The Yurt atop Morrell Mountain in Montana

My daughter was able to use a yurt near the top of Morrell Mountain in Montana during her recent training in avalanche rescue work with the Aerie Backcountry Medicine group. She was not able to sleep in the yurt, but could use it to warm up and store and dry out equipment.

Morrell Mountain is maybe 15 miles or so west of Seeley Lake, the home base for the winter training Carolan is taking. They walked on snow shoes over 2 days up Morrell Mountain (which is about an 8000 foot mountain) and camped in 8-10 feet of snow for 2 or 3 days. The yurt (see www.yurtski.com) offered some warmth and comfort--but not too much to spoil the Aerie trainees! They couldn't sleep in the yurt, after all--they were in tents outside. It's amazing to me that this yurt can still be standing with the heavy snowpack on Morrell Mountain!

When I think of yurts, I think of the nomads living on the steppes of Central Asia; I think of the Mongolian "ger" homes--not of a mountain shelter in Montana. But there you have it!