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

today 1330 looking S on Broadway (US-212). We started at Library and mingled N.

this morning 2000m looking NE over Red Lodge already warm 14C 1000 MDT.

phlox out now on SE-S-W facing slopes up to 2050m

just the idea of coal-rolling is preposterous. spending thousands of dollars to ruin a diesel engine so it can spout soot on demand to piss people off. had it happen here few times before. seen it quite a bit in AK when I lived there.

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

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

mix of Ponderosa Pine and Juniper. Grass/sage otherwise.

love the sandstone rocks w pines coming out the top, how is that possible? it is a very soft rock.

about 80m drop rite behind us, looking SSW.

highest terrain in MT up to 3905m directly back in far distance, Red Lodge would be behind the tree trunk.

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. Nice pines on Rim with view of all the ranges SE-S-SW, interesting rocks too. #climatecrisis #hiking #dogs #montana

at least it was relatively cool 9C here (r) at 2400m. much drier now on the sunnier side of the canyon. thinner snowpack all around.

trail didn't have solid coverage of anything until 2200m, no snowpack around down low. 2100m (l) and 2180m (r).

we were glad for the cooler conditions. 2430m here.

the ice must have been much thicker and it colder when that moose was out there. I did not want Otter out on that thinner rotting ice, she listened 👍🏽

Big change last 14 days in Lake Fk. of Rock Crk. Cyn. Snowpack gone below 2200m. Thin up to 2450m where we turned back our run. Record 4-day MAR warmth last week accelerated already too far along spring. It looks now what late April/early May used to look like. #climatecrisis #running #montana #dogs

much more open on the creek here 2150m (l). Buttercups already up 2080m bare area.

your wilderness guides here to assist you

such a difference in 2 weeks, and not in a good way.

it would be catastrophic for the entire west if we keep up these warm temp. anomalies another 6 months 🔥. precip. has been a mixed bag OR/UT/CO surely in trouble.

Big change last 14 days in Lake Fk. of Rock Crk. Cyn. Snowpack gone below 2200m. Thin up to 2450m where we turned back our run. Record 4-day MAR warmth last week accelerated already too far along spring. It looks now what late April/early May used to look like. #climatecrisis #running #montana #dogs

a mix of rams and ewes. they look healthy 👍🏽. the mild winter sure helps, a deep snow cover is hard on them.

Bridalveil Falls is in incredibly deep steep narrow side gulch of W canyon wall. so warm/dry falls are just heavy spray at the bottom.

already vexatious on our turn-back. gale force and so warm in that sun. so glad for the streams and river. quite the beat-down 10 min. later, the strong gust ripped hat strapped to my neck clean off and up/over 100m away quickly. glasses too, but closer. looked for my hat for 10 min. couldn't find it. at least didn't get blown over.

they had ample water sources to cool off in.

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. This deep canyon drains NE GYE, often windy. Did get to Bridalveil Falls too. Bighorn friends on our departure 👍🏽. #climatecrisis #hiking #wyoming #dogs #wildlife

Canyon opens up here, way in back and around just a bit is the amazing Sunlight Crk. side canyon we stopped at last Tue.

Bridalveil Falls close up 1km detour off main trail. incredible how deep/narrow this gulch is. a little snow still base of the falls. nice watching pulses of water becoming spray as they fell.

a few tiny phloxy flowers (r), but cacti aren't in bloom yet, but greening up (r).

this is always a dry windy place from katabatic and pressure-gradient flow. Not as much katabatic today, so warm ahead of weak upper trough moving in. at least it got cloudy later. 1800m of relief here. Limber Pines can take heat/dryness, but not this early and after it was -15C 6 days ago.

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. This deep canyon drains NE GYE, often windy. Did get to Bridalveil Falls too. Bighorn friends on our departure 👍🏽. #climatecrisis #hiking #wyoming #dogs #wildlife

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

easy detour on the slope N side of the road. sometimes they do that, hide when we come up, then are there to greet us on our return 😊

this is where it got too deep and soft, 2230m had to return. warmed up, -1C here, 3C at the start. probably got 35cm new snowfall here.

coming up, this is actually where our friend was later. Sundance knew she was around

very nice day with friends 0C here 2200m. most of this snowpack will melt out by the weekend. enjoying it while it lasts.

Beartooth Front got 25-30cm ❄️ our strongest winter storm. What we saw on Silver Run Gulch/trail run today. Few ski/snowshoe tracks made it easier for us down low. 2230m had to return. Moose detour on descent, we knew coming up we'd see one of our friends 👍🏽. #climate #running #dogs #wildlife #montana

she just swiveled a tad as we detoured. So proud of Otter and Sundance mostly ignoring her, no leashes required. Never growled, barked, or surged. One thing I look for is tick infestation. W this warm fall/winter there could have been many more than usual. Not seeing that. Some back east MN/WI have gotten such bad infestations it nearly kills them, and they are referred to as ghost moose 😔

heading back down, the moose is just past the first trees by the road. we expected that. I was first one to see her.

the W Fork of Rock Crk. still has some ice here 1850m at the start.

Silver Run crk. is mostly ice covered. 2100m here.

Beartooth Front got 25-30cm ❄️ our strongest winter storm. What we saw on Silver Run Gulch/trail run today. Few ski/snowshoe tracks made it easier for us down low. 2230m had to return. Moose detour on descent, we knew coming up we'd see one of our friends 👍🏽. #climate #running #dogs #wildlife #montana