Saturday, January 26, 2019

Mosaic Monday #12: Glory Days

False Hellebore
I miss the light of summer.  Don't get me wrong; winter here delivers bountiful snow and a magnificence all its own.  But lately, I have seen a few posts from you, my fellow bloggers, featuring summer vistas that launch me into daytime reveries about a sun high in the sky.  A sun that dapples everything below it, even revealing the veins of leaves, pulsing with chlorophyll.  A sun that pulls plants out of the earth, turning all flower heads in her direction.  A sun that warms reptiles basking on rocks.


Bog orchid





So, here I am, re-winding the clock to a hike we completed on July 25, 2017 - My Hiking Journal: Entry 17.  As Bruce Springsteen croons: Trying to recapture a little of the glory of … Glory Days.

Clayton Lake (our destination) sits on the northeastern edge of the Jewel Basin Hiking Area (links to previous Jewel Basin Hikes: One, Two).  Since most people access Jewel Basin via Camp Misery and never make it as far as Clayton Lake, this is generally a quiet hike even on weekends in the summer.  Even better when it's a Tuesday!!!   (We didn't see a soul even though there was a van parked at the trailhead.)
Clayton Lake with aged beargrass in the foreground

Cow parsnip
The trail climbs through a more recent burn (the snags are bleached out but are still standing) which has opened up the area for views all around.  It was quite brushy along the trail with elderberry and cow parsnip.
Elderberry
The trail gradually ascends, following Clayton Creek, for almost 2 miles.  After a creek crossing, a couple of switchbacks and a steep quarter of a mile, the trail flattens and meadows open before us with the lake beyond.  Nirvana.  I look back at these meadow pictures, and I tell you that none of them do it justice.  An abundance of wildflowers, in a jumble the defies description or a capture by a camera.  You'll just HAVE to hike it!

Fish jumped at random throughout the lake, but Man with Hat came up empty.  I don't think he minded, too much.
This hike is 4.8 miles out and back, plus 1.6 miles if you go around the lake (which, of course, we did)

A hummingbird flew up to me nearly striking me in the face.  Could it have been my reflective sunglasses that looked like a flower?  Or maybe it saw me as competition since I was spending so much time among the blooms.  
Top: Fleabane and Paintbrush
Middle left: Spotted Frog  Middle right: Unidentified butterfly on Pearly Everlasting
Bottom left: False Hellebore  Bottom middle: Fleabane and Groundsel Bottom right: Willow


Clockwise from top: Fireweed and Man with Hat; Yellow Columbine; Death Camas, Monkeyflower, Groundsel
Showy Aster.  Center: Garter Snake


Lupine seed pods
It's hard to wrap your mind around the accelerated life cycle in these mountains, at these elevations.  In early May, only the glacier lilies are blooming.  But now, 10 short weeks later, some plants have grown, bloomed and are already in seed.  Rock on!


Fleabane and Paintbrush along the trail
























Glory days well they'll pass you by


Glory days in the wink of a young girl's eye


Glory days, glory days
- Bruce Springsteen


Maggie of Normandy Life once asked me when a walk becomes a hike.  I think it's about purpose and environment - walking to the bus stop is not a hike.  But walking among the splendor of northwestern Montana, to experience the glory of its flora and fauna - that will always be a hike.





Welcome to Mosaic Monday, a weekly meme where we get together to share our photo mosaics and collages.
Please include at least one photo mosaic/collage in your post.
The link will be open from 1 p.m. Sunday until 11 p.m. Monday (U.S. Mountain time).
Remember to add the link to your Mosaic Monday post and not the one to your blog.
Please link back to this post so that your readers will be able to visit and enjoy more wonderful mosaics; taking the MM blog button from my sidebar is an easy way to link back.
As host I will visit every participant and leave a comment so that you know I stopped by.
Please try and visit as many other blogs as you can, especially those that join in later, so that everyone's creativity can be appreciated fully.
Thank you for joining in today and sharing your mosaics with us.
 

FYI - InLinkz has made some changes to protect your personal information.  Before you submit a link, you need to verify your entry, which only takes a few seconds and you need to do it only once. After verification, you can add links to all InLinkz link parties without the need for re-verification.  I am sorry for any inconvenience.

 

42 comments:

  1. The beauty is astonishing and we are so ready for Spring and warm!

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  2. Indeed, Angie, I agree... the cold and dark January isnˋt my thing, too. But the days getting longer here. Hope for spring, fresh green, blooms - the early songs of the birds.

    Happy MosaicMonday! Wish you a very good week.
    Heidrun xxx

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  3. Wonderful shots from that hike. My favourite is the snake.

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  4. Hi Angie, I have no idea how to link up this new way. Am I going to need a password to link up each week?

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  5. I was so flustered with the weird link thing that I forgot to comment on your post! Yes, I'm craving summer warmth and brightness these days, too. It's good to go back to those posts and photos of different seasons to remember. Soon, they will be here. But maybe not soon enough. I like your way of differentiating between a hike and a walk! I concur!

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    1. ...Lorrie, you are being very kind calling the new linkup weird, I have other words for it.

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  6. ...Mother Nature plants the best gardens.

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  7. I smiled when I read your post, we here in Australia are having a heatwave which is quite normal for summer here, and I enjoy the snow and cold pictures from the Northern hemisphere, a little break from the heat!! Love your hike photos and all the wild flowers, not so much the snake, is it a poisonous one? Such a beautiful lake.

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  8. I love winter, Angie! I like the cooler temperatures and the beauty of snow. I love the visits of wildlife that come down from our hills in search of food (our shrubs!) and I love the fact I don't have to worry about wildfires. I do miss the longer daylight hours of summer and pretty wildflowers, but summer is my least favorite season as I don't like hot weather, drought and wildfires.

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  9. Hi Angie ... your linkup seems to have changed formats and I can’t join up from either my iPad or my pc. (Insert sad face). I’ll be back to read and comment later.

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  10. I do not wonder you would like to swap your Winter's landscape, as beautiful as it is, for Summer's glorious, azure blue skies stretching as far as the eye can see. You do experience majestic beauty on your hikes. Love all your glorious photos....except....the snake. Now that, is one thing I hate about Summer. Snakes pop up regularly in these parts in Summer, which is fine as long as I don't see them. =) I have a feeling Spring is just around the mountain bend in your beautiful part of the world. From this gal who is enjoying a beautiful warm and sunny Summer's day I wish you a fabulous week♥

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  11. A beautiful hike ... and isn’t it great to be able to enjoy it on a Tuesday! (Or any not weekend day). A retirement blessing I never tire of! Beautiful scenery and those wildflowers! And you snake is even prettier than most! Thanks for the summer love and as always for hosting even if I’m unable to take part.

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  12. Rewinding the clock is a good way to get back to those warm times. We are driving to Arizona so we can feel that warm sunshine and make some new summer in winter memories. - Margy

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  13. I sense in your text your longing for this wonderful hike experience you had around Clayton Lake. While reading I felt the warmth of summer and heard the singing of birds. I think that most of us who live in colder climates consider summer the season we long for. Now it is cold but the warm glory days shall come. This thought comforts a bit in the middle of this white world, doesn't it!

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    1. Somehow the Inlinkz link keeps on loading... Shall try to comment the entries later on...

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  14. For my own part I enjoy snowy pics this time of year as it is hot here in Australia, but I also enjoyed the images from your hike too. Stay warm. Spring will be on its way before you know it!

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  15. A delightful collection of Summer memories to warm your Winter up, Angie. Thos wildflowers are magnificent, and the snake is fantastic!

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  16. Hello, what a wonderful hike. The view of the lake and wildflowers are beautiful. My hubby and I would love to do this hike. The snake is cute. I am not a snow lover or winter person, so I do enjoy the flowers and spring, summer and fall seasons. Thanks for hosting. Have a happy day and a great new week ahead!

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  17. The linky is asking me for a password and I don't know what it is. Will you email me and let me know! Thanks! Happy MM!

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  18. Hiking is definitely something I love doing, Angie, and where you've taken your photos is a beautiful place for it.

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  19. aww...snake...
    thank you for sharing of beautiful photos.
    have a great day

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  20. Happy mosaic Monday. Your retro photos are lovely

    Much💟love

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  21. I guess most of us miss those sunny warmer days. I sure miss walking outside.
    Your pictures are beautiful.

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  22. Yes, I do feel a tad guilty wandering in here from our gorgeous Aussie summer! But I have so enjoyed our hike today. Along with your humming bird I have been flapping my way through a hectic January and so it has been lovely to find time to pause and join your hike!
    Wren x

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  23. Beautiful summer pictures! There is something lovely and bright about summer light - even though I too am a fan of winter.

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  24. Our own days are dark and dismal at the moment. So I am longing for those bright, sunny days and the warmth of spring.

    I enjoyed you hike today and I was impressed by your ability to name all of those plants and flowers. Liked the accompanying words from The Boss too.

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  25. Love hiking in the country, if only.............

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  26. You live in such an amazing area and your photos are always so beautiful. Thanks for sharing the story about the humming bird - they are a favorite of mine.

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  27. what beautiful landscape and nature photography ~ fun hike, I bet!

    Happy Tuesday,
    A ShutterBug Explores,
    aka (A Creative Harbor)

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  28. Oh Angie, I did enjoy this post.
    What a lovely hike I had from the comfort of my armchair!
    Your photographs were so nice to see, and reminded me of warm summer days, which was rather nice, because at the moment many areas of the UK are getting snow … Brrr

    All the best Jan

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  29. Glorious day indeed! And you are so right. I can only ever walk in the environment I am currently living, no opportunities for hiking, which is why travel is so important. I crave real nature and need to commune with it any way I can.

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  31. The hiking photos are absolutely gorgeous. Walking among mother nature is always a pleasure and full of surprise sightings. Enjoy the week!

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  32. As your photos beautifully show, Clayton Lake and its surrounding environment is a marvel to behold and most definitely hike worthy. I think hiking paths are roads less traveled and more natural then the carefully laid out gravelly sand and concrete walkers usually trod.

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  33. Angie, you are a hiking glory inspiration. It really is great to ramble amongst God's beautiful creation. You have chosen a wonderful environment to retire in. We just got back from Arizona and I'm trying to catch up on blogs and laundry. Hope your week is going well.

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  34. In a word, stunning!! I love your photography and your hikes. Clayton Lake looks glorious. Glory Days!!

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  35. You do have a beautiful summer there. Your flowers look fresh and springlike all summer I assume. That would make a wonderful hike. I can see why you would be dreaming of warm weather with the cold you've had lately. Our local weatherman said there was 100 degree difference between the low in Montana and our high on Tuesday. And we thought it was cold here. lol

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  36. Another wonderful hike! Such lovely photos of our lovely state. We really do live in paradise, don't we? :) Kit

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  37. a glorious look back, which is especially beautiful on this absolutely frigid day!!!

    it sounds like you had a nice encounter with that hummingbird....

    and i always love me some bruce, we are both from and living in new jersey. he is our local hero!!!

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