Author | Lightnews

Michael Richmond @beartoothskier.bsky.social · 18h

Only got halfway up to 2430m Lower Basin Lake, off the Westfork Canyon. Moose blockage, large cow, stationary 😜. Returned, very icy in there, had lost my spikes. Thanks to our moist late summer/fall Basin Crk. falls 2100m, just up have good flow. #climate #hiking #dogs #mountains #montana #wildlife

2100m Basin Creek Falls, lower and upper. so dark in here, almost no direct sun at all now. nice flow.

the 8000 ha Cascade burn petered out here, W winds dropped off. Sundance loves his viewpoints, looking east down-canyon. His extraordinary tail and large feet are my fav. physical attributes of him.

there is a moose center-right between the tree trunks. trail winds around thru there. Sundance and Otter behave perfectly around them, follow my lead with no barking or growling 👍🏽. I always greet them, and have decades of moose experience.

icy going up past the falls, had to go real slow. so shaded. 4C or so in shaded areas 2200m here.

3

Michael Richmond @beartoothskier.bsky.social · 18h

Only got halfway up to 2430m Lower Basin Lake, off the Westfork Canyon. Moose blockage, large cow, stationary 😜. Returned, very icy in there, had lost my spikes. Thanks to our moist late summer/fall Basin Crk. falls 2100m, just up have good flow. #climate #hiking #dogs #mountains #montana #wildlife

did some extra Silver Run trail time after to help make up. along the Westfork Canyon bottom 2050m here.

the upper portion of the falls requires bit of scrambling to access. not icy thankfully, without spikes dangerous. almost completely dark in there all day now. even in summer does not get much sun.

really icy in here 2200m because it gets so little sun. i had to stop them playing so hard there, dangerous.

coming back into the Westfork Canyon thru 2008 Cascade fire burned nearly 8000 ha in 3 days 26-28 July. 30C gusty westerly winds and very low RH. would have been a terrifying site.

2

Michael Richmond @beartoothskier.bsky.social · 1d

Still quite moist/muddy short run Palisades trail along Beartooth Front 1800-2050m and back. Cool sunny 8C w stiff NW wind almost needed gloves. So glad it is this moist now heading into winter 👍🏽 unlike Fall 2024 which was bad for the forests here. #climatechange #running #dogs #montana #mountains

just a bit of color left on these large aspen. Windy last few days. love Mtn. Ash for the berries, they are indigenous here.

Otter is built for speed. still some snow left from Fri system with was a pounder. The Beartooth Front is a very windy place too OCT-APR. Rest of the year with thunderstorms.

looking ENE into town 200m lower. good color wind sheltered areas. Red Lodge slopes up noticeably from N-S in that gulch of Rock Crk.

pretty cool, had to keep moving. glad it is moist.

1 14

Michael Richmond @beartoothskier.bsky.social · 1d

Still quite moist/muddy short run Palisades trail along Beartooth Front 1800-2050m and back. Cool sunny 8C w stiff NW wind almost needed gloves. So glad it is this moist now heading into winter 👍🏽 unlike Fall 2024 which was bad for the forests here. #climatechange #running #dogs #montana #mountains

Looking out NNE from 2050m, eventually to the Yellowstone R. elev. 1100m. Some nice colors in wind sheltered spots. Continuous tree cover thins out quickly because it is so windy/exposed.

sure sign of winter approaching BLSN off the 3600-3800m peaks WNW from our place last evening. gets hazardously windy a lot now 3000m +.

the SE-SW faces along the Front here 1900m have some beautiful old growth left. Mostly Ponderosa Pine some Douglas Fir 👍🏽

1 9

Michael Richmond @beartoothskier.bsky.social · 3d

Great to see 200 people out resisting fascist/KKK tyranny in tiny purple Red Lodge on this most beautiful of fall days. www.theguardian.com/us-news/live.... 5 flip-offs and two crazies shouting (older white men, go figure), otherwise great support from all passing thru 👍🏽. #nokings #montana #redlodge

1 2

Michael Richmond @beartoothskier.bsky.social · 3d

Great to see 200 people out resisting fascist/KKK tyranny in tiny purple Red Lodge on this most beautiful of fall days. www.theguardian.com/us-news/live.... 5 flip-offs and two crazies shouting (older white men, go figure), otherwise great support from all passing thru 👍🏽. #nokings #montana #redlodge

so glad all was peaceful. I just kept waving or giving peace signs to all passing thru including the 5 flip-offs. such a beautiful day 9C lite NW breeze.

the hatred on the five flip-offs faces was palpable as they drove by. i kept a sharp lookout for vehicles that mite do a run-up on us. white male drivers in large trucks w oversize tires, or old beater cars, thankfully that did not happen. what a way to live a life in the Faux news hate/fear bubble, so thankful not to be like that. i feel sorry for the families of those ugly hateful old white men.

I asked, there is a fan in that grizzly bear suit keep it inflated 👍🏽 one of the old white male shouting crazies kept yelling "go home devil worshippers".

fresh coat of paint on all the mountain ranges above 2000m this morning, really beautiful. quite stormy overnite with rain/snow/hail/wind. another possibly stronger system like that tomorrow nite.

6 18

Michael Richmond @beartoothskier.bsky.social · 4d

Glad to have sunshine hardly any last several days. Perfect to get on Palisades rocks below N edge of ski area. Base 2260m start there. Up to 2480m, dropping back down to 2250m on steep narrow trail. Views looking out from the Beartooth Front to NW-NE 👍🏽. #climate #hiking #dogs #montana #mountains

dropping down from the 2480m summit looking NW along the Beartooth Front. Crazies way back there.

love these slabs and the little spruce way up. around 2300m here

Looking WNW along the Beartooth Front. Snow line around 2600m, 2300m here. Tiny bits in shaded areas. glad everything is still moist. and weak systems keep coming 👍🏽

10C sunny spots but much colder in these shady areas ice/frozen ground. glad everything is still moist. small rain/snow shots will keep coming 👍🏽

1 7

Michael Richmond @beartoothskier.bsky.social · 4d

Glad to have sunshine hardly any last several days. Perfect to get on Palisades rocks below N edge of ski area. Base 2260m start there. Up to 2480m, dropping back down to 2250m on steep narrow trail. Views looking out from the Beartooth Front to NW-NE 👍🏽. #climate #hiking #dogs #montana #mountains

I think they are ancient Limestone, very old.

cold on these shady sides of the slabs. but there is just something about being among large rocks.

heading back felt so good these sunny areas 👍🏽

Looking out N onto the Plains eventually down to the Yellowstone R. elev. 1100m.

7

Michael Richmond @beartoothskier.bsky.social · 5d

Sure goes quickly the 4.5 months Beartooth Hwy is open. Now closed from 2300m so we hiked 1st switchback today. Moist but last system was warm, snow level 2600m +. All quiet, no moose/bears or bighorn sheep. Seen these various times in fall here👍🏽. #climate #dogs #hiking #montana #mountains

the big snow dump over a week ago gone all but highest elevations. new only above 2600m or so. looking up Rock Crk. Canyon (SW-W) from 2400m.

not a whole lot of snowpack yet highest elevations, but weak systems will bring more next few weeks.

this is the biggest low avalanche path just 2km from start. after heavy snow dumps 2-3m thick slide can cover the road. rock fall site too, fully loaded up there as you can see.

5C at the start lite E breeze. quite nice. hope we can ski on it at least a few times this winter. getting harder more frequent chinooks and weaker snowstorms have made it difficult last two winters.

7

Michael Richmond @beartoothskier.bsky.social · 5d

Sure goes quickly the 4.5 months Beartooth Hwy is open. Now closed from 2300m so we hiked 1st switchback today. Moist but last system was warm, snow level 2600m +. All quiet, no moose/bears or bighorn sheep. Seen these various times in fall here👍🏽. #climate #dogs #hiking #montana #mountains

only little bits fall color left here and there

misty lower portions finally clearing later

although it has been mild last two months, moister than average 👍🏽. very important for the vegetation heading into winter.

1

Michael Richmond @beartoothskier.bsky.social · 7d

What a difference in 2 weeks. Hot 28C last time we were in Billings. 4C today up on the Rim for hour hike before errands. Love the rocks/pines on it. No mtn. views, low clouds here as in Red Lodge. Moist there still 👍🏽, on the N rim of Yellowstone R. valley. #climate #hiking #dogs #montana #mountains

Sundance loves his viewpoints. 50m-120m the drops off the rim to the city.

the eroding sandstone breaks off now and then. amazes me these pines grow rite up out of it. S-facing here 1100m, hot as 🔥 late June-early Sept compared to 1750m-1900m Red Lodge.

up on top. I think the rim used to be here then eroded away leaving some remnant

8

Michael Richmond @beartoothskier.bsky.social · 8d

Low-level upslope NE-E flow pushed cold air made fog/low clouds Beartooth Front. -5C in morning only -1C this afternoon. But lite push over-ridden by SW flow above 2500m. Thus we got beautiful sunshine in Rock Crk. Canyon on Parkside trail. No moose seen. #climate #hiking #dogs #montana #mountains

Main Fork of Rock Crk. here 2220m quite low now

you can see the fog pushing in below 2500m down the canyon. this sun was much to our liking.

like this all day in town/our place. warmer tomorrow.

3

Michael Richmond @beartoothskier.bsky.social · 11d

Fall color peaking along Beartooth Front 1800-2000m. Response from our cold system last weekend. The shrubs gave out earlier, they started late Aug. 17C cool but cold w N breeze. Last warm dry day like this tomorrow, colder pattern returning after 👍🏽. #climate #hiking #dogs #montana #mountains

Looking N from 1950m out to the Plains dropping to 1100m along the Yellowstone R.

mostly yellow but a bit of orange here and there. near the start 1800m.

looking S along the Beartooth Front from 1950m.

the sun came out a few times briefly. ground still moist soft from last system 👍🏽

5

Michael Richmond @beartoothskier.bsky.social · 11d

Fall color peaking along Beartooth Front 1800-2000m. Response from our cold system last weekend. The shrubs gave out earlier, they started late Aug. 17C cool but cold w N breeze. Last warm dry day like this tomorrow, colder pattern returning after 👍🏽. #climate #hiking #dogs #montana #mountains

Sundance was slow today, a little tired from yesterday. We all took it easy.

the Chokecherry shrubs turn a bright red, they are just starting.

the only water on the Palisades trail N end is this little stream crosses the trail twice near the start. Sundance barely fits but he does get a bathing 👍🏽

the first 3K 1800-1900m offer this at times, solid Aspen overstory. But after that all conifers.

5

Michael Richmond @beartoothskier.bsky.social · 12d

Last Beartooth Plateau easy access day. US-212 still open to 2835m Vista Pt., more snow Sun., so it will likely close for good then lower 2300m gate. Walked 6K up hwy to Line Crk. Plateau trail 3240m. Dropped down that, then other side. Moister this fall👍🏽. #climate #hiking #dogs #montana #mountains

directly above the 3050m ice patch that melted off last year and this first time in thousands of years. Line Crk. Plateau way back.

sublimation wind-packing and melt have all taken their toll up here 3100m but all will not be lost. so glad it has been cooler/moister this fall than last. that Oct.-Dec. warmth/drought last year took a toll on our lower elevations forests.

the little 3030m elev. lake off the Line Crk. Plateau trail starting to ice up. so sleek and glossy is our Otter ❤️

other side of highway from the LCP trailhead looking out NW to Silver Run and Hellroaring Plateaus way back. 7C increasing SW wind here.

5

Michael Richmond @beartoothskier.bsky.social · 12d

Last Beartooth Plateau easy access day. US-212 still open to 2835m Vista Pt., more snow Sun., so it will likely close for good then lower 2300m gate. Walked 6K up hwy to Line Crk. Plateau trail 3240m. Dropped down that, then other side. Moister this fall👍🏽. #climate #hiking #dogs #montana #mountains

3050m here Otter prowling for mice. Seen her get 3 on one hike before. She had to for survival as a pup when she her Ma and 3 siblings were abandoned on Crow Res. I think she was likely one of the best hunters in that pack.

Rock Crk. Canyon today snow-free on bottom. Only little bits fall color left.

proud supporter https://www.abwilderness.org/ they do great work.

melt pond in front of the 3050m ice patch that melted out last year and again this, first time in thousands of years. we did not go down to it slippery on steep slopes.

4

Michael Richmond @beartoothskier.bsky.social · 14d

Not been up Westfork Canyon trail in a few months. 2400m start cuts due W in deep shaded canyon. Reaches Sundance's 3365m pass in 16K. Only got 7K in too icy past burn area no spikes. First 4K totally clear. 20cm + must have fallen 2550m where we stopped. #climate #hiking #dogs #montana #mountains

Surprised to see this Western Terrestrial Garter Snake on the trail 2450m. About highest elevation snakes around here. Rocky burn area helps. Soon they'll have to hibernate. Trying to warm up on rocks, it was slow.

past this nice pond 4K in the 8000ha 2008 Cascade burn area ends. lots more moose potential less rocky more vegetated. so glad we did not run into one.

had to go very slow on the way back from Calamity Falls just up the way. ice under the snow. These are 5K in. This is an integral part of MT's highest elevation Wilderness the Absaroka-Beartooth.https://www.abwilderness.org/

Near Calamity Falls. much of this snow will melt next few days before another shot Sun/Mon. Glad it was not windy, can blow hard here being E-W oriented 2400-2900m.

3

Michael Richmond @beartoothskier.bsky.social · 14d

Not been up Westfork Canyon trail in a few months. 2400m start cuts due W in deep shaded canyon. Reaches Sundance's 3365m pass in 16K. Only got 7K in too icy past burn area no spikes. First 4K totally clear. 20cm + must have fallen 2550m where we stopped. #climate #hiking #dogs #montana #mountains

Silver Run Plateau 3200m slopes up to 3823m just 8K in from here. slow melt on the N facing canyon wall. 2450m here.

Otter made me nervous getting close to the drop above Calamity Falls where it is icy

Calamity Falls 5K in are very low now late May thru mid July very impressive. It would be to fall in these

1

Michael Richmond @beartoothskier.bsky.social · 15d

US-212 closed Fri. 2835m Vista Point in advance of storm. Walked from closure 3km to 3000m on highway, then up slope to 3100m. -1C in sun, colder in shade thankfully hardly a breeze 👍🏽. Snow depths agreed quite well w the NOAA/NWS satellite estimates. #hiking #dogs #climate #gye #mountains #montana

could have skied here nicely if had been motivated bring them😜 but road was plowed which was less enticing

Looking NW up Rock Crk. Canyon from 3000m, some snow down there.

https://www.nohrsc.noaa.gov/nsa/index.html?year=2025&month=10&day=6&units=e&region=Upper_Midwest these agree quite nicely based on what I saw. I bet 3334m Beartooth Pass got 40cm easy, so big drifts already up there probably.

so beautiful the fresh powder. much of it will melt or blow away coming week before next system 6-7 days out. big drifts for sure will form. not sure if the highway will re-open. hard closure date is always 15 OCT

2

Michael Richmond @beartoothskier.bsky.social · 15d

US-212 closed Fri. 2835m Vista Point in advance of storm. Walked from closure 3km to 3000m on highway, then up slope to 3100m. -1C in sun, colder in shade thankfully hardly a breeze 👍🏽. Snow depths agreed quite well w the NOAA/NWS satellite estimates. #hiking #dogs #climate #gye #mountains #montana

Otter may not have Sundance's snowshoe mitts or thick coat, but her high energy makes up for it.

happy place for all of us. could it be any better for him? ❤️

some icy sections on road coming up had go real slow on the descent. but it had been plowed/sanded earlier. some volleyball size rocks on the third switchback.

1 9

Michael Richmond @beartoothskier.bsky.social · 16d

❄️ all day Beartooth Plateau complex and town. Just minor accums. our place 1-2C all day. In Westfork Canyon, side gulch of Silver Run Crk., from 1950-2100m 4-8cm wet powder on everything, quite nice for short hike. Otter and Sundance really enjoyed it. #climate #hiking #dogs #mountains #montana

a heavy load when leaves are still on the Aspen.

solid wet powder coating preceded by rain all day yest. very important for the vegetation to get fall moisture to store up, before desiccating cold winds of Dec-Feb occur. the dry fall last year was a big problem.

not as much snow along the West Fork of Rock Crk. here 1930m, a little warmer.

who knows what is happening above 3100m on the Plateaus, it will be interesting to see.

1 9

Michael Richmond @beartoothskier.bsky.social · 17d

What to do on cold rainy day? Short Lakefork Canyon hike 2200-2400m see what's left of fall color in this deep shaded gorge. S-facing canyon wall had nicest colors. 4C but just sprinkling 👍🏽. Sheltered from N-NE upslope flow that brought rain all day in town. #hiking #climate #dogs #gye #mountains

S-facing canyon wall here. Couldn't see up high enough to determine snow level. It will be snowing in there soon, should have at least 5cm by this time tomorrow

near 2200m start these Aspen already spent

would not want be out in this all day, but few hours is nice. a little bear scat 3K up.

1 11

Michael Richmond @beartoothskier.bsky.social · 18d

Fall color along Beartooth Front is late and muted a lot of areas. Some kind of fungus/blight many Aspen/Cottonwoods. Has been warmer/drier last 60 days, right on edge of Moderate Drought by the Monitor. These slopes 1900-2050m face S-E-NE. Cooler/wet starting tomorrow 👍🏽. #climate #hiking #dogs #gye

not as vibrant this year so far looking out east down to town from 2050m

warmer/drier than average last 60 days could be worse. cool/wet starting late tonight thru Sunday 👍🏽

Mild 20C with moderate S breeze 2000m, compressional heating w SW flow.

3

Michael Richmond @beartoothskier.bsky.social · 18d

Fall color along Beartooth Front is late and muted a lot of areas. Some kind of fungus/blight many Aspen/Cottonwoods. Has been warmer/drier last 60 days, right on edge of Moderate Drought by the Monitor. These slopes 1900-2050m face S-E-NE. Cooler/wet starting tomorrow 👍🏽. #climate #hiking #dogs #gye

Down here 1900m Aspen already nearly bare with sparse mottled leaves.

even some of the Ninebark shrubs were like that. 2050m high point here east facing.

S facing slope 2000m has some of the only old growth left around here like this majestic 40m tall Ponderosa Pine.

5

Michael Richmond @beartoothskier.bsky.social · 19d

Last Beartooth Plateau melting ice patch survey 3000-3300m of the season? 30-35cm snow possible by Mon., starting late tmrw. 1-2m drifts easy on hwy w that, so closing. Both patches showed recession/thinning overall, not as bad as last year 👍🏽. Going fast tho. #climate #hiking #dogs #gye #mountains

this big patch 3100m below the swamp mired 1947 Chevy has receded some in front, new brown ground exposed. thousands of years of dust, wildfire soot, all industrial emissions 1750-2025 and radioactive fallout 1945-1963 +Chernobyl/Fukushima.

the front of the research patch several km from the Chevy patch. lots of thinning here, new old mud exposed. 7C moderate SW wind, not bad really all things considered.

the long thin patch 3100m below the swamp-mired 1947 Chevy. new exposed ground in front.

who knows what lies beneath thousands of years old ice. we will find out in 10 years or less.

1 8