Musings from the last best place - Thoughts on living and working in Montana

Spring Time Snowmobiling - Cooke City, Montana

While winter has made a (hopefully brief) return to southwestern Montana this week, our snowmobiling outing this past weekend was all sunshine and spring conditions. These pics were taken in the mountains above Cooke City, home to some of the best snowmobiling to be had in the Rockies. No fresh snow this weekend, so instead of action shots I focused on sight-seeing. I think these mountains look their best in winter when snow covers most of the scars left by early 20th century mining.

This was a special weekend because we took our boys along for the ride. My son loves snowmobiling, but the Kitty Kat sled he rides around the field at the cabin just isn't cutting it anymore. So we took him up the mountain to let him get a feel for riding the 'big boy sleds'.

And no - those high-marking shots aren't of anyone in our group. Even with low-risk avalanche conditions, we're not willing to take the chance. We all wear avalanche beacons - primarily to be ready to help find guys like the ones you see in the photos. I'm not knocking them - live and let live. It's just not for me.

                         
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Spring_Time_Snowmobiling_-_Coo.zip (1132 KB)

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Filed under  //   Cooke City   Mountains   Snow   Snowmobiling  
Posted March 23, 2009
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Cooke City Snowmobiling - December 2008

We're finally at the family cabin near Silver Gate, Montana. This afternoon, we went out to the mountains above Cooke City for some snowmobiling. This area is a mecca for back-country snowmobiling - folks come from all over to enjoy the area's abundant snowfall (usually over 15' per season). We're still pretty early in the season - there's probably not more than 4' yet. Even so, we've had enough snow in the past week that the sledding is pretty decent. Most rocks are hidden and there's some good powder to be had.

I like to take a camera along for the ride to snap some powder pics. This can be a challenge given that my E500 is not weatherized. I carry my camera and a second lens in my Kata T212 Torso pack. Although I wear the pack under my coat to protect it from the snow, I still place the camera and lens in a sealed plastic bag to protect it from stray snow and condensation.

Here are a few pics I took today. It was snowing pretty heavily, so the light was not good. Still, I think we got some decent action shots.

         
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Cooke_City_Snowmobiling_-_Dece.zip (331 KB)

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Filed under  //   Cooke City   Montana   Powder   Snow   Snowmobiling  
Posted December 27, 2008
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Beartooth Pass Closed for the Season

Just read in the Billings Gazette that Beartooth Pass is closed for the season. Guess the highway department decided the four feet of snow that fell over the weekend was the tipping point. This summer marks the first season in years that I haven't been 'over the top' on my way to Cooke City. Now that we live in Bozeman, we travel in through YNP. I miss the drive - it's one of the great trips in Montana.

Here are a couple sledding pics from last Christmas in the mountains above Cooke City - just to whet the appetite of those who like their snow in depths greater than 10 feet.

   

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Beartooth_Pass_Closed_for_the_.zip (164 KB)

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Filed under  //   Beartooths   Montana   Mountains   Photography   Snowmobiling  
Posted October 13, 2008
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