. and they sure appreciated it. glad for the cooler more moist Monsoon pattern we are in. Tundra springy again.

Michael Richmond@beartoothskier· 27d

Sundance/Otter's Aunt Mischelle is visiting from San Diego. Tundra roams, hiked few hours Beartooth Plateau 3280m-3050m then back. Lots water/❄️ for kidz stay cool in, 16C lite SW breeze. After got in quick 5K from 3300m down to 3050m Gardiner Lake/back. #climate #hiking #dogs #wyoming #mountains

during our first hike 3100m here, looking east. Nice and moist from wet storm last few days after the extreme heat Sat-Mon. Monsoon pattern will continue several more days.

3050m Gardner Lake below its 3370m headwall. its fairly deep in the middle.

you can see a mosquito cloud around us. can be as bad as AK here 3000m and above thru mid Aug when winds die down.

love Sundances big feets, gets around in the water quite well, as well as powder.

Michael Richmond@beartoothskier· Jul 13

Cooler today 28C Lakefork Canyon 2200-2400m and back. Only do 7K run tho, Sundance w his nrn coat was sluggish, can't imagine.. Low to High Fire Danger in 2 days. Forest litter in deep narrow canyon fire-ready. Cooling up-canyon wind on return 👍🏽. #climate #running #dogs #montana #gye #mountains

even w the high cold water bathing (l) Sundance was sluggish. always maintaining a stately pace (r). came here because of the shade, like that for 18K, until past Sept. Morn Lake at 2990m.

the Lake Fork of Rock Crk. is still running high because it comes from lakes above 2900m, which take longer to drain. fall in there would be a bad thing, 8C water tops, probably colder.

you can see the effect of the extreme heat last 2 days on larger and medium size dead fuels in our area. 100 hrs, 2-8cm branches essentially, drying to 90th percentile values. sure hope we get wet storms tomorrrow/wed. would take a strong wind get a hot fire moving in the canyon, live fuels still green/moist.

glad chose this deep canyon trail for the shade. Otter does better, w her thinner coat.

Michael Richmond@beartoothskier· Jul 12

Science denial is deadly. All-time record heat today Central/Ern MT. 43.5C in BIL (111F) and 46C (115F) Miles City, frightening. 5-10 years out probably see 50C records. Beartooth Plateau hike today 3050-3300m 26-28C, probably warmest been up there in 125K years. #climate #hiking #dogs #montana #gye

dropped down to 3050m here, getting subalpine. brutally hot Bighorn Basin 1100-1300m way in back. 43-45C down there.

Sundance had to make most of all these little ponds. 3280m here. this'll be gone in week or two. monsoon moisture TRW starting Tue hopefully stop the tundra drying. we'll see...

3250m glad for some shading. wind dropped off a bit, bad bugs. 27C or so, never experienced that here.

2100m in Rock Crk. Canyon moderate S wind 5-7%RH. We will be getting monsoon moisture driven TRW Tue on, sure hope they'll be wet. All time record in Red Lodge is 38.3C (101F).

Michael Richmond@beartoothskier· Jul 12

Science denial is deadly. All-time record heat today Central/Ern MT. 43.5C in BIL (111F) and 46C (115F) Miles City, frightening. 5-10 years out probably see 50C records. Beartooth Plateau hike today 3050-3300m 26-28C, probably warmest been up there in 125K years. #climate #hiking #dogs #montana #gye

this route goes to the 1947 swamp Chevy. 3270m here looking S. these ponds will be gone in a few weeks.

crunchy, the dwarf willow shrubs. grasses almost, tomorrow for sure. 3250m here. nice lupines smelled great.

We are always happy here at 3300m looking N. Except 21JUN2025 when we ran for our lives from here back to van, in far distance. Squall line w 160kph gusts, shredding hail, and⚡️. 8C to 0C in a flash, not even time get my gloves or shell on. just ran for it. barely able get door open.

i had to cool off in it too. I think our low last nite our place was 22C, which would surely be a record.

Michael Richmond@beartoothskier· Jul 10

Palisades trail winds along Beartooth Front 1800m-2230m 7K, closest trail our place. First run this year here, can't use it again. Little stream near bottom nearly gone. Very dry OCT-APR. Extreme heat Sun, this lush terrain will flash dry. In hot/dry/windy 37C. #climate #running #dogs #montana #gye

we have been getting interesting sunsets last 10 days with lots convective activity. last nite here.

So the NWS forecast max temps Sun (L) would have Miles City and Billings exceed all-time highs. Red Lodge's all time high is 38.5C (101F). This shows us not reaching that, I hope so. Thanks to this exceedingly strong upper ridge over SW/Central US. Putting GYE in the Great Basin Heat Volcano. Hot dry SW flow pushing up desert air over us, compressional warming too, N of the mountains.

there was a bit of lite N breeze on return, helped us out.

Sundance engaged in a stately pace heading up, w the warm 28C no breeze conditions (l). But was quite brisk on the return, heading for the mudpit (r).

Michael Richmond@beartoothskier· Jul 10

Palisades trail winds along Beartooth Front 1800m-2230m 7K, closest trail our place. First run this year here, can't use it again. Little stream near bottom nearly gone. Very dry OCT-APR. Extreme heat Sun, this lush terrain will flash dry. In hot/dry/windy 37C. #climate #running #dogs #montana #gye

looking east toward town from 2230m. warm today 28C but Sunday, frightening, 37C hot dry windy. worse than the 15JUN2021 fire blow-up day 35C then.

this little stream used to have good flow, until this year. even 2021 was better. so dry OCT-APR.

the mudpit, thank goodness it is still here. they love it ❤️

Michael Richmond@beartoothskier· Jul 9

Needed get up Senia trail to Red Lodge Crk. Plateau from W-Fork Canyon. 2400m-3230m then back. With canyon overlook detour added in 25K hike. Otter/Sundance would do poorly first 5K this hike in 8000ha 2008 burn. Extreme heat coming Sat-on, 10 days or more. #climate #hiking #dogs #montana #mountains

looking west from Red Lodge Crk Plateau 3200m to higher peaks up to 3860m.

all these plateaus have interesting large quartz outcrops (l) 3250m here. Why Sundance looks perfectly at home up there ❤️. would if we could. most of the water up here but for few tiny springs will disappear. so we won't be back here til Sept.

the deep narrow gash of W-Fork Canyon, Sundances 3365m Pass is back there just behind 3824m Silver Run Peak, highest point on that plateau.

around 16C here 3150m w stiff W breeze, quite enjoyable. kept bugs down. Sunday is going to be brutal this part GYE, hot dry and windy. thankfully it is still green Beartooth Front but that will be it. drying out our fuels, fire potential will rapidly increase.

Michael Richmond@beartoothskier· Jul 9

Needed get up Senia trail to Red Lodge Crk. Plateau from W-Fork Canyon. 2400m-3230m then back. With canyon overlook detour added in 25K hike. Otter/Sundance would do poorly first 5K this hike in 8000ha 2008 burn. Extreme heat coming Sat-on, 10 days or more. #climate #hiking #dogs #montana #mountains

also water patches like these 3100m (l) will dry out next few weeks. snow patches too (l) like these 3200m looking NE out onto plains. It is going to absolutely brutal down there Sat-Mon. Hot dry windy at times 36-43C, hottest Sunday. All-time records like the 42C in Billings, 38C in Red Lodge, could be broken.

first patch in the subalpine 3000m here. treeline generally 3050m this slope.

I sure hope we don't lose any large areas of our timber in the GYE. Like what happened in 2008 here (l). High Severity mostly down to mineral soil. So still coarse granitic all thru, slow recovery. Hard to be in above 25C for Otter and Sundance. 21C on our descent. First canyon view (r) from side detour 3150m up/over 3250m ridge. W-fork canyon is a deep narrow gash in these plateaus. 1200m deep in places.

We don't usually go much further steep drops out there. 3842m Silver Run Peak back there. Sundance's 3365m pass too, on other side.

Michael Richmond@beartoothskier· Jul 7

Aborted horseshoe hike. 2990m Clay Butte around ridgeline over to 3205m Beartooth Butte. Heart of glorious Lakes District, 2K in before brown sow/yearling in view. We didn't disturb them, always a prime objective, they are under lots of pressure. #climate #hiking #dogs #wyoming #wildlife #mountains

Sundance overlooking the glorious Lakes District. Moist SW side Beartooth Plateau. Hundreds of lakes/ponds, in every depression. Some quite large, like Island and Beartooth Lakes.

we never got closer than 60m or so. they were curious and we were quiet, just turned round and headed back. So proud of Sundance and Otter for not disturbing them ❤️

atop the first ascent behind Clay Butte on the ridgeline is this 20m deep cleft. since it is very clayey here, maybe an old moraine feature, it is shifting/cracking. we do not come here until snowmelt!

on our return, heading back to Clay Butte. nice W breeze 13C. obvious there would be ⚡️ later. lots of ACCAS and Cu starting to build.

Michael Richmond@beartoothskier· Jul 7

Aborted horseshoe hike. 2990m Clay Butte around ridgeline over to 3205m Beartooth Butte. Heart of glorious Lakes District, 2K in before brown sow/yearling in view. We didn't disturb them, always a prime objective, they are under lots of pressure. #climate #hiking #dogs #wyoming #wildlife #mountains

Just below where our Ursine friends were, heading back. Lakes District really starts around here. Every depression has one, the moist SW side of Beartooth Plateau, fed by the 3200-3905m high terrain.

Mountain goats out on the Beartooth Plateau drive in this morn. This herd almost always just before the little two week ski area. Lots of kids ❤️

Did 12K hike after Morrison 4WD trail. on left Beartooth Butte in back there. We would have come across the ridge and around, from Clay Butte. Rapidly destabilizing (r), finished our hike just in time 👍🏽

I think this is the yearling (l). Neither her or Ma were perturbed, never made any threatening signs, just curious. Sundance and Otter behaved perfectly, never barking or growling, and staying near me. These snow patches and ponds will all be gone in a month or so, then it is a dry hike (r).

Michael Richmond@beartoothskier· Jul 6

Took our little trailer into Rock Crk. Canyon last week campsite 2270m. To escape the noise, Otter/Sundance do poorly w fireworks and gunshot noise. Got plateau hikes in last Thu/4th/yest. Also nice run S of 2990m Island Lake yest., outran some ⚡️️️. #climate #hiking #running #dogs #montana #mountains

always have time for our 3150m ENE facing patch survey. melting ramping up last 2 weeks. 1m or so recession, some thinning. warm 17C up there yest.

cute black bear this morn., but that's Otter last Thu. between my 400W folding solar panels and battery cube, combined w trailer LFP battery and 100W roof solar, plenty of power for fridge. not enough for AC, but can run small toaster in morning 👍🏽 I love seeing the battery technology exploding. Cheaper and more powerful every year.

Melting ice patch we routinely survey 3150m Beartooth Plateau, ENE aspect. down a bit from the 1947 swamp Chevrolet. so nice we could all stay cool last several days. real 30C + heat coming in town starting Fri.

there is a sacred quartz crystal outcrop 3150m on the Beartooth Plateau, one of many. this one is easily accessible. we all like to sit on it and partake of the energy. this harsh environment is surreal in a way, because it is not steep mtn. slopes. But these vast plateaus, with true Arctic tundra.

Michael Richmond@beartoothskier· Jul 6

Took our little trailer into Rock Crk. Canyon last week campsite 2270m. To escape the noise, Otter/Sundance do poorly w fireworks and gunshot noise. Got plateau hikes in last Thu/4th/yest. Also nice run S of 2990m Island Lake yest., outran some ⚡️️️. #climate #hiking #running #dogs #montana #mountains

2990m Island Lake yest. (l). 3150m Christmas Lake yest. (r) short run preceded by hike.

3100m melting ice patch (l) near Line Crk. trail from above. so nice cool/there (r) around 15C strong SW breeze. keeps bugs down 👍🏽

ice patch (l) near sacred quartz outcrop. they were getting out of hand there (r) almost hit me twice. had put stop to it.

3 Carbon County Republican vehicles were ahead of our Democratic MT Senate Dist. 55 candidate Kelly Hale. He and friends were on horse, I was on my e-bike. The first R car has a Gulf of America banner 🤮. They were not getting a lot of attention, really. No jeers, but no heavy cheering, like last year. So moods are changing here, but MT is hard to read a lot going on.

Michael Richmond@beartoothskier· Jun 30

Beartooth Hwy still closed this morn from ❄️ yest. So hiked out from 3230m closure on tundra over to edge of Rock Crk. Cyn, and around, great views. Cold 6C strong W wind at start, got better later. Not much new ❄️ here on drier side of Plateau. #climate #hiking #dogs #montana #mountains #wildlife

who made this Stonehenge-like rock feature? Ancient Astronaut theorists suggest... 😜 lots of features like this on these high plateaus.

looking west from 3200m toward higher terrain. doesn't look like a lot of new snow even back there. but highway drifts really easily.

looking down into Rock Crk. Canyon from 3150m.

Michael Richmond@beartoothskier· Jun 30

Beartooth Hwy still closed this morn from ❄️ yest. So hiked out from 3230m closure on tundra over to edge of Rock Crk. Cyn, and around, great views. Cold 6C strong W wind at start, got better later. Not much new ❄️ here on drier side of Plateau. #climate #hiking #dogs #montana #mountains #wildlife

3020m Twin Lakes back there, highway is actually above them.

Rock Crk. Canyon seems so tiny from up here, not when you are in it. Looking W up-canyon.

Success! I am working with Otter stop her chasing after Marmots. Worked today, tho my voice is a bit hoarse 😜

a case could be made for either Bighorns or Mulies on canyon edge. Sometimes they even mix, seen that before. Wind not in our favor, soon as they caught scent, they dropped down from the edge there.

Michael Richmond@beartoothskier· Jun 29

Relatively cool pattern still w/us which we are savoring. Upper trough over ID/MT/WY, free-air freezing level 3000m. Meant cool 8C w sprinkles Lakefork Cyn run 2200-2450m then back. Reminded me of AK summer day 👍🏽. Warming tomorrow, hot late next week. #climate #running #dogs #montana #gye #mountains

side streams are much lower (l) on canyon walls. nice where Lakefork widens out for bathing (r).

Lake Fork of Rock Crk. drains highest terrain in MT all in Absaroka/Beartooth Wilderness. Pure clean and cold. Looking downstream from 2300m. Flooding in NW MT today around Glacier NP, heavy rains there last 2 days. Missing all that further S here.

just misting a bit, and stiff W down-canyon wind.

2450m on old avalanche path. probably 25-30 yrs old.

Michael Richmond@beartoothskier· Jun 26

Fortunate GYE/Beartooth Front to have had adequate precip., and no extreme heat so far this year. Unlike most of Europe now. Humid on 1850-2200m Nichols Crk. run 20-22C. Glad lots shade, also knew ⚡️️ would occur by 1430 MDT, and got out just in time. #climate #running #dogs #montana #gye #mountains

we were all heated up on steep parts (l) Sundance was rather slow. At least Nichols Crk. always provides (r).

European heat wave is a major disaster. https://www.commondreams.org/news/heatwave-europe US GFS model 11 days out. Modeling has been showing the summer-typical 4-corners upper high taking shape after the 4th July. climatologically favored. This is showing it extremely strong, which would bring record heat and dry conditions to much of Wrn US. If/when this occurs fire seasons rapidly escalate all areas. Occasional monsoon moisture pulses circulating around the Wrn periphery of the ridge bring dry ⚡️ many areas. Generating many fire starts over drier fuels from preceding heat.

our little lookout point 2200m we often visit. very little space on it.

Michael Richmond@beartoothskier· Jun 25

Short hiking window on Plateaus above 3000m. Had 2 hrs, 0930-1130 w just sprinkles to hike down from Line Crk. Trlhd Beartooth Plateau to 2900m pond, after checking melt on 3150m ice patch. Got back up to 3200m for good SW view. NWS hi-res models did well 👍🏽. #climate #hiking #dogs #montana #gye

approaching the 3150m melting ice patch. it melted out completely last summer first time in thousands of years.

temps./precip. last 30 days have been moderately above 1991-2020 means while precip. has only been 50-60% of average. thus this has thinned markedly. real sustained warmth and dry conditions look to return 6-7 days out. then the melt will really accelerate.

our 2900m reflecting pond. don't know if I've ever seen it that calm before. liked that.

it was amazingly not windy, low rite over us. though TRW were moving in lite wrly flow. 7C just sprinkles most of our time here. we look the models here https://www.pivotalweather.com/model.php?rh=2026062518&fh=loop&dpdt=&mc=&r=us_nr&p=lgtden&m=rrfs_a

Michael Richmond@beartoothskier· Jun 25

Short hiking window on Plateaus above 3000m. Had 2 hrs, 0930-1130 w just sprinkles to hike down from Line Crk. Trlhd Beartooth Plateau to 2900m pond, after checking melt on 3150m ice patch. Got back up to 3200m for good SW view. NWS hi-res models did well 👍🏽. #climate #hiking #dogs #montana #gye

Forget Me Nots have up to 5cm stems here 3100m because wind protected (r). not quite so perky after hail earlier. (r). where we returned (l) 3200m looking SW. on good weather days when more snow melts very easy to get around.

Could not make it across outlet of 2900m pond here. but behind the pond near ridge, we could. prime bear country in here now. did not see any.

Sundance's preferred habitat (l). heading back down (r), we had to go along edge of that snowpack at the bottom.

Rock Creek Canyon heading home (l). This really is a dangerous highway in bad weather, dense fog around curves, rocks onto road in rain. snow of course which will happen again this weekend. Hellroaring Plateau 3200m + across the way, looking N (r).

Michael Richmond@beartoothskier· Jun 23

Westfork Canyon trail starts 2400m broad portion, gets narrower/steeper heading W toward 3365m Sundance's Pass in 17km. We were only able get 12K in to about 2775m. Stream crossing then 1m + drifts across trail. Time to return. Harshest area lower 48. #climate #hiking #dogs #montana #mountains #gye

there is a second meadow area 3K further past Quinnebaugh Meadows. These are at 2750m. trail starts ascending toward pass base in timber back right.

Calamity Falls (l) 2530m 5K in, then Sentinel Falls 7K in 2600m (r). Lots of frigid water in the W Fork of Rock Crk now, a fall in there would not go well.

close up of 3823m Whitetail Pk. that couloir in it usually retains something thru summer. 2021 almost completely melted out. woman was killed in rockfall below it, probably do to unprecedented melting destabilizing slopes. happening in the Alps a lot too.

Michael Richmond@beartoothskier· Jun 23

Westfork Canyon trail starts 2400m broad portion, gets narrower/steeper heading W toward 3365m Sundance's Pass in 17km. We were only able get 12K in to about 2775m. Stream crossing then 1m + drifts across trail. Time to return. Harshest area lower 48. #climate #hiking #dogs #montana #mountains #gye

3824m Whitetail Peak dominates from Quinnebaugh Meadows 2650m, west-ward. next meadow set here is 2750m.

turned back here. my feet were already soaked twice in stream crosses. then the 1 to 1.5m drifts after, forget it.

Sundance's 3365m Pass is in middle where Whitetail Peak starts. Probably too much drifting get up there on this approach. Other side of pass is Lakefork Canyon/trail.

never any water worries here (l). looks like a garter snake. amazing see any here 2550m. (r)

Michael Richmond@beartoothskier· Jun 22

Felt like running on OR/WA coast today during Silver Run Rd/trail run but for the moose 😜. Cool/moist w fog in gulch off W-fork Cyn, few sprinkles. She kept us going above 2200m (start 1850m) on trail, was a little agitated, so we turned back. #climate #running #dogs #wildlife #montana #mountains

looking N (top) and S (bottom) from 2150m, right about the fog line. even without rain, just the higher RHs help fuels live and dead gain moisture, keep fire potential low 👍🏽

lots of these littles around. unlike on the Plateaus above 3000m, down here they are on stems, not hugging the ground.

One thing that is great about all our running routes, perennial streams. Never have to worry. Here she is, young but already over 2m tall. She probably thought Sundance was a wolf, she's .25 correct. But Otter and Sundance were great as always, never barking or growling.

the fog guardian appears. 12C lite E breeze, very nice. real heat looks to return around middle of next week.

Michael Richmond@beartoothskier· Jun 19

Still plenty green w lots wildflowers middle elevations Beartooth Front, dry as it's been. Ski area run up 1/3 way to 2500m (from 2270m), then down to Palisades rocks 2300m today. 14-16C lite NE breeze, quite nice. ⚡️⚡️ 💦💦 coming tomorrow 👍🏽. #climate #running #hiking #dogs #montana #gye #mountains