Weekend Photos: Montana Dayhikes

Back last month, before I started my backpacking trip in the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness, I did a couple of dayhikes in the area, mostly to try to get used to breathing at 8-10,000'. Every little bit helps, though uphill hikes still kicked my backside. At some point in every trip, chaos reigns. This is your brain on travel... West Fork Rock Creek I arrived in the area just after lunchtime, and promptly drove to the end of the road, figuring an amble up the creek with no particular destination in mind would be a good way to get started without going too far. I forgot that if there's no particular destination (and no steep climbs, either), it's pretty easy to go "just a little farther." My little walk ended up being 6 miles. It was drizzling a little when I started out, and threatening to get a lot wetter, so I didn't take my camera, only my phone. Exciting glimpses of mountainish things. The rain didn't materialize in any force, though a couple of de...