| Crazy Mountains | |
|---|---|
 Crazy Mountains | |
| Highest point | |
| Peak | Crazy Peak |
| Elevation | 11,214 ft (3,418 m) |
| Coordinates | 46°01′04″N110°16′36″W / 46.01778°N 110.27667°W /46.01778; -110.27667 |
| Dimensions | |
| Length | 40 mi (64 km) N/S |
| Width | 15 mi (24 km) E/W |
| Area | 600 sq mi (1,600 km2) |
| Geography | |
 Location within Montana | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Montana |
| Parent range | Rocky Mountains |
TheCrazy Mountains, often called theCrazies, is a mountain range in theCentral Montana Alkalic Province in the U.S. state ofMontana. They are a part of the northernRocky Mountains.
Spanning a distance of 40 miles (64 km), the Crazy Mountains are located between theMusselshell andYellowstone rivers. The highest peak isCrazy Peak at 11,214 feet (3,418 m). Rising over 7,000 feet (2,130 m) above theGreat Plains to the east, the Crazies dominate their surroundings and are plainly visible just north ofInterstate 90.
The Crazy Mountains form an isolatedisland range east of theContinental Divide. Other isolated ranges in Montana include theCastle Mountains,Little Belt Mountains,Big Snowy Mountains,Little Snowy Mountains,Bears Paw Mountains,Judith Mountains,North andSouth Moccasin Mountains,Highwood Mountains,Little Rocky Mountains,Sweet Grass Hills,Bull Mountains and, in the southeastern corner of the state nearEkalaka, theLong Pines.
The Big TimberStock, a large igneous intrusion, forms the bedrock in the Crazy Mountains.[1] The stock is ofTertiary age, and consists ofdiorite andgabbro with zones of Quartz Monzodiorite, which has been intruded by manydikes andsills.
Geological features of the Crazy Mountains include:
Due to the eastern location, these mountains are drier and less densely forested than other mountain ranges in Montana. There are at least 40 alpine lakes in the range, 15 of which are named. The Crazy Mountains sit in bothGallatin National Forest andLewis and Clark National Forest. The Crazies support a healthy herd ofmountain goats and the occasional elusivewolverine.
In 1916, the Crazy Mountains were proposed as a location for a national park, yetCongress failed to pass the legislation.National Park Service officials considered the area again in 1935, yet they reported that a national park would not be feasible because "half of the land, every alternate section, is owned by theNorthern Pacific Railroad or is in private hands."[2]
The Crazies are almost completely surrounded by private lands making access into the mountains somewhat difficult, especially in the southern section where the highest peaks are located.[3][4]
The name Crazy Mountains is said to be a shortened form of the name "Crazy Woman Mountains" given them in complement to their originalCrow name, after a woman who went insane and lived in them after her family was killed in the westward settlement movement.[5]
TheCrow people called the mountainsAwaxaawippíia', roughly translated as "Ominous Mountains", or even more roughly, "Crazy Mountains". They were famous to the Crow people for having metaphysical powers and being unpredictable—a place used forvision quests.[6]
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
