December 18, 2011
Thankful for the archives
For most of the past month our weather here has been rather dismal, the beauty of the autumn colors having passed and the bright snow of winter not yet in residence. It is a good time to visit the photo archives and reminisce about past journeys and scenes from along the summer trails. This photo is from the USFS trail 460 to Cube Iron Mountain in the Cube Iron – Silcox Roadless area. It was not included in a series that I posted about that trip in August of 2010.
I believe that trails like this are treasures of the American West and I fervently hope that they will always be respected and preserved. The land through which they wind is part of our National Forests and therefore they belong to all of the citizens of our country no matter where they reside and all are welcome to use and enjoy them.
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Montana Outdoors 
Lovely image, and I can almost feel the sunshine! Makes me look forward to next summer.
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Comment by Jo Woolf — December 18, 2011 @ 3:01 am
It makes me look forward to the summer too. I love that about looking through my photo archives.
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Comment by montucky — December 18, 2011 @ 10:48 pm
A gorgeous view and photo.
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Comment by eileeninmd — December 18, 2011 @ 4:52 am
Thanks Eileen, and thanks for visiting!
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Comment by montucky — December 18, 2011 @ 10:51 pm
Gee whiz, that is just plain gorgeous. Absolutely stunning. I’m going to have to get back to Montana.
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Comment by WildBill — December 18, 2011 @ 5:33 am
Thanks Bill. I hope you do get a chance to visit here. I know you would love it!
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Comment by montucky — December 18, 2011 @ 10:52 pm
Yes, those archives do come in handy from time to time.
This is beautiful. Not sure why, but looking at the meadow in the foreground I was reminded of Austria, and the many times we spent there on vacation and visiting family when I was a child.
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Comment by TheDailyClick — December 18, 2011 @ 5:59 am
I’ve not been to Austria, but I understand they have some beautiful alpine scenes there too.
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Comment by montucky — December 18, 2011 @ 10:54 pm
I agree that places like this are great treasures and I hope some day I will be able to visit them–and with you, fervently hope that they will always be preserved and respected. In the meantime, thank you for sharing the beauty of these mountains with the rest of us.
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Comment by kateri — December 18, 2011 @ 6:38 am
I hope you do get the chance to see some of these places too. I was just talking to a good friend about some excursions we intend to make next summer in the general area of this photo. I can hardly wait!
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Comment by montucky — December 18, 2011 @ 10:55 pm
The trail reminds me of my first experiences of finding deer trails in the woods. There’s very little difference, actually – the only evidence the deer left of their presence was the trail itself, a few broken twigs and occasional scat. If only we could learn to wend our way through life more on trails that harm nothing, and less on bulldozed freeways that obliterate the landscape.
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Comment by shoreacres — December 18, 2011 @ 8:22 am
That’s exactly why I love the roadless areas so much and want to keep them the way they are. Hiking through them provides perspective that I have found nowhere else. (I also spend way too much time following deer and elk trails.)
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Comment by montucky — December 18, 2011 @ 10:57 pm
I was thinking… wow, it must be unseasonably warm there right now. ;o) Makes me wish for spring even more!!
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Comment by kcjewel — December 18, 2011 @ 8:38 am
Well we just haven’t had much of a taste of winter yet this year, but the two big months are yet to come.
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Comment by montucky — December 18, 2011 @ 10:58 pm
Archives are like memories…they can be relived over and over again. This looks like a place I would love to backpack to! Merry Christmas!
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Comment by Maureen — December 18, 2011 @ 10:41 am
That is a fabulous place for backpacking, plenty of excellent trails and abundant scenery. I know you and Eric would love it!
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Comment by montucky — December 18, 2011 @ 10:59 pm
Another amazing photo, and reason to visit these beautiful mountains!
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Comment by farmhouse stories — December 18, 2011 @ 10:47 am
Places like that are my favorites. That particular trail is about 3 miles long, from the trail head at 4,770 feet to the peak at 7,170 feet and the scenery is gorgeous all of the way. That’s the way to see these mountains!
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Comment by montucky — December 18, 2011 @ 11:08 pm
When I saw the title of this photo I thought perhaps your photo storage had collapsed and you had to resurrect your collection from an archive.
It’s so nice to be reminded that after we “survive” another winter, we have scenes like this to look forward to.
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Comment by Kim — December 18, 2011 @ 10:56 am
I review the photos often this time of year. I have already started to plan a number of trips for next summer already and can hardly wait!
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Comment by montucky — December 18, 2011 @ 11:09 pm
No matter what the season – the landscape in which you live is beautiful! Love to be reminded of summer!
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Comment by Marcie — December 18, 2011 @ 11:51 am
There is much beauty here, especially once you get away from the roads and highways. There is always something of beauty to see!
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Comment by montucky — December 18, 2011 @ 11:10 pm
Hi Montucky, Thanks for that refreshing glimpse of Summertime fun on the gorgeous trail. Have a great Sunday and I sure hope your weather brightens!
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Comment by wildlifewatcher — December 18, 2011 @ 12:39 pm
Thanks wildlifewatcher. It was cloudy agains today, but still quite pretty at times.
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Comment by montucky — December 18, 2011 @ 11:11 pm
Nice!
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Comment by Ron Mangels — December 18, 2011 @ 3:40 pm
Thanks Ron. That is one of the areas I think you would enjoy hiking into. If you go to the “archives” section on the right side bar and click on “August 2010” you can see 7 posts I made back then with photos and descriptions of that hike.
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Comment by montucky — December 18, 2011 @ 11:13 pm
Wow. Wow. Wow. What a beautiful spot. Love that trail, barely suggested…. a view to forever.
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Comment by Teresa Evangeline — December 18, 2011 @ 4:32 pm
I love that too, and the trails that connect many of those mountains. What a place this is for someone who love wild country!
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Comment by montucky — December 18, 2011 @ 11:14 pm
Spectacular image! I sure to miss the trails of the west!
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Comment by dhphotosite — December 19, 2011 @ 10:30 am
I missed them for many years. I will never leave here again.
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Comment by montucky — December 19, 2011 @ 11:53 pm
That looks awesome!
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Comment by Orel Di Angelo — December 19, 2011 @ 2:00 pm
Thanks. It is an awesome place.
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Comment by montucky — December 19, 2011 @ 11:54 pm
That grass looks soft enough to roll around in. Beautiful.
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Comment by Candace — December 19, 2011 @ 8:53 pm
In my memory there is a long list of times and places where I spent time lying or sitting in grassy places like that enjoying the world as it has always been.
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Comment by montucky — December 19, 2011 @ 11:56 pm
There’s been dismal rainy weather in Ohio here too- that’s a great shot though! A peek into the archives is a good thing!
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Comment by Watching Seasons — December 21, 2011 @ 4:41 pm
According the the meteorologists the La Nina conditions should be bringing us a lot of moisture, but so far it has been very dry with very little valley snow. We are still hoping though for January and February.
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Comment by montucky — December 22, 2011 @ 12:12 am
So beautiful. I love those slopes. It would be nice to hike in this scenery!
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Comment by sartenada — December 23, 2011 @ 12:41 am
I love nothing better than spending time alone on those remote trails. That part of the country is still wild and natural and unspoiled and shows what this world can be like without our “management”.
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Comment by montucky — December 23, 2011 @ 1:21 am
I cannot choose between the two to let you know a favorite… both are spectacular!
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Comment by Victoria — December 28, 2011 @ 12:39 pm
I met my husband’s cousin’s fiance this past week. she is from montana and talking to her was almost like reading your blog. this photo and your sentiments reminded me of my conversations with her.
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Comment by silken — December 29, 2011 @ 10:34 pm
I’m glad to be able to say that there are still a lot of folks in Montana that really do have an appreciation for the natural parts of it!
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Comment by montucky — December 30, 2011 @ 12:08 am