Today was another day spent cutting firewood in the high country. The reward for the hard day’s work was a cord of great dry Lodgepole Pine and a chance to see the Western Larch in their bright Fall uniforms… miles and miles of Larch.
(The total forest area in these photos is over 400 square miles. The density of the Larch is obvious, and that’s a lot of Larch!)
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Truly that’s a lot of Larch! I’m not sure I’ve ever even seen a larch tree in real life, but I drive up Larch Street just about every day of the week. 😛
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Comment by Tabbie — October 28, 2008 @ 10:18 pm
What a vista! Love those shots of acres and acres of gold!
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Comment by Cedar — October 29, 2008 @ 5:01 am
Thanks so much for the posts. I am from Northwestern Montana (Troy/Libby area) and am currently in Romania. I have been homesick for the fall colors and your footage is a wonderful infusion of energy for me. Glad I stumbled on your site.
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Comment by Beth — October 29, 2008 @ 8:48 am
I think there’s a close relative in your area, Tabbie , the Tamarack. I’m not sure I could tell the difference between them. Out here, they’re very important trees.
I was cutting wood yesterday in an area that was the site of a huge fire in 2000, and it’s interesting to see that most of the trees that survived the fire are big Larch: they have thick bark and no low branches.
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Comment by montucky — October 29, 2008 @ 8:50 am
I always look forward to seeing the gold too, Cedar! I remember when I was very young how important they were to my mother too.
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Comment by montucky — October 29, 2008 @ 9:21 am
Thanks for visiting, Beth! I spent many years away from western Montana too, and I know what you mean!
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Comment by montucky — October 29, 2008 @ 9:23 am
Lovely pictures, as always. That landscape is particularly breathtaking with those fall leaves. Something about that first picture too…
cheers
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Comment by Evan — October 29, 2008 @ 12:57 pm
I was really stunned on my trip out west, seeing the yellow of the trees (though where we were they were aspen) sandwiched between the snow capped peaks and the evergreens at the base.
Your mountains, too, are so beautiful, Montucky. Now that I’ve visited this kind of country, I rather long for it year-round. Maybe a pipe-dream, maybe not…
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Comment by Bo — October 29, 2008 @ 4:46 pm
The Larch really put on a display, don’t they! Thanks for the visit, Evan!
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Comment by montucky — October 29, 2008 @ 6:24 pm
Bo,
A large part of the beauty is the diversity created by the mountains and the variety of climate regions they create. There’s always beauty there for anyone who looks for it. Personally, I would not live anywhere else.
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Comment by montucky — October 29, 2008 @ 6:28 pm
Oh, that’s just *gorgeous*!! There’s something extra special, it seems, about the fall color here. Every day is new and gorgeous!
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Comment by gradschoolsara — October 30, 2008 @ 8:33 am
I know what you mean, Sara! I think it’s the wildness of the country imparting a sort of mystique to the scenes.
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Comment by montucky — October 30, 2008 @ 8:43 am
Beautiful photos, especially the first one!
I’m with the commenters who have yet to see a larch, at least to my knowledge.
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Comment by Adam R. Paul — October 31, 2008 @ 9:39 am
As Shakespeare said, “Beware the Miles of Larch”.
Sound advice and great photos.
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Comment by Pinhole — October 31, 2008 @ 9:59 am
I guess they don’t grow south of Oregon, Adam, although I have no idea why not. I’m sure you would enjoy seeing them!
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Comment by montucky — October 31, 2008 @ 4:38 pm
Pinhole,
His warning was not necessary. Today I drove right through the are of those photos with no ill effects… yet.
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Comment by montucky — October 31, 2008 @ 4:40 pm