Beartooth Highway Summer Backcountry?

[Crehm]

Hey guys, I am going to be driving cross country this summer from Marquette Michigan to Mt. Hood, I am making the drive somewhat of a road trip and the route I am planning on driving goes over Beartooth and Teton Pass.

My questions are, how is the snow pack this year? Will both of these passes likely be open this year by Memorial time?

Is there any road lap style back country access on either of these two passes that will still be skiable in the late May/Early June time frame? Anything with short approaches? I will have an AT setup with me.

Is there any good free camping along back roads in the Beartooth Pass area specifically? Looking for a spot to basically park my car off a two track somewhere and just sleep for the night so I can continue the trip.

Also if anyone is interested on splitting gas for a one way ride to Hood let me know, I should have some room!

 

[JohnJonsz]

Beartooth and Teton Pass.

My questions are, how is the snow pack this year? Will both of these passes likely be open this year by Memorial time?

Is there any road lap style back country access on either of these two passes that will still be skiable in the late May/Early June time frame? Anything with short approaches?

So Beartooth pass had a low snow year, and the rope tows will not be running for the summer session unfortunately. However there are two other fairly obvious zones with short easy hikes from the road (dozens of lines exist but many require long approaches/exits). If you have only one car, it's pretty easy to hitchhike laps at either spot. One zone is along the top plateau called Gardner bowl. The other starts from the top on the Montana side and drops over 1000 vert ft to an elbow in the road. You can camp close by on the Montana side... huge camping road is on the left at the bottom of the pass on the MT side. Looks like beartooth pass opens right on 5/27 for you according to:https://www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/parkroads.htm

Teton Pass is open year round except when they do avy control on big snow nights. By next month, I doubt the skiing will be all that great. Right now you can ski the upper part of most Mt Glory runs but the lower sections are melting out quick.

Good news is the Tram at JHMR reopens for the summer starting memorial weekend. You can ride it up for $20, traverse to the base of cody, and bootpack up for excellent spring skiing with several aspects to hit all day. You will want your AT setup to make faster laps and eventually skin back to the top of the tram at the end of your day. Do not attempt to ski to the base down rock springs or anywhere inbounds unless you want to do a lot of down climbing on foot.

 

[.lencon]

So Beartooth pass had a low snow year, and the rope tows will not be running for the summer session unfortunately. However there are two other fairly obvious zones with short easy hikes from the road (dozens of lines exist but many require long approaches/exits). If you have only one car, it's pretty easy to hitchhike laps at either spot. One zone is along the top plateau called Gardner bowl. The other starts from the top on the Montana side and drops over 1000 vert ft to an elbow in the road. You can camp close by on the Montana side... huge camping road is on the left at the bottom of the pass on the MT side. Looks like beartooth pass opens right on 5/27 for you according to:https://www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/parkroads.htm

Teton Pass is open year round except when they do avy control on big snow nights. By next month, I doubt the skiing will be all that great. Right now you can ski the upper part of most Mt Glory runs but the lower sections are melting out quick.

Good news is the Tram at JHMR reopens for the summer starting memorial weekend. You can ride it up for $20, traverse to the base of cody, and bootpack up for excellent spring skiing with several aspects to hit all day. You will want your AT setup to make faster laps and eventually skin back to the top of the tram at the end of your day. Do not attempt to ski to the base down rock springs or anywhere inbounds unless you want to do a lot of down climbing on foot.

Umm beartooth should still be open... Last year they didn't get enough snow but they should be good this year

 

[.lencon]

Umm beartooth should still be open... Last year they didn't get enough snow but they should be good this year

Never mind, just talked to some others about it. Looks like no beartooth:/

 

[JohnJonsz]

Never mind, just talked to some others about it. Looks like no beartooth:/

yeah the guys who operate the tow ropes announced earlier this week that they were not going to run it this year. https://beartoothsummersession.com/2016/04/25/some-bad-news-and-some-nice-things-to-look-at/

But there should be enough snow thru early June to hit several other zones. If you or anyone else want to consider going June 2-5 ish, let's talk. I've gone up 3 times in the past 5 years and have a good idea about best spots to ski and camp.

 

[Aenigma]

The road opens Memorial Day weekend every year, regardless of snowpack. It's sitting at 80-85% of average and melting at a record pace right now, but there will definitely be some skiing to be done at least through mid-June, and through the summer if you're super desperate. AT gear will open up some options, but I've found the majority of the skiing there involves mostly bootpacking, unless it's a good snow year and you can get back on the plateau.

For camping, there is the entire Rock Creek drainage on the Red Lodge side, and on the other side there are numerous campgrounds scattered along the highway heading back down toward Cooke City.

 

[Crehm]

But there should be enough snow thru early June to hit several other zones. If you or anyone else want to consider going June 2-5 ish, let's talk. I've gone up 3 times in the past 5 years and have a good idea about best spots to ski and camp.

That may be the exact time frame I'm headed through the area! Thanks for all the info, sounds like I will definitely be getting some skiing in!

 

[SkiLefley]

Damn, wish you were going a little later and I would tag along. Ill still be in school then, going to really try and get out their again tho this summer. In hopes I can make some good money early this summer and afford it.

 

[JohnJonsz]

That may be the exact time frame I'm headed through the area! Thanks for all the info, sounds like I will definitely be getting some skiing in!

Cool, you're welcome. Sounds like a fun summer plan!

Damn, wish you were going a little later and I would tag along.

When were you thinking? I'm also looking at heading up to beartooths the following weekend maybe on 6/9-6/12... Deciding whether to do this or a small campout music fest near Bozeman/Big Sky. Or both combined in one bigger trip.

 

[SkiLefley]

Cool, you're welcome. Sounds like a fun summer plan!

When were you thinking? I'm also looking at heading up to beartooths the following weekend maybe on 6/9-6/12... Deciding whether to do this or a small campout music fest near Bozeman/Big Sky. Or both combined in one bigger trip.

I was more so talking about getting myself out to hood this summer. Although, did see big sky got some snow the other day. My brother lives there and was out sledding with some buddies

 

[Goku]

Surprised Whitling isn't in this thread yet...

 

[Goku]

Surprised Whitling isn't in this thread yet...

 

[cydwhit]

Surprised Whitling isn't in this thread yet...

It's in my watched threads.....

Beartooth is rad. I'll get out there at some point in the summer.

There is plenty of camping between red lodge and beartooth. Montucky is rad, and loose and awesome, have fun!

Should be skiing in the Beartooths through June, and maybe some in July depending on how desperate / stupid you are.

 

[pduncan]

I was up there two days ago. I couldn't ski because of my broken ankle but there were quite a few people skiing and snowmobiling. Looked like there was a decent amount of snow.