Along the Todd Creek trail

The leaves are starting to develop their fall colors quite rapidly now. This small scene was on the hillside above the Todd Creek trail at about 5,000 feet yesterday. It will be exhilarating to try to keep up with the bursts of color!

There was a new color in the landscape today.

Hike a forest trail with me on a rainy day (2)

(It was a long trail.)

Hike a forest trail with me on a rainy day (1)

Rain dripping from the brim of my hat, tiny rivulets of water making their way down my poncho toward the ground, warm boots grasping footing on a slippery wet trail, fir needles shimmering in the sun-less light, low growing brush showing off its color just before laying a brilliant red and gold blanket on the ground, tree trunks on display like statues in the mist; all along this trail in the clouds. What a beautiful day in the forest!

(Photos were taken October 6, 2011 on USFS trail 340 in the Baldy Mountain roadless area of western Montana.)

Just looking around

(From the top of Mount Headley)

A hazy hike to the mountain

For weeks now there have been wildfires burning in western Montana and Idaho, creating hazy and smoke-filled skies. Despite the smoke, on August 30th my daughter and I hiked the trail to the top of Mount Baldy. The smoke is very obvious in the photos, although there is a little clear sky in the third and fourth photos which were taken toward the north.

View to the east of Mount Baldy

Baldy Lake

My daughter photographing the last of this year’s bear grass blossoms

Playing in a snowbank on the lee side of the ridge

After our descent from the mountain we drove past our house about three miles to watch the action on another new wildfire. Fortunately, this one was near an old road that was still drivable and the State, U.S.F.S. and Rural Fire Departments were able to get engines up to it and along with two helicopters dropping water and a small tanker dropping slurry, it was out in about 12 hours.