Photo taken from just below Sunset Peak in the Coeur d’Alene Mountains of western Montana. In the distance just across the Clark Fork River is KooKooSint Ridge in the Cabinet Mountain range.
Just when I think I’ve come across the best name ever, you come up with another for us. KooKooSint makes me laugh, and of course it reminds me of the Kokaburra. Something else I’ve discovered is that the mountains really do look like many paintings I’ve seen. When I first started looking at Western art, I thought the painters were taking liberties with the mountains. In fact, they’re not taking as many liberties as I thought. The shadows are gorgeous.
A man named David Thompson was one of earliest explorers in that area. He was also a cartographer and spent a lot of time at night getting readings from the stars with his sextant. He was called KooKooSint by the local Indians; it was their term for “he who gazes at the stars”.
The ones on the left side are Aspen and the ones to the right (I think) may be rather stunted cottonwoods. The larch are in color there now and I will post a bunch of photos of them in a couple of days. Some of the larch have already shed their needles, some are still just starting to turn color and some are in full color. From my house I can see a lot of the color not far from where this photo was taken. It just calls me to go up there!
Aspens are not as plentiful here as they are in Colorado, for example, but a small group of them sure accents the landscape! They seem to flourish around the rock slides on that slope of the mountains.
Are those aspens? Many moons ago when we lived in Oklahoma, hubby and I took a trip to the Durango-Silverton area of Colorado in the fall. I still remember those glorious golden aspen trees.
Yes, these are Aspens. In this part of the state they are found only in small stands, unlike the huge swaths of them in Colorado. Still pretty though and a welcome sight in the high country.
We are definitely in different ecological areas. I’ve certainly enjoyed following your blog and seeing the beauty of Texas. The wildflower scene down there is incomparable!
Beautiful!
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Comment by aarontheisen — October 23, 2014 @ 4:24 pm
Thanks Aaron!
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Comment by montucky — October 23, 2014 @ 7:53 pm
Just when I think I’ve come across the best name ever, you come up with another for us. KooKooSint makes me laugh, and of course it reminds me of the Kokaburra. Something else I’ve discovered is that the mountains really do look like many paintings I’ve seen. When I first started looking at Western art, I thought the painters were taking liberties with the mountains. In fact, they’re not taking as many liberties as I thought. The shadows are gorgeous.
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Comment by shoreacres — October 23, 2014 @ 8:11 pm
A man named David Thompson was one of earliest explorers in that area. He was also a cartographer and spent a lot of time at night getting readings from the stars with his sextant. He was called KooKooSint by the local Indians; it was their term for “he who gazes at the stars”.
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Comment by montucky — October 23, 2014 @ 8:58 pm
This gold is better than the kind one puts in the bank.
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Comment by Malcolm R. Campbell — October 23, 2014 @ 8:15 pm
I know that there are folks who would disagree about that, but I also know that you’re right, Malcolm!
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Comment by montucky — October 23, 2014 @ 9:00 pm
These are larches, right! What a riot of color.
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Comment by Candace — October 23, 2014 @ 8:41 pm
The ones on the left side are Aspen and the ones to the right (I think) may be rather stunted cottonwoods. The larch are in color there now and I will post a bunch of photos of them in a couple of days. Some of the larch have already shed their needles, some are still just starting to turn color and some are in full color. From my house I can see a lot of the color not far from where this photo was taken. It just calls me to go up there!
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Comment by montucky — October 23, 2014 @ 9:03 pm
Gorgeous photo. I love the contrast of foreground and background.
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Comment by Sartenada — October 23, 2014 @ 11:55 pm
Thanks. Yes, the contrasts are very pleasing to look at this time of year.
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Comment by montucky — October 24, 2014 @ 8:01 am
Beautiful. It’s hard to beat the color of aspens, but they look even more beautiful against the cooler background colors.
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Comment by New Hampshire Garden Solutions — October 24, 2014 @ 6:14 am
Aspens are not as plentiful here as they are in Colorado, for example, but a small group of them sure accents the landscape! They seem to flourish around the rock slides on that slope of the mountains.
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Comment by montucky — October 24, 2014 @ 8:05 am
Hi Montucky, OOOh, AAAh! so beautiful! Have a fine day today and keep those beautiful images coming!
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Comment by wildlifewatcher — October 24, 2014 @ 6:49 am
Thanks wildlifewatcher! Have a great weekend!
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Comment by montucky — October 24, 2014 @ 8:06 am
Are those aspens? Many moons ago when we lived in Oklahoma, hubby and I took a trip to the Durango-Silverton area of Colorado in the fall. I still remember those glorious golden aspen trees.
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Comment by Mama's Empty Nest — October 24, 2014 @ 7:38 am
Yes, these are Aspens. In this part of the state they are found only in small stands, unlike the huge swaths of them in Colorado. Still pretty though and a welcome sight in the high country.
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Comment by montucky — October 24, 2014 @ 8:09 am
How do you breathe living in such a breath taking place! 🙂
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Comment by 2ndhalfolife — October 24, 2014 @ 11:50 am
At this time in my life, I live for scenes like this to appear in the back country. Our world can be a very beautiful one.
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Comment by montucky — October 24, 2014 @ 7:23 pm
I guess I am a “kookoosint” as I never ever tire of gazing upon the stars! This is a lovely photo….
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Comment by twoscamps — October 24, 2014 @ 7:08 pm
I am too and this is still a very good place for star gazing. And high country scenes!
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Comment by montucky — October 24, 2014 @ 7:24 pm
Yay for golden aspens (and for the first time ever I was able to see some too by traveling half-way from me to you).
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Comment by Steve Schwartzman — October 24, 2014 @ 7:50 pm
They’re pretty trees. I’m glad that you got to see them.
I enjoyed your photos from that trip!
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Comment by montucky — October 24, 2014 @ 8:10 pm
As I told Steve Gingold, I felt like I got to play with the big boys (meaning you folks up north who have mountains and real fall foliage).
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Comment by Steve Schwartzman — October 24, 2014 @ 9:06 pm
We are definitely in different ecological areas. I’ve certainly enjoyed following your blog and seeing the beauty of Texas. The wildflower scene down there is incomparable!
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Comment by montucky — October 24, 2014 @ 9:53 pm
Just gorgeous!
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Comment by Jane — October 28, 2014 @ 9:25 am
Thanks Jane!
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Comment by montucky — October 28, 2014 @ 6:40 pm