Yesterday morning the weather didn’t look too promising and the forecast was even worse, so rather than going for a wet hike I chose to go for a drive instead and headed east along the lower Flathead river which can be very pretty under the right conditions. I encountered these scenes as the weather changed from rain to sun within about a half hour time period and over the course of 20 miles.
Montana Outdoors 
That’s amazing!
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Comment by wordsfromanneli — June 30, 2018 @ 9:13 am
You never know what might turn up, even on a bad weather day.
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Comment by montucky — June 30, 2018 @ 9:37 am
I think I’m due for a visit to again. It’s been far to long.
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Comment by dhphotosite — June 30, 2018 @ 11:43 am
It’s sure pretty right now. I’m taking advantage of every chance to get out before wildfire season comes.
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Comment by montucky — June 30, 2018 @ 12:41 pm
wonderful
river holiday 🙂
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Comment by smilecalm — June 30, 2018 @ 3:57 pm
Started out a little dark but it came out OK.
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Comment by montucky — June 30, 2018 @ 4:53 pm
Dramatic lighting! Amazing how it can change so quickly.
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Comment by New Hampshire Garden Solutions — June 30, 2018 @ 4:00 pm
The mountains have a lot to do with it. I’ve learned when there are clouds around to be ready for about any condition, some of which don’t last very long.
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Comment by montucky — June 30, 2018 @ 4:56 pm
Wow, the color of that river is amazing!!!!! Must be so clear and clean.
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Comment by Candace — June 30, 2018 @ 5:33 pm
I don’t know what gives it that green cast. The water is very clear for this time of the year when the other rivers are still quite muddy and brown. The Flathead originates in the area of Glacier park and flows into Flathead Lake then resumes being a river after about 50 miles of the lake, so I think the sediment that comes with snow melt settles in the lake and clears the water.
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Comment by montucky — June 30, 2018 @ 8:32 pm
Such beautiful country in Montana and thank you for sharing these lovely images.
What makes the lake/river that shade of green, Terry? I would have thought it would reflect the grey sky when overcast and the blue sky when sunny (and no clouds). It is so very different to the river behind my home, which can be murky, blue, grey or even white.
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Comment by Vicki — June 30, 2018 @ 7:04 pm
I really don’t know why it appears so green. It usually does that in the spring and early summer. It has something to do with the direction from which the sun hits it, but I’ve seen it look deep blue at times too. That river flows into the Clark For River about 15 miles upstream from my house and during the spring run off it stays much clearer than the Clark Fork which gets very muddy and brown, so for quite a way downstream the river has two parts, one muddy and one much clearer with a green cast to it.
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Comment by montucky — June 30, 2018 @ 8:28 pm
Anything to do with algae or pondweed? It sure is a beautiful green 🙂
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Comment by Vicki — July 2, 2018 @ 12:54 am
I suppose it could be from algae, although I doubt it because it would be the wrong season for that. The greenish color is in early spring during or right after the snow melt.
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Comment by montucky — July 2, 2018 @ 9:05 am
We have a saying here: “If you don’t like the weather in Texas, wait five minutes.” That’s clearly the case in Montana, too. At least, it was in during this brief excursion. That’s one of the greatest pleasures of being out and about for me. Even when I think I know what’s going to happen, I usually don’t!
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Comment by shoreacres — July 1, 2018 @ 5:26 am
Abrupt weather changes occur frequently here too. The mountains have more of an effect on what the weather does than one might think. They are wonderful to see and be a part of them. In late summer the reverse of this day often happens, when in late afternoon clouds will suddenly sweep in and bring a thunderstorm and cool the heat of the day.
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Comment by montucky — July 1, 2018 @ 8:00 am
I love these captures, Terry! The last was is stunning, and I love that little fence in the foreground. Something about old wooden fences appeal to me! 🙂
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Comment by bayphotosbydonna — July 1, 2018 @ 7:45 am
The last photo was taken on the Flathead Indian Reservation. I’ve never been able to lear the history of that particular area, but the fence remains from what apparently was a ranch that ran along the river. There are the remains of some old buildings on the hillside behind the photo. My memory of that place goes back into the 1940’s but I don’t recall anyone living there, so the homestead that was there preceded that time.
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Comment by montucky — July 1, 2018 @ 8:08 am
Great idea for a post – very beautiful photos.
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Comment by Sartenada — July 3, 2018 @ 2:13 am
Thanks Matti! I hoped that it would be interesting. Weather is an amazing thing!
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Comment by montucky — July 3, 2018 @ 6:21 pm
Isn’t it amazing how in just a few miles how the weather can change? It can be sunny and beautiful on this side of town and on the other it’s raining!
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Comment by heartandsoul974 — July 3, 2018 @ 11:44 am
Just a few miles or sometimes over just a few minutes in the same place. In the mountains here the weather is especially volatile. I enjoy that but have to always be prepared. On a hike today I saw everything from early morning sunshine, to rain and then light snow in about an hour.
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Comment by montucky — July 3, 2018 @ 6:55 pm
Light snow? That’s crazy!
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Comment by heartandsoul974 — July 4, 2018 @ 6:53 am
Not exactly rare here on the taller mountains. This was around 7000 feet and it felt really cold compared to what it has been like in the valley.
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Comment by montucky — July 4, 2018 @ 8:09 am
That sure is a change in the weather! Bit like that here, but it is winter! 🙂
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Comment by Julie@frogpondfarm — July 5, 2018 @ 11:44 pm
Your winter must be much different than ours here, but we do have weather changes in winter. Ours are mostly caused by cold air masses that come down from the arctic and visit for a week or so at a time bringing sub-zero temperatures. The rest are from warmer air with a lot of moisture coming up from the southwest and as they come across the taller mountains bring heavy snow. Occasionally we will get a warm dry wind come in for a few days, usually right after the first of the year which will melt some of the snow and provide a day or two of temperatures above freezing.
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Comment by montucky — July 6, 2018 @ 7:56 am
Lovely!
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Comment by Beth — July 6, 2018 @ 4:35 am
Thanks Beth!
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Comment by montucky — July 6, 2018 @ 7:57 am
My kind of place, Terry…and I love that third image with the fence rails and the deep wildflowers…wonderful! What a beautiful spot!
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Comment by seekraz — July 29, 2018 @ 4:42 pm
It’s an ever-changing scene, Scott. At that time, on that day it was very beautiful. Other time the beauty of the place may be entirely different.
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Comment by montucky — July 29, 2018 @ 6:47 pm