Boaters,

Welcome to the Beartooth front!

In 2008, two local paddlers decided to bring the National Paddling Film Festival to the Red Lodge Area starting the 1st Annual Beartooth Meltdown. 2009’s festival is shaping up, we are bringing in Doug Ammons, an accomplished boater, author and contributor to American Whitewater, the National Paddling Film Festival, and two kick ass reggae bands, E3PO and International Farmers.

The 2nd Annual Beartooth Meltdown will take place in Red Lodge, Montana over Memorial Day weekend. Red Lodge is a “gateway” to Yellowstone National Park via the Beartooth Highway, one of America’s most scenic highways. The area surrounding Red Lodge has many paddling possibilities from class V+ creeking to I-II play runs. The BMD will consist of two nights of NPFF films and live music, plus two days of outdoor activities including skiing (bring your avi beacons!) and kayaking.

Proceeds from the BMD will also benefit the Beartooth Area Trail Association (BRTA) and The Community Youth Athletic Club (CYAC), a local recreational program for young people in Carbon County. Together we want to foster access, stewardship, and responsible use of our area rivers and streams, in hopes of developing an accessible river corridor for the Beartooth Front.

A festival fee of $25 will get you camping music films beer specials and much more. If you want to attend, have questions, or want to help sponsor the event feel free to e-mail Stuber at riverrat@happyhippie.com. Please put Beartooth Meltdown in the subject bar.