Fall in Zions

On the spur of the moment me an Ma went to Zions park in October (the weekend forecast for Helena was for lows in the single digits and highs in the 20's, so we headed south to Zions where it was in the 70's!!). On our first little walk in the park, this tarantula was the first critter to greet us to the park (for some reason ma didnt want to camp out after seeing this guy). He also cost me dinner because I bet Ma that he wasnt a tarantula.

We saw this cute gecko on our short hike the first day.

Here is Ma on the way up to Observation Point. Its an eight mile 2,100 foot climb to a great view point of the canyon. A good portion of the hike was in the shade, but this was the hot part of the hike.

The view from observation point

Proof that we mad it to the top of observation point

a cool slot canyon on the way to Observation Point

The colors were just starting to change in the park. This was one of the best examples.

One evening we sat and watched sunset on the "Watchman" at the park entrance

We caught sunrise on the three patriarchs (Abraham, Isaac and Joseph) one morning.

We hiked up Angels landing - the last half mile is a real climbing adventure - ma didnt make it all the way (most people dont). Here she is on the famous Walts Wiggles - a set of 21 switchbacks to get you to Scout Landing where you can look straight down 1,000 feet to the canyon floor.

Casey Peak

In late summer me and Ma took a hike to Casey Peak near Helena. its an 8 to 9 mile round trip hike with an elevation gain of 3,400 feet - we made it !!!!. Fortunately we picked one of the coldest days of the summer (as you can see from this picture) otherwise we probably wouldnt have made it. Here we are at the old forest service lookout at the peak.

The clouds literally broke for us during our 15 minutes at the top!

Here is proof that Ma made it to the top!

Paddling Yellowstone Lake

I paddled the south arm of Yellowstone Lake for 4 days in August with friends from West Yellowstone (Connie, Brenda, Scott, Janice and Dave). We had great weather (almost no wind) and only saw three other people after the boat dropped us off at the Promontory. This is Janice, Scott, and Connie in front of Mt. Sheridan.

Fireweed on Peale Island

We saw some huge mushrooms - this one may have been the biggest

Brenda on Peale Island

Connie

Dave in front of Mt. Sheridan

Janice and Scott

Just an old axe head

This was our closest big-game sighting (other than lots of bear scat)...

A sega lilly near Chipmunk Creek

Brenda, Scott, Janice and Connie enjoying Happy Hour and Connies guitar.

Sunset from the east side of the South Arm.

"What mountain is that?"

Connie definately had the best looking boat on the trip (and the only one that isnt yellow)

Here is the group at the end of the trip. The boat captain gave us a bonus detour to Dot Island where we found lots of stinging nettle (hurt for 2 days after) and 8 foot high cow parsnip (but no abandoned cabin)

Bitterroot Hiking

Me and Reb went hiking in the Bitterroots to Johnson Peak (here i am on the way up - it was a bit cold that day as you can tell from the smurf-like gloves I'm wearing) and Blodgett Canyon. This storm produced snow in Glacier National Park on the same weekend.
At the top of Johnson Peak.

some of the pine trees are huge (me for scale)

Dont know what this arch is called but it is on the south side of Blodgett Canyon - it must be 50 to 100 feet high and very thin.

Asters!

Lupine and Paintbrush

Paintbrush!

Backpacking in Glacier

In late July me and Reb backpacked for 3 days in Glacier. We camped at Poia Lake (shown here) and at Lake Elizabeth. The weather was great - it rained the night before the trip and then cleared up for us.

A mile from Lake Elizabeth is Dawn Mist Falls. We got there right around dawn and that seems to be the best time for pictures.

Monkey flowers and Arnica on the west side of Red Gap Pass.

A view from near Ptarmigan Tunnel towards Lake Elizabeth and Belly River Valley

This is sunrise from the deck of the Many Glacier Hotel. A view of Mt Wilbur.

Saw this guy at the Hidden Lake overlook.

Grand Teton death march

this picture is out of order, but we saw this little black bear (with radio collar) at the end of our holly lake hike (see more detail on next picture) about 0.2 miles from the trailhead. He had a friend nearby who was much bigger but didnt get a shot of that one.

Me and Erika went to Grand Teton National Park to do some hiking and wildflower watching. The big hike was one we also did 8 years ago but wanted to do it again to see more wildflowers. It was to Holly Lake which is 6.4 miles (one way) and 2,600 feet above the trailhead. This is a hike Erika wanted to do - I didnt have to talk her into it. Here she is looking chipper at the trailhead (it wasnt cold, all the gear is for the mosquitos)

A view across String Lake at start of the hike

There were some beautiful patches of columbine.

A view of the trail on the way up.

Monkey flowers

Saw a bunch of Heather just before reaching the lake.

Ma at Holly Lake - notice proof of the elevation on the sign (9,410 feet).

Our lunch spot - doesnt get much better than this.

On the way down on the tricky snow sections. Ma made it down without having to inspect the snow up close and personal despite some very slippery footing.

The next day we did a "warm down" walk (only 3 flat miles) to phelps lake in a new addition to the park called the Laurence Rockefeller Preserve - it is an old inholding owned by the rockefellers that was recently given to the park service with a few new flatter trails. Get there early (especially on weekends) because parking is limited and they have a parking attendant to make sure you only park in the designated parking lot.

At phelps lake we saw several types of columbine - spectacular. The rangers think that they were seeded by the previous owners (the Rockefellers)

another columbine

another columbine

another columbine

Saw a pretty bird (species unknown) in its natural habitat - a parking lot.

On the way home we stopped to see grand prismatic spring in Yellowstone.