Beartooth Front walk just SW of town, really dried out here S facing slopes 1850-2050m. Deep in the shaded gulch of Willow Creek, which comes out of the ski area, still some 1m deep drifted areas. It actually has been warmer/drier than average the past month. Very dry wind yest., and again today. Cold front coming soon, so at least a little 
Last trail junction. Ranger Sarah continues down the Cave Gulch Trail to the trailhead at the campground.
— at Lewis & Clark Caverns State Park.
#cranes but not the construction kind, even tho they do a darn good impression ....
Felt like summer day our run in Lakefork Cyn. behind town, 2100-2300m, then back. 18C at the start, lite E breeze. Trail was softening quite a bit, why we had to turn back. 25C looks like in town today. May be new daily record, old 24.5C in 1949. Warmest day of the year so far. Snowpack will be melting fast, top to bottom, high freezing levels. 11C today at 2980m Beartooth Plateau. Cooler tomorrow. Sundance seems fully recovered
Ranger Sarah looks back up hill at where she started near the base of the exposed Madison Limestone seen at the top of the mountain.
— at Lewis & Clark Caverns State Park.
Been 2 weeks since we've gone in Westfork Canyon, past winter road closure. This time on foot, not continuously skiable anymore. Our detour up Basin Lakes trail showed the falls almost completely open now. We probably could have got to 2440m lower Basin Lake (start 2000m), firm trail. But there were day old Oso Negro tracks halfway up, and Otter did not want to proceed further. I trust her judgement, turned back
If you're a US citizen, please sign this letter to your senators opposing Trump's "Fix our Forests" act. https://www.cascwild.org/oppose-the-so-called-fix-our-forests-act/
Here are the forests he wants to cut down: https://www.reddit.com/r/Cascadia/comments/1jvop3v/heres_all_the_forests_trump_plans_to_cut_down/
In #MONTANA, #MT01 Ryan Zinke won by 7.7 points. Nearly 113,000 of his constituents are on #Medicaid/CHIP, or around 20% of them.
State by State Pending and recently passed #AntiProtestLaws: #Montana
HB 481: New penalties for protests near gas and oil #pipelines
Heightens penalties for protests near oil pipelines and other "critical infrastructure facilities," including those under construction. The law creates an offense of trespassing on critical infrastructure, defined as willfully and knowingly entering property containing a critical infrastructure facility that is posted or fenced. The offense is a misdemeanor, punishable by up to 6 months in jail or a $1,500 fine. If a person trespasses with the intent to willfully impede the facility's operations, or damage, deface, or tamper with facility equipment, the offense is a felony punishable by up to eighteen months in prison or a $4,500 fine. An organization that is found to be a conspirator in trespass on critical infrastructure is liable for fines that are ten times the amount authorized for the crime. A person who trespasses can be held civilly liable for damages to property while trespassing, and an entity or person that compensates or provides consideration to someone for trespass may be held vicariously liable for damages committed by that person. "Critical infrastructure facility" is broadly defined and among many other things includes oil and gas pipelines, refineries, water treatment plants, railroad tracks, and #TelephonePoles.
Bill text: https://bills.legmt.gov/
Status: enacted
Introduced 18 Feb 2021; Approved by House 2 March 2021; Approved by Senate 16 April 2021; Governor Signed 14 May 2021
Issue(s): Civil Liability, Protest Supporters or Funders, Infrastructure, Trespass
#FirstAmendment #CriminalizingDissent
#Authoritarianism #Fascism #Clampdown #CriminalizingProtest
#CharacteristicsOfFascism #USPol #AntiProtestLaws #PipelineProtests
No ice. No wind. No washboards.
#BikeTooter #cycling #gravel #gravelbike #bike2work #biketowork #cyclinglife #montana #RedLodge #velotaf #fahrrad
Source: @ErinInTheMorn
From the article: "On Tuesday, Montana’s House considered Senate Bill 164, legislation that would classify gender-affirming care for transgender youth as felony child endangerment. The bill would not only target doctors and nurses, but also parents—including those merely passing through the state. Though the vote was expected to be close, a powerful floor speech from Representative SJ Howell prompted a wave of Republican defections. The bill was defeated 40–58, becoming one of several anti-trans proposals to fail this year following strong speeches by Montana’s transgender and nonbinary lawmakers."
https://www.erininthemorning.com/p/17-montana-republicans-cross-party
I am loathe to link to something on Substack, but given how little good news we read nowadays I wanted to share this one: 17 Montana Republicans Cross Party Lines, Defeat Anti-Trans Bill After Nonbinary Rep's Speech
Here's the first paragraph (which I split in half), so you don't need to click through:
"On Tuesday, Montana’s House considered Senate Bill 164, legislation that would classify gender-affirming care for transgender youth as felony child endangerment. The bill would not only target doctors and nurses, but also parents—including those merely passing through the state.
"Though the vote was expected to be close, a powerful floor speech from Representative SJ Howell prompted a wave of Republican defections. The bill was defeated 40–58, becoming one of several anti-trans proposals to fail this year following strong speeches by Montana’s transgender and nonbinary lawmakers."
https://www.erininthemorning.com/p/17-montana-republicans-cross-party
Weak upper trough in Wrly flow sweeping thru today. Cooler for our Rock Crk. Canyon walk/run and snowing hard at the 2200m start. GYE spring
Project 2025: Tariffs
Monica Tranel
Apr 08, 2025
Ranger Sarah has returned to Lewis & Clark Caverns State Park to hike the trails without the snow or snowshoes.
— at Lewis & Clark Caverns State Park.
Montana photographer warns of impact of AI on photography industry https://www.byteseu.com/898507/ #AI #AiImages #AISLOP #AISPAM #ArtificialIntelligence #artist #Facebook #montana #MONTANAEASTOFTHEDIVIDE #MTNNEWS #Photography #STEVELEITNER
Montana Youth Climate Action Networking
Wed, April 9th, 7 - 8 PM
Come hear from youth activists about their events and activities during Earth Week (April 21-25). Share your ideas and connect with other youth in Montana!
#Montana #ClimateChange
https://livableclimate.org/events/youthnetworking
