Back to current "What I know".....

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!