2017 LINCOLN, MONTANA III

SATURDAY – August 26^th

Today’s outing was a little West and North of town, up Lone Point Road. We drove out of town and found a safe place to park. Then we hiked up the forest service road for three miles before deciding that it was time to return. It was another lovely outing with some nice views. 

There was a good view of one of the several wildfires in the area that had flared up due to the warmer weather and increased wind.

 A nice panoramic view of the valley to the east showed the valley in which Lincoln is located. 

We came across a number of aspen, one of which showed the signs of bear having used it as a scratching post and leaving scratch marks in the bark. 

BEAR SIGN

It is quite common to see deer wandering through yards in town. This fawn was quite at home wandering through Klara’s yard. 

We ended our stay with sharing dinner with Klara’s immediate neighbor, Sally. It was fun to learn a little bit more about the small town of Lincoln and feel its neighborliness.

BACK TO SAN DIEGO –

  

We hit the road on Sunday morning for the start of our drive home, a distance of about 1250 miles. We opted to do the drive in three days.

We stopped in Dillon, MT, a small town off of I-15 South of Butte. There was a Patagonia outlet store there, but because it was Sunday it was not yet open while we were in town. The town has a number of old buildings including the Hotel Metlen which is 

HOTEL METLEN

reported to have at least one ghost. 

As we approached Idaho Falls I saw a sign for a Cabella’s store and we were planning on stopping at the one in Utah.

We found what we were looking for in this smaller version of the store.

Our stop for the night was in Pocatello, which is the home of Idaho State University. We found a small independent motel for the evening, and then walked into town to find dinner, and some bagels for the morning. It did not take long to find a local sandwich shop where we purchased two very good sandwiches to enjoy back at our room. We also located the 5th Street Bagelry.  We returned to it the next morning to pick up coffee and some bagels before heading South to Nevada.We also got to see and photograph a praying mantis.

PRAYING MANTIS

 The drive to Mesquite, Nevada was uneventful. We have done this several times as we have driven to Idaho for Christmases, or other visits to see Klara. Near Beaver,UT we stopped at the Eagle’s Landing Gas Station. The highlight there was the Bronze Eagle which is going to be on displayed soon. 

It was on a flatbed trailer when we saw it. Mesquite was hot and 112˚F. We took advantage of a special rate during midweek, at one of the Casinos and hunkered down in their air conditioned room.

Tuesday morning we were off in good time to get through Las Vegas before the start of the commute. We were in San Diego by 1130! After quickly unpacking the car, we were off to pick up Phoebe before the kennel closed for the mid-day break from 12-2 p.m. She was one happy dog to see us.

It was a good trip with a great deal of variety. The highlight of the trip was the solar eclipse, with second being visiting with Klara in her new home and town. She seems to be fitting in quite well.

Knowing that Montana is a beautiful state with beautiful blue skies, we have decided to return next year in June when hopefully the air is clear.

2017 LINCOLN, MONTANA II

THURSDAY – AUGUST 24TH

Thursday Morning we were off early so that George and Klara to do some fishing along the Blackfoot River. We ate our breakfast beside the river as the sun rose. 

BLACKFOOT RIVER MORNING

GETTING THE LINE READY

While they fished, I wandered upstream with my camera to find some thing of interest to photograph. The light was not favorable and the wildflowers were mostly gone. Nothing inspirational struck me, but I did enjoy the outing.   

GOLD BUTTONS OR TANSY

FALL IS IN THE AIR

FISHING

Afterwards we visited Ernie and Renee who are both retired USFS employees. They had invited Klara over to harvest from their extensive garden which is fenced in with a six foot fence to keep the critters from getting to the delicious greens. This evening we enjoyed fresh kale and purple beans which turned green when cooked. They were both delicious. While we were visiting, a moose cow and calf came to visit. 

MOOSE COW PLAYING HIDE AND GO SEEK?

They were fun to watch and photograph. As we were departing there was a squirrel going after berries in the tree next to our car, and not worried about our presence,

In the afternoon we walked to the Forest Service Office through the Blackfoot Pathways Sculpture In the Wild. This is a collection of sculptures by various artists from all over the world. The works are built on site in Lincoln using mostly materials found in the area. All of the art is on display and exposed to the natural elements. To learn more about it --- http://www.sculptureinthewild.com/ . 

At the Forest Service office we admired the large grizzly bear that is on display there. 

The bear when it died weighed 830 pounds and was 12 years old. It is the third largest grizzly on record in Montana. It had been tattooed and radio collared at an earlier time as it was involved in a research study. He was killed when hit by a large pickup truck while crossing State Rte. 200 in the middle of the night.

FRIDAY – AUGUST 25th

Today we hiked to Granite Butte fire tower, located along the Continental Divide. The tower is South of town. We hiked about two miles up to the tower. It was very windy at 7600 feet, but it did not clear the air. We climbed the tower and ate our lunch on the lee side of the structure. 

TO GRANITE BUTTE

LOOKING SOUTH FROM FIRE TOWER(Notice the deadwood)

THE WIND DOES BLOW HERE

While writing this I searched the internet and found a write up of some people who snowshoed to the tower and camped there overnight. The views on a clear day must be beautiful. On a cold and windy night it would be an adventure to descend the tower and walk about 100 yards to the outhouse!!

A VERY LARGE MUSHROOM

 Once we returned to Lincoln we treated ourselves to wild huckleberry milkshakes. Mmmmm Good. After dinner at the Bushwackers Steakhouse in town, we drove out to the Alice Creek Road, East of town, to look for wildlife. We did succeed in seeing a small herd of elk, but they were a very long ways away. 

SMOKY EVENING

2017 LINCOLN, MONTANA I

After the Solar Eclipse on 21 August we caravanned with our daughter to her new home in  Lincoln, Montana. We took the better part of a day to reach Lincoln.

We left Ashton before sunrise, and I photographed sunrise East of Harriman S. P. off of U.S. Rte.20. While George and Klara returned to Ashton to retrieve a rain jacket. 

SUNRISE NEAR HARRIMAN S.P.

MORNING GROUND FOG

Shortly afterwards we turned on ID Rte. 87 headed for Ennis, MT. Here we stopped for breakfast and then did some window and bargain shopping. Klara was looking for some Carhartt pants, and I was just browsing, but I found a very nice plaid long-sleeved fishing shirt for myself.

We returned to the road and our next stop was in Three Forks, Montana, the home of Montana Wheat. 

This is the wheat flour that I use to do my sourdough baking. I have had very good results with it since I started using in in 2013. We stocked up on some bread and croissants. Our final stop for the trip was in Helena for groceries before heading for Lincoln, a small town to the Northwest of Helena with a population of about 1100. 

 

Montana has been plagued with many large wildfires this season. One fire actually started about 3 miles North of town. It later merged with two other fires in the area. The result is that the air quality in the area is quite poor, and the skies are full of smoke. This is true for the whole state of Montana.

While in Lincoln we enjoyed four days of hiking in spite of the air quality. The few photographs that I have show lots of smoke in the air. Our first afternoon we took a short walk North of town to stretch our legs after most of the day driving. As you can see there is smoke in the air from the Park Creek Fire, which started in mid-July, and hopefully be fully contained by the end of September.

Looking North toward the Park Creek Fire

 

WEDNESDAY –

 

A MORNING CRITTER IN TOWN

Klara took us off to hike the Lake Creek Trail and part of the Lake Mountain Trail. The beginning was pleasant enough with a gradual climb. Later when we joined the Lake Mountain Trail the grade became more noticeable. 

Eventually the trail also got quite narrow as it climbed higher. Finally we called it a day, and stopped for a trail lunch of bagels, cheese, and fruit before heading back to our car.

THE TRAIL AS IT SLOPES UP THE MOUNTAIN

 

KLARA DURING A HIKING BREAK

The forest here is thick but also has a great deal of dead wood due to the bark beetle, and dry conditions over the past. We had a nice view down the valley, though quite smoky.

 

LOOKING DOWN THE VALLEY

On the way back into town we stopped at the gateway for the Dog Sled Race – Race to the Sky, which starts in Lincoln and travels North to Owl Creek North of Seeley Lake and then turns back to Lincoln. Here we picked up some huckleberry jam to share.
 

STARTING GATE FOR ""RACE TO THE SKY"

In the evening we had a couple of visitors to the back yard. It is a regular occurrence.

2017 SOLAR ECLIPSE from ASHTON, IDAHO

 

EXPERIENCING THE SOLAR ECLIPSE -

George and I departed San Diego on Friday August 18^th. We were headed for Aston, Idaho, where our daughter, Klara, used to live. We had planned this journey a couple of years ago as the path of totality went over Ashton. 

Originally we were going to stay in Klara’s home there in Ashton. Well the first of this year saw her moving to Lincoln, Montana, to a new position with the Forest Service there. Klara was able to ask a favor of a very good friend, and we were able to stay with her for the event. And Klara was able to get time off to come down to Ashton to join us. Thank you Liz D.

It is a two day drive to Ashton, and we stopped in Cedar City for the night. We were very close to the hiking and biking trail we have visited for good walks on previous trips to Ashton. This time we did not have to deal with cold and icy conditions as the temperature was lingering in the low 90’s as we started a walk about 1800. It is a nice path with few users, and some nice scenery. The path runs along  Cedar Canyon as does State Rte. 14 that links up with U.S. Rte. 89 that would take you to Bryce Canyon N.P.

We were off early once again on the 19^th so that we could enjoy the afternoon in Ashton. Ashton is the center for seed potato cultivation. The terrain is flat, but as you look East you see the Tetons rising in the distance, and the Southwest tip of Yellowstone is only a few miles away. It is also considered the gateway to Yellowstone N. P. from the West.

We enjoyed our rendezvous with Klara and the nice dinner which she prepared for us. Our hostess, Liz, joined us for dessert.

Sunday we went out to the forest for a refreshing hike. We enjoyed the peacefulness of the area. 
 

LUPINE

SALSIFY GONE TO SEED

All of the area has been impacted by smoke from the many wildfires burning in Montana and Idaho. It was very difficult to see the Tetons.

Monday – August 21 – ECLIPSE DAY.

This morning we enjoyed breakfast with a couple of Klara’s good friends whom we had met on previous trips to Ashton. I contributed the sourdough starter for the pancakes, and Klara had been quite busy the past week picking huckleberries. To say the least we all enjoyed breakfast. Afterwards we headed out to the farm road next to Liz’s house to set up for the eclipse. 

OUR "CROWD"

We were all equipped with solar viewing glasses, sunscreen, and hats.

TAKING A LOOK

I think all had some form of a camera with them,The  be it a smart phone, or in my case two digital cameras, tripod, solar filters, and other paraphernalia. 

  

The first contact of the moon shadow on the Sun occurred about 1016. My first picture was taken at 1038! Using a long zoom lens, I took pictures every 3-5 minutes, bracketing the exposures.

 

10:38 A.M.

Originally I was going to take photographs with two different cameras, but decided I wanted to enjoy the experience and so only focused on getting individual shots of the progression of the eclipse. I am glad that I did.

As the eclipse progressed you could see the change in light as the sun was covered by the moon as it passed between the earth and the sun. We progressed from full sunlight to night in a matter of 80 minutes.

 

KLARA DEMONSTRATING ANOTHER WAY TO EXPERIENCE THE ECLIPSE

As the eclipse progressed the light became subdued, and the tonality of the light changed to a cooler(bluish) cast.    

 

11:04 (about 30 mins. to totality)

When we got very close to Totality you could see the moon’s shadow racing across the landscape from West to East at about one and a half times the speed of sound.

THE SHADOW APPROACHING

 It was quite eerie. During totality the temperature dropped 10˚. All became quiet, birds and animals. We whooped it up as did others around town as the corona shone, and the diamond ring was seen. Regrettably it lasted only one minute and 35 seconds at our location.

TOTALITY

DIAMOND RING AND SOLAR PROMINENCES

DIAMOND RING WITH MORE DETAIL

A solar prominence is a large, bright, gaseous feature extending outward from the Sun's surface, often in a loop shape. Prominences are anchored to the Sun's surface in the photosphere, and extend outwards into the Sun's corona.

TOTALITY PLUS 2 MINUTES

9 MINUTES AFTER TOTALITY

It was a beautiful experience and most memorable. Regrettably it lasted only one minute and 35 seconds at our location.  

Are we hooked to chase after the Total Solar Eclipse in 2024! Maybe. Our other daughter, Tina, lives outside Toledo, Ohio, which is on the edge of the path of totality for that eclipse.

SUN SPOTS VISIBLE ON SUN