There are some places you need to see to believe. Montana is one of those places. From breathtaking mountain vistas to the sweeping plains with charming small towns in between, there are incredible experiences located around every corner. Combine all of the endless adventure and pristine views with our winter season, and you have a snow-covered paradise.
 
With an average of more than 300 inches of yearly fresh powder, you’ll find some of the best snow in North America here and plenty of ways to enjoy it. Montana boasts 14 downhill ski areaswith over 15,000 acres of skiable terrain, endless miles of pristine backcountry powder waiting to be explored, and thousands of miles of both groomed and ungroomed snowmobiling trails.
 
Glacier National Park and Yellowstone National Park are open year-round to offer epic winter opportunities from snowshoeing to cross-country skiing. Our small towns offer lively music and nightlife scenes; not to mention delicious food and cozy lodging to round out your perfect winter stay.
 
So, whether it means relaxing in hot springs or curling up by a fireplace in a mountain lodge after a day on the slopes, taking a horse-drawn sleigh ride or snowshoeing in Glacier National Park, your perfect winter escape to Montana awaits.  
 
 

The Glory of Aspens

~Sean Jansen

If one were to truly think about it, trees as a whole are the single most important organisms on this planet. They provide wood for fires to keep warm and to create heat for cooking. Offer timber for shelter out of the elements. Some offer fruits and nuts for edible options. And most importantly, they provide oxygen for us to breath whilst also consuming CO2 during photosynthesis, being the active catalyst on our front line battle against climate change.

With trees inhabiting six of the seven continents, they all vary in color, size, shape, and season. For us in Montana, we have numerous amounts of tree species in all altitudes the state offers. However out of them all, the Aspen shows its seasonal colors better on the fashion runway then the rest.

Aspens, or Populus Tremuloides, also known as quaking aspen, are the most wide spread tree in North America. They can be seen in 39 of our 50 states and north through Canada and into Alaska. Even a few areas in Mexico. Ranging in size with regards to girth of trunk and height, the smallest can have trunk widths of less than an inch, while rare, can also be seen with nearly a two-foot diameter and reach heights upwards of 80 feet. Living up to 150 years with some old timers going into 200 years.

Their bark is unique in that it has a white color that can indeed show hues of grey and green that produces a powdery substance that shows the trees health but also can be used for a variety of medicinal purposes as well as protection from the sun when placed on the skin. However what makes the aspen infamous, are its leaves. In the summer months, the small bright green leaves make the landscape vibrant with green amongst the border of the coniferous forests they dwell. But its fall colors of bright orange, yellow, and occasionally red are what can literally be seen from space and remind us all of the seasonal change.

They are called the quaking aspen because if one were to go on a hike in an aspen grove with a slight breeze, you can hear the leaves almost whispering to one another. I personally love hiking, running, and fly fishing along aspens because it almost seems like the leaves are clapping at your presence, encouraging you to keep going.

Beyond its gorgeous visual stimulation, the trees provide shelter, food, and repair to a multitude of animal species and damaged landscapes. They are quick to recolonize areas after a burn, as they need nothing more than water and lots of sunshine. Black bear, moose, elk, deer and an array of rodents and birds all need aspen for food and shelter.

On a curious note, aspens are quite useful for humans as well. Their wood is considered a soft wood however can be quite strong and we use it for particleboard, tooth picks, chopsticks, and line our saunas with them, as they will never splinter as you sit and enjoy a good sweat. Montana certainly isn’t the headquarters of the quaking aspen, but our landscapes, altitude, environment, and climate all make for a great field office that I as well as many others love to see this time of year.

Websites used for information:

https://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/beauty/aspen/grow.shtml

https://www.nationalforests.org/blog/tree-profile-aspen-so-much-more-than-a-tree

The Beartooth Highway: American's Great Ride

by Sean Jansen

The Absaroka-Beartooth Mountain range in the Custer Gallatin National Forest is a massive stretch of forest and glaciated granite peaks screaming to the sky. Boasting alpine settings of lakes, creeks, and snow capped peaks. Creating an almost literal roof over the greater Yellowstone Complex in South Central Montana, the range hosts Montana’s highest peak along with 20 of its following contestants. The Beartooth Plateau averages around 10,500 feet and is almost inhabitable for nine months of the year from its altitude and weather. And believe it or not, a 68-mile road was built going over said range all for easy access to the Northeast Section of Yellowstone National Park. 

Highway 212 runs from Red Lodge in Montana on the eastern side of the Beartooth range, going up and over the Beartooth Pass, sitting at 10,947 feet. Then continuing on down the pass into Northern Wyoming and back into Montana to Cooke City and the Northeastern Gate of Yellowstone National Park.

The road offers the general public an incredible experience in being able to see pristine high alpine habitat that boasts wildlife ranging from grizzly bear to the ever unique mountain goats. Birds of prey cruise the sky looking for marmots and the cute little pika. Jagged peaks shoot up everywhere with lakes sparkling blue from snow smelt from as early as last fall. Bright and vibrantly colored wildflowers litter the landscape virtually undisturbed by the footsteps of man.

The history of the road can be traced back to 1872 when Civil War general Phillip Sheridan decided to cross the pass by foot after an inspection tour of Yellowstone National Park. With help from a local hunter, he mentioned it was a much faster route than taking the Clarks Fork of the Yellowstone River. Fast forward to 1936, the road was opened to the public essentially following the literal footsteps of the General 64 years later.

Now the road has been coined by many as the trip of a lifetime. It holds the title of the, “All-American Road,” meaning it is unique and one of a kind. Also holding designation in the National Scenic Byways Program.

The road gives access to numerous outdoor activities for the adventurous souls. One can ski up on the plateau at the Beartooth Basin in the summer. Closing in and around the summer solstice depending of course on weather. But for those who enjoy the summer activities; kayaking on the numerous lakes, along with fishing those same lakes for numerous species of fish. Trails open up after the thaw of winter and mountains bikers, trail runners, hikers, and backpackers rejoice at access to untouched wilderness. The road also gives access to many campgrounds where one can spend the night and see the pass at sunrise and sunset and enjoy easy access to all the splendors the pass offers.

The road typically opens around Memorial Day in late May and depending on weather, can remain open up until Columbus Day. So for those interested, put it on your list with the few weeks left to access the road until next year.