May and June are always iffy months when you’re trying to get to high elevations in alpine areas.

Such was the case on this trip in the Montana Beartooths. I managed to get up to about 10,000 feet (where I camped on a patch of bare ground) but it took some work. Miles up a long canyon followed by a slow snowshoe slog by the time we hit 8,500 feet.

But the work is worth it. We’re the only backpackers that seem to tackle this route in the spring which is otherwise frequented only by backcountry skiers who slog up the canyon in the pre-dawn hours and then hobble out exhausted in the afternoon so they can make it to their car before dark.

One of my favorite places in the world – beautiful, quiet, and serene.