38 Foot Drifts! Opening Up Beartooth Pass | Western Highway History

[@mtnboyo3773]

I would give everything I own to have experienced a small fraction of what you know and have done in your life. What a resource and motivation you are Mike. Huge respect and admiration from an Iowa boy who only gets to vacation in our wonderful western US. Your generation has built upon and expanded the foundation of what makes our country so wonderful. ❤❤

[@robs8116]

I have driven over the Beartooth pass many times, I think it's the most beautiful drive in the lower 48-states. Thanks for sharing your videos.

[@BlazedTrailsForgotten]

Thanks for sharing

[@woos31]

Well thanks for taking the time to share this Mike, as a road maintenance operator myself there's little documentation of what all goes on which is okay as much of it is not greatly interesting. But, projects like this are a different category and for those operators to have their work and skill shown is very gratifying. There's a lot to it, it takes the right people to make it all work, and work safely. Very cool, and thanks again for sharing

[@BlazedTrailsForgotten]

Right on!

[@dennymontgomery9716]

Great story telling Mike! It is a story very few people have heard. People driving Beartooth highway don’t have a clue about what it takes to open this road by early summer. While backcountry skiing at Tioga Pass (CA 120), we watched the CALTRANS crews working to open the road by Memorial Day so the fishermen could fish the lakes at the top of the pass. One of their crew told me another danger they face is hitting avalanche debris -rocks, trees, etc-with a blower or cat. He said under certain conditions, that debris can be a stabilizing factor when on a steep slope and removing it can actually start a slide. Super job Mike and hats off to the Wyoming and Montana crews who make this happen!

[@BlazedTrailsForgotten]

Your right hats off!

[@granthondo]

Thanks for sharing this story. I rode 212 on my motorcycle yesterday and a blower was parked at Top of the World. Certainly puts things into perspective.

[@daver7013]

Wow I loved the footage. My family and I have driven bear tooth twice. We stayed at a lodge in Clyde Park, one day we drove to Yellowstone through Gardner. And at some point ended up in Cooke city. So we decided to just continue on and we would eventually be able to make our way back to the lodge. The whole time our GPS is telling us to turn around. We ignored it, It didn’t look to be that much further on the map. As you know It turned out to be a lot further. What an adventure! Beautiful. Terrifying, scary, switchbacks, cliffs, exhilarating, white knuckled driving. I was so focused on the road I missed most of the scenery. Which is why a year later my wife and I did the adventure again, from Red Lodge to Cooke City. I look at the Cooke city cams regularly, and the spring snow clearing. Thank you for the beautiful views and adventure. Be safe.

[@ericbrittain2235]

This is one of the most interesting videos I've ever watched,thank you Mike, happy for you having such an amazing life.

[@BlazedTrailsForgotten]

My pleasure!

[@kendallkeil6996]

I'm absolutely loving this. So cool! Great photos and video too. Keep the stories coming Mike!

[@BlazedTrailsForgotten]

Thanks so much!

[@Aciz983]

Mike, you are a absolute perfect storyteller and photographer!!!!!! I love the scenery and the machines that make it happen. I have not forgotten about the hardworking men/ women that make are working the equipment they all need a lot of respect. Very nice story. Greetings from Sweden.

[@BlazedTrailsForgotten]

Wow, thank you!

[@jonathangold2087]

Amazing photos and video footage you captured for this podcast. Must have been some amazing views for you to have a front row seat for. Very much enjoyed your presentation!

[@SevereStormsNM]

This is is Amazing!... and at the same time looks very dangerous...these crews from both the Montana & Wyoming sides have to have extreme patience and nerves of steel it was great of you to document and photograph their very hard work and very time consuming just so that the general public can go there to enjoy the views and this National Park safely, without the hard work and risks of these individuals many people would not be able to see this magnificent place.

[@perryknetter8577]

Great video Mike Photos are top on the line shots Thank you for sharing God's Blessings in his Great Outdoors

[@jamesmooney5348]

I wish I would have documented more growing up. My great grandfather and grandfather ran polled herferds in the west edge of the trinity alps of n. Cal. just south of the Oregon border. The red woods are just a little bit to the west of us. When I was in high school during the summer, we checked the cattle weekly in the back country. Was so fun. Alot different then n. central AZ.

[@hermanboyd3367]

Thanks for sharing this story and photos.

[@jokersmom1]

Thank you for your service. Beartooth hwy- and the area, my favorite home away from home.

[@edwardh1591]

That is really neat. Mike if my father would be alive I think the two of you would have had a great time talking each other. Listening to you talk reminds me so much of my father.

[@TrashHunt]

This was fascinating!! Really cool that you gave all the crew photos of their work and equipment. Thank you for sharing these great stories, Mike. I was born in Jackson and lived in Pinedale, so really interesting to hear about your adventures in these areas.

[@grogman1911]

Thanks for the nice video. Those crews definitely appreciated it. Working in the power generating industry can be similar. Everyone knows what you do, but in reality they don't have a clue. Years ago during an extended plant outage a few of us took quite a few pictures during teardowns and reassembly. Taking those photos were were able to have picture books made. The outage team received a book and boy were they appreciative. Thank you for bringing back that memory. I'm going to break out that book after I complete this midshift.

[@ericstites9470]

This is amazing! I'm a transplant from Georgia working in Grand Teton's North Roads district, and this year marks my third spring opening blowing the road open to Yellowstone's South Gate and our part of Teton Park Road. I've ran the V-plow, the big snowblower, all that - but y'all get WAY more up there than we get here! Really cool to see how y'all handle it!

[@BlazedTrailsForgotten]

Glad you like it.

[@torrencemonroe1233]

Fantastic! Thanks for taking us along. 🇺🇸

[@shannonskinner8367]

Thank you so much for sharing your life story’s.I very much enjoy them.

[@BlazedTrailsForgotten]

Thanks for watching!

[@ryanf.4149]

Absolutely incredible video, Mike. I loved the story. Hope to see more like this! The Cooke City area is great - hope to move out there someday. Drove the Beartooth last year and genuinely changed my life - heading back this year. As Charles Kuralt said, it’s “the most beautiful drive in America”.

[@BlazedTrailsForgotten]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@charleywalker2982]

Thanks for sharing your stories and keep them coming please.

[@BlazedTrailsForgotten]

More to come!

[@mervjb809]

My brother and I went on Beartooth Pass on September of 2021. We left from Red Lodge. What a gorgeous sight. Unbelievable the amount of snow on that pass in the winter. This was a very interesting video! So only one bedroom! Dang! 🤣😂

[@Rocwlkr]

Great story video thanks for sharing and some of the most beautiful photos I have ever seen.

[@BlazedTrailsForgotten]

Wow, thank you!

[@jeffhudson1744]

Really liked this. I love seeing how this stuff is done. People just don’t realize the work that it takes. Keep this stuff coming.

[@BlazedTrailsForgotten]

Yep! The guys were impress that I was able to show what they do for a living that is dangerous.

[@cynthiaaden3270]

This was awesome Mike. Great job

[@rockymountainroughridersofMT.]

Nicely done amazing work those guys do not get the credit they deserve in extreme terrain. It's absolutely great that you were given the opportunity to document this. Great work thanks for sharing 👌👍

[@BlazedTrailsForgotten]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@ducky1496]

Great job Mike!!!! I have ridden thru that exact area a bunch of times. It is far and away my favorite ride!!!

[@BlazedTrailsForgotten]

Mine too!

[@toddszewczyk8894]

Great story! Amazing video! Thanks.🇺🇸

[@brucebroadbent]

I am loving these stories!! Keep them coming, been a subscriber of your magazines for years!

[@BlazedTrailsForgotten]

Glad you like them!

[@jasonsabourin2275]

GREAT! Great story, Great pictures, a very interesting subject, with a nice personal introspective, Very Rare, this is subject matter that unfortunately I don't think many people have much interest in, but I'm sure if anyone found themselves with this in front of their eyes they would be happy they found it, especially with the thorough storytelling, and pictures. Thank You So very much, this made my day! Greetings from, "Lil Rhody"!

[@BlazedTrailsForgotten]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@kholtzen1]

I lived in West Yellowstone for a decade and Ken is great guy and knows equipment like nobody else

[@BlazedTrailsForgotten]

He was a blast to be with in those years opening the pass.

[@colinkobel2868]

When I was a lot younger, we would go up there every 4th of July and spend the night so that we could ski over towards Wyoming. One guy would drive and the rest would ski. We would do this for the whole day. Thanks Mike for the story and documentary!

[@BlazedTrailsForgotten]

people still ski the head wall clear into July.

[@exmichigansnowskier2150]

Mike, I've out to Yellowstone National Park years ago as a kid. We may have went over Beartooth Pass there, but I don't remember. At the end of my writing I have some KZbin videos you can look at as well other readers here and those snowplow drivers if they are still around that area. I seen videos of snowplowing "Going to Sun Road" in Glacier National Park. A man remarked that the Rim Rock known for drifting and avalanches has been to 90 feet deep there. I'm a Vietnam War Era USAF disabled veteran. My disability is not because of being in the military. I'm 69 years old now and I only see on KZbin or Google search of things like snowplowing this pass and other places. Okay the winter of 2018-2019 brought that "Atmospheric Rivers" of snow to the Sierra Mountains of California. Snowstorms went from California southeasternly to the San Juan Mountains of southwestern Colorado. Also from Los Angels northeasterly to there. It was estimated up to 800 inches on highest peaks. People in Silverton, Colorado said they hadn't seen this amount of snow in 30/40 years. Colorado averages 500 avalanches a year statewide. According to the highway department they had 2,500 avalanches that season. Part of that is they set off avalanches on purpose. They closed down the highway and use WW2 howitzers to fire shells to avalanche peaks or flying by helicopter and they drop dynamite charges on the peaks. They call that Migration. Now you and readers live in western U.S. may already know that. Well in case of people who don't. Anyway they flew by helicopters and dropped those charges but it kept on snowing. So on Red Mountain Pass, Colorado also known as Million Dollar Highway and also known as part of U.S. Highway 550 the Colorado Department of Transportation(snowplowing, avalanche clearing, and road repair responsibility) closed down the highway. They keep this highway open yearlong because it's one of the north/south highways in southwestern Colorado. They closed the highway down for 17 days straight. Two snowplowing crews were working 12 hours a day/night 24/7 these 17 days. One area looked to about 20/25 deep. But this other area was 60 feet deep. Avalanches filled off the road into the gorge above the highway. The highway department filmed the highway from a helicopter flyover from Silverton to almost to Ouray(pronounced U-ray, named after a Ute Native American Indian Chief). This mountain pass highway has hardly any GUARDRAILS. Going southbound from Ouray where NO GUARDRAILS it drops off about 800 FEET DOWN to the river gorge below. This pass has the highest avalanche paths per mile in all of Canada and the United States. 8 % road increase going this road. There's rock and mud slides happen there. You have to avoid deer, mountain sheep or goats. Speed limit is as low as 15 MPH. All these factors make this the most dangerous paved mountain mountain Pass in all of North America. Videos speak for themselves below. 1. "Red Mountain Pass - extended closure (720p)" by Colorado Department of Transportation At 9:21 that's a snowshed for a known avalanche path. This is high enough off the road that two grocery semi-trucks like Safeway or Walmart can pass each other at the same time. But this is dwarf to 9:26 where actually the cat there is plowing over into the abyss or in the gorge itself. They need a snowshed there going around the corner. This is where 60 FEET deep of avalanche debris piled on the road. 2. Late August/early September video of part of Red Mountain Pass looking south to that snowshed. This is area of 65 to 70 degree angle downward to the river gorge below. "The Million Dollar Highway@ Ouray, CO" by Cenia Aerial Imagery Maybe was filmed by the semi-truck driver that had stopped. Aslso on the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad a known avalanche path dropped 120 FEET DEEP of snow there. They used mainly a cat clearing these tracks. The thing is beside the tracks is the Animas River. 3. Video of Beartooth Pass. "Driving Montana and Wyoming's Beartooth Pass on June 16, 2011" by reflyerdude The pinkish glow is of sunrise to the east. 4. An American living in Japan, filmed in April, 2017. He took a train, then cable car, then bus. This was 19 METERS HIGH = OVER 62 FEET HIGH SNOW WALL. "Massive Snow Wall Walk: Tateyama-Kurobe Alpine Route" by WAO RYU! Only in Japan The reason they get so much snow is because storms traveling northeasterly from southeastern China towards Japan and on Japan's western area are mountains 9,000 feet. This area is called the Alps of Japan. It's normal for there to get 7/8 feet of snow in two days. 5. Snowplowing this area. At first snowplowing on a hillside about 5 feet deep after a storm. "Epic Snow Blower Removal Machines at Massive Snow Wall Walk in Japan" by Machinery Present

[@BlazedTrailsForgotten]

Thanks for your service!

[@davebaumann5567]

I was in the San Juan mountains of Colorado that winter of 2019 and can testify to 40-50 FEET of snow between Lake City and Silverton. You could not get thru on the paved highways. The avalanches were outrageous, taking out huge numbers of trees. I was looking for a link for the videos you referenced. Could you post them in your comments? Thanks

[@exmichigansnowskier2150]

@@davebaumann5567, you can check out KZbin videos on Red Mountain Pass, the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, and two particular KZbin videos that I saved under "videos to watch later". Also a semi-truck driver of his videos. Sorry, I didn't reread what I wrote to Mike Eastman. It seems like I got in habit of writing long comments. Ha! Ha! Ha! 1. This is by Colorado Department of Transportation; snow, avalanche removal, and road repair responsibility. "Red Mountain Pass - extended closure (720) bt Colorado department of Trans. 2. This video was filmed by a drone flying just a portion of this highway. It is in a area of 65-70 angle downward to the river gorge below. This semi-truck stopped his truck on the southbound lane because he was either flying drone, had engine/transmission trouble, or got scared to death of driving over this pass. "The Million Dollar Highway" @ Ouray,CO by Cenia Aerial Imagery 3. This semi-truck driver that his first name is Mike, I don't know his last name. He is based or his home in Colorado. He has driven in all kinds of weather in western United States. I thought he had a winter driving video over Red Mountain Pass, but couldn't find it. He does have June videos of driving from Durango to Silverton one day over Coal Bank Pass then Molas Pass. A part of Molas Pass it looks like it drops 2,000 FEET but there's guardrails there. The day he has a video driving over Red Mountain Pass. His KZbin channel name is "Riding Shotgun". You have scan his selection of video to see Red Mountain Pass. Videos usually are 30-40 minutes long.

[@susansmart8086]

Cool to see the WY side. I’ve been watching MT DOT’s videos for years.

[@leeross38]

So cool. Great video. Absolutely enjoyed it. Thanks

[@BlazedTrailsForgotten]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@pamwilkinson3751]

My husband sent this to me to watch ,I love it so,so interesting. Great job I send it to a friend!!!!💘amazing!!!

[@BlazedTrailsForgotten]

Awesome! Thank you!

[@rkon02]

Thanks for sharing this wonderful experience!!

[@BlazedTrailsForgotten]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@ivanhoebeaupre4468]

thanks Mike for this reportage,i went thru beartooth in 2017 it was open around june 3 of that year and in 2015 i coud not go thru cause it was too early in the season and was close,now i understand all the work that as to be done to open it.I own a a snowremoving business in new brunswick canada and i really do understand the cost and the diesel which is very expensive,those machine are big and expensive to run. thanks again for sharing this video

[@BlazedTrailsForgotten]

Thanks for watching.

[@chadfeathers3001]

I've plowed snow for 34 years, for the state of Connecticut. 3.5 ft tops. I'd absolutely love to experience that. Awesome pics.

[@BlazedTrailsForgotten]

Thanks for the reply! Living at 7,300 feet at the base of the Beartooth Mountains, on a heavy snow winter, we would get 250 or more inches of snowfall. That equals 60" on the level and plenty of plowing and shoveling at the homestead.

[@ericmccormick3337]

Man that was cool story , we appreciate it very much !!

[@richardmonson8657]

Great story Mike. We drive the Beartooth annually from Wilsall, Mt through RedLodge and then back up to Livingston. Always kinda wondered how they did this and what it looked like in May. Don’t think we will be able to do that loop this year because of the flooding. Love your stories.

[@BlazedTrailsForgotten]

Richard, I have hundreds of stories and will post. Subscribe and like to not miss the next one.

[@Mike-mm2bt]

That was totally awesome and amazing

[@hcrejazz1]

Ran across this by accident looking for diy sheds...lol Great story Mike loved it!

[@BlazedTrailsForgotten]

Thanks. I'm going to post more stories in the future so stay tuned.

[@richdallmeyer9616]

Mike, Great video & photos! Fall 2016 we asked Bozeman outfitter "Beartooth Highway open?" "No." We went anyway. Great Drive, even without snow. Adventure for a Rhode Island couple.

[@BlazedTrailsForgotten]

I would recommend the drive to everyone who loves the Rocky Mountains.

[@charlesb4267]

That is a long time ago I was through there with my parents, in 1978 with a 78 vintage one ton dually two wheel drive truck so no low range and a fairly large fifth wheel trailer and it hardly could make it to the top ( 4 speed manual trans in first gear ) as the 454 engine was choking on too rich a fuel ratio. We stopped at the pull out at the summit and remember I felt so light headed as I walked around. We were heading out of Yellowstone direction wise and the highest elevation I had been at that time. I'd love to drive over it again as an adult as it sure seemed like beautiful drive and a thrill as a kid. Of course it was in July so snow was not an issue but have always wondered how they went about cutting the very deep drifts down in such mountain passes and now you have answered that mystery !.

[@BlazedTrailsForgotten]

Glad you like it!

[@douglaskaiser5374]

That would be great to see,thanks for the video,will drive that one day right when it opens

[@BlazedTrailsForgotten]

It's quite a drive. The high lite is driving thru that significant drift at almost 11,000 ft..

[@realistic.optimist]

Atigun Pass or Turnagain Pass in Alaska are pretty deep too!

[@remi3479]

Great video, thank you!

[@BlazedTrailsForgotten]

My pleasure!

[@careymitchell4731]

Many trips across the pass; all in summer or fall. Greatest drive in US.

[@outfitr9703]

Awesome! I absolutely love it up there. Where else can you drive in the comfort of an automobile at 10,000' through some of the most beautiful country in the world?

[@BlazedTrailsForgotten]

I would recommend the drive to everyone who loves the Rocky Mountains. When it was open almost every morning I would drive up and photography goats, elk, grizzlies and the mountains for over 14 years. It was a ride!

[@speedskater1947]

Nice that you made those pictures and this video of the work crews clearing the snow for the highway system. It reminds me of the days I was working civil service at Eielson A.F.B. in Alaska operating the Oshkosh snow blowers and rollover plows, snow brooms, road graders, and end dumps keeping the runway, taxiways, and parking lots clear of snow. These are excellent testimonies as well countering the nonsensical attitudes of "toxic masculinity" as men serve the nations call.

[@BlazedTrailsForgotten]

Glad you like it!

[@opera93]

Thank you….great Work…… Interestingly, We just decided to drive the BEARTOOTH Pass ( probably in August) for my “ Birthday *& experience…etc..

[@andydahowski9143]

Absolutely Awesome!!! I’m in

[@leaheyslandscaping]

Thanks ... great video

[@BlazedTrailsForgotten]

Glad you liked it!

[@Siskiyous6]

Hell of an operation

[@mikenorton62]

Love it!! Keep 'em coming!!

[@BlazedTrailsForgotten]

You got it!

[@iii9266]

Been over this pass a few times, earliest in the season was at the 3rd week of May... if you've never done it, I highly recommend it.

[@BlazedTrailsForgotten]

Yes! Everyone should go over it and see the Wyoming high country.

[@nmelkhunter1]

That was a neat story. Those crews deserve a great deal of thanks for what they do.

[@BlazedTrailsForgotten]

Yes! A great bunch of guys some are Vets.

[@nmelkhunter1]

@@BlazedTrailsForgotten All the more reason to thank them. What was your MOS in the army?

[@johnnywomack3599]

Really interesting. Thanks.

[@BlazedTrailsForgotten]

My pleasure!

[@PowerlabsDiesel]

Dang cool video !

[@jamesmooney5348]

Wow, really neat!

[@BlazedTrailsForgotten]

Glad you think so!

[@smokeylovesfire1589]

Just mind blowing! Would love to see the Going over the sun road in Glacier National Park! The videography was epic here. Are you part of the Eastman hunting videos?

[@BlazedTrailsForgotten]

Founder of it all.

[@jackbeaudry970]

The 1 bedroom cabin couldn't keep us away!

[@samgarofalo2461]

Lucky guy 💪💪

[@nathandodge665]

Where does the crew stay each night while they're doing this?

[@BlazedTrailsForgotten]

They stay in Cooke City Montana at Soda Butte Lodge

[@whitneytreeservicevt]

Awesome!

[@BlazedTrailsForgotten]

Glad you think so!

[@kristenfahsholtz4029]

THESE GENTLEMEN HAVE KAHOOONAS!!!

[@michaelktm6061]

More examples of the people that make America work.

[@chrisjacks2599]

Mike have you ever seen a Bigfoot, or one of those werewolf looking things that might be what was once called a "buffalo wolf"? I'm in Texas and one of those giant wolves, with hands, not paws, was hit on a highway down here about 20 years ago. The Bigfoot where you are follow the elk. Down here they aren't as big and they just eat deer and pigs, and eat people gardens. .

[@BlazedTrailsForgotten]

Over 60 years of traveling the wilderness in the Rockies never even seen tracks. Had a lot of Humpies or Grizzlie tracks up close and personal but no bigfoot.

[@alexaltrichter1597]

That's a pile of globull warming.

[@shortymack340]

Wow some serious blows keep ur gun on hand at all times 😆

[@krrrruptidsoless]

Why don't they have hydraulically lift (like a forklift) elevated blowers that can go higher up instead of just in front of the machine. Put them on a big hydraulic cylinder that can elevate, extend and swivel around like forklifts on jobsites that swivel the forks and such lifting up and able to extend outward. Only make them huge Build tunnels where it drifts all the time. 🤷 Put it on a big bud tractor or bigger one of those quad tractors. I'd almost bet you could sell at least 50 of them on this planet. If yer willing to sell to China and Russia over a hundred easy. Europe probably 50, U.S. probably 41 Make the blower an attachment with wheels or tracks on it so the tractor isn't a waste of money being one use.

[@BlazedTrailsForgotten]

Don't know?

[@brucebellinger9783]

Many people do not know what is meant by "piston bully". You should define your terminology.

[@BlazedTrailsForgotten]

Just look on the side of the groomer in the photos it's a brand like Ford ect. Thanks for the comment.

[@Daneroberts79]

Yea. But the amount of fuel and effort to just allow tourist come and help ruin the remote areas we cherish…… appreciate the skill and balls but I think it counterproductive

[@JohnSmith-yv6eq]

It's not the tourists.... it's the locals that neeed access to food etc via the only road into and out of that area???

[@zekeabercrombie3583]

I agree. With the cost of labor and fuel I doubt this will continue into the future. Locals need to adapt.

[@JohnSmith-yv6eq]

@@zekeabercrombie3583 Running any snowmobile 70 miles over the snow?parachute drop in supplies? Hire a helicopter? As the USAF to "practice" load drops from a C130? Clearing the road is a priority...always has been...always will be. It's probably the only thing folks living in that valley get any value from the state for their taxes...

[@zekeabercrombie3583]

@@JohnSmith-yv6eq Cheap energy has allowed people to live 70 miles from a grocery store. Those days are over. Property taxes don't come close to maintaining the highway. They should divide the cost of the highway among the residents and charge a toll for tourists.

[@JohnSmith-yv6eq]

@@zekeabercrombie3583 Toll roads are a mafia speciality all around the world. The great highway robbery of modern times....instituted by crooks/crooked lazy politicians to fleece the public.