Central Montana & Eric's Birthday

For my birthday Jolie and I went to the Livingston area - this is near Elephant Mtn the end of our first hike.

We rented this cabin on Mill Creek south of Livingston. Not much to look at, but it had a back porch overlooking Mill Creek - a very relaxing place to enjoy the birthday cheese cake and the bacon-wrapped filet mignon Jolie made for me.

Our second hike was up to Pine Creek Lake - this is the lower falls near the trailhead. Hike was over 5 miles and 3,400 feet of elevation gain, but it was worth it...

Ahhh... finally made it Pine Creek Lake after Jolie cracked the whip to get my tired butt up the trail

A nice view down the Pine Creek valley.

Our last day on the way home we stopped south of Bozeman for a short hot hike up Storm Castle - great views.

Swan Mountains backpack

In mid July, Jolie and I did a short backpack trip along the Alpine trail in the Swan Mountains (Montana). We saw a LOT of glacier lilies and had planned to get to Trinkus Lake about 20 miles from our starting point, Napa Ridge. However, when you see lots of glacier lilies their is often snow nearby...

... the snow doesnt look to bad here but a bunch of it was right on the trail

As was this snow bank

More snow and a cool double snow bridge near our first camp

and more snow. But the views were beautiful all along the trail..

Great views on way to our second camp

Crevice Lake - our second camp was beautiful but was very windy too.

Morning at Crevice Lake

The wind died down and we had some warm moments - lunch above Gildard Lake. Jolie thought I needed painted toenails for this trip ... hmmmm

One of the more spectacular views

View of Swan Mountain from our third and last camp.

Jolie enjoying coffee and the first sunny and warm morning of the trip.

Biking Going to the Sun Road

Jolie and I made it up to Glacier to hike and ride Going to the Sun Road before it opened to cars in early July - the first weekend of the summer that had good weather. Here is Jolie riding past one of the portals in the stone tunnel on the road (Heavens Peak in the background)

View down the valley from Going to Sun Road

Proof we made it to the top. Weather was about as good as you could hope for.

Aview from near Logan Pass

We hike to the Numa Ridge Lookout in NW portion of Glacier. This is sunrise on Bowman Lake.

The view from the Numa Ridge Lookout

Beargrass and Bowman Lake in background

Once again - Bowman Lake on our way down.

Biking the Coeur D'Alene Trail

Jolie and I biked the Couer D'Alene Trail in May (a 73 mile paved trail that runs across Idaho). We road about 65 miles of it, stayed a couple of nights in Harrison, ID and then biked back. The return trip was much tougher as our butts werent used to long road rides and the wind was blowing in our faces most of the way. This picture is the day we started at the trailhead.

The first day was unusually warm and dry for May - Jolie is enjoying lunch next to the creek

The view of Lake Couer D'Alene from the small house we rented

Middle of the COVID issue, here is Jolie ready to hold up the local pizza joint in Harrison :)