Winding down: Fall sings it's last colors

Burst of Color

 The last of Fall's colours are bursting daily , teasing the snow on the mountain ridges. Taunting winter's whites with the vivid palette only found in Autumn. The golds are more gold and the reds are more red with the slanting of the evening rays.

Peaceful duck

 A Peaceful duck amid the water plants, I think it is still because it feels so safe and invisible . Do you fly boldly across the water surface like the geese or do you find your strategy more like this little one?Quiet , still , barely noticed in the chaos of the world around you .

On the Way Home,  Happy in Montana at the foot of "Little Half Dome"

 My favorite pasture. So much goes on in this pasture year round. Cows graze , deer graze , elk graze. This is a busy place. Home and sustenance to many . The hay has been harvested and the Western Larch are turning golden on the slopes above.

Curious bird, who are you ? 

 A cute little game bird with a dulled startle reflex. He or she does not seem to mind me at all. Some would probably like to see this cutie on a spit and over a fire. I think it is just fine enjoying the grasses of the pasture.

In the crown, the western larch becomes golden

A magical time when the Western Larch turns and becomes golden for a few weeks. The trees faired better this year , we had more water and they aren't dropping their needles in August like 2012. I have to admit I aimed my sprinkler at this kind old soul a few times during the dry season. We all deserve a drink, one that refreshes. So fall is winding down. We have been promised a warm week coming up but also hints of colder times to come. It is the end of October . A sunny day to plant tulips and crocus for the spring that will be welcomed in 6 months.

Happy in Montana : Fall Visions

afternoon snack

Echo Lake sitting at the foot of Jewel basin

 Just a bit of a jaunt to the nearby lake . It is a peaceful day with little wind . A muskrat swims near by but is too fast for me today. The air has a hint of winter in it today with the cloudy skies.

Lakeside goodness

Reflections

Peaceful Duck 

 Little Miss Duck hanging out in the reeds . She is quiet and hardly takes notice of me.

Little Half Dome

Red Maple goodness

Waiting all year for this moment when the chlorophyll takes it's leave and allows the reds to shine through. A short week or two in the fall but worth the wait.

Happy in Montana: Using your gifts

Flathead Lake sunset Geese on the wing

Standing high above the waters on the east shore of the Flathead Lake a small quiet voice was imploring me to use my talents. I thought about this as I drove home . We all can look into our hearts and see what talents we possess. The highest good for us is to use our talents and gifts for the most positive thing we can manifest. It is an open opportunity. What does your heart say to you ?

Running in the Wind

Flathead Lake with 3 to 4 foot swells

A quick errand and visit in Denver . Monday 9/30 started out warm and windy in the Flathead. There were 3 to 4 foot waves on the lake with plenty of dramatic splashing along the rocky edge. Heading down Hwy 35 to Polson.

Homestake Pass( 6329 feet ) Continental Divide

Butte lies nestled on the West side of the continental divide. Homestake Pass is in the mid 6000 feet and  something to keep an eye on when the weather is questionable. No real bad weather to be noted on this Monday. I brought the emergency totes with me anyway and had my shovel stowed in the back . So far the weather is looking great and I am definitely over prepared .

Mountains south of Livingston MT

 Scooting down I 90 I experiment with cruise control which I have to say is just weird . I like to drive the car and having the CC on is not my thing. It is handy in work zones to avoid tickets but the rest of the time I like to be "one " with the car. Besides if the car is driving my mind tends to wander and I quit watching the road. I wonder if others have this problem?

Sunset near Livingston Montana

I am lucky to be passing Livingston Mt just about sunset . The mountains are gorgeous with the Alpine glow tonight. Great timing . The light changes everything . South of Livingston is Yellowstone National Park. Another trip for another day.

Flying into Wyoming

Next day Tuesday Oct 1 , on the road after spending the night in Billings. A few hours south and we are in Wyoming. Wyoming is an awesome place. Lots of wide open space . I enjoy this kind of thing but I can see how it could be disconcerting if you are used to the city and that rhythm.

Antelope are everywhere!

 I suppose Wyoming could grow on you . Now if you are in the East you probably don't see much difference in the emptiness of Wyoming versus the emptiness of Montana. The empty of Wyoming is definitely kicked up a notch . Eastern Montana runs a close second.But there are the antelope and the endless vistas. Pretty nice on the first day of October.

Bighorn Mountains

More Antelope

The one thing nice about antelope is they seem to avoid the highway a bit better than the deer.  The deer , ah the deer , really like the roads and subsequently cars and trucks . We were fairly lucky in that we didn't see many deer at all , Just some mule deer on the way back . I missed them as I was working hard keeping the car on the road in the prestorm that left 30 inches of snow just about where these antelope are hanging out.

Antelope enjoying the irrigated fields 

Enjoying some Starbuck's goodness and downtown Denver ambience

 So after Cheyenne there is civilization and lots of people. In fact you cross into Colorado and you have more people  than you can shake a stick at .We visited friends and took in some nice Downtown Denver and good coffee.  A walk by the Platte River had colorful sunflowers and mid 70s weather. Who knew the next day would turn into an October snow superstorm .

Sunniness next to the river

Crazy Mountains after the storm

 So good fortune was with us and we made Billings at 5 PM on Thursday ahead of the feet of snow that socked in Wyoming. We saw some snow north of Sheridan but then it turned to rain the rest of the way. I set out for NW Montana before 8 AM and headed down I 90 West. The temperature was 33 to 37 degrees so the roads were pretty good except an over pass near Big Timber where the air had cooled to 28 degrees. A bit of slip and slide there . The Crazy Mountains were a glorious site to see in the early morning light with their new snow frosting. This is an untouched picture of the Crazies just west of Billings.

Beautiful I 90 hurtling West past Billings

About 6 inches of snow in Montana , alot less than the 30 inches in Buffalo Wy. I am so glad we didn't get caught in that . Everytime you passed an interstate barricade it reminded you that indeed your trip could be cut short by blowing and drifting snow.

snowy wonderland in October

 The driving wasn't too bad all in all . Traveling west there is Livingston which was a bit slushy and Bozeman Hill. I took that one slow and stayed in a lower gear with the trucks. Somehow it seems silly to drive 70 when you really don't know if the road is frozen here and there .

 Finally several hours later I have zipped through Missoula and headed up the Mission Valley where the skies had returned to blue and no snow in sight except up in the higher elevations. What a welcome site .

Mission Mountains 

Fall still rules in North West Montana

Just before Saint Ignatius the valley is glorious. The Mission Falls are still running in the center of the picture. A small little crook that is about a couple thousand foot drop. Next to the 9000 foot peaks the water fall appears so small.

Pelicans feeding at Ninepipes

The sun is slowly making it's way West. I stopped for a minute at Ninepipes to see who was feeding today in the shallow waters. Six or seven large pelicans were fishing and enjoying the sun of the late afternoon. Almost home . Feels good to think I am two hours away. I am grateful that I missed the worst of the snow that paralyzed Wyoming and South Dakota. Truly hardy folks who live in these areas. My hat is off to them . Hoping they have some quick melting and not too much damage.

Happy in Montana: End of summer welcoming Fall

Ninepipes Resevoir 

 Saturday brought me to the Mission Valley for a time. Last day of summer . The wetlands are at low water . We are north of the National Bison Range a particularly dry area . The Ninepipes wetlands have been restored to be a wild fowl sanctuary for ducks and geese making their way north and south. The silence is immaculate with an occassional punctuation of bird call.

Mission Mountains

 The Mission Mountains rival the beauty found in Glacier. McDonald Peak stands at 9820 feet. This last week had some temperature drops and the tops of the range is now with snow.

Mission Mountains from the Ninepipes Resevoir 

 The Mission Valley lies within two ranges with the lush Mission Mountains rising on the East and a drier ranger to the West . Ninepipes is a 2062 acre refuge located on Tribal Trust lands of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes. The area is managed by Fish and wild life services under an agreement with the BIA.

Dried flower art with wetland background

End of summer ripeness

Seeds for the wind

 The Ninepipes area is expansive . It is a place to lose yourself and thus to find yourself . A nice side jaunt on the last day of Summer .

Change of seasons and a time for reflection

Happy in Montana: Another Little Feet Adventure in the Clouds

Spermophilus columbianus

We are not alone. All over the alpine meadow the little Columbian ground squirrels chirp back and forth to their friends. In the heavy mist you can hear them calling to each other .

Heaven's Peak

 On the way to Logan's Pass the clouds thicken and collect around Heaven's Peak. This is one of my favorite peaks as the rock strata has a swirl to it.

Hidden Lake Trailhead

 Trail head to Hidden Lake. Today with the clouds hanging low the lake is truly hidden.

Going to the Sun Road

 Last ascent to Logan's Pass. Above the Going to the Sun Road you can see the High Line trail clinging to the edge of the mountain. The mountains are beautiful but you have to watch your step as the trails are also hazardous. 3 lives lost this season in 2013, two to missteps one alledgedly from a spousal push. Always be mindful about where you put your little feet.

Last Curve before the Continental divide

 Final curve before Logan's Pass. A nice water fall greets us .

Going to the Sun Road below the High Line trail

 Across from the High Line Trail the clouds shroud the high mountains.

McDonald Lake looking East to the Continental divide

 Back down in the valley floor ,warm waters lap the shore of McDonald Lake . Late summer brings a golden moment before the snow flies.One more opportunity to soak in the vibes of the beautiful water spirit.

 Another satisfying Little Feet adventure. Truly we are happy in Montana.

Silent Monday: Cool and clear

End of summer heat and the creek is still cool and clear