Adventures in Montana and Yellowstone
I moved to Bozeman, Montana in 1975 as a twenty-something after spending 8 years on the island of Guam. As an adolescent during those formative years I experienced the first Earth Day and saw the ensuing devastation of the natural balance of a remote tropical island. Then, moving to the yet “undiscovered” wildlands of Montana I had no idea how quickly the world would change, especially since the advent of the internet. I feel fortunate to have experienced Montana and Yellowstone in those days before the tourism and developer economy exploded. The stories below reflect a simpler time of adventure and appreciation for the natural world.
Climbing Granite Peak is a geologist’s dream! 12,807 ft Granite Peak is just northeast of Yellowstone Park and is the tallest peak in Montana AND the tallest peak in the Beartooth uplift.
This video documents a successful climb to the summit via the Mystic Lake to Huckleberry Creek route, up Granite Glacier to the east ridge and a route-finding puzzle up the south face to the summit.
In the film I explore the deep and dramatic geology of the Beartooth uplift.
Skiing Blaze Mountain near Bozeman Montana is documentary that follows an expedition of skiers into the Lee Metcalf Wilderness of Montana to ski a summer snow field in the Spanisk Peaks. The geology of the area is described as the skiers trek to the summit for the exciting descent.
This video documents a backcountry ski trip into Beehive Basin and over the divide to Bear Basin near Big Sky Montana. We made this trip in the late 1970s before Big Sky became a playground for the rich. The snow was deep, the location was remote and the wildness penetrated to our very souls!
