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beartoothskier.bsky.social
Fall is here generally speaking, but it is obviously in degraded form due to climate chaos. Deep shaded Lakefork Canyon fall colors muted 2nd year in a row. Many Aspen got a blight all around this region, already bare. Our friend Wallace came with 👍🏽. #climate #hiking #dogs #montana #mountains #gye
South facing wall this area fall colors better. Otter and Sundance enjoying the cool waters. this is the same cluster of trees 2400m. I hope they are not dead. the phenomenal scary Mar/Apr warmth followed by freezes after must have weakened them. there is Wallace, our friend Tony's Akbash/Pyrenees mix. He weighs 6.3 Stone! Sundance weights 5.8. This is what fall should look like here (middle). the Lake Fork of Rock Crk. is quite low now (r). I am not liking at least 10 warm dry days after today. Moisture is very important for forest health leading into winter. short/long term modeling are all indicating overall warm/dry UFN after today's weak upper trough moves thru.
September 28, 2026 at 10:57 PM
beartoothskier.bsky.social
Subtle fall hints in Lakefork Canyon behind town during run today 2200m start to 2450m then back. 10-13C, not too dry. Lots Aspen all thru Beartooth Front/higher terrain behind have some kind of disease. Likely the early spring warmth then May ❄️ weakened them. #climate #running #dogs #montana #gye
when you look closely at these aspen leaves they are half black and brittle. maybe some fungal thing? sad to see. Sign of the times w collapsing climate. Sundance only needed to bath once today 😁 these S-facing warm dry canyon wall Aspen always start to turn first. Lake Fork of Rock Creek has much lower flow now than a few weeks ago. love this time of year with the cooling, gentler sun.
September 14, 2026 at 10:53 PM
beartoothskier.bsky.social
Descended from 2960m camp-site today back to our hot 1680m place. Routine ice patch survey yest., parts larger than last year this time, but thin. Perhaps stronger SW-W flow last OCT-APR piled ❄️ further out. Went to research patch also, WX station put in 👍🏽. #climate #hiking #dogs #wyoming #mountains
over the last 10 years especially our warmer drier summers mean much drier tundra overall with those vanishing ice patches on our 3100m + plateaus. 3200m routine ice patch near the abandoned 1947 swamp Chevrolet. the very dark surface way in back was newly exposed last year after thousands of years under the ice. anoxic smell comes off, a little eerie... I used to set these up w help from 1-2 others as an NWS Incident Meteorologist. Providing on-site forecasting to larger wildfires. Only takes 1-2 hours w help. There is a contact no. which I will call to see if this data is on-line. it would be very valuable, giving us warning of potential strength of Mtn. Wave winds along the Beartooth Front. closer view looking N from 3280m. Hellroaring Plateau on left in back, Silver Run further right. Lakefork Canyon the divider. Rock Crk. Canyon is gash thru Beartooth Plateau here. it had got very dry earlier this month, but there has been TSTRM moisture last several days.
August 27, 2026 at 11:29 PM
beartoothskier.bsky.social
Short 6K run Lakefork Canyon 2050-2200m. Best place be warm 28C day. Lake Fork of Rock Crk. has beautiful pristine water, drains Absaroka/Beartooth Wilderness. Highest peaks in MT in headwaters. Still has very good flow 👍🏽. Saw friend Olaf here too ❤️. #running #dogs #climate #montana #mountains #gye
is there any better place to be on a hot day like this? why our friend Olaf is here 👍🏽. 3 yr. old goofy Samoyed. He was Otter and Sundance's playtoy as a pup, living in our 'hood. They played hard w him, but he always liked it, and they are best of friends. Sundance and Otter rushed up to see his guy Scott, who they also really like. i was tempted to jump in too. rarely is this warm in here 28C at 2100m, and no breeze. still a little sore from fall yest., left knee and hand, but nothing too bad.
August 21, 2026 at 10:52 PM
beartoothskier.bsky.social
Haven't been W-Fork Canyon toward Sundance's Pass since 23JUN. Extreme heat since 7/11 completely dry last 10 days not been kind. Drought stress N canyon wall Aspen up to 2600m. Never ultra-steep good these conditions 2400-2930m and back 30K hike. #climate #hiking #dogs #montana #gye #mountains
Beyond big Quinnebaugh Meadow 8K in is this 3K further a very beautiful spot. not as dry here, the grass at 2770m. just past this lots switchbacks to the pass base. Sundance's 3365m Pass (l) dip toward left. trail switches endlessly from 2900m here to it. not as steeply as the Lakefork approach, but longer. looking NW from 2900m (r). dry for sure. Calamity falls 5K in are quite a bit lower now. do have be careful here, one slip and uncertain outcomes. it is a bummer the first 5K of this trail thru the 2008 8000 ha burn (l), thank goodness it was only 27C on our return to the trailhead. Puffballs coming up (r) i've seen volleyball size ones near Missoula.
August 11, 2026 at 11:33 PM
beartoothskier.bsky.social
2 things. 1. If you're over 35 climate you grew up in (20th century) no longer exists, not coming back w/o restoration. 2. 5 yrs from now what we're experiencing will be the norm, 10 years out cooler than avg. 28C at 2100m start our Canyon run, very dry. #climate #running #dogs #montana #mountains
Sundance taking his time in these conditions. AQI orange now here in town better in the timber w billions of filtering needles. quite smoky looking up to Beartooth Plateau here in Rock Crk. Cyn just started noticing S-facing areas mid-slope and higher conifers starting to die most vulnerable spots. up to 2600m here Lakefork Canyon. we'll see how much these expand thru rest of summer. Otter worries me a little getting out too far, Sundance knows better.
August 7, 2026 at 11:17 PM
bhandel58.bsky.social
Finally got to take the dogs out on the trail. Lakefork near Red Lodge, Montana. They needed it.
July 25, 2026 at 9:01 PM
beartoothskier.bsky.social
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.
July 24, 2026 at 11:21 PM
beartoothskier.bsky.social
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.
July 24, 2026 at 11:17 PM
beartoothskier.bsky.social
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.
July 13, 2026 at 10:56 PM
beartoothskier.bsky.social
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.
June 29, 2026 at 11:01 PM
beartoothskier.bsky.social
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)
June 23, 2026 at 11:15 PM
beartoothskier.bsky.social
Lakefork Cyn trail starts 2200m goes to Sundance's 3356m pass in 16K. Drops into W-Fork canyon other side. Made it to 3045m Sept. Morn. Lake 13K in then 1-1.5m drifts. Only walked over to lake for a bit then back. Cool 4C lite W wind. 3 runners tried, returned. #climate #hiking #dogs #montana #gye
My fav. view nearing Sept. Morn Lake looking in to Rock Lakes, Beartooth Plateau behind. Elev. here 2950m. Lots of ice on the lake, had to keep Sundance off it. it is fairly deep. such a blessing later on our pass outings. new snow on steep slopes below SM Lake, 2850m here (l). Keyser Brown Lake from 2750m. you can tell it is windy westerly flow up high. So glad we were able to make it this far, and with good weather window. Ran down for my life from the pass 07/2016 when strong storms w continuous lightning came up. in fog/rain/hail.
June 11, 2026 at 11:39 PM
beartoothskier.bsky.social
Lakefork Cyn trail starts 2200m goes to Sundance's 3356m pass in 16K. Drops into W-Fork canyon other side. Made it to 3045m Sept. Morn. Lake 13K in then 1-1.5m drifts. Only walked over to lake for a bit then back. Cool 4C lite W wind. 3 runners tried, returned. #climate #hiking #dogs #montana #gye
you have to cross this outlet from Sept. Morn lake (l) which was not difficult. but other side all like this (r). up to 1.5m thick. so they went to it. glad it was firm, but once it softens, be arduous. glad it was not too windy here at 3045m Sept. Morn Lake. from here on up to the pass is not to be taken lightly. you can see higher country in back, trail goes to pass behind lower ridge. We never go up there if there is going to be ⚡️ lower 11K of the trail mostly green tunnel w occasional stream access (l). loud and cool, very nice. had to get thru this little falls just below SM lake (r). a little ice on it.
June 11, 2026 at 11:33 PM
beartoothskier.bsky.social
Tho we had 25-35mm precip. on 21st Beartooth Front, so warm/dry since, forest floor Lakefork Cyn dry, could 🔥. But sides and main stream of Lake Fk. of Rock Crk. are high now w full snowmelt. Ran from 2200m start up 5K, then side detour Silver Crk. falls. #climate #running #dogs #montana #mountains
The Lake Fork of Rock Creek from the trailhead bridge 2200m. loud. getting closer to the falls gets very difficult just up the way there. glad we came up and did not run into a moose they do like it in there. i sure do hope this pans out. could see good precip. amounts, all rain, in town tomorrow-mon. not a cold system so snow only above 3000m.
May 29, 2026 at 11:06 PM
beartoothskier.bsky.social
Tho we had 25-35mm precip. on 21st Beartooth Front, so warm/dry since, forest floor Lakefork Cyn dry, could 🔥. But sides and main stream of Lake Fk. of Rock Crk. are high now w full snowmelt. Ran from 2200m start up 5K, then side detour Silver Crk. falls. #climate #running #dogs #montana #mountains
this little side stream just past the trailhead. in clearing by falls some nice colors. not sure what purple ones are. Forget Me Nots are my fav, so brilliant and often tiny. 5mm even. 2600m elev. Silver Crk. Falls from the main trail. Lake Fork too high for them get in most of the time, dangerous. 3-4C water temp. w that strength. no good outcomes in that. (l). but a few wide stretches help them stay cool at 21C (r)
May 29, 2026 at 11:04 PM
beartoothskier.bsky.social
Hot dry windy yest. S pre-frontal flow ahead of upper trough. 30C in RL S wind 10-15% RH. Billings got to 35C 😔. Both daily records. No precip. w front overnite cooler today, felt great Lakefork Canyon survey gets directly into MT's highest terrain. #climatecrisis #hiking #montana #dogs #mountains
Hellroaring Plateau (l) turns into Silver Run Plateau (off to r) at 3365m Sundance's pass 8K further up from here. Still good amounts to melt above 3200m back there. High points 3800-3824m. deafeningly loud here 2570m but probably not peaking. 2 years ago turned back further up (l) than we did this year (r), 2 weeks earlier. a few hip-deep holes in some drifts. firmed up w the cooling thank goodness. Broadwater 8K up from trailhead 2500m. a very nice rest stop, canyon opens up a bit. cool 7C w brisk W wind had put fleece/gloves on.
May 14, 2026 at 11:24 PM
beartoothskier.bsky.social
Hot dry windy yest. S pre-frontal flow ahead of upper trough. 30C in RL S wind 10-15% RH. Billings got to 35C 😔. Both daily records. No precip. w front overnite cooler today, felt great Lakefork Canyon survey gets directly into MT's highest terrain. #climatecrisis #hiking #montana #dogs #mountains
these aspen 2450m greening up few weeks early. all over the Western US early for green-up in cooler areas. the side stream Silver Crk., 3K in was roaring. I had to coax Sundance across that log and we had to both be very careful crossing it. ice cold water w great force. Needless to say the Lake Fork of Rock Crk. has come up substantially the last few days in the heat. 2300m (l) and 2550m (r could you ask for a better wilderness guide? (l) Sundance's 3365m pass for which he is named is 16K up the trail, one of our fav. places. Otter is recovering (r) she has tons of energy wants to run/jump. but no can do. the gash on that foot getting better.
May 14, 2026 at 11:20 PM
beartoothskier.bsky.social
5 days upper troughing w ❄️ even slightly below 1991-2020 avg. temps reset landscape favorably. Fire danger eased, 15-30cm powder. Snowpack gone below 2600m before. Hiked W-fork Cyn rd/trl today, 10K each. Knew couldn't get far on trail as canyon deepens. #climate #hiking #dogs #montana #mountains
Silver Run Plateau (l) high point 3824m. Red Lodge Crk. Plateau on other side. Westfork Canyon and Lakefork Canyon meet at Sundances Pass 3365m. 34K day hike from both sides starts 2200m LF, 2400m WF. Steeper, the LF approach. Have to prepare for our fav. hike. interesting ice patches shaded N facing Silver Run Plateau wall. 1C here 2500m on semi-frozen pond. this would have been all open 7 days ago. lower elevation snowpacks 2600m or less were mostly gone 8 days ago (l). restored temporarily (r), down to 2050m here locally.
April 30, 2026 at 11:31 PM
beartoothskier.bsky.social
Nrly flow troughs great ❄️ producers this area Beartooth front. 2nd biggest of season, 18-20cm our place wet powder. -8C this morn. Lakefork Cyn got as much or more than town. Slow going first tracks but beautiful for our slog 2100m-2350m then back. #climate #running #dogs #montana #gye #mountains
Lake fork of Rock Crk. drains highest terrain in MT. Pristine clean wilderness water. Ice was all gone last month. 2150m here. storm total this morn. our place. so glad for the moisture. very important before the summer heat. Sundance got overheated last Tue at 1100m along Bighorn R., our camp spot. 31C and we all had to withdraw out to the shade behind trailer. He certainly was happy today. We stopped briefly to enjoy the stream flow. sure wish we we had more of this last Nov-Mar.
April 24, 2026 at 11:26 PM
beartoothskier.bsky.social
Nrly flow troughs great ❄️ producers this area Beartooth front. 2nd biggest of season, 18-20cm our place wet powder. -8C this morn. Lakefork Cyn got as much or more than town. Slow going first tracks but beautiful for our slog 2100m-2350m then back. #climate #running #dogs #montana #gye #mountains
Otter loves going out on these points. Happy Spring love GYE. Walls of canyon became visible on way, sun came out at the end. no smokes in the burn area but surely some hot spots left, ash pits/big logs smoldering. drones are used now to survey for that, saw 4 teams out there today. Cathedral Rocks early this aftn. (l) still snowing a bit. Beartooth Plateau 3200m + on our way out (r).
April 24, 2026 at 11:23 PM
huntingofficer.bsky.social
How to rig swimming frog for bass fishing #shorts #shortsfeed #bass#bassfishing #lakefork#boatlanes

Bass fishing how to rig swimming frog. source
How to rig swimming frog for bass fishing #shorts #shortsfeed #bass#bassfishing #lakefork#boatlanes
Bass fishing how to rig swimming frog. source
huntingofficer.com
February 23, 2026 at 4:33 AM
beartoothskier.bsky.social
Meanwhile almost entire western half lower 48 had it's warmest ever fall/early winter. Never seen like here, 4 🌈 in Dec. Beartooth Front, lots rain too. Frightening, hard to imagine 10 years out now. All this highly apparent on Lakefork Cyn run, 2100-2300m and back. #climate #running #dogs #montana
above 3000m doing much better but below 2100m almost none. everything in the red 100 percentile has just had highest mean temp. for the past 60 days. POR 1979-present mild 4C lite E breeze here 2300m. at least there is more snow here than last time 20 days ago. 2100m almost nothing on this S-facing, semi-shaded slope.
January 6, 2026 at 12:46 AM
beartoothskier.bsky.social
Meanwhile almost entire western half lower 48 had it's warmest ever fall/early winter. Never seen like here, 4 🌈 in Dec. Beartooth Front, lots rain too. Frightening, hard to imagine 10 years out now. All this highly apparent on Lakefork Cyn run, 2100-2300m and back. #climate #running #dogs #montana
glad to see there is a little more snow and ice now than 20 days ago here 2300m 2100m (L) on the road, a little better than 20 days ago, more snow on top of the ice. first time ever I have not been able ski here yet so late. looking downstream from 2200m (R). shaded almost all day here. how fun a potato being, moose, guitar 👍🏽 (L) turned back here 2300m (R) getting deeper, drifted over. start 2100m on the road, then trail.
January 6, 2026 at 12:43 AM
beartoothskier.bsky.social
Downsloping warm dry chinooks prevail in longer bouts of SW-W flow now here Ern GYE fringe. Our run on the Lakefork trail in that deep shaded canyon was shocking. Bare slopes 2200m, no sun all day. Solid ice much of road/trail for our 13K run 2200m-2400m then back. #climate #running #dogs #montana
This was shocking, bare slopes that are shaded all day at 2200m here. there was only 5-10cm snowpack at 2300m. never have seen this here so late. a little more ice on the Lake fork of Rock Crk. overall since we were last in 20 days ago. Otter scared me there, but she came back quickly when I called. Sundance knows better, the ice is thinning and weaker. this is somewhat misleading, for us on Beartooth Front and adjacent plateaus. Our snow has blown out during the past 8-10 days of chinook flow. The AR pattern that brought heavy rain to WA only delivered well west of here. note how it is so bad even in WA, because of high snow levels, much got washed away. almost all of the West this year, whereas the only other year this bad in the POR (1965-) was 1987, some OK spots, and higher overall. I can't imagine how things will be here even 10 years from now. needless to say no speed records were set and 13K in these conditions was plenty. OK generally w spikes but had to really pay attention. warm 9-12C with gale force down-canyon dry W winds at times.
December 16, 2025 at 12:37 AM