What I know for sure---- Bev's Blog
by Bev

June 30, 2008  It is spring and I think we have rolled into summer with blue, blue sky and warm weather.  Green grass, flowers, and sunshine are great for the attitudes!  Travelers are having a great experience and surprised at the mountain snow levels.

June 6,2008  Well the weather still brings snow!! Big white flakes this morning.  We are still waiting for spring!  The travelers in Yellowstone have experienced wonderful wildlife watching.  My guests report seeing almost every animal but a mountain lion.  Also, a fishermen had success catching Trout in Lamar Valley.

May 19, 2008  BLOGLESS BEV!!  Ok...I haven't been too good at keeping you informed for a few weeks but I have been playing in the sunshine (not here) and now waiting for the snow to melt.. It is amazing with just a few days of warm weather (above 20 degrees, which seemed like we weren never going to see) how the snow can melt.. Here are a few photos of how buried we have been......

March 29, 2008   Winter has not let up!!  The snow pole is at 7 ft 10 inches. If the roof slides one more time we will have no webcam and no where to put snow?  If we could sell this snow we could be rich!  Pretty soon the Big Moose sign will be just a moose!

March 8, 2008  We have had sunshine for a few days over the last couple weeks but continue to get snow too!!  The Billings Gazette interviewed some of us last Saturday.  They did a great job with the interview and photos. Here is the link!

At Colter Pass, there is no choice with winter, embrace it!

February 14, 2008   Happy Valentines Day!  SUNSHINE!

The Snow Pole and "yes Patsy that is your cabin, #2!".  She had better get here and get some shoveling done!!

February 11, 2008.  We have had snow all week. The snow pole is only at 6 ft but we shovel so much more than it shows..My neighbors Matt & Mary at Stillwater Outfitters headed to town for supplies (and I am thinking something else to look at besides snow, sunshine??).  The new addition to the family, little Addy is now 7 months old so she is bundled up in her pack with Mary and the two dogs are riding with Matt (Ollie takes the pull sled and Buck the front seat)!  It is just a little more complicated when you live on the Pass!  Chelsie & Steven (parents own Buns & Beds) headed back for Billings to MSU with Steven carrying 3 back packs.. Like I said "it is a little more complicated when you live on the pass!!

February 7, 2008.. Today is our daughter Chelsie's 20th Birthday!!  We have had alot of snow, alot of snow!!  The snow pole is over 5 ft. Today we are expected to get another foot!  We could sure use some more folks to take advantage of this great snow year, so come on out!  Our friends from No. Dakota brought their one year old in his new ride..his own private coach!

Cooke City Area Newsletter, produced by the Chamber every Friday.  Cooke City Newsletter

January 21, 2008  It has been a very busy few weeks for me..don't know where the time goes, it is almost February already!  I have been working with a couple of other community volunteers on our Community Center.  We hope to break ground late spring /early summer 2008.  The Center will offer visitor information, historical information and #1 Public Restrooms.  It is very exciting but what a time committment for us volunteers!  If you'd like to know more about the Community Center and how you can help please contact me! The snow pole is over 4 feet and the cabins are getting buried!  We have gotten lots of snow. It doesn't accumulate on the snow pole compared to what we clean off the snowmobiles or shovel.  I can shovel 8 or 10 inches on the porch but the snowpole will only show a couple of inches.

January 01, 2008   Happy New Year!  We had a fund time here with our guests..fireworks..bon fire and lots of cheer!  Web Cam is down.. waiting on hardware. but here is todays picture

December 28, 2007  Hope everyone had a great Xmas and is looking forward to 2008!  We have had trouble with our internet service and many, many folks are concerned when they can't see their daily life line to the Snow Pole Web Cam.. so I took a photo and will keep you posted!  Also, here is Sam & Trouble at the Xmas tree, for those of you who know our pets!

December 15, Wow two days in a row..news!  Now don't expect me to do this all the time but it was such a fun morning this morning at Santas Breakfast I wanted to share pictures.  Mary & Jerry Dye hosted the event for our little ones and it was a blast!! 

December 14, 2007  Snowmobilers have been out playing in the snow.. we had our first group show up yesterday and they have had fun! Well except for one suspension they are working on.

The Snowmobile Club had a progressive dinner on Monday night and the groomer guys got us a healthy bonfire for the last stop at the Big Moose (Dessert).  However it was 12 below when folks headed on their sleds home...burr!

December 01, 2007

It is winter. Snow is here and more to come.

November 03, 2007 

HEADING TO THE MINNEAPOLIS SNOW SHOW November 9, 10th, 11th at the Minneapolis Convention Center.. Hope to see some of you there!  If we haven't met take this opportunity to come check out the information on the best Snowmobiling in the WEST!! Look for the Cooke City Booth #1125!  Here is a photo to motivate you for some fresh powder or maybe not??

October 10, 2007  The Buffalo have been hanging around, we had 3 on the Pass this week.  This Buffalo was walking up the Hwy in front of the Big Moose early in the morning with frost on his hide.. he didn't like the sound of the crunching of my footsteps on the snow as I walked out to take his picture and I got a big old SNORT from him....I kept my distance. He walked up to our new fence to rub and good thing he didn't rub too hard and knock it down.

Here is more buffalo and the other photo is one I got of some women on a sail boat up on Beartooth Lake a couple of days ago.. NOT... well it looks like they were having fun whereever they were!

October 7, 2007  White stuff on the mountain!  It is fairly quiet around here. Hunters are out! I am getting ready for a little time off too!  Keep an eye on the webcam for our snow levels..

Sept.28th, 2007  It has been Buffalo season on the Pass..we have had a couple of them stroll by heading East on Hwy 212., those darn Buffalo!! Here is a photo of a great bull elk in Mammoth.  Also a photo of the nominees for Citizens of the Year 2007., Bill Sommers, Vicky Sommers, Birdie  Williams, Jan Gaertner (S&R/EMS), Nellie Israel & Betty Sommers. Bill & Betty were choosen as 2007 Citizens of the Year.  Also a photo of lounging on the Pass, the new addition, Addie Robison and Trouble..those of you who have stayed at the Big Moose know who Trouble is...

Enjoy the photos..

Sept. 8th 2007  Wow where did August go? In one day I had 3 people ask me what has happened since August 4th.. I didn't know everyone kept that close of tabs on the news!  The summer has been very, very busy!  We had a few fires at the East Entrance and North by Livingston but since then we have had some great rain!  Snow is predicted for tomorrow and the snowmobilers have been calling for winter reservations.  I am hoping for a long fall and a white, white winter!  We had a book signing for the book " Exploring the Yellowstone High Country" by Ralph Glidden.  Ralph owned the Cooke City General Store and sold it to Troy & Beth Wilson. The book has been waiting to reprint for a few years.  Ralph donated the book for reprint to the Cooke City Community Council/Chamber to use as a fundraiser with the proceeds to go towards the future Community Center.  Here are a few fun photos from the signing event that went on outside on the lawn of the Historical Cooke City Store.  As always Dee Smith put on a very first class event with Champagne and all the antique decor, including two vintage bartenders, me and John Yohe!  Also a photo of Ralph & Sue with Birdie Williams. It was so much fun and we had a great turn out!  If you would like to buy a book you can send me an email or go to this link.. "Exploring the Yellowstone High Country" by Ralph Glidden  ($25 includes shipping)

August 4th, 2007  It has continued to be an abnormally warm summer but we got alot of rain last week and everything is green!  Wild flowers blooming!  Went to the swimming hole with a very good longtime friend, Marsha!  Also had a bear track on the highway where I walk or ride my bike and then 2 days later I was going up Lulu on the ATV, a little black bear stepped out on the road from a bush...scared the holy heck out of me...especially since he was only 2 feet away!  Also a photo of the local softball team.. the Cream line up!  Know any of them?

July 18th 2007  It has still been a warm summer! Here are a couple of "kudos" from our guests this last month..

Todd & Bev,
Thank you so much for such a wonderful stay!  You were perfect hosts.  Thanks for your good luck charm in selling our house while we were there and the use of your phone and fax machine!  Thanks for keeping our coffee cups filled!  We are looking forward to our next visit.   Best regards, Clint & Cathy Harris, Alpine Wyoming

Hello, Bev:   Just a note to thank you again for the great time at Cooke City last week!!  Arlys and I arrived here in Pella about 5 tonight after about 6 days of travel through Idaho, Utah and on home.  We truly enjoyed everything, including the Firemen's Picnic and the fireworks at night in Silvergate.  We hope you have a great year up there in the "high altitudes"!!   Bob  & Aryls, Pella Iowa

Bev,

Thanks again for another great year!  As always, we had a great time and saw plenty of critters.  As promised, I am sending a picture of that Grizzly that's been hanging around between Cooke City and Silvergate.  I'm also enclosing a few other pictures from our trip that we took in the immediate vicinity of your place including the Red Fox kits that live next door.  There are many, many other pictures but thought you would only be interested in those right around Silvergate and Cooke City.

We will be going to Alaska next year so it will be the summer of 2009 before we see you again.  Take care and hope you enjoy the pictures.

July 4th 2007   Happy 4th of July.  It has been warm and dry..we are sure looking for some rain!  This great group of Iowa folks have had fun with ATV's and enjoying the mountain air & cool temperatures compared to flatland!  Iverson's, Wilt's, Bogaard's, Verdoorn's & DeBruin's..

June 20, 2007  It has been a fantastic week..beautiful weather and lots of wildlife.  Repeat guests from Florida for the third year have been hitting the road early (5 am) and seeing so, so many animals.  Grizzly Bear at 30 ft in Silver Gate (they will give me the photo so I can share it with you all).  SIX MOOSE in the meadow  next door to the BIG MOOSE RESORT (geez,guess I know how we got our name)!!  Here is a photo of a great family from Georgia who stayed here for 15 days! That is right, 15 days!  They had a blast using Cooke City as their home base!  Here is the Lyall Family from Loganville, Georgia.  Oh yah, Sam (brown dog) is not part of their family but thought she was!

June 18, 2007  We had snow yesterday!  It melted as it was falling but it sure was exciting to the folks from Texas & Kansas!

The photo is of Bill & Rita Carpenter from Cincinnati Ohio!  They watch our webcam every day and stopped by to see what it looked like in person...they had all the details of the snow depth of this last winter..so it was appropriate to take their picture standing by the pole without snow..

June 14, 2007  It has been beautiful weather for all the travelers.  Cool at night (30's to 40). We have had some great guests this summer and all have enjoyed great wildlife watching and scenery.  One great family from Georgia has had two special bear sightings within 30 ft, one time going to the "outhouse" and another when they were fishing in Lamar Valley.  NO photos to share of those bears!

June 07, 2007  We were greeted with a white blanket this morning!  Our guests have been seeing great wildlife in Yellowstone.  Here is a photo of an albino moose....

May 26, 2007  It is Memorial Day weekend and the travelers have arrived!  We got snow yesterday and the Beartooth Pass may or may not be open this morning!  Hopefully with the sun shine it will open this morning as planned!  We have had a grizzly bear who has been too friendly!  Here is a photo of him walking down the road.  I wasn't fast enough to get the camera and get his photo when he was in our driveway next to the sign.  I keep hoping one of these days I will be fast enough to get a moose under the moose sign but I am always too slow to get the camera. It looks to be a very busy summer so if your making plans to come out this way call and get your reservations soon! I wish I had a better close up of this bear.  He was on our porch next to the hot tub and I still didn't get a photo quick enough.

May 2, 2007  Hi everyone!  I have been out of town for a few weeks so had no news to share.  Todd has been busy pushing snow and making snowbanks to keep us out of the mud.  It is the quiet time of year where we aren't around very much! 

April 15, 2007  Ok all you folks out there who think it is spring?? I had to take a few snow photos.. the snow pole is still hanging around less than 4 feet.  When it warms up and snow starts melting it is hard to believe the base we still have here at this elevation. Todd got the backhoe working to start pushing up snow banks so we will eventually have ground again.  The road isn't offically open but rumor is the Park Service may start plowing through here this week rather than the first week of May. I will be gone for a few weeks so I am not sure how much NEWS I will have so you'll just have to keep in touch with the webcam.  We had a little going away lunch for Eddie, she has been here a couple of years and is now going back home to Colorado.  She is a dear sweet lady we will miss! She broke her hand this last week so that was a bummer. Enjoy the pics!

April 04, 2007

Well I have been slacking off on the news for a few weeks but will try to catch up.. We just had a great snowfall with 3 feet of new snow up on the top of the mountains, our snowpole is about 4 1/2 feet.  It has been warm and it will melt fairly fast but those folks who came on a quick notice had awesome powder all to themselves!  I was at the Governor's Conference on Tourism for our Chamber so I missed the storm.  Here are a couple of photos..one of our friend Garrett waterskipping the Broadwater.. the others of our booth at the Governors Conference. Donna our Chamber secretary accompanied me for the conference and our marketing firm friends Michael & Gerald (G&G) took a photo with us displaying the great banners they designed.

March 16, 2007  It has been a warm couple of weeks!  We got some new snow two nights ago.  I had a chance to go ice fishin' with some local friends and it was a blast!  It was the first time for me, it was amazing!  Here is a photo of Betty, Vic & Mary augering the holes! Here is a double catch! Brian is holding up Betty's big catch! Amber & Allison also joined us to not only fish but to take a few runs on their snowboards.

March 02, 2007  We keep getting snow!  A guest from Kimball MN was riding yesterday and he said it was awesome, the snow was up to his waist when you stepped off your sled!  Today is a sunny day even though it started out below zero this morning.  Went to Cody with 3 girlfriends and we went to the parking lot in Sarah (Cooke City Motorsports) Geo with tracks!  It sure is a fun way to go to town and not have to put on your snow gear!

February 26, 2007  We have had some great snow for the last week..lots of shoveling.  The roof slid in front of the webcam so those of you who were watching hopefully can see it again now that I shoveled.  It is suppose to keep snowing all week, great snowmobiling!!! A photo of family snowmobiling this weekend, they are from Bridger, MT.

February 17, 2007  Wow did we get great snow all week, just in time for the town to be at its maximum for the busy Presidents Day weekend.  Today is clear blue sky and warm.  The avalanche danger is high with all the new snow load and winds so hopefully all the sledders will follow the avalanche awareness we preach everyday.  I went for a ride yesterday with a few friends, it was snowing hard, windy and the snow was deep..evidence is my stuck sled in this photo..Also wanted to share a photo of one of my local favorite family's, The Hahn Family from the Elk Horn Lodge out for a little ski up the road. The photo of the sleds is from across the street at my neighbors.

February 04, 2007 We got several inches of new snow the night before and the riding is good.  We had a group who was here since Thursday and they were very happy with the riding, especially when they experienced all the new powder and so few folks out riding!! It is hard to believe we are already into February...WOW!  Our snowmobile Club had a fundraiser, poker run last week and it was a huge success!! The local volunteers (amazingly enough were all women, even Madison the only dog volunteer) did a tremendous job to build a poker pot of $1270.  This community effort put on by the snowmobile club raised $254 for the Frank Dodd Memorial Fund, $254 Grooming donation, $508 1st Place Poker hand winner Brad Geddes, 2nd Place winner $254 the one and only Troy Wilson!!  Volunteers at the poker stops included the long time residents Betty Sommers & her daughter Vic Menuey (these ladies have been volunteers in this community for many, many, years), Daphne Brashear, Terry Linthacum, Mary Dye (our 1st Citizen of the Year in 2005), Mary Robison(newly wed), Amber & Aimee (Madison) yes folks they are from the Miners Saloon (a great business that supports snowmobiling, skiing, in many, many community events from$ $, volunteers and most of all hosting spectacular food for different occassions), Bev, Celene (significant other of one of our local rangers, Ranger Drew) and our Jerry Tachick who is willing to do whatever, build fires, deliver more poker cards, just an out and out all around local always willing to help!.. Thanks again for such a great, fun time in memory of Frank Dodd..Here are a couple photos of the poker stops and a photo of the snow today at the Big Moose Cabins.  Enjoy!! Oh and a photo of dear Tessa Wilson and her father the 2nd place poker winner on their poker run ride! 

January 29, 2007  Well the weather has warmed up some but we have still had some cold weather, below zero this morning.  We haven't had new snow for several days but hopes that it is coming!  Here are a few fun photos.  The moose sign had frost which gave it a great shaded color.  Also we had a great family here from Douglas WY and they didn't mess around with a cargo sled to get all their cargo to the Moose (including 3 grandkids ages; 2 months, 8 months and a toddler), they came in first class with a ranger with cab!

January 13, 2007.  BRRRR!!  We had a 47 below temp. and 35 below the last 2 mornings!!  It is zero at 1 pm.. The sleds were hard to get started!!  It is suppose to warm up and we should be getting more snow!  We had gotten a foot or more of fresh snow before the cold front!  Riding should be good!!! (Hey Lisa Sanders) Matt, Jason & Jimmy say "Hi and they miss ya"!! (they say "hi" to Scott too)

January 06, 2007   Happy New Year! We have been getting alot of snow.. the snowpole webcam at 4ft and snowing hard today.  This is how we groom the Big Moose to manage all the deep snow, flatten it out so we and our guests can walk from cabin to cabin, etc.  Todd made this drag that we pull behind a sled and it works great.  We had about 1 1/2 feet of fresh powder and here is a photo of our ATV tracks in the fluffy untouched powder!  Please recognize the following businesses in regards to our local grooming program!

PLEASE SUPPORT THESE BUSINESSES THAT DONATE $$$ TO KEEP THE TRAILS GROOMED!

THESE BUSINESSES REALIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF GROOMED TRAILS AND SUPPORT YOUR SPORT...SO SUPPORT THEM!

BUSINESSES NOT LISTED HAVE NOT MADE DONATIONS FOR OUR GROOMED TRAILS. 

ALPINE MOTEL    ELK HORN LODGE            

   ALL SEASONS CABIN                          SODA BUTTE LODGE                        GRIZZLY PAD GRILL & CABINS        MINER’S SALOON               HIGH COUNTRY                    BIG MOOSE RESORT                

  BUNS N’ BEDS                                 ANTLER’S LODGE               

COOKE CITY EXXON – SKIDOO & POLARIS 

STILLWATER OUTFITTERS              

  COOKE CITY MOTORSPORTS          SKYLINE GUEST RANCH                                                                          

THANK YOU,  (Cooke City Snowmobile Club) 1/3/07

We are so fortunate to have our own local grooming program!!  They do the best job they can according to snow levels, amount of traffic and temperatures.  There are many elements so no grooming can be 100 % perfect 100% of the time 24 hours day/ 7 days a week.  Please support this and eliminate negative comments for our Community! Please thank the grooming guys who are out all night for such a thankless job!    Our groomers this year are Mac McCullough, Jeff Menuey, Josh Erbe, Todd Chatelain and also on the committee are Rick Sommers & Bill Sommers, Robert Weinstein.     Thanks to all!

December 30, 2006  We just had a great week of snow, the snow pole web cam at 4 ft.  The snowmobilers have filled the town this week! Today is the 3rd Annual Shoot Out, a fun time hill climbing on the mountain with a hotdog/soda warming hut hosted by the Pierce Family.  The Snowmobile Club, EMS, S&R are involved too with a fundraising auction this evening at the Miners Saloon.  Thanks to all who come participate and all the business owners who donate their time and money.  A big thank you to Robert (LSB), Cooke City Alpine Motel for all the hard work he has put into this event and also for starting it! We have been keeping things shoveled out, Todd got the roof cleaned off, it was deep! Happy New Year!

December 24, 2006   What a beautiful morning! Several inches of new snow here at the Moose so you know the back country has great powder today.  This will be a busy week, many guests here from Xmas to New Years.  Have a Happy Holiday! It looks like the snow pole is almost at 3 feet here at the cabins..

December 17, 2006  ZOOM-ZOOM-ZOOM, the snow season has started.  No longer the sound of car's driving by but the sound of a 2 stroke engine!  The snowmobile season has started with the very eager arriving atThanksgiving time.  We had a good start of snow then but not enough to have a good base and groom but it is great now!!  We got pounded with 2 feet of snow 2 days ago and this weekend was very, very busy!  One of our friends from North Dakota picked up his ski-doo and came to ride it in the new powder but it was also 27 below this morning..burr!

November 17, 2006  I am home for a day or two!  The folks in Minneapolis were great!  The booth was busy and it is always amazing on how many people do not know about Cooke City!  This year the owners of the Alpine offered to go and help with the Community Booth, Robert (LSB) and Gerlie.  Sarah from Cooke City Motorsports came to help too (her 4th year in a row too)!!

Here are a couple photos of our booth! 

November 06, 2006  It is snowing this morning.  The road from Pilot Creek to Cooke City is offically off the plowing agenda for the Park Services for this season.  We are still driving until it gets really bad, hopefully we can drive just for a few more weeks until we really get started on the winter sports season.  It is very, very quiet around here and we have been taking the opportunity to visit friends, travel and Todd Pheasant hunt!!  I am headed to the Snow Show at the Minneapolis Convention Center, so stop by our Cooke City Community Booth!!!

October 24, 2006  The snow is here!  We had a snow storm last week and we have several inches still here. The snowmobilers are calling to get their reservations in for the winter to come!  It is the quiet time here in October and I took the time to go to Mexico and play tourist myself!!  What a great vacation!  I will be at the Minneapolis Snow Show Nov 10, 11, 12th so stop by and say 'hi'! I will be in a Cooke City Booth with other businesses. Ok, so this isn't this last snow storm but it is what we have to look forward to very soon!

September 24, 2006  Wow the summer has gone by too fast!  It has been a very busy season. September started off with a tragedy in our small community.  We lost 2 local men in an accident, both of these men were Cooke City through and through.  They were in a jeep accident on the mountain trying to set up our community with new batteries for our radio tower when they went off the mountain.  It was a Labor day morning we would like to start over.  Their dear families will stay strong but it is a great loss and the community will stay close to get through these tough times. We had snow this last week but today was a clear blue sky with warmth and sunshine.

Here is a great photo taken by guests Joe & Debbie James...moose in the meadow at the Big Moose!

August 8, 2006. I went ATV'ing today with some friends. What beautiful to experience on top of the mountains. The lake photo is Huckleberry looking off the back side of Sheep Mountain.  I thought you might enjoy the old Mining shaft and buildings.  The ATV shot is looking off the Miller Trail.

July 24, 2006  Wow where has the time gone!  It has been a very busy month.  The Fourth of July Fireman's Picnic and Fireworks were a huge success with a great attendance!  Thanks to all the great folks who volunteered their time and potluck dishes for the picnic!  The fireman did a great job with the fireworks show in Silver Gate! The wild flowers are beautiful!  Here are photos of my mom on Daisy Pass amongst the flowers and the view of town from the Daisy Pass switchbacks.  For those of you who watch the webcam and monitored the last snow bank melting, it disappeared totally on July 8th!

June 22, 2006  Summer is underway!  The travelers are out and their experinces range from seeing a moose walk by our moose sign from their cabin porch to the breathtaking views of the Beartooth Mountains.  Now some folks are very overwhelmed by the Beartooth Pass Switchbacks and have been known to look for an alternate route but guess what the only other choice is a Scenic Highway too!! Here are a couple of photos of momma moose & calf and a deer in the meadow next door.

June 12, 2006  Spring is here!  Warm and beautiful. We had a visit from our neighbor with her mini horse and cart.

June 01, 2006  We made it through Graduation and the Grand Opening of the Beartooth All American Road even though the weather was cold, rainy and snow! The wildlife watching is fantastic!  Going over the Chief Joseph Hwy 296 to Cody folks have spotted mountain lions, grizzly and elk!  Some folks in Yellowstone reported seeing 36 bears on their visit to Yellowstone, WOW!!

May 22, 2006  Well folks the snow is shrinking!  Yes check out the sign, you can actually see the ground!  We have been busy working on spring projects and getting ready for the summer season.  Our daughter Chelsie graduates from high school this weekend so we have been busy with those plans!  For those of you who have been guests over the last few years you might remember Todd and I were home schooling for 8th & 9th grade. Chelsie finished her home school degree but went on over to Cody to be with more kids!  Also I have been busy with helping for a Grand Opening Celebration of the Beartooth Highway, it is a special year since we had the mudslides last year and the Highway was closed all season.  This should be a great event, we have teamed up with Friends of the Beartooth All American Road, Red Lodge, Cody and Yellowstone Park for a great day. The event includes the bio-diesel Yellow Buses of Yellowstone touring with special invited guests over the Pass to Red Lodge for lunch and entertainment.  I hope you all have a great Memorial Day!  Check out this special sunset taken by one of our guests, Phillip,from Missouri, an Engineer with the Federal Highway Dept., he has been working on the road construction of Hwy 212.

May 3 , 2006  Check this out, they plowed the road and we can now drive!  We have a pretty good size snow bank

Here is a photo of the guys clearing out the Lulu Trail to get to the gravel pit!

April 29, 2006  The snow is shrinking!!  Monday May1st the plows will start this way, heading east of Cooke City to open the road over the pass that has been closed since November.  I am looking forward to spring.  We have had a big grizzly bear around here for a couple of days. The bears are awake and hungry!  My daughter came home from school Friday evening (she goes to Cody High School) and she took photos with her cell phone of 2 moose, hundreds of elk and 2 bears..

April 16, 2006  Spring is suppose to be in the air but here we are still getting light snow/sleet and rain storms.  The snow is melting from the rain but we haven't seen the clear blue sky for over a week.  I keep trying to quit wearing my snow gear and head out on my four wheeler instead of snowmobile but it is still wet and cold so I continue to wear the winter gear!  I have been busy on many projects and haven't had much for news.  I went to Great Falls to the Governor's Conference on Tourism.  Our Community received an award with Red Lodge and the Friends of the Beartooth All American Road for its "Partnership in Tourism".  We all pulled together last summer with the mudslide on the Beartooth All American Road to keep the visitors informed that they could still come to our communities via The Chief Joseph Scenic Highway.   We still have 5 feet on the snow pole.. Sorry, for the inconvience when the snow on the roof slides and knocks the camera out of line. I appreciate folks letting us know when something seems wrong with the camera setting.  Between the snow and ice it gets jarred easily..

Happy Easter to all!  Sure hoping spring shows up!!

March 19, 2006  It has been a great snowmobiling season with all the great snow we have had. This week usually is the beginning of the quiet time. It is warm and spring everywhere else so folks are starting on their spring activities but their are a few who will not put the sled in storage and continue to come for "spring snowmobiling". Now we have 6 1/2 ft here at the Pass and it is still snowing today. Winter can go on for a few more weeks or several weeks so those of you who still want to ride that sled one more time, come on out!  Here are some photos I took this morning when we had a break of blue sky and sun!

Now remember in the summer I have to stand on my tippy toes to touch add the no to the Vacancy! Here is a photo of a cabin behind the lodge, yes that is the back roof of the lodge, you can walk on the roof!

March 12, 2006 Last night was the Hog Roast & Auction Benefit, a good time was had by all. There were some great items donated by our local busineses and residents. The craftsmanship in our community is amazing!  A town of 90 people has some of the best wood working talent I've ever seen. The benefit raised several thousand dollars for the our local volunteer organizations.

Feb. 27, 2006  We have had 2 very warm days. Last week we had a couple feet of new snow and folks came from everywhere to play, town was very busy over the weekend but it is back to normal today, quiet!  I  have tried to get

some hot tub photos but everyone seems to get in at night.  I did happen to catch this great shot of Bob, Rob & Rob, Jr..  Bob and his group have been coming out for 5 years now and are so happy about the new hot tub addition.

Feb. 18, 2006   It has been a crazy winter.. We went from snow everyday to record low temperatures.  This morning it was -38 at 5:30 am and has warmed up to 10,  I hope the cold snap is over and snow is coming! The sky is blue, blue, blue.   Last night one of my repeat guests from MN and his son were in the hot tub, under the stars at -20 and they said "this is great", only those Midwest folks tolerate that below zero stuff!  This is how we pack our snow down at the Moose, we have a drag behind the Chevy.  Now here is a place you don't want to be, he decided to go ahead and go back rather than off the rock

Here is a great sunset looking North to the Beartooths.

February 5, 2006  We just had some great guests who are passing the friend category and are moving into  being family! They experienced an endless amount of fresh powder daily, average 2-3 ft of the fluffy stuff for 5 days, even better-Untracked fresh powder every day!  They were exhausted.  Our daughter Chelsie played hooky from school to go riding on their last day.  They cooked and shared their special pheasant recipe with us, a good time was had by all! Here is another photo of Chelsie "catching air in untracked snow" . Also a couple photos of the Minnesota Boys covered with snow--every day!!

January 26,2006   Did you like my photos of all the snow?  I was sitting in the hot tub, snowflakes falling, the aroma of the wood burning stove of the lodge coming over the roof, sipping on a glass of wine and thinking "it just couldn't get any better"!  Well I guess it could if I had someone to shovel snow and break ice on the roofs so the snow would slide!  Todd and I shoveled the porch roof on the Lodge yesterday, 10 inches of ice and 3 feet of compacted snow, what a job!  We have had some great guests, as usual.  Some awesome South Dakota guys who have been here before but hit it at the ULTIMATE,  they had more fresh powder than they'd ever experienced and deep too!  It always great to have the Midwest boys come to play, what great people!! Some friends from North Dakota were here for the 2nd time this month, the last time they were here it snowed so much they had to go home for a break and came back to some great snow. Some of the best riding they have ever experienced.  Of course that is what Todd says about their place when he is pheasant hunting in North Dakota!  Tonight there are some guys from Michigan in the Hot Tub "ooh'n and awe'n" as they are soaking away aches with snow falling around them, surrounded by the view of pine trees and mountains. Because we are a small business we only have a few people here at a time which really makes their time in the hot tub enjoyable!  Here is a photo of my Chelsie jumping off a cornice, she loves jumping!

January 20, 2006.  We have had an incredible amount of snow.  The snow pole hit 6 feet. I have a couple of pictures of the cabins and as you can see I am not kidding about how much snow we have here! This is one of the kitchenettes. Yes, it is hard to believe but there are steps and a door.

January 14. 2006.  It has been a very busy couple of weeks. We have had snow 25 out of 27 days. Lots of shoveling. Our web cam snow pole was nearing the 6 ft. mark but as the snow settles it is back down to 5 ft.  We have had some great snowmobilers, repeat customers from North Dakota and Minnesota. It was great they got some awesome snow to ride on during their trip.  We look forward to a great winter season!  

January 3, 2006.  Happy New Year! Man have we gotten some awesome snow! Our webcam snowpole goes to 12 ft., if it keeps this up it might not be tall enough! The Holiday week was super, super busy here in Cooke. There was alot of snow and folks came from everywhere, especially with New Years on a weekend. I haven't taken a photo because it usually has been snowing and a white out, so I guess you'll just have to keep looking at the webcam. Have a great day!  I will just hang out here in this winter wonderland!

December 21, 2005.  We survived the cold spell, it was -36 degrees and stayed below zero for a few days,  Lamar Valley had a record -40 degrees. Unfortunately with the cold weather we get no new snow but it has warmed up and we have had some flurries on and off.. The snow pole here has settled to 3 feet and what a great base for this time of year. We are expected to get snow over the next few days and it feels like we are in the tropics with temperatures in the 20's to 30's..We have been busy getting ready for our winter season, we will open cabins this weekend.  This time of year we have spent the last few weeks refurbishing things around here, I got my first experience at chinking logs on a small project, but I don't think I am good enough for big projects so I brought in help! I had a flat tire on my snow coach but its getting repaired, darn I love that rig! We hope everyone has a great Holiday, keep in touch!  Todd, Bev, Chelsie  (Sam and Trouble too!)

December 5, 2005   Oh my gosh where have the last 2 months gone? We are definitely on our way to a big winter. We have 4 feet of snow here at the Moose. I shovel the porch and a hour later there is more snow, it just isn't letting up!  Our winter snowmobiling, skiing should be spectacular this year!  In the middle of this storm I got a Hot Tub delivered, yes that's right, a Hot Tub! It is awesome! I will keep in touch more now that I am definitely snowed in!  Don't forget to check our webcam for the snowpole measurements!

Here are some photos from 12/04/05, shoveling this porch left quite a snowbank. The little dog had a tough time running through 4 feet of snow in the trees, so she appreciates the hard packed stuff in front of the cabins

October 12, 2005  Fantastic news on the Beartooth Highway mudslide repairs, the road repairs were completed and the Highway will be open as normal in May. We are so greatful for the quick response by our Governor to declare the disaster and get the money for emergency repair. Also, with
the 3 construction companies working 24/7 the job was accomplished before the October 15th deadline.  Here is a photo of the grand opening at the top of the pass, photos are from Merv Coleman, Coleman Gallery & Studio!

Can anyone guess where the photo below is taken?  Have you been on this section of Highway 212, if so it had to have been on a snowmobile! The view from the new highway will be spectacular, the new road takes you high up out of the secludedness of the old road that winded down in the trees to now a breathtaking view clear into Yellowstone!

October 4, 2005  Winter has started--fall was very short! I took some great fall pictures in Sunlight Basin-Crandall area, the leaves were turning and this week's snow has really pushed the fall season! Our old dog "Mallard" passed away this weekend. He went to sleep here at the Big Moose, the place he loved the most!  We will miss him greatly, what a great dog he has been.  Mallard would have been 13 in March, he loved the winter and snow, laying in the creek and rolling in the dirt to get muddy!

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