We studied post-fire Pinus albicaulis Engelm. seedling establishment in the Sleeping child and Saddle Mountain burns of western Montana 26 and 28 years, respectively, after fire. Pinus albicaulis seeds are dispersed primarily by Clark's nutcracker (Nucifraga columbiana Wilson) in caches of 1-15 or more seeds. Consequently, P. albicaulis seedlings and trees often occur in clusters. In the Sleeping Child burn we collected regeneration data from 63 quadrats along a 3.6-km transect and from 14 quadrats along a 20.6-km road transect; in the Saddle Mountain burn we collected data from 41 quadrats along a 3.2-km transect. We determined regression models for height versus age and age versus height relationships for P.albicaulis and Abies lasiocarpa (Hook.) Nutt. and used the latter regression models to construct regeneration age structures for both burns. For both conifers a disproportionately high percentage of regeneration was established between 1977 and 1985, about 17-25 years after fire. Thus, major regeneration was episodic. A small increase in mean seasonal rainfall between 1977 and 1985 possibly contributed to this recruitment surge. Age differences of 1-8 years occurred among seedlings in 65-86% of the seedling and tree clusters sampled, suggesting delayed germination of some cached seeds. Pinus albicaulis regeneration was more frequently associated with Vaccinium scoparium Leiberg and less frequently associated with Xerophyllum tenax (Pursh) Nutt. and Luzula hitchcockii Hamet-Ahti relative to the overall frequency of occurrence of these plants among quadrats.© National Research Council of Canada. Abstract reproduced by permission.