Autumn arrived in Montana right on schedule. On September 22, low clouds shrouded the hills and rain pattered on and off, accumulating to six-tenths of inch - a deluge by western standards and the first rain since August 27. The thermometer stretched toward 60 degrees, but that may have been aspirational. Overnight, the aspen leaves are more gold than green. I was suffering from a bit of a cold; snuggled under a quilt on the couch. What better time to look back at the highlights of summer?
Note: I am accustomed to seeing the Sego or Mariposa Lily, which is smaller and pure white, but the Sagebrush Mariposa Lily was a stunning new species!
As long as we are in the natural world, let us continue.
In June and July, Swallowtail butterflies were common visitors in the garden. Check out these videos. In the second one, the butterfly is missing the bottom part of one wing ... hard work pollinating all these flowers!
Birthdays always provide a convenient excuse (as if I need one) to draw!
When we are on Skype calls with #1 Son, the conversation at some point touches on newsworthy events, quite often of a political nature. #1 Son is well informed and asks questions that can sometimes make you uncomfortable and certainly make you think. In a June call, he pointed us to Tony Benn and the Five Essential Questions of Democracy. Tony Benn was a British parliamentarian who died in 2014 at age 88. To quote the article at the link below, Benn was "a tireless promoter of a power-to-the-people ethic that placed its faith in the great mass of humanity rather than billionaires, media moguls and political powerbrokers."
Benn believed that those in positions of economic, social and political power should always be asked these 5 questions: "What power have you got?" "Where did you get it from?" "In whose interests do you use it?" "To whom are you accountable?" "How do we get rid of you?" "Anyone who cannot answer the last of those questions does not live in a democratic system," he explained. "Only democracy gives us that right. That is why no one with power likes democracy," he would continue. "And that is why every generation must struggle to win it and keep it." Wise words in 2014, and seeming quite prescient. (If you would like to read the whole article, here is the link. And if you want to test your civics knowledge, consider any elected position and try to answer the questions for it.)
Pioneer League baseball came to the Flathead Valley this summer, and everyone is asking why didn't this happen sooner? Easy access to Flathead Field, not a bad seat in the house, appropriate (read: gorgeous) views of the Whitefish Range, and baseball snacks. What more could you want? One July evening, the game went on a 30-minute weather delay. And no wonder. Check out these skies. I have never seen cloud formations like this. In the end, we left the stadium, anticipating a LONG delay. And, this is a storm that dropped ping pong and golf ball-sized hail on the nearby town of Kalispell. You still see "Hail Repair" signs across town, especially at auto repair shops.
You can click on the photos below to enlarge if you wish.
July also marks the birthday of Spousal Unit. I decided to try my hand at Trifle, a classic British cold dessert of sponge cake and fruit covered with layers of custard, jelly and cream.
This was not a traditional Trifle, and I would change several aspects of the outcome, but it was still DELICIOUS!!!
And here's the birthday card!
I have written about my native garden, and my attempt to let the natural ecosystem work without interference. I was intrigued to see these birds eating something off the Goldenrod. The plants were not in seed at the time, so my only conclusion is they were picking off the aphids that I had "allowed" to stay. Good for them and good for me ...
At the end of July, we were tickled to be visited by a long-term neighbor from our former neighborhood near Cleveland, Ohio (Cleveland represents - we have had 7 visits from that area). Neighbor - you know who you are! Loved having you and I am already looking forward to our adventures next summer! Here are a selection of photos from his visit.
Two photos from Kootenai Falls.
We take almost everyone to the Highline Trail in Glacier National Park. With limited time, it delivers maximum views for minimal effort (relatively) and almost always has wildlife in store. Once again, the Highline kept its stellar reputation.
First time I have ever seen a Columbine with this pink/yellow combination.
I swear that we did not pay this mountain goat to walk right in front of us near Grinnell Glacier Overlook!
At Granite Park Chalet, we saw a mule train resting before its onward journey. I knew mule trains are used to stock the Chalet in the summer, but this is the first time we saw one.
But by far, this was my favorite picture of the day!
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. Tuesday (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.
I am so blessed with adventures in our beloved Montana that I doubt I will ever lack for blog content! I have already penned 5 posts about our July activities, and yet I have more to share from last month. It's a bit of a potpourri, a hodgepodge, a mish-mash. Welcome to the July jumble!
My nephew took the picture at left - isn't he a terrific photographer? He was so kind during his visit - always asking if we would like a photo! And sometimes, he snapped one from behind us. Awww ....
Kootenai Falls and Ross Creek Cedars are go-to sights when we have visitors. On the day we explored the area, it was red hot, and ideal for dipping toes (or more) into the glacial waters of the Kootenai River.
Montana hosts are required to ensure tourists enjoy their share of huckleberry products while in the state. Head Chef made his special huckleberry cheesecake, and we also took my nephew to the Huckleberry Patch in Hungry Horse, famous for its huck pie and huck ice cream - double the fun!
Before we began our back-country camping trip with my nephew (see previous posts here, here and here), we navigated the white-knuckle twists of the mountainous Going to the Sun Road. I have lost count of the number of times we have gazed upon the majesty of Glacier National Park from this road, but I can assure you I never tire of it.
The summit of the Road is Logan Pass, equally renowned for access to the Highline Trail and the Hidden Lake Trail, AND the difficulty of obtaining a spot in the parking lot! I won't bore you with the details of finding not just one but TWO spots; let's focus on the photos and videos of the 3 mile round trip "hike" to the Hidden Lake Overlook.
You might (reasonably) surmise from the photo above that no-one else was around; in reality, this is one of the most popular hikes in the park since the views are expansive, the distance to the Overlook is relatively short and the trail is (mostly) flat. So, it takes some ingenuity and patience to obtain shots without any people!
In the summer, it is quite common to see mountain goats along this trail, and this day did not disappoint; we must have seen at least a dozen goats, including kids born in the spring. Sometimes it even seems that they are posing for you!
Check out the videos!
At the Overlook, a circular boardwalk provides plenty of space for hikers to linger for a snack with a view.
On the way back, I snapped this picture of a meadow strewn with glacier lilies. As one of the first flowers to emerge in the spring, this is evidence that it wasn't too long ago that snow still covered this area. (And this picture was taken on July 8!)
We headed down from the summit of Logan Pass, toward St. Mary's. Along the way, we stopped for a short stroll to Sun Point. I am eternally grateful to my nephew for suggesting a photo op featuring a hug, and then taking this picture (the background really makes the shot, don't you think?) We might be getting this one framed!
Our next milestone was Many Glacier, to drop off my vehicle at the end of the trail (where we would emerge 4 days later). In the past, we have been fortunate to see bears along the road, but at a safe distance. Once again, we were not disappointed; a mama black bear and her baby were grazing in the meadow. They are hard to see in the video below, but be patient and they will appear!
On July 31, Spousal Unit and I went out for dinner to celebrate our 30th wedding anniversary (it actually falls on August 3, but he would be headed to Alaska that day for salmon fishing). A fitting end to the month, and hopefully the beginning of another adventurous 30 years!
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. Tuesday (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.
Hello everyone - thanks for returning after a week's break from Mosaic Monday! The visit from #1 Daughter and her boyfriend was memorable, and extra special since #1 Son is already here and joined in the frolic when he wasn't occupied with job search activities. On their first day, it was already mid-afternoon by the time we got home from the airport, so we made no plans other than showing The Boyfriend around the house and property. Vacation calorie intake began in earnest with a afternoon snack of huckleberry pie and ice cream. (And of course, Head Chef prepared a dinner fit for kings - ribs, smoked turkey, cornbread, salad.)
As we planned the activities for their visit, the duo asked us to challenge them physically. "Wear us out," The Boyfriend said. So, the next day, the Montana workout began. Kayaking on the river sounds simple enough, but it requires logistics such as dropping off one vehicle at the takeout point, and ensuring that the right gear is in the correct vehicle. We managed to get all five of us out of the house on time, but the takeout point was not well-marked, and we arrived at our first destination, Polebridge, with 2 rigs. Oh well. Not the end of the world. We snagged some home-made baked goods from the famous Polebridge Mercantile, settled all of us into one vehicle and drove the short six miles to Bowman Lake. Its spectacular surroundings never get old.
We backtracked to the put-in point near Polebridge, and left the "kids" to inflate the kayaks and pack raft while Spousal Unit and I took his truck to the takeout at Coal Creek. A Mercantile member of staff gave us directions, and in no time we had returned to inspect the boats and were ready to float nine miles of the North Fork of the Flathead River. At this time of year, low water means rocks and log jams are nearer to the surface, requiring vigilance and carefully chosen channels. Early in the trip, Spousal Unit and #1 Daughter collided with a tree and tipped over, but in such shallow water that it was not a major event. It was a warm, blue-sky day and we made one stop to swim.
We had hoped for smoke-free skies during their stay, and we got our wish. Haze can make for interesting sunsets, but I would prefer my air without particulate! That night we enjoyed tasty lasagne on the deck, with an ever-changing sky for entertainment.
On Day 2, Spousal Unit and The Boyfriend went fishing while #1 Daughter and I engaged in retail therapy followed by a picnic at the beach. In keeping with the "workout" theme, fishing entailed a 2.5 mile hike (one way) to Lupine Lake, and paddling a pack raft as needed throughout the day. Lifting a margarita at the beach was a little less strenuous!!! The Boyfriend caught a half-dozen fish, and perhaps more importantly (from my perspective), he saw a bull moose on the way to the trailhead. We call that visitor's luck!!!
Now, Day 3 would be the true test. Destination: the Highline Trail in Glacier National Park. 13.4 miles and 2700 feet elevation gain. I have written about this hike in a previous post, in which I note that we left the house at 6.45 AM in order to secure a parking spot at the Loop and catch a shuttle. That was 2017 and this is 2020 - departure was advanced to 5.30 AM. Glacier has become an extremely popular place, and the fact that half of the Park is closed has exacerbated parking issues. Even with 45 extra minutes, we still experienced parking challenges! But, as always, it was worth the anxiety.
It was lightly raining as we began our adventure; later in the day, with the hot sun and dusty trail conditions, we would have welcomed that precipitation! Immediately, the hike began to deliver on our expectations, with a mountain goat, massive cliffs, and abundant flowers along the Garden Wall. It had been at least 10 years since #1 Daughter had done this hike, so both members of the duo could be heard exclaiming over the beauty, or shaking their heads at the wonder of the views.
Although this was my fourth time experiencing the Highline, we typically go earlier in the summer. I was fascinated by the difference in the flowers one month later in the season.
This hike offered another first for all of us - the Grinnell Glacier Overlook. After seven miles, intrepid explorers have the "opportunity" to ascend more than 900 feet in less than nine-tenths of a mile. In keeping with the challenge to "wear us out", it was a no-brainer. The climb is mostly steady, but there are sections that are very steep. I am pretty sure that we were pausing to catch our breath rather than letting other people have the right-of-way as they descended the narrow path that pitches straight down if you take a wrong step! And here is the reward!
You may have already noticed the lack of other people in my photos. Trust me, that requires some patience and some camera agility. The Highline Trail is an incredibly popular hike; I would guess that we shared it with at least 250 people that day. And yet, you can still reliably see wildlife - goats, marmots, bighorn sheep. And this time, we saw a new animal for me - a pika. No picture, but so adorable!
Shortly after our descent from the Grinnell Glacier Overlook Trail, we arrived at the Granite Park Chalet. The west side of the building offered the only shade, and we sank onto the benches for a well-earned break. Built 1914-1915 by the Great Northern Railway to provide comfortable back country accommodations, it was the last chalet constructed by the railroad. Listed as a National Historic Landmark, it is one of only two back country chalets that have survived and it continues to provide lodging to adventurers from around the world.
Are you still with me? Yep, now you know how the duo felt. Four miles of down, down, down still remained to close out this hike. But along the way, you earn fabulous views of the terrain that we had already traversed. Can you see the faint line in the center of the picture below? That is the trail to Grinnell Glacier Overlook.
Would a close-up help?
The switchbacks seemed endless and only the thought of the creek at the end kept the team moving. Upon arrival, all of us threw off our boots and socks and plunged knee-deep into the glacier-cold water. Aaahhh. The Boyfriend didn't hesitate to go all the way in - after all, ice baths are de rigueur for athletes! He was smiling even as he professed that the trail had "kicked his patootie". Mission accomplished!
Even pro athletes need rest days, and as master vacation planners, we had the forethought to schedule nothing for Day 4. Some folks caught up on podcasts, or read a book. The kids raided the toy closet and we played Scattergories, Sequence and Euchre. I recently began a new cross-stitch project that will become a throw pillow for #1 Daughter and The Boyfriend. What a treat to sit on the deck and stitch! We closed out the evening around the firepit, with s'mores to boot.
And suddenly, we only had one full day remaining. Day 5 began with a short (2.7 miles one way) but technical hike to Leigh Lake. Steep sections and rock scrambles keep your focus sharp! (Spousal Unit and I completed this trail on May 9 and it was covered with snow. So watch for a future post with comparison shots.) For this post, I will just show you the family shot at the lake, courtesy of a fellow hiker.
From there, it's a short ride down the road to Kootenai Falls and the Swinging Bridge. Once again, it was a warm day and the cool waters of the river were a welcome respite. We marveled at the falls, once the site of filming for the River Wild. The water flow seemed higher than normal, and I said the same, reflecting that it is odd for the time of year. Upon further thought, it must mean that they are releasing more water from the dam upstream. Check out the video.
#1 Daughter and I enjoyed ice creams as Spousal Unit drove home. Ah, summer! The duo treated us to dinner that night at the Kila Pub, and everyone was sleepy by the time we pulled into our driveway. Sigh, the end of another family visit. My only consolation is that I am sure the mountains will soon be calling them back!
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. Tuesday (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.
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