Today I returned to the trail that was in snow four days ago. I hiked only the first mile of it though because most of it looked like this, with several dozen blow-downs over the trail in just a mile:
and it was cold (the wind chill made it feel like about 15ºF), but it got me high enough for a few views to the south.
Montana Outdoors 
It was a good time not to be there when those trees were coming down.
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Comment by wordsfromanneli — April 30, 2015 @ 9:00 pm
It was a little windy up there today and I could hear some of the trees making noises, but none fell. When it gets really windy I stay pretty much away from places like that. On a hike on an old road about 5 years ago a rather severe thunderstorm came up and I counted about 50 trees that came down a mile or so from where I was. I could hear the crack as they broke off and the crash when they hit the ground. It was interesting! Most though come down as a result of winter storms when they may also have a snow load and when they are so cold they are brittle.
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Comment by montucky — April 30, 2015 @ 9:43 pm
you really did get high enough for good views!
it has been windy here, sure does change the temperature. but these sunny days are delightful.
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Comment by Tammie — April 30, 2015 @ 10:22 pm
This time of year the sunny days are wonderful, but in August I don’t feel the same way about them! Today would have been perfect for a hike up that trail, but the down trees were a real pain. Wouldn’t have been too bad on a loop hike, but on an in and out hike I didn’t want to have to climb over and under again on the way back!
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Comment by montucky — April 30, 2015 @ 10:27 pm
Magnificent views! Deceptive, though – it looks quite warm. Will any rangers/foresters come and clear the trails? We have had a very cold snap here too, and it is still very chilly with hail showers coming over.
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Comment by Jo Woolf — May 1, 2015 @ 2:11 am
The Ranger Districts have trail crews that clear the trails every summer. This one they always have cleared by July 4th because by then there may be hikers. The fire crews also clear a lot of trails before the fire season starts. It gets them in good condition for fighting fires in late summer.
The sunshine was deceptive: with the wind up there it would have been dangerously cold for anyone not prepared for it.
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Comment by montucky — May 1, 2015 @ 7:21 am
It may have been chilly but what magnificent views. Real mountains and such a blue sky. Glorious!
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Comment by Jane — May 1, 2015 @ 3:27 am
After another mile the trail gets out of the trees and there are 360º views. At that point heavy snow would have blocked the trail anyway. It will be another month probably before one can easily reach the top.
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Comment by montucky — May 1, 2015 @ 7:24 am
Climbing over those trees can wear you out in a hurry. It looks like someone will have to go up there with a saw. Judging by all the cut logs, it has happened there before.
You still had some great views though, even if you couldn’t reach the top.
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Comment by New Hampshire Garden Solutions — May 1, 2015 @ 6:14 am
Those down trees are pretty normal there after winter. A good trail crew (a sawyer and a swamper) can clear that in about a half day. I could have done it myself, but I wasn’t so inclined. It’s only about a mile and a half before the trail gets above the trees.
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Comment by montucky — May 1, 2015 @ 7:29 am
Thanks for sharing these spectacular views. So great you have a practice of getting out to these areas!
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Comment by C.C. — May 1, 2015 @ 7:27 am
Those old trails are wonderful things. They allow access to some very beautiful places and are a pure joy to hike on. The big reward, of course, is the views that are there. This one I especially enjoy because from the top you can see all of the peaks for quite a few miles in all directions, and I have been on nearly all of them, It’s fun to sit up there and enjoy those memories.
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Comment by montucky — May 1, 2015 @ 7:33 am
It is nice to sit up there and say, “Yep…been there, and there, and there….and I still need to get there, and there, and…..”
You brought us home a nice reward for the short hike, Terry. Thank you. 🙂
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Comment by seekraz — May 1, 2015 @ 7:50 am
You know the feeling, don’t you Scott! Yes, very nice!
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Comment by montucky — May 2, 2015 @ 8:37 pm
Yes, I certainly do!
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Comment by seekraz — May 3, 2015 @ 7:44 am
Wonderful views and photography as always montucky !
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Comment by Jocelyne — May 1, 2015 @ 10:25 pm
Thank you Jocelyne!
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Comment by montucky — May 2, 2015 @ 8:38 pm
Stunning landscape and you captured it beautifully, as always! Thank you for sharing!
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Comment by Lucy — May 2, 2015 @ 8:05 am
Thanks Lucy!
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Comment by montucky — May 2, 2015 @ 8:38 pm
Hi Montucky, That must have been quite the wind! Your photographs are lovely as is the scenery around that trail. Have a super good coming week!
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Comment by wildlifewatcher — May 3, 2015 @ 10:54 am
I would have liked to see those trees when they came down. They probably accumulated over many winter storms, although in some places it might have been a very powerful wind in a small area. Sometimes a heavy snow load can help bring them down too.
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Comment by montucky — May 3, 2015 @ 7:24 pm
Very nice! Always love your shots as they tell a story. Wish I was there!
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Comment by Reed Andariese — May 3, 2015 @ 4:14 pm
I’m sure you would enjoy the scenes from that trail. They keep me coming back several times in each summer.
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Comment by montucky — May 3, 2015 @ 7:26 pm
Your first photo took me straight back to the road between Tyler and Nacogodches the morning after hurricane Ike. That’s pretty much what it looked like, although it already was open because the neighbors and friends had gotten to work with their chain saws. They weren’t about to wait around for the state road crews to show up.
The views truly are spectacular. I’m glad you haven’t grown tired of hiking, because I’ve not grown tired of looking!
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Comment by shoreacres — May 4, 2015 @ 6:43 am
Although I’ve seen many trails and back roads covered with downed trees, I’ve never seen more than one or two in an inhabited area. That would certainly increase the level of urgency to clear them! If they do fall across a highway in this are they would probably be cleared fairly quickly here too by someone who just happened to have a saw in their truck.
I’m glad that you enjoy the scenery here. I plan to do quite a bit of hiking this summer into some new areas as well as many of my old favorites. I hope the early drought does not continue though.
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Comment by montucky — May 4, 2015 @ 8:07 pm
That crisp,cold air makes for some beautiful blue skies.
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Comment by Candace — May 6, 2015 @ 1:30 pm
It does, and I love that cold clear air. The tread of the trail was frozen when I left the trail head that morning. Perfect hiking weather!
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Comment by montucky — May 6, 2015 @ 10:29 pm
Last and the second photo are photos presenting landscapes which I love very much. Sigh.
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Comment by Sartenada — May 13, 2015 @ 1:06 am
I have always loved those places too. The mountain top that was behind the photo is still snow capped and is part of one range of mountains. The mountains in the distance are in a different mountain range. I love to hike up there and see both!
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Comment by montucky — May 13, 2015 @ 8:18 am