Today I hiked up into a small canyon near here to photograph the icicles that form in winter on the cliffs along the sides of the canyon. Because I am rather tired and out of time tonight I will post just a sample and then later, a series of photos of the icicles that decorate the cliffs. The icicles in this photo are in the 5 to 6 foot range.
Montana Outdoors 
That’s a beautiful photo! Quite the icicles! They would make great swizzle sticks for a giant’s gin and tonic.
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Comment by wordsfromanneli — December 31, 2012 @ 1:00 am
The whole icicle display would be suitable for decorations in a land of giants. I have no good way of showing size perspective because the icicles themselves are practically impossible to approach.
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Comment by montucky — December 31, 2012 @ 1:30 am
How beautiful. Happy New Year, Ellen
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Comment by Ellen Grace Olinger — December 31, 2012 @ 5:05 am
Happy New Year, Ellen!
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Comment by montucky — December 31, 2012 @ 11:14 am
Beautiful! You live in such a pristine area, there are so many gifts from nature right at your doorstep. I can’t wait to see the rest of the photos in the series 🙂
Wishing you a very happy New Year!
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Comment by The Lonely Dogs — December 31, 2012 @ 11:20 am
That’s what I enjoy so much about living right here. It is very close to some very wild country. I like going out for days at a time without seeing anyone else around and the country is completely natural.
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Comment by montucky — December 31, 2012 @ 8:53 pm
Brrrre! Happy New Year!
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Comment by badwalker — December 31, 2012 @ 11:27 am
Yes, hiking here is a bit different than in your area! About now though it would be nice to be able to hike a trail without snow and ice once in awhile.
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Comment by montucky — December 31, 2012 @ 8:54 pm
I love seeing those huge trickles of ice. I’ve seen some the same size before and the glistening picture they provide is exquisite.
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Comment by Mama's Empty Nest — December 31, 2012 @ 11:42 am
Yes, they do make some pretty scenes. I doubt that very many people ever see these because I never see any other tracks through there in winter.
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Comment by montucky — December 31, 2012 @ 8:56 pm
Oh wow! Gorgeous with the icicles and rough, earthy-colorful cliffs. What a sight to see, for sure. Wow, again!
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Comment by Anna Surface — December 31, 2012 @ 2:43 pm
THe cliffs are pretty but difficult to photograph because of their size and taht they tower so high over the canyon.
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Comment by montucky — December 31, 2012 @ 8:57 pm
Happy New Year, Montucky!
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Comment by Anna Surface — December 31, 2012 @ 2:50 pm
Happy New Year to you and Preston too, Anna!
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Comment by montucky — December 31, 2012 @ 8:57 pm
Beautiful! Happy New Year!
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Comment by kateri — December 31, 2012 @ 3:52 pm
Thanks Kateri. Happy New Year!
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Comment by montucky — December 31, 2012 @ 8:57 pm
Gorgeous Montana scenery, Montucky- Happy 2013!
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Comment by Watching Seasons — December 31, 2012 @ 5:15 pm
I hope you have a great 2013 too!
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Comment by montucky — December 31, 2012 @ 8:58 pm
Must not get much sun down in that canyon. I wonder when they finally melt-June,July?
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Comment by New Hampshire Garden Solutions — December 31, 2012 @ 6:42 pm
Most of them will melt by late April most years I think. By then the sun will be up high enough in the sky to enter the canyon for a few hours a day. They are still growing now though.
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Comment by montucky — December 31, 2012 @ 9:01 pm
Anxious to see the series! Happy 2013!!
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Comment by kcjewel — December 31, 2012 @ 11:47 pm
Happy 2013 to you too!
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Comment by montucky — January 1, 2013 @ 6:30 pm
Wow – spectacular! I’ve never seen icicles on that scale before. I’m looking forward to seeing your other images. A very Happy New Year to you!
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Comment by Jo Woolf — January 1, 2013 @ 5:27 am
They are pretty common here, but this area in particular has a large variety.
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Comment by montucky — January 1, 2013 @ 6:31 pm
Nature creates wonderful sites .. thanks for sharing them. I am sure it took quite a bit of effort to get there. How deep is the snow? Do you need snowshoes to get there?
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Comment by bearyweather — January 1, 2013 @ 9:22 am
It’s about a two mile walk to get to the cliffs there and a climb of about 900 feet. About 6 inches of snow; not enough for snowshoes, but enough to make walking tiring. It’s so pretty there though that it’s worth it.
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Comment by montucky — January 1, 2013 @ 6:33 pm
Incredible…beautiful…we have some two and three footers hanging from the gutter above the front door of our house right now…but nothing like this!
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Comment by seekraz — January 1, 2013 @ 10:44 am
We have some along our roof line too, not a big as in some years though.
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Comment by montucky — January 1, 2013 @ 6:34 pm
Yes, we seem to be making up for last year…I just hope it continues.
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Comment by seekraz — January 2, 2013 @ 7:29 pm
The green catches my eye in this mesmerizing photo. It is a beautiful capture. Happy New Year Terry! -Maureen and Eric
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Comment by twoscamps — January 1, 2013 @ 11:45 am
That cliff is very colorful, with lots of moss mineral-colored rocks and bright lichens. I wish I could get a good picture of the whole thing, but the bottom is very thick brush.
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Comment by montucky — January 1, 2013 @ 6:35 pm
One of our wintertime amusements was waiting for the icicles on the roof edge to grow long enough for us to snap them off and eat them. One of my mother’s wintertime obligations was her need to yell, “Don’t eat those! They’re dirty!” Your icicles don’t appear to be dirty at all, and if they are, it’s clean dirt. My mother would approve!
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Comment by shoreacres — January 1, 2013 @ 2:26 pm
I recall the same things from when I was a child, but it is much different living this far out in the country. The air is very clean and there’s nothing flying around to dirty the snow especially up there where these form.
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Comment by montucky — January 1, 2013 @ 6:38 pm
Hi Montucky, I sure do love those icicles. The picture is lovely. Have a great coming few days and Happy New Year!
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Comment by wildlifewatcher — January 1, 2013 @ 3:39 pm
Thanks! Have a great new year! I’m glad to see you back posting again!
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Comment by montucky — January 1, 2013 @ 6:39 pm
Wow, those could be weapons at that size! I’m pleased to say I haven’t seen an icicle in many, many years…although they are certainly pretty.
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Comment by Candace — January 3, 2013 @ 10:54 pm
There are such things in Arizona, you know. I remember many very cold nights in the mountains of southern Arizona in January while hunting javelina. And one night while camping in Bloody Basin just below Flagstaff my jerry can of water froze clear through.
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Comment by montucky — January 3, 2013 @ 11:20 pm
This is great photo. Their size is amazing to me.
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Comment by Sartenada — January 4, 2013 @ 12:35 am
It seems that the location of that cliff allows them to grow with each short melt and long freeze cycle. I have not seen a location exactly like it.
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Comment by montucky — January 4, 2013 @ 3:58 pm