Father's Day Hike

My Father in Law is a wonderful person.  We all love to get together outside as mush as possible.  This year for Father's Day he wanted to go on a short hike and fish just a bit.  We drove from Whitefish up to Link lake which is in the Whitefish Range.  I enjoy the Whitefish Range a lot! A secret dream of mine would be to spend the summer working on the old trails that crisscross this area.  I would love to see these trails all opened back up and cleaned up so everyone could use them to their fullest.  In my books the more people get out the door and enjoy the outside the better the world would be---it is just that simple!

Walk away quietly in any direction and taste the freedom of the mountaineer. Camp out among the grasses and gentians of glacial meadows, in craggy garden nooks full of nature's darlings. Climb the mountains and get their good tidings, Nature's peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you and the storms their energy, while cares will drop off like autumn leaves. As age comes on, one source of enjoyment after another is closed, but nature's sources never fail.  John Muir Our National Parks, 1901, page 56.

Cliff once skied this north facing  slope with others back in the late 60s.  He is now 79 and was telling us about hiking up to the basin here and then hiking up to the top to ski.  It was the year he and some of his ski buddies skied every month.  He did say there was a lot less trees when they skied it.

Tally the water dog!  She loves a good swim.

Cliff enjoying a walk through the wild flowers.

Sadie cooling off--my dogs love their snow!

Ever have one of those gosh awful sinus sneezes?!

Link Lake

Christian heading over for some photos of his dad.

Yearly visit . . .

Doing what we love to do: Knit, visit, drink tea and as we will say now Bliss On!

This was the 3rd year we got together for the annual visit.  Lynn and I became friends up north in the rural village we found ourselves working in years ago.  She was able to retire and head south with her family, and now we make a commitment of getting together in person each year.  It was my turn to head over to her home and visit her surrounding landscape of endless wheat fields.  This is a bit ironic sense I have given up wheat!  However, there in all its green glory was WHEAT! 

We of course had coffee, tea, knit time, along with nice walks to view the farm land that eastern Washington is famous.  I was able to see Pullman and Moscow, plus some smaller communities.  Moscow won me over!  I loved the tree lined streets, their wonderful co-op, and their quaint down town shops.

We were able to go on this great hike up Kamiak Butte such amazing wheat field views!

As far as the eye can see wheat!

Jenny was a great trail companion!

More shades of green wheat.

The smiles say it all!  It is always such a treat to have time with Lynn in person!

Endless . . . wheat

YUM!

Before I flew out and back home to Montana, Lynn and I went to the coop one last time.  Once back in Alaska there is nothing at all like this in the village so it was time to indulge a bit!  Time to eat, visit, sip coffee (which by the way is wonderful), and of course knit!

Bliss On! BioHaven Floating Treatment Wetlands

I have so much to write about I am not even sure where to begin!  I am opting to start with my latest discovery around my home.  I just think this is so cool and very interesting!  About an hour ago, DH and I were walking "the girls" when we noticed floating islands in the park pond.  I didn't notice them on this a.m. dog walk, but the pond now has islands.  There are little shoots of plants growing out of them, ducks with their young, and even a pond turtle sunny its self on the island.  WHAT?  Where did these islands come from and most important how dang cool!

I love my home in Montana and I am for ever GRATEFUL that I get to spend my summers here on HOLIDAY!  I really mean, I am grateful and I never ever waste my time here.  It is like Knit On for those who know what that means.  My dear knitting friend and I have now coined the term Bliss On-----Bliss does sum up my holiday!  So my pond discovery in just one more blissful moment during my summer holiday.

Here are some of the floating islands.  They are also anchored to the pond floor.

The island in the background has some ducks on it and a turtle on the upper left corner.

This hand out explains the BioHaven Floating Treatment Wetlands islands.

Here the BioHaven has been covered in burlap.  There are holes in the floating BioHaven. Those holes are currently being planted with grasses and plants

Selection of plants and grasses that will be planted soon.

This trailer has the large BioHaven pads that are waiting to be planted and placed in the pond.

This photo is upside down to be able to read the tag.  Which means the island is upside down!  However, the holes can be seen before the island is covered in burlap.

 

 

 

UFOs, bugs, camping and relaxing on the Southward Migration

If you look closely you will see a black ring in the sky.  A UFO?  We think it must be a gas leak or carbon in the sky above the oil fracking area in Canada?? Ideas??

Our car camping set up to stay dry in BC.

One dog can deal with the bugs better than the other!

Trees with leaves and after the tundra what a nice break.

Our friend   . . .

We flew out of the village and into Anchorage for a few days of running around before starting our 8 day drive to Montana.  Our reverse migration trip went well.  I think the biggest difference from last year to this year was the general temperatures we encountered.

Last year’s drive through the Yukon the lakes were still ice covered.  This year those same lakes had people swimming in them.  The Yukon was dry with forest fires already burning.  Northern BC had fires and extremely dry weather as well.  Central BC and south, we saw more rain and far more snow in the mountains from the ice fields to the border.

I jokingly call this my BC retirement village!  This Powder King Ski area and I just love the look of this remote ski mecca!

Jiffy Pop popcorn is just fun to have and once you learn the right technique it always comes out great over a fire.

Yum!

The deal is a leather glove and vice grips!

Mount Robson such a stellar peak!

Hot Spring:

We stopped in Miette Hot Spring just outside of Japser, Alberta for an over night in one of their cute cabins.  We were able to get in two great soaks while looking at the towering peaks.  Like all older cabins, they tend to be a bit dark inside but other than that the cabin we stayed in was cute and fun to relax in after days of camping.

Cute little cabin at Miette

I love this little door,

a small wonderful door to

the inside wood box for

a wonderful fire!

Columbia Ice Fields: 

This part of our trip we only do on the way south as there is less traffic and tourist.  We stayed at the campground that I used when I was ice climbing long ago in the 80s.  I have a special attachment to this little rustic campground.

Over all our drive was great with the added bonus of slowing down and relaxing in each others company with the girls.

Setting up camp in the Ice Fields

Socks with PDS Sport weight yarn

I am always happy in a tent.

Knitting away with a great fire . . . bliss!

I am always drawn to lichen.

Ice Fields

My Canadian Friends

Now we are home and just loving life . . . down south for a bit!

No bugs

Grass, flowers, soil, warm spring temps

A nice variety of flowers from Columbia Falls Nursery.

Time to fire up the grill

Morning bike rides on my favorite bike trails in and around Whitefish.  This is one of my favorite bridges on Whitefish Trails.

Bridge through the trees with early morning light