Wednesday, May 31, 2017

Eureka Montana, Almost to Canada

Copyright 2017, CABS for Reflections From the Fence

We took a day trip to Eureka.  What a sweet little town.  Lots of lakes here and there.

When we drove through Whitefish I spied this gorgeous window.  Not quite sure how I managed to capture that from the truck, but, happy is - - - -   


Gorgeous scenery, lovely ride.


We had a nice visit with friends Patty and RC.  They were terrific hosts and showed off their lovely corner of America nicely.


Eureka has a sweet little Historical Village.  Further proof that almost every little burg, town, village, county in America has nice collections of their antiquities that they have saved, lovingly saved.  More information can be found at this site, where they tell us, they have a "collection of local historic buildings and structures dating as far back as the late 1880s and early 1900s. The collection includes a school, church, library, general store, fire tower, railroad depot, caboose and several log cabins..."


This is Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Rexford Catholic Church, built in 1926:


Lincoln County Library.  1923 to 1971:


Mt. Robert's Lookout,100-foot-tall fire lookout, moved to this location:


Inside the Rexford Railway Express Agency building, the depot was built in 1903:


Built in 1891, the first cabin in the area, built by Joseph Peltier:


I am a sucker for displays of old merchandise.  This was an excellent display:


How large are the skeeters in this neck of the woods? Obviously, quite large - -


On our ride back to camp we passed by several lovely lakes, the alpine glow is starting to show, we love the colors alpine glow adds to the beautiful scenery.


And, almost back to Whitfish, the pink skies were just so soft and delightful.



It was a beautiful day, and most enjoyable.  Thanks to Patty and RC for showing us around your lovely corner of America and Montana.  It's easy to see why you love it there.

.

Tuesday, May 30, 2017

Logan's Pass Back to West Glacier, Front Seat Riding! Whahhooo

Copyright 2017, CABS for Reflections From the Fence

July 2013

Glacier!  Bucket list fulfillment!

It was time to head back down the mountain.  And, somehow, I ended up in the passenger front seat.  You know it had something to do with Man as my cheerleader, right??  

6 % grade, that's significant, considering all the curves and people - - 


I mean - - what a view, eh??


A few more mountain goats enjoying their mid-day meal.


There are no words, huge, expansive, massive, stunning, all are insufficient to describe:


Now, I won't say what I was thinking, I'll bet you can fill in the snarky thoughts for yourself. They are under the remains of last winter's snows. I'll remind you that two years prior the Going to the Sun Road was buried under 90 foot of snow and the road did not open till sometime mid July.  Oh, if you look closely, in the side view mirror, you will see my arm and Sony.


Again, I am at a loss for words.


There are spots in the road that are a bit narrow.


This is Weeping Wall and Sony. I left Sony there for my amusement, maybe yours.  Do you see Sony??


How about a waterfall right along the roadside?  I thought so, it's a great waterfall.


Add a few wildflowers along the road side, more beauty.


Our day on Logan's Pass is coming to a close, my bullet list item has been ticked off.  But, later in the week, I'll get to do it all over again, not planned, at least not by me.


Our next day trip will take us all the way to Eureka, and almost to the Canadian border, so close, we turn off the cell phones so as to not incur international roaming charges!  But, first we will rest a day.


.

Friday, May 26, 2017

Reflection's Flora and Fauna at Logan's Pass, Glacier National Park, Toss in a Short Hike for Measure

Copyright 2017, CABS for Reflections From the Fence

July      2013

Logan's Pass, Going to the Sun Road, Glacier National Park.

When you reach the end of the shuttle ride, you are at the Visitors Center, Logan's Pass. (Remember, we are coming in from the west, but, the same is true if you ride from Saint Mary's on the east.)

Where to look first??  Oh, just start looking in all directions, snap photos, fast and furious. One direction:


The opposite direction:


Oh, there is a hike, it goes to Hidden Lake, but, before we wander up that way:


It's snack time.  I'll admit, it's really (sarcasm alert here) hard sitting with some food and drink surrounded by this beauty.


From signage in the Visitors Center, I believe this is Sitka Valerian.


Looking out over the parking lot at the mountain side.  We noticed other visitors pointing and taking out binoculars and their cameras.  Sony and I went to work, zoom zoom, ohhh, what HAVE we here?  Look hard, serious camouflage by Mother Nature at work here.


Yes, they are Bighorn Sheep.  Here, Sony is past it's max zoom, the photos show how far I am pushing, but, I do have a bit of an image to share.


The scenery just begs for panoramic.  Can't do it justice, but, we do try.


There are water falls to woo me.


And, some mountain goats having a meal of fresh foliage growing on the meadow-like areas.


Awww factor!


The yellow avalanche lily was blooming.  (That's what I believe it is, per this page.)




Another panoramic.


Sometimes the best action is NO action. Just sit and smell the roses, as they say.  The views are hard to argue with.


Still working on the identification of this.  Wonder if it is Rocky Mountain dwarf-primrose? After some study, I believe it may the the pink mountain-heather, as seen later on this post.


When there is a protrusion of rock where the board walk is going, build said board walk around said protrusion.


Looking back down towards the Visitors Center.


Man just HAD to have a photo in the snow. This is no longer a glacier in the true definition, but, oh, hey, we can pretend!


He convinced me, it was a "must" do!


Our park staff at work, hiking in to rescue a hurt visitor.  I over heard the ranger saying they were 30 to 45 minutes from the injured party.  Four staff, gurney and a LONG hike to bring out an injured visitor, that staff is going to be tired.


By this time, Man and I had done all we could for hiking UP this mountain.  We never made it to the top, nor did we see Hidden Lake.  The trail is 1.5 miles from the Visitor Center to the overlook (crest) with a gain of 450 feet.  The lake itself is another 1.5 miles (one way) with a drop of 780 feet.  Now, remember if you hike in the 3 miles you will have to hike out 3 miles, and gain the 780 feet you went down and then, drop the 450 feet to the Visitor Center.  Not being acclimated to the elevation, and the heat of the day convinced us, we were happy with what we had done and seen.

The views, the flowers.  SIGHHH


This may be pink mountain-heather.


On the way back down to the Visitors Center I stopped to take more photos of the Yellow Avalanche Lily, I could not help myself.



This is most likely a Columbian Ground Squirrel.  Not too shy.


And, almost at the end of our hike I found these, probably growing right around the Visitor Center.  They are purple, maybe? AHHHHHHHHHH.  They are Gentiana glauca, thanks Cate for the ID.


They are described as "blossoms of the clearest blue".  Note, I did NO color correction on these photos.  All I did was resize the photos for Reflections.




We had been at Logan's Pass for about 2 hours.  We were ready to catch the shuttle back to the west side of the park.  It was a long wait for buses, we had to switch at Avalanche Creek, another long wait.  More on our ride down from Logan's Pass next time.




.