Very nice photo, by the way. But a super-macro or dissecting-scope shot might clear up confusion.

much for your analysis of this observation. I will examine the species more closely next time I’m in the area, and perhaps try to get some better macro shots. I see this lichen all the time, and would really like to know what it is.

There are quite a few boreal cupped Cladonia with red apothecia:

C. sulphurina
C. deformis
C. digitata
C. borealis
C. pleurota
C. coccifera

I can’t quite tell if there is any soredia among the granules on the cups of yours. They are certainly not “finely sorediate”, and the cups certainly are not badly deformed, so that rules out all but C. pleurota (granular sorediate), and C. borealis and C. coccifera (corticate). The granules on C. borealis would be more like scales than lumps, so I’d say that was out, too. Only way to get a positive ID is to check very closely for the presence of any soft/cottony soredia among the granules. C. coccifera shouldn’t have any, but C. pleurota will always have some. Otherwise, chemistry is the same and morphology overlaps. Both are expected to be common up there.