A Glimpse of Glacier

Reynolds Creek Fire Update I’m sure many, if not all, of you have heard about the Reynolds Creek Fire that is burning in Glacier National Park.  I mean it’s national news, and has even been mentioned on the Today Show. The fire has burned around 4,000 acres, but Glacier National Park covers 1.1 million acres.  … Read more

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A Ramble through the Absaroka-Beartooth

    A few weekends ago, I went hiking up Sioux Charlie trail in the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness, and frankly, you’re lucky that I decided to come back to work. You’re also lucky that I only posted 11 pictures, because I took exactly ten times that many.   This is the Stillwater River. Presumably whoever named … Read more

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Hells Canyon Guard Station, Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest

Back in January, we made plans to cross-country ski into a Forest Service cabin. I spent the next month in a near panic, worried that we wouldn’t have any snow to ski on. I spend a lot of time worrying about the weather when we plan trips. In fairness, the country only a few miles … Read more

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On Montanan Exceptionalism

I have a friend who was talking about a trip he took to Texas. “The problem, with Texans,” he said, “is that they are all so proud of Texas. They think that Texas is the best place ever.” “Montanans can be pretty arrogant when it comes to talking about our state too,” I replied. He … Read more

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Charlie Russell: Painting the Frontier

One of my favorite Charlie Russell stories comes from an essay by Rick Newby called “Bookmen of the Montana Frontier:” “Early in the twentieth century, Montana folklore has it, a Helena couple visiting Paris stumbled upon Charlie Russell in the galleries of the Louvre. Russell greeted them warmly but begged them not to mention to … Read more

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Hiking Lolo Peak

Lolo Peak trail doesn’t actually lead to Lolo Peak. The trail switchbacks for 3.6 miles through beautiful lodgepole and larch forests and steep meadows to Carlton Ridge. Along the way, breaks in the trees offer stunning vistas as range after range of mountains tumble away in all directions. To the northeast, the jagged Missions cut … Read more

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Videoing Yellowstone: Part 7

Serendipity Photographers spend a lot of time waiting for shots that never happen, and thinking about shots they missed. But sometimes shots spring up on you with no warning whatever. Initially Mike drove right past this moose sighting near Norris Geyser Basin, thinking that the shadows and lighting were bad. After a while of driving … Read more

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Videoing Yellowstone: Part 2

  Tempest videographer Mike Dreesman spent part of this May in Yellowstone National Park, sleeping on an air mattress in the back of his van and living off of bologna sandwiches and peanut butter and honey, all so he could get the best possible video of the park in spring. When he got home, he … Read more

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Videoing Yellowstone: Part 1

This May, Tempest videographer Mike Dreesman spent a week  in Yellowstone National Park, sleeping on an air mattress in the back of his van and living off of bologna sandwiches and peanut butter and honey, all so he could get the best possible video of the Park in spring. When he got home, he pulled … Read more

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