Ran with the local HURL (Helena Ultra Running League- I think) this past Saturday across the Crazy Mountains.  The Crazy Mountains is one of my favorite haunts- relatively close, stunning views, usually not too many people, but the trails just aren't setup for loop runs. What I usually do is come up with an off-trail section to complete a loop, that's good except every route I've come up with is sketchy at best- sketchy as in falling to your death sketchy .  The Hurler's came up with a great point to point that takes you through some of the nicest the Crazies have to offer, but the two trailheads are almost 100 road miles apart making shuttling a nightmare.  Enter the key pass- divide the group into two in Helena, put your "done with the run" bag into another vehicle and keep your running pack with you.  The two groups go to different trail heads and run the routes in reverse of each other, passing the vehicle keys somewhere in the middle- brilliant!

The route is just shy of 25 miles with close to 7000' of gain (about the same loss).  Our group started at the Cottonwood Ck trailhead and would finish at the Big Timber Ck trailhead.  We got an early start out of Helena (about 5:30 AM) and with only one hiccup, getting pulled over for no lights- whoops .  We got started at about 7:30 and then quickly making another hiccup- I ran past our turnoff for Trespass Ck (with everyone following because I know the Crazies), but luckily discovered my mistake after about 3/4 of a mile- 1.5 bonus miles, could have been much worse.

The trail up Trespass Ck is really nice, a slow, but steady climb with a mix of timber and meadows, mostly runnable (albeit slow).  About 4.5 miles in the first big climb up to the pass above Campfire Lake.  We saw about twenty mountain goats the next mountain over, the Crazies have a large, healthy population of goats.  Looking down into Campfire Lake- it's a little foggy as I made the mistake of carrying my iphone with the lens close to my body, luckily discovered that mistake too.

A couple of long switchbacks took us to Campfire Lake, nice downhill running, but technical so you can't get too crazy.  After skirting the outlet of the lake, another series of shorter (but more) switchbacks we arrive at Moose Lake.

after Moose Lake we run along the Middle Fork of Sweetgrass Ck to the junction of the South Fork, marking about halfway.  We stopped for a little bite and I treated some water for my bladder

Looking up the South Fork

There are a few runnable stretches going up the South Fork, but probably more that aren't- starts climbing pretty good.  Several nice waterfalls along the route.

the crew getting close to the head end of the drainage

a little further up the drainage- Glacier Lake

now we climb in earnest, numerous switchbacks that take us just shy of Conical Peak before we start down into Big Timber Creek- some nice views from near the top

Crazy Peak (far left) and several other high peaks

Looking down Big Timber Creek drainage

It's almost three miles down to Twin Lakes, but it's steep and very technical- so the going is slower than you would think just looking at a map.  Upper Twin Lake

it's about 5 miles to the trailhead from Twin Lakes, all downhill with the trail much less technical, so we were able to stretch things out a bit

about 7-ish hours later we arrived at the trailhead, our "refreshments" waiting 

ahh- it's good to be a trail runner!

Great photos! I hope that's the type of views I can expect to see at Elkhorn.

24-25 miles in less than 8 hours in that terrain is moving along pretty nicely.

We were moving along pretty good. A couple of long climbs slowed things down, as did the scenery 

Had eight folks total (four and four). Not too bad a ribbing, of course a little embarrassing as I was touted as knowing the Crazies like the back of my hand 

Yup- if it's coming directly out of the side of the mountain I'll drink freely. If there is any chance of animal contamination I treat. I know a lot of folks that don't bother to treat water in the mountains, but it only takes a couple of minutes to treat it, so I do

Beautiful Mike...how cool that you have a group with their shit together to organize a point to point with a key change.    may try to get our group to do that.  When I thought I might be single my dream after I retired was to take a trip around the US meeting up with all my fomites and having them take me running on their favorite trails.   I would love to go on a running tour in your neck of the woods.

If you're trying to convince us that Montana is the best state for trail running, hiking, "exchanging keys", or anything outdoors, you are doing a good job.  Keep it up!

Thanks for sharing.