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.

Mosaic Monday

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My Hiking Journal: Entry 11

Glacier Lilies

Sunday, July 2, 2017 - Jewel Basin - 10 mile loop with 1800 feet net elevation gain

"We did it!  Back on June 5, 2017 (entry 10), we were thwarted in our attempt to start a hike from the Camp Misery trailhead … but today, success!"

So begins my journal entry for this hike, almost a full year ago.  But you should read on for the 'rest of the story'.

"It was not without its trials … there was still a lot of snow on the trails.  This meant it was physically more demanding than normal hiking.  Also, at the intersection of trail 55 and trail 7, there was so much snow and a lack of trail signs that it was impossible to figure out the location of the trail.  The topographical map was a huge help, and we also crossed our fingers that some of the footprints in the snow were directionally correct."

As I noted in the margin of my journal, I was very pleased that we were calm and worked through it!

Ok, now that I have that out of my system, let's approach this a little more calmly.  Spring flowers were abundant (yes, at this elevation, July 2 is still 'spring').

Upper left: Red Paintbrush; Middle left: Elliptic-leaved Penstemon

Lower left: Mountain Buttercup

Upper right: Glacier Lilies and Western Pasqueflowers

Lower right: Man with Hat on rock

Along the way, we met a family planning to camp at Black Lake. At a few obscure points on the trail, we helped each other find the way.

Black Lake

At Black Lake, 3 guys and their 2 dogs were breaking camp.  They reported hooking cutthroat trout in the lake for their supper the previous night.

Creek leaving the foot of Black Lake

We cruised on and made our picnic break at Jewel Lakes.  We heard the three guys pass us by and thought nothing more of it.

From left to right: Yellow Columbine, Green False Hellebore, Yellow Columbine, Shooting Star

However, as we ascended past Blackfoot Lake, we heard gunshots, and it was impossible to determine the source.  We started shouting and continued the racket for quite a while.  Some distance on, we came across the same 3 fellows, and learned that they had been doing some 'target shooting' at dead trees.  Swell.

Beargrass surrounds Man with Hat

Climbing, climbing.

Blackfoot Lake; saw two bald eagles flying around lake

Yes, this is the trail!

Met a group of 5 heading the other way, planning to camp at Blackfoot.  About this time it was getting quite warm and I could not imagine that this much snow was still around.  I used snowballs to help cool down … at one point, we MIGHT have had a good old-fashioned snowball fight!

Enter the hour of trail confusion.  I won't belabor the point I made at the beginning of this post, other than to say snow can be a blessing (you can see every footprint) and a curse (you can see every footprint).  Once we worked through it, we were rewarded with the view of Twin Lakes.  Worthy of a break.

Top: Western Pasqueflower

Center left: Paintbrush and Western Virgin's Bower

Center right: Larkspur

Upon returning to the trailhead, as I was taking off my boots and sweaty socks (too much information?), I felt victorious, confident, reassured, relieved and pleasantly tired.  Accompanied by a healthy respect for snowpack in July at 6,000 feet. 















Linking to

All Seasons

Floral Friday Fotos


Mosaic Monday


Nature Notes

Bountifully Blessed

Afternoon sky in North Dakota

It's been a week of introspection.  Looking back, and forward.  A celebration and a bit of a self-assessment.  A (sometimes surprising) re-affirmation of my passions.  On the whole, an eminently satisfying catalog of a year well-lived, well-loved, and bountifully blessed: it has been 12 months since I retired and started documenting my voyage with this blog.

Calypso Orchid

I won't apologize for my method to outlining this post: I organized my notes around the objectives stated in my blog profile.  I re-read all 72 of my blog posts, beginning with the first.  I perused (ancient!) notes I kept leading up to retirement and for the first 9 months post-freedom.  After all, even the most ad-lib writers structure their prose in some fashion ... but in the end, I sat back and let my emotions speak to me.  Here is what I heard:

Family game of Kings in the Corner

1. Letting go of perfection and structure is harder for me than I ever thought possible.  I deliberately bought a simplified Franklin planner that only has room for 10 Daily Tasks during the week and 4 on the weekend.  Nevertheless, my list often extends to a dozen or more, and I certainly don't finish them all.  I am learning I CAN give myself permission to engage in the 'fun' items even if there are still 'work' tasks on the list!  Enjoying the beauty of a moment can be difficult when my mind strays to tomorrow and its events and tasks.  With some effort, I am becoming more effective at re-directing my attention to my current environment and its gifts.

Sunset on Whitefish Lake

2. I am jazzed by the simple things and by traditions.  As I looked back through my blog posts, Fall Frolics, Autumn Antics, October Wind-down, The Spirit is a-Movin' and Treasured Traditions jumped off the page.  So maybe embracing adventure is not my bag; simple traditions ignite my passions.

3. If I could spend all day every day outside, I would.  This is not new and I am in 'outdoor' heaven here in Montana.  Hiking.  Snowshoeing.  Kayaking.  Skiing.  Outdoor dining.  All of which are even more special for the presence of Spousal Unit (also known as Man with Hat) by my side.  Our journeys frequent this blog, and you can be assured of many more in the years ahead.

Man with Hat among bear grass in Jewel Basin

The kids and Spousal Unit with

snow ghosts on Big Mountain

4. Family is a constant, a solid mooring, a source of pride and joy and new experiences.  Some of the posts that brought me to (happy) tears are those about family; we play together and make new memories, all the while recalling the family tales of yester-year.  Our children are adults, and times with them are at once simpler and more complex. 

Strolling San Francisco with 

#1 Daughter

We couldn't be prouder of their achievements - #1 Son has earned Dean's List honors for two semesters (Engineering Physics major!) and landed a teaching assistant position.  #1 Daughter will graduate from college in April, and has secured two jobs that will carry her through the summer months while she locates her first long-term stage management role.

5. Travel is a given that is interwoven with my other passions: family, the outdoors and time with friends.  It would be easy to turn this post into a month-by-month re-cap, but that would be predictable, structured Angie.  Where's the emotion, the importance?  These last 12 months, travel has meant catching up with college friends, making dreams come true for others, discovering new mountains, sharing UK culture and beautiful landscapes, and supporting our kids.

Upper left: Trout Lake Trail, Glacier National Park

Upper right: Palace Hotel in San Francisco

Lower left: Oughtershaw, UK

Lower right: Bow River, Banff, Alberta, Canada

6. Cross-stitch, embroidery and knitting offer an opportunity to relax while investing my love in a piece of lasting beauty.  I would like to produce more pieces, but this activity often gets sacrificed when I run out of time at the end of a full day.  As I look forward, I will consider how I can let go of some of the 'work' tasks on my list to make room for more craft time!

Hawes, UK

7. God is generous.  My relationship with Man with Hat.  Our relationships with our children.  Our log house. Our siblings.  Our friends.  Our health.  The stunning world in which we live.  In my retirement, I have made the time to pray every day.  A healthy chunk of my reflection time involves giving thanks, the other side of prayer.  Almost every week, I can add something new to my gratitude list.

8.  I am finding a niche in our community, from volunteering at the Whitefish Museum to activities at St. Charles Borromeo Church (lector, Eucharistic Minister, fourth grade religion teacher, prayer shawl ministry).  It feels good to give back, and to know people in town as we go about our routines such as visiting the library or eating out.  Looking forward, I know I will have to start over in Kalispell, which is closer to our new home, but I am sure I will maintain some of the relationships established in Whitefish over the last 12 months.

Top: September sunshine 

Bottom: December brings winter white to the same field

Near Whitefish

Scenes along Whitefish Lake and Whitefish River

McDonald Creek -

Glacier National Park

9. For me, blogging has blossomed from a tiny mustard seed of an idea to a tree with many branches.  A creative outlet for me.  (Hopefully) an inspiration to others who may have a down day, or dream of life in the American West.  A diary that is open to the world, allowing me to 'keep in touch' with old and new friends alike. A popularity contest for Man with Hat (he always wants to know the standing of 'his' post on the Popular Post list!)  A source of inspiration for me - my blogging buddies around the world can pick me up, teach me new blog tricks, help me find long-lost embroidery patterns and show me the beauty of the world around them.  A well-spring of affirmation - comments from fellow bloggers and others are priceless; I feel valued as a member of a community teeming in variety and geographic diversity.

10. I am not bored (this is for the people who asked me, before retirement - 'won't you be bored?') 

----o----

It is quite hard to recall the minutiae of my working life, 12 months on.  This quote from Without Reservations: the Travels of an Independent Woman by Alice Steinbach captures my feeling perfectly:

One morning while having breakfast on the King's Road I suddenly realized how foreign my life as a reporter now seemed.  When I thought of it now - the deadlines, the constant search to find material for a story or column, the compulsive need to read three newspapers daily, the fear of getting something wrong or not getting the whole story - it was like imagining a country I haven't visited in some time.

Keld, UK

And that's OK.  Because I have new 'countries' to visit: Having fun before my 'work' is done - especially my craft projects.  Being totally immersed in the moment.  Celebrating simple traditions. 

Stay with me and you'll have an inside track on the journey!

P.S.  I am starting now - I tweaked the content of my Profile/About My Blog, and have changed my background to something totally fun - jelly beans!  I saw it and had to have it!

Linking to

All Seasons

Floral Friday Fotos

Mosaic Monday

Nature Notes

Our World Tuesday

Skywatch Friday

Thankful Thursday