NORTHEASTERN SECTION - Yellowstone Treasures - page 218

There's snow near Beartooth Pass all year. The road is not fully plowed until late May or
early June; at that time, you may be traveling through white canyons higher than your car (see
picture, page 326 ) . A little later in the summer, the snow may be pink, indicating the presence
of a microscopic plant that grows on its surface and makes its meltwater unsafe to drink.
Phlox
Upon crossing the Montana/Wyoming state line, you enter Shoshone National Forest,
which has surprisingly few trees. Timberline at this latitude is about 10,000 feet (3,000 m). On
windy slopes below timberline, you'll find only the stunted trees called krummholz.
Rosecrown
It's always windy and many degrees cooler up here than in nearby valleys. At the West
Summit the short side road to the ridge crest affords wonderful views of the Absaroka Range,
especially to the southwest.