the Crazies are an often looked over range that lie between Bozeman and Billing. lots of trout filled alpine lakes, lots of wildlife including a large population of mountain goats

started at the Big Timber Ck trailhead (finished there as well)

Big Timber Creek, rolling pretty good for late July



Upper Twin Lake



at Conical Peak Pass



lots of post holing to get there (again a little unusual for late July)



Glacier Lake



South Fork of Sweetgrass Ck



Moose Lake



my humble camp at Moose Lake



"it's nice going light" shot :)

Sweet. Love the pics. Nice pic of the Ion in the UL salute. I am in the process of tricking my Ion out.

Thanks for sharing a trip from up in the Crazies, Mike. It's definitely an overlooked range but a worthwhile destination. I was up there summer before last and almost headed up there for some skiing two weeks ago. Looks like I would've been happy with the snow so perhaps I'll try to find some turns up that way in September.

They are a nice range, aren't they?

Thanks for the report and pics Mike.

Wow, there looks to be a lot more snow there than there was in the Spanish Peaks when we were there around the same time. Once we got up over 7200 ft, we didn't see another soul.

the Crazies were pretty desolate this trip as well- it was actually a work assignment (checking fishermen) :) , I found a few folks at Blue and Granite Lakes on the way in, but they were the last folks I saw for the rest of the trip

my wife and I are headed back that way for her birthday this month, I'll be the one doing the fishing this time! :D

Great trip and photos, Mike. Thanks for sharing!

Oh Man! Spent some time in Billings in 2005 and the Crazies were on my list of places to go. Unfortunately work got in the way.

Thanks for the pics. How was the road to the trailhead? I read it can be ugly.

I don't what I enjoy better Mike, your trip report, or the name of the mountains you spent your trip in, The Crazy Mountains! That's awesome...no sorry, crazy. It looks like you were able to pack nice and UL on this trip, your shelter setup is my flavor. Thanks for sharing.

Edited by Eugeneius on 08/09/2010 22:11:57 MDT.

Legend has it that they were named after a white woman whose family was massacred by Indians and went mad. They are sometimes known as the Crazy Woman Mountains. They provide a stunning vista from I-90 between Livingston and Columbus, Montana. And as shown provide some great hiking venues.

Loved the trip report.. thanks for posting it!

Eugene- thanks- you'll have to venture up this way some time so I can return the favor :)

Richard- that's correct- was made somewhat famous in the movie about Jeremiah Johnson

Those are great, classic backpacking photos. The first two could easily be on the 2011 BPL calendar.

What do you do for a living that this was a work trip?

thanks- not much of photographer- get lucky once and again :)

game warden- get to patrol high mountain lakes occasionally (not often enough) for anglers

Law enforcement for your occupation is a cinch- your mustache makes Tom Sellek tremble;)

Sweet report/ pics