 |
| In late March, me, Ma and Jolie went up to Freezeout Lake (80 miles north of Helena) to view the migration stopping point for tens of thousands of snow geese. It was a cloudy and cold day but we did see lots of birds including these snow geese just east of the lake (the lake is in the background) |
 |
| Here is Jolie encouraging a few snow geese to fly |
 |
| Some more snow geese in front of some colorfull trees |
 |
| In March, me and Ma went to Seeley Lake for snowshoeing on what turned out to be a sunny calm day after a storm - the snow on the trees didnt stick around long after we got this photo. |
 |
| Jolie and I rented the East Fork Bitteroot Guard Station for a weekend. So much snow that the forest service truck broke its plow and we had to drag our gear (on our backs and in a little plasti sled) and stuff 200+ yards to the cabin and then, since the plowed road was only one vehicle wide back it out for 3/4 mile to where the road was wide enough to park. On the way in we had to battle a snow storm, deer, elk (very very close) and a moose. We had to repeat the process on the way out. Great cabin once we got there. It snowed the entire time we were there - very lightly - but it never really stopped - about 3 inches per day. Cabin has an oven so we were able to make some good meals inclued pizza from scratch. |
 |
| One of the cutest forest service outhouses there is. The inside is all whitewashed and very clean. |
 |
| the snow was so light and no wind, it stuck even to nearly vertical skis that were left out overnight before a nice ski from the cabin up the east fork bitterroot trail - great Moose country but we didnt see any during the ski. |
 |
| one very large icicle on the side of the cabin |
 |
| the snow was very deep (there is that outhouse again) |
 |
| on the way home, we skied at Mt. Haggin - it was 10 degrees at the parking lot and 40 degrees after we climbed several hundred feet due to an inversion |
 |
| Ma is thinking about buying a condo on the highest point in Helena - future burgermeister meisterburger!! |
 |
| Add caption |
 |
| View from driveway to the east |
 |
| View to east from front entrance |
 |
| View entering the condo looking through dining room and living room |
 |
| View to the east from the deck |
 |
| Northeast view from the deck |
 |
| North view from the deck |
 |
| north view from the deck |
 |
| southeast view from the deck |
 |
| Master Bedroom view |
 |
| front entrance |
 |
| Plan view of house (reversed) |
 |
| view of backside of house |
 |
| Herb and I decided to tick one thing off the bucket list - we went up to Seeley Lake and rented snowmobiles. We went about 50 miles in the trails around Seeley. Herb got as fast as 60 mph, I was only comfortable up to 50 mph. Definately a blast to try, but no reason to do it again :) |
 |
| Here is Herb at one of the view spots on the trail. Was in the 30's so very comfortable with mulitple layers on. Notice how Herbs snow mobile is upright and looking very tame - it wasnt always that way. That Bronco threw herb off three times - he even got it to roll over one time (sorry - I forgot to get pictures of that). No injuries - to the Herb and more importantly the machine (you break it - you bought it) |
 |
| Herb decided he wants to trade in the Jeep for this much badder toy!! |
 |
| Me and Ma went down to Hyalite Reservoir near Bozeman in January to enjoy a snowshoe on a glorious sunny day |
 |
| This is the sunset we saw just south of Helena on our way back from snowshoeing and big burgers in Manhattan |
