After taking advantage of a clear, sunny morning to finish up some work on the house, getting it ready for winter, I went out for a bike ride this afternoon and encountered some nice fall colors. It’s so good to see a more normal fall after the rather drab one we had last year. These photos were taken along a one mile stretch of a stream (Lynch Creek) about five miles from my home.
Montana Outdoors 
Beautiful-looking cottonwoods in there!
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Comment by columbiahighlands — October 24, 2011 @ 9:19 pm
Yes, there are lots of cottonwoods in the bottomland around here. These are in full color, while others a few miles away are barely starting to turn.
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Comment by montucky — October 24, 2011 @ 10:14 pm
what do you think about adopting a 46 year old? i sooo want to live there! i don’t eat much =o)
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Comment by Sandy — October 24, 2011 @ 9:25 pm
I think you woud fit in well here, Sandy. We have a daughter older than you and one younger. Your eating habits would change after you tasted my wife’s cooking!
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Comment by montucky — October 24, 2011 @ 10:16 pm
Each shot is lovelier than the last. We ARE having a nice autumn this year,aren’t we?
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Comment by Kim — October 24, 2011 @ 11:35 pm
It sure is pretty this year! I heard that you had a little snow up your way today!
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Comment by montucky — October 25, 2011 @ 8:57 pm
Each photo is more spectacular than the next.
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Comment by Roberta — October 25, 2011 @ 6:01 am
Interestingly, that is the sequence in which I took the photos. That mile or so was just embedded with color.
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Comment by montucky — October 25, 2011 @ 9:00 pm
So beautiful, peaceful looking, the calm in the midst of a crazy world.
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Comment by Homestead Ramblings — October 25, 2011 @ 6:21 am
It does feel calm and peaceful. I think our “civilization” has created a frenzy that badly needs to have a closeness to nature on the other side of the balance, and for so many, that is missing.
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Comment by montucky — October 25, 2011 @ 9:03 pm
Looks like it was the perfect day for a fall bike ride. Thanks for taking us along for the ride.
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Comment by anniespickns — October 25, 2011 @ 7:01 am
I make it a routine to bike some and hike some every day. I’m thankful that I’m able to do that.
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Comment by montucky — October 25, 2011 @ 9:04 pm
Wowzers! All are gorgeous! I love the beautiful riot of colors. Awesome autumn scenes.
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Comment by Anna — October 25, 2011 @ 9:45 am
This is a more typical autumn here. It’s cooling off now. Last night was in the mid 20’s and tonight will be close to the teens. The cool air felt to good this morning!
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Comment by montucky — October 25, 2011 @ 9:05 pm
I miss Montana…these photos bring back fond memories.
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Comment by dhphotosite — October 25, 2011 @ 9:57 am
I know what you mean. I was raised here, then had to leave for many years during which I was constantly homesick for the wild country!
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Comment by montucky — October 25, 2011 @ 9:07 pm
Gorgeous! I especially like the way the light plays off the yellow foliage and grasse in the last photo. The colors make a beautiful contrast to the blue sky.
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Comment by Nature Drunk — October 25, 2011 @ 12:12 pm
Thanks. The light conditions were constantly changing, but sometimes they were just right to show off the colors. I love days like that!
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Comment by montucky — October 25, 2011 @ 9:10 pm
These photos are insanely gorgeous… =)
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Comment by Tricia — October 25, 2011 @ 1:14 pm
Thanks Tricia. I hope I will be able to catch more before the colors fade.
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Comment by montucky — October 25, 2011 @ 9:11 pm
All of these are beautiful. Is that an animal in the top shot?
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Comment by sandy — October 25, 2011 @ 3:14 pm
I didn’t see any wildlife there, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t. there are usually a lot of deer around there, and I had seen a coyote a couple miles earlier.
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Comment by montucky — October 25, 2011 @ 9:13 pm
Those yellows are GLOWING in the sun! Just beautiful.
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Comment by TheDailyClick — October 25, 2011 @ 5:54 pm
There was a breeze, and I think it kept enough leaves turned just the right way to catch the sun. I saw these colors from a couple of miles away and kept hoping that the sun would be out of the clouds by the time I got close; and it was.
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Comment by montucky — October 25, 2011 @ 9:15 pm
Cottonwoods! When I saw the photos they reminded me so much of the canyons I used to hike outside Salt Lake City – Big and Little Cottonwood! I’ve always loved the mixed forests, especially in the fall. All of the shots are beautiful – I do like the shy little mountain peeking into the last one!
Your photos of the Flathead reminded me – I’ve been meaning to mention a Montana author to you. Her name is Carol Buchanan, and her blog is The Swan Range. It’s a wonderful site, filled with every sort of interesting tidbit about the history of your part of the country.
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Comment by shoreacres — October 25, 2011 @ 6:06 pm
It’s interesting what the angle of the photo does to the mountain.That’s Mount Baldy, and the top is about a mile higher than the valley. There is a trace of snow along the top already.
Thank for the link to Carol! I will take a good look at her site.
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Comment by montucky — October 25, 2011 @ 9:18 pm
It is the best of times when we take in the beauty of autumn’s color. We’re having a good color season too–the red maple in my back yard looks like it’s on fire! And those bright yellows are a joy.
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Comment by Bo Mackison — October 25, 2011 @ 9:25 pm
I love the colors! THey are a reward for enduring the arid heat of the summer, and a celebration of nature’s beauty to tide us over through the more drab a cold times of winter. Seems appropriate!
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Comment by montucky — October 25, 2011 @ 10:03 pm
“Wow” pretty much sums it up. That’s so nice that you hike and bike everyday…and have all that delicious cooking to come home to. You can probably eat all you want with all that exercise you get.
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Comment by Candace — October 26, 2011 @ 7:47 pm
At my age Candace, I simply have to get lots of exercise to be in shape to do what I love the most… get up into the wild country. It works!
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Comment by montucky — October 26, 2011 @ 9:50 pm
I am sure that You love biking in these landscapes. Great photos – all!
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Comment by sartenada — October 28, 2011 @ 1:45 am
It’s very pleasant to bike there in the fall. Some pretty steep hills though.
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Comment by montucky — October 28, 2011 @ 8:38 pm