Mosaic Monday #145: July Jumble

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!

   

Mosaic Monday

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. 

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Mosaic Monday #66: Spring Fever

Easter wreath for our church

It may be only February 9, but recent events have conspired to push my mind (and heart) forward to Spring.  Reading your blog posts, sprinkled with pictures of crocus emerging from the earth.  Meeting with the church Flower Committee to plan for Lent, especially the pretty pastel colors that signify Easter morning.  Discussing summer camping plans with Spousal Unit, since the application deadline for Glacier National Park is March 15. 

I reached for my hiking journal, and promptly got lost among the wildflowers and lakes.  Who knows how much time passed before I re-focused and decided to share two excursions from Spring 2019?  (My structured self pushed to write about a hike on September 6, 2017 - in chronological order, it's the next one for a post, but you whimsical, will-o-the-wisp types will be happy to know that heart ruled over mind this time.  After all, these Spring hikes fit the theme and my mood.)  Enough of the preamble, let's hike!

Thursday, April 18, 2019 - Apgar Lookout - 9 miles out and back (Entry 45 in the journal)

Our first hike of 2019 was designed to initiate our training with our new backcountry camping gear, so we didn't mind repeating a hike we had previously completed with our son in May 2017.  I carried 15 pounds and Spousal Unit hoisted 25, and we were both comfortable, even when we encountered snow from the last switchback to the summit.  At points, we could walk on the edges of the trail, but at the higher elevations, the snow was easily 5 feet deep.

Near the summit

And how do I know the depth?  At the summit, I went to use the pit toilet.  No luck.  I couldn't get the door open, but I could have walked directly onto the roof from the snow pile!  I wish now that I had taken a picture of it!

View of Lake McDonald from the summit

Given this hike was nearly a month earlier than the previous time we came this way, flowers, plants and animals were not as abundant.  Some buds were just beginning to pop.

Traction is often more critical going downhill, since gravity is "helping" you, so we strapped on our Traxx and reversed course.  In no time we crossed the bridge and skirted the paddock for the trail ride horses (summer only).  At this elevation,  life was a little more evident - deer, Columbian ground squirrels and a mountain bluebird shared the quiet meadow.  I couldn't help but imagine that they were enjoying the peace which exists before the tourists/horses arrive. 

On our way home, we stopped at Glacier Distilling.  Although we have passed it often, this was our first visit.  A craft distillery and tasting room nestled in the foothills of Glacier National Park, it specializes in small-batch whiskeys that "reflect the rugged beauty of our surroundings".  So good!

Bottom right: "Fireside Chat" cocktail - Fireweed Cherry Bourbon,

blood orange, charred rosemary shrub, sparkling soda

We went home with a botte of the Fireweed Cherry Bourbon!

Thursday, May 23, 2019 - Finger Lake Trailhead - 7 miles total (Entry 46 in the journal)

Our training regimen continued with this hike, featuring a shorter distance and less elevation but with more weight in our packs (18 for me and 30 for Spousal Unit).  I was thrilled that we quickly came across a huddle of several Calypso Orchids. (See 3/9/18, 10/1/17 and 7/1/17 for more pictures of my favorite Montana flower.)  Our strategy to choose a hike at a lower altitude in order to avoid snow and see more wildlife was already paying dividends!  This hike also boasts three lakes within a short distance, which can be beneficial when hosting guests with a moderate level of fitness.  So, this trip served as reconnaissance for the future. Win, win, win!!!

We originally planned to go to Finger Lake first, but the signpost we expected was missing, so going straight led us to Lagonis Lake. 

Flowers were abundant, drawing critters such as this caterpillar.

Middle: Star-flowered False Solomon's Seal    Right: Common Paintbrush

Upper left: Blue Violet    Upper right: Silverberry

Bottom: Common Paintbrush

At this low elevation, we were surprised to see beargrass.  And it had already formed heads for blooming.

We re-traced our steps, locating the turn we missed.  On the way to Finger Lake, you pass through a meadow teeming with desert parsley, shooting stars and blue-eyed mary.

Middle: Shooting Stars     Right: Hearleaf Arnica turns its face to the sun

Finger Lake features a dramatic flat rock outcropping, an ideal spot for snacking while overlooking the lake.  Serviceberry bloomed profusely, framing the lake with frothy white.

Casting a final glance back at the idyllic scene above, we sauntered along the trail to the final lake in this triple crown of jewels - Hole in the Wall Lake.  The trail traverses a marshy area, and thankfully a log boardwalk was built in 2015 to get over it with dry feet.  As you approach, you catch a whiff of the pungent aroma emanating from the prolific skunk cabbage in the marsh. 

Middle: Skunk Cabbage   Left and Right: Unidentified plant that was also numerous in the marsh

The trail climbed steeply from the marsh, but only briefly before flattening and leading to the lake nestled against a stunning backdrop of sheer cliffs with red striations on the opposite shore.  

Spousal Unit tried his hand at fly-fishing, but it was difficult with the tree-crowded shoreline.  We employed our water filter for the first time to prepare our lunch and refill our water bottles.  The Mesquite BBQ Seasoned Chicken with Beans and Rice was terrible - too much tomato and powdery tasting.  This certainly would not be one of the meals we would take into the backcountry!

We arrived back at the trailhead by 3pm, which allowed plenty of time for a stop at the Stillwater Bar.  Cheek to jowl with the Stillwater River, it's a terrific setting to sip an adult beverage and re-cap the day's adventures.  And to dream about the hiking adventures to come!

Mosaic Monday

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. 

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Mosaic Monday #18 - Deep Freeze February

Northwest Montana just wrapped up the coldest February on record since 1936.  What does one do when the temperature peaks at less than 15 degrees Fahrenheit?  Add an extra layer or two, folks, and get on out there.  Even my oldest sister saw fit to visit us from Cincinnati during the month.  Check out these adventures in the great white, frigid north.

ONE: CARVING UP THE MOUNTAIN

Skiing and snowboarding on Big Mountain is a weekly event, especially given our roles as Ambassadors for Whitefish Mountain Resort.  On one of my workdays, we took my sister to the 'office'.  Visitors can buy a walk-on pass for $24 and ride Chair 1 to the Summit.  Unfortunately, on that day, visibility was poor.

On a clear day, the mountains of Glacier National Park

would be in the background

At least she got a sense of our responsibilities as Ambassadors, and observed our operating environment first hand.  She worked her cross-stitch and chatted with skiers stopping into Summit House for a warmer-upper.  In the photo to the right, the temperature on the sign is unclear, but I recall it was minus 4 degrees at the time of that photo.

TWO: SNOW SHOEING

We thought we might take my sister to Glacier National Park to see the contrast between summer and winter (she had previously visited the Park in August 2017).  So, in preparation for her visit, we did some reconnaissance.  At this time of year, the Going to the Sun Road is plowed only as far as Lake McDonald lodge. 

Beyond that point,  cross-country skiers as well as snow-shoers can peacefully traverse a road that is bumper to bumper with traffic in the summer.  On the day of our investigation, everyone was using the same trail, when protocol calls for snow-shoers and hikers to be in a separate track from the skiers.

So Spousal Unit and I performed a little bit of community service by breaking trail for 2.5 miles.  It was quite the workout so we took turns at the lead.  It was amazing how much easier it is when following someone, and even more so on the return journey.  It was gratifying to see other snow-shoers using our trail as we re-traced our steps.  








After some consultation with my sister, we decided to limit our snow-shoeing to a trek around our property.

THREE: HIBERNATING

Middle left: Josie helps my sister with her Monsters quilt

My sister's stated goal for her trip was to hibernate, so we worked hard (!) to make that happen.








Hibernating is easier when you have Spousal Unit for your chef - no need to go out to a gourmet restaurant when these dishes are on offer.

Top: spaghetti with Brussel sprouts

Left: Chicken tortellini and home-made focaccia

Right: Goetta and eggs

We did take a couple of walks on the roads of our neighborhood, and I couldn't resist the temptation to snap the shot below of the entrance to our neighborhood.  The sign actually reads North Hodge Creek Reserve!!!

We also introduced my sister to a couple of "institutions" around here - Moose's and the Montana Club.  She marveled at the Bloody Mary at the Montana Club; the one she was served upon returning home was "no comparison".  I told her she would just have to come back!

Moose's

Left and middle: Montana Club; Right: back in Ohio

FOUR: VIEWING WILDLIFE

No monthly summary is complete without a list of wildlife that we have witnessed.  Although deer, and trail cam photos of them, are ubiquitous, what makes the photos more interesting at this time of year is the depth of the snow, or catching them plodding through a snowstorm.

I am currently monitoring three trail cams, two of which belong to a future neighbor. In photos taken on February 3, I observed two coyotes that were captured on my trail cam at 3.14 pm, and then on my neighbor's trail cam at 3.30.  I am sure it is the same two.  What do you think?

Of special note this month is our ongoing "battle" with Mr. Bunny.  Earlier in the winter, we placed chicken wire around our burning bushes because I could see from tracks in the snow, as well as nibble marks on the shrubs, that Mr. Bunny had taken a liking to them.

A week ago, I noticed tracks and bunny kaka INSIDE the chicken wire - the snow is now deep enough to enable him to jump over the wire.  Argh.  So, we determined to pull the wire cages up higher.  As I rounded the front porch, heading for the last cage, there he was, inside it.  He jumped out and bounded onto the porch, WITH A BRANCH OF THE BURNING BUSH IN HIS MOUTH.  The cheek - he sat there and munched it as I went about adjusting that cage!

Left: track to Mr. Bunny's den           Middle: branch broken off bush by Mr. Bunny  

Right: Mr. Bunny in front of his den

Thwarted, he has now turned his attention to my dried arrangement on the front porch.  Did you know rabbits would eat pine and juniper?  I didn't.  When I got home yesterday, he was basking in the sun where the porch joins the house.  Maybe this was his way of thumbing his nose at me?  He didn't give a lick that I was taking pictures ...

FIVE: DOG SLEDDING

Knowing what I know now, I wish we had taken my sister dog sledding … but it means she has at least one reason to return in winter!  Dog Sled Adventures Montana is a family-friendly operation, with Alaskan sled dogs that are just hankering to pull you through 12 miles of winter wonderland.  The mushers choose from nearly 130 Alaskan huskies to staff the 10 spots on each sled (each dog only does one run a day; most days the sleds go out at 10 am, 1 pm and 3.30 pm).  As you can see and hear in the video below, the dogs are all ASKING to be chosen.

But once the sleds took off, the dogs in the yard all fell silent.  The next video is just a small slice of our ride - when we weren't talking to Hannah, our driver, the only sound was the swish of the sled through the snow and her commands to the dogs.  Lightly falling snowflakes added to the romance of the experience.  We were astonished by the energy and stamina of the dogs, not to mention their personalities - that entertainment alone was worth the price of admission!  

I suppose I can put up with the deep freeze if it means making memories like these.

Mosaic Monday

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.  

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter