Spring Creek
A refreshing place to spend some time on a mid-summer’s day, along this ice-cold stream under the shade of tall old-growth Cedars, where the soft sound of the rushing water is louder than the sound of the summer breeze through the trees. This small stream originates in the TeePee/Spring Creek roadless area in western Montana’s Cabinet Mountains. A mile down stream from where this photo was taken, the entire stream disappears into the ground and its voice becomes silent.
Montana Outdoors 
I could sit there all day and find peace. I’ll have to enjoy your photographic version the same way.
Scott
LikeLike
Comment by stphoto — July 30, 2008 @ 8:08 pm
Wow, is it too cold for wading? Looks delicious.
LikeLike
Comment by Bo — July 30, 2008 @ 8:11 pm
It’s a great place for it, Scott! Thanks for the visit!
LikeLike
Comment by montucky — July 30, 2008 @ 9:14 pm
It’s pretty cool, Bo! You can certainly cool your feet!
LikeLike
Comment by montucky — July 30, 2008 @ 9:15 pm
I think it is fascinating how it disappears into the ground…
LikeLike
Comment by Tabbie — July 30, 2008 @ 9:55 pm
Earlier this spring I tracked it to the exact place where it disappears and it just flows into a depression in some large rocks. The underground channel must not be very large though, because when the spring runoff was heavier, the stream bed was full all of the way down to where it joins another stream. What’s strange is having complete silence at the start of the trail and then suddenly you hear the sound of rushing water. It’s a great sound, actually.
LikeLike
Comment by montucky — July 30, 2008 @ 10:10 pm
I think one of my favorite photographic subjects is water. Oceans, lakes, streams, waterfalls… doesn’t matter. It’s such a great subject.
LikeLike
Comment by wolf — July 30, 2008 @ 11:27 pm
Absolutely beautiful. Was this taken with a time elapse?
LikeLike
Comment by scienceguy288 — July 31, 2008 @ 6:28 am
Water is one of mine too, Wolf. It’s the most precious thing on the planet. When I was a kid along the highways here usually on the mountain passes, there were pipes out of the ground where water was present and small signs showing that they were for drinking water. Those are no longer around anywhere now. What a shame!
LikeLike
Comment by montucky — July 31, 2008 @ 7:11 am
Thanks, Scienceguy!
Yes. It was taken at f/8, ISO 64, .4 sec. I carried a tripod all the way up there just for a couple of shots of the stream.
LikeLike
Comment by montucky — July 31, 2008 @ 7:14 am
Just *gorgeous*!! What a lovely little spot to sit and relax and contemplate. I love hiking with the sound of a stream in my ears–it’s soothing and cheering at the same time.
Thanks!!
(I should be arriving at my new home in Missoula in about three weeks. Soon I’ll be able to do more than just dream about hiking in the beautiful mountains!)
LikeLike
Comment by Sara — July 31, 2008 @ 8:50 am
I sure wish there was a soundtrack to go with that photo,…how nice! A place to sit and just soak in nature’s gifts!
LikeLike
Comment by Cedar — July 31, 2008 @ 11:02 am
WOOOOOWWWW!!!!!
LikeLike
Comment by Sumedh — July 31, 2008 @ 12:28 pm
Breathtaking!!!
LikeLike
Comment by Sandy — July 31, 2008 @ 4:47 pm
Sara,
You will be getting up here at a pretty good time. You will see some hot weather, which isn’t all that good, but it will be cooling off soon and you will still have time to get used to everything and to see a bit of the surrounding area before winter sets in.
I was born and raised in Missoula and spent my first 18 years there, but now I barely know my way around town. We were there today shopping and it was very busy.
I can just bet you’re getting excited. I can remember how I felt when we decided to move back here 15 years ago. We did it in the middle of December though. Your timing is much better!
LikeLike
Comment by montucky — July 31, 2008 @ 6:32 pm
Cedar,
Yes, the sounds are nice too, with both the stream and the wind in the trees. The air feels cool too under the cedars, and of course, the smells! In the canyon there are very pretty cliffs and lots of mosses and plants that you normally don’t see other places. I love this little canyon and it’s close to my home too, so visiting isn’t difficult at all: just about 10 minutes to the trail head.
LikeLike
Comment by montucky — July 31, 2008 @ 6:35 pm
Sumedh,
I think you would enjoy the area!
LikeLike
Comment by montucky — July 31, 2008 @ 6:35 pm
There are a lot of pretty scenes along the creek and very few visitors. I still haven’t hiked the whole trail though; maybe later in the fall when it cools down into the 30’s. The trail gets pretty aggressive a little further on.
LikeLike
Comment by montucky — July 31, 2008 @ 6:38 pm
ooooohhhhhh!!!!
LikeLike
Comment by silken — August 5, 2008 @ 11:50 am