The Mountains Are Calling, And I Must Go

It's been a crazy weird winter, but I've been enjoying it still. I have been out and about quite often, but I have forgotten to bring my camera on most adventures. Whoops! But here's a glimpse of what I've been up to.

The cold snap right before Christmas made for some fantastic skating! I went out every day I could and after work a time or two as well! It was just toooooo good!

 Mother Nature Zamboni and some crazy clouds

Then we finally got some snow! I took a trip up to Turner for some pre-season poaching and it was INCREDIBLE!

 The old trail sign that used to stand at the summit.

 See that one track? The only on there? Ya, that's mine. :)

 And that's what a happy skier looks like!

 Beautiful sky.

It hasn't snowed enough to do any damage since before Christmas and I've had my fun cruisin' the groomers, so I decided to take a hike up Taylor Peak. We didn't make it to the peak, never really intended to. We probably made it about three miles up the trail, just to the top of the fog line, before we headed back. The days are getting longer, but they're a bit too short for long mountain days still.

It was a frosty wonderland in the areas where the fog band

has settled on the mountains in the days past. It was very surreal!

Underwater picture!

I totally forgot about the underwater photos from the summer. Madison brought her waterproof camera to the lake over labor day and we snapped a few photos, but here's just one. :)

Halloween and a bit of Dia de los Muertos. . . Better late than never!

Betty Rubble

Madison the . . . creepy butterfly?

A windstorm swept through Missoula just as the parade started and pretty much froze us all out. We were so cold after the parade that we only watched a little bit of fire juggling and other circus activities and then we headed to the haunted house! Here's the only image I have from the parade, thanks to Madison!

Late Fall Yaak Attack

Over the weekend, the 'rents and I headed north to the Yaak cabin to meet some of the family and celebrate Dave's birthday. Number 1 had his chainsaw in tow, so we woke up to a world famous Dave breakfast and set out to clear some fallen trees on the property.

Here you see DZ Sr. in his prime habitat.

Burning the slash pile.

 Number 1 cutting the trees into fire logs.

The tractor that served as our jungle gym when we were little.

Choppin' firewood.

Stokin' the bonfire.

Our after work/pre-dinner stroll to the West Fork Falls.

After our stroll we returned to the bonfire to have our pre-dinner "cocktail hour" before we all sat down to a delicious steak and potato dinner with fresh garden carrots from the neighbors and a smorgasbord of desserts, including Riley's homemade apple pie, bacon apple pie, and pumpkin dump cake. Mmmmm.......

Shavin' the Mushroom!

And so it begins! The festivities have officially begun with the carving of the pumpkin. :)

My flower pumpkin.

 The side view - kind of blurry but you get the idea!

Piano Pat!

Deb and I took a drive to Great Falls a few weekends ago to visit our friend Helen, catch up with Kelly, and see the Sip n' Dip Lounge!

 Miss Piano Pat herself! 

 The fabulous art of Great Falls.

Here you see the Rainbow Trout Fishalo.

 Sippin' on Green Rivers and milkshakes at Snyder Drug.

 The bartender at the Sip n' Dip would NOT allow

Sheela to go swimming with the mermaids,

so Helen and I took matters into our own hands!

 Piano Pat in action! 

The beautiful Rocky Mountain Front.

The last days of summer . . .

This post a long time comin'! The last weekend of warm summer sunshine was filled with lots of outdoor activities! My friend Megan and I took a stroll up to Lower Geiger Lake and then headed for an afternoon float down the Kootenai. Awesome summer day!

Sheela at the lake.

There's a whoooole lotta pink happenin' there!

Moose or elk trax? Sheela for scale!

The fat fish that Meg caught!