Independence Pass, located in Colorado, embodies the rugged spirit and natural beauty that defines the American West. Straddling the Continental Divide at an elevation of 12,095 feet, it is among the highest paved mountain passes in the United States and aptly named after the nearby Independence ghost town, which sprang up during the mining boom … Continue reading POTW: Independence Pass
https://youtu.be/m8ot1dwSllg Have you ever wondered what it is like driving above the clouds? If so, let's take a journey from the summit of Mount Evans down to Echo Lake. Pay close attention, there are steep drop-offs and wildlife to be on the watch for, particularly the marmots, they tend to be right on the edge … Continue reading Driving above the Clouds
Fires are increasing in high mountain areas that rarely burned in the past. John McColgan, Bureau of Land Management, Alaska Fire Service Mohammad Reza Alizadeh, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Mojtaba Sadegh, Boise State University As wildfire risk rises in the West, wildland firefighters and officials are keeping a closer eye on the high … Continue reading Fire danger in the high mountains is intensifying: That’s bad news for humans, treacherous for the environment
Squaretop Mountain, as seen from the "Big Mango" on Green River Lakes. Looking southeast through the haze from wildfire smoke being blown in from Idaho and Montana. Squaretop Mountain is in the Bridger Wilderness, deep within the Wind River Range.
Two weekends ago, we ventured to Grand Lake for our second trip there this winter. While there was plenty of snow, that may not be the case for much longer if the temperatures continue to remain high. The two days we were there, the temperature was about 40ish degrees with a clear blue sky. It … Continue reading Grand Lake Winter Finale
Yellowstone is losing its snow as the climate warms, and that means widespread problems for water and wildlife Snow melts near the Continental Divide in the Bridger Wilderness Area in Wyoming, part of the Greater Yellowstone Area. Bryan Shuman/University of Wyoming, CC BY-ND Bryan Shuman, University of Wyoming When you picture Yellowstone National Park and its … Continue reading Yellowstone is Losing its Snow
Western fires are burning higher in the mountains at unprecedented rates in a clear sign of climate change Mojtaba Sadegh, Boise State University; John Abatzoglou, University of California, Merced, and Mohammad Reza Alizadeh, McGill University The Western U.S. appears headed for another dangerous fire season, and a new study shows that even high mountain areas … Continue reading Western Fires are Burning Higher in the Mountains