Snow comes to the mountains of Montana intermittently throughout the summer. I usually see more serious snow arrive in September, but even those storms are usually pretty short and kept to the higher elevations. October is where it's at if you're a snow junkie, but in some years, even October in Montana can make you feel like you've been erroneously displaced. In other words, until the snow really comes to the Rockies (usually in December), all bets are off and any reliability in snow forecasting is sketchy at best.
That's why I was pretty excited to watch our first big snow of the year come across the radar in late September.
By September 28, with snowflakes falling and piling up, I contracted a cold. After a few days in bed, I couldn't stand it anymore: I was itching to get outside and film another episode of "24." I may have not quite been healed, as I felt awful on this hike. I was exhausted, I froze, my head hurt, my body ached, and I couldn't stomach any food.
But it was Montana's first big snow of the season, and I wanted to see it!
I have no regrets. My friend Ryan Connelly and I enjoyed each other's company in one of the most beautiful locales close to my home, on one of my favorite routes: a traverse of the Hyalite-Cottonwood divide.
Twenty minutes of driving, a few hours of hiking, an overnight camp on the ridge, and another half-day of hiking brought us right into the back door of our friend Seth's home on upper Cottonwood Creek. Snow, wind, and cold temperatures in the first part of the hike gave way to warm sunshine as we hiked out. It all added up to the perfect recipe for an overnight getaway.
Most of that snow has melted, Indian Summer has come again, but I'm not depressed that it's only nine more months until summer. I love snow hiking... ultralight style, of course.
ARTICLE OUTLINE
- Introduction
- Video
- Gear
- Photo Essay
# WORDS: 1140
# PHOTOS: 8
Member Exclusive
A Premium or Unlimited Membership* is required to view the rest of this article.
* A Basic Membership is required to view Member Q&A events
Discussion
Become a member to post in the forums.
Companion forum thread to:
24: Nine Months ’til Summer
Best video yet!
Agreed! Brilliant video. Highly motivational.
Again- excellent stuff! When are the BPL baseball hats going to be available?
Thanks Ryan
Loved it, I have little ones at home, and allot of great country less than an hour from my porch. It seems like 24 hr trips are pretty much what I do these days. They keep me sane, current with my gear and skills, without taking too much time from the family.
Tiny request, as much as I love the scenic shots, I'd love to see a little more of you working with your kit, setting up tarp and tents, meal prep, ect. Just my two cents.
Love the work your doing pushing the UL envelope and sharing with us.
Bill
What a great video!!! Thanks so much for all your work putting this together. Excellent quality.
I didn't hike the hike, only watched the video, and my feet are Freezing just from watching!
Geeze, get some footware. If you frost up we won't get anymore 24:'s.
But, wonderful footage and commentary.
Thanks.
Oh, wow. What a fantastic video! I love snow, I love snow hiking. Unfortunately, I'm stuck in the suburbia of the Detroit metro area. :( I can't wait to move out west. I'd give anything to be near an area like the Gallitins.
Boy, my feet got cold just watching that stream crossing. {shiver}
A fascinating, enjoyable and instructive video.
Cheers
Great trip. Great video. Great editing. Thanks for sharing.
I'm really enjoying this series of trip reports, keep it up.
I agree with the others comments. I am greatly enjoying this series and it helped inspire me to do my own 24 trip this weekend.
Hi Ryan,
These are a real inspiration – I have already done my first 24'er. What video editing software do you use please.
Thanks.
BRAVO!
The production quality is excellent – video and audio.
The narrative is superb, too.
Thanks for your great work.
these 24 hour trips are so inspiring…I so appreciate the details about gear and technique…what worked as well as what would have worked better…I just renewed my subscription and next week I will insist my my 2 best girlfriends/hiking partners become members to support this great site…
Sweet, very Sweet!
Couldn't take my eyes off the video, and, boy, that alpenglow shot!
Thanks for the 24-hour inspiration. Even a full-time Mom can fit that in.
Great story, great photo's, and a well put together Video. Now being Featured on thebackpacker.tv Thanks for sharing this.
Scott
Thanks for all of your kind comments! This has been a really fun project.
I'm working on the next already, a short hike in Shenandoah NP with Alan Dixon a few weeks ago while I was on a business trip to the DC area. The concept of a 24 became readily apparent on this one, I had a plane to catch!
In response to others, the software used to create these is a combination of iMovie and Final Cut Express, Photoshop, and Illustrator. The film is captured with a number of cameras, including a Panasonic DMC-TS1, Olympus E-P1, Panasonic GF1, and Canon Vixia HF100. Not all of these go on all trips, of course :)
Winter is really starting to come to Montana hard now, so I'm pretty eager to find out what we can do in 24 hours in mountains covered with really deep snow.
In addition, I have plans to do an intermezzo sometime over the winter that takes a more inside look at my 24 hour trip gear, and production of these little films.
BPL Baseball Hats! When will they be available?
Ryan,
Great video and the music was cool to boot. I love the 24 hour concept and will be doing a slight modification starting this coming spring with a 36 hour getaway to boost my bag nights. Keep the 24'ers coming.
Ryan – You could skip all this by coming down to NZ – 6 weeks to summer here!!! And we can offer you an unbelievable outdoor experience. Any BackpackingLight members are welcome to contact me for advice and ideas (rob@assess.co.nz)
Can't wait to see what you hiked here in the SNP. A few weeks ago, I just threw my gear into my pack, drove to the southern portion of the SNP and hiked along the AT until I found an area I liked. Followed a deer path and found the best spot ever. Came out the next morning and drove home. All within 24 hrs, with a stop at Rockfish Gap Outfitters for some gaiters. You're right. It's the best way to clear one's head and be with nature.
Ryan,
That was awesome. I really like this series.
Thanks,
Kendall
Ryan,
you mentioned having cold feet at night and wishing for your booties. I noticed in the list and the movie that you had a hooded base and parka yet you wore a separate Cocoon balaclava.
How about putting your feet in the loose hood inside your quilt and wearing the hoods from your base and parka on your head?
Become a member to post in the forums.