Mount Baldy

The key feature in the Baldy Mountain roadless area is Mount Baldy itself. It is about 80 miles northwest of Missoula, Montana in the southern end of the Cabinet Mountains. At 7,464 feet, it is the tallest peak in thirty or so surrounding miles.

Here’s a photo of it from the west, taken in May from the Weeksville Divide area at the edge of the Teepee-Spring Creek roadless area:

And here’s one from the south, taken from the Patrick’s Knob roadless area a week later:

Its peak is 5,000 feet above the valley floor.

Nearly overlooked

Nearly hidden among the tall grasses on a mountainside a couple of weeks ago was a tiny speck of pink. Upon closer inspection it turned out to be this little bouquet. The whole top of this plant is only a quarter of an inch across. There is often great beauty in small, quiet, unassuming things.

Collomia linearis,   narrow-leaf mountain-trumpet