The ancient past. 1980 Beartooth trip

[John Goering]

I have recently taken up the task of scanning my slides from the last century. Most of these were Kodachrome 25 which neither of my two dedicated slide scanners much appreciated but which the flat plate scanner seems to do an acceptable job-just really slow. This was a 1980 trip through the Beartooths. It started at the Chief Joseph Trailhead out of Cooke City but I'm uncertain that moniker had been hung on there at that time. The Chief Joseph Trailhead is obviously usually the terminus of the "Beaten Path", the 26 mile route between it and "civilization" at East Rosebud Lake, otherwise noted as FS trails, 3 and 15. This trip utilized FS 564 up past Curl Lake, and at the time of this trip, the trail continued for most of the length of Broadwater Lake. (the 1988 fire obliterated the trail around Broadwater Lake). From there it was off trail for several days with our route climbing up on the Plateau via Moccasin and Splinter Lakes, dropping into Sky Top Creek. Thence up that creek past Lone Elk and Rough Lakes to lower Sky Top Lake where we camped for two days and made a day trip loop up around Sky Top Lakes. It was then over into Cairn where we spent another two nights, spending the day fishing for Cairn's magnum brookies. The ones we caught averaged about 3.5 lbs but I swear there were some in that lake that could have eaten those. Following that stay, we dropped into East Rosebud Creek via Medicine Lake, hitting the beaten path again at Twin Outlets Lake and camping the last night at Rainbow Lake, followed by the hike out to East Rosebud Trailhead.

Near the upper end of Broadwater Lake

Broadwater (nearest) and Curl Lakes

This was paper and compass----

Sky Top Creek

Rough Lake

Lower Sky Top Lake and The Spires

Lower Sky Top Lake, Mount Villard, and some of the Sky Top Glacier

Sky Top Glacier and Granite Peak (right), highest point in Montan at 12,799 or 12,802' dpending on the source.

View back towards Rough Lake

Still my wheeling/camping/backpacking buddies 44 years later

Next to the upper most Sky Top Lake and The Spires

 

[John Goering]

Cairn Lake. The valley fog is in East Rosebud Creek.

Medicine Lake

East Rosebud Creek

Impasse Falls-the same photo everyone takes

Lake At Falls

Rainbow Lake

Rainbow was the end of my photography for that trip

 

[TractorDoc]

Blast from the Past!

Looks like a wonderful trip. I bet looking thru those pictures makes if feel like it happened yesterday.

Part of me still wishes paper and compass was still the norm for an adventure like this. I still bring mine with me, but I'll admit to giving into the convenience of GPS on the cell phone.

Love the external frame packs. . . and the hairstyles!

 

[Bob]

Hair styles.... Yes

 

[gnwatts]

Brings back memories.
Nice scans BTW. It's a tricky thing to get right.

 

[TheMountainRabbit]

Lower Sky Top Lake and The Spires

Lower Sky Top Lake, Mount Villard, and some of the Sky Top Glacier

Sky Top Glacier and Granite Peak (right), highest point in Montan at 12,799 or 12,802' dpending on the source.

Next to the upper most Sky Top Lake and The Spires

I should be hereabouts in September and I'm tempted try to duplicate some of your shots. Looks like an awesome trip - thanks for digging these up to share!

 

[John Goering]

I should be hereabouts in September and I'm tempted try to duplicate some of your shots. Looks like an awesome trip - thanks for digging these up to share!

I have another trip where we were out on Castle Rock Glacier. At the time (1987), there was still about a square mile of ice. It is now entirely gone. Before and after shots of that would be interesting.

 

[TheMountainRabbit]

I have another trip where we were out on Castle Rock Glacier. At the time (1987), there was still about a square mile of ice. It is now entirely gone. Before and after shots of that would be interesting.

We'll be right below Castle Rock as well - from Sky Pilot to Snowbank. (Castle Rock summit is on the "maybe" list for a side trip.) So hopefully I can get an "after" shot at least.

 

[wsp_scott]

The lake photo right after the "east rosebud creek" one looks awesome. All the flowing water looks pretty good as well. Based on your photos, I'd definitely like to spend some time in the area.

I think it is pretty neat that you are still friends with the same group this many years later.

thanks for sharing

 

[Bob]

The lake photo right after the "east rosebud creek" one looks awesome. All the flowing water looks pretty good as well. Based on your photos, I'd definitely like to spend some time in the area.

I think it is pretty neat that you are still friends with the same group this many years later.

thanks for sharing

I have a nice route....... Scat and I have put off a few years

 

[shredhiker]

Incredible, thanks for sharing.

 

[Tim Valentine]

Fun nostalgia trip report. I think I recognize the blue external pack. Looks a lot like my simple REI external from the same decade.

 

[ljsmt]

I just came across your post (and this forum) in a search result, and decided to register so I could post this photo... this is the Sky Top Glacier (or what remains of it) and Granite Peak from July 2023, taken from almost the same spot as your 1980 photo. Main difference: in your photo, the glacier is still more of an actual glacier.