Author Archives: westerner54

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About westerner54

Hello. I'm Cindy, and I love to hike, bike and explore the outdoors - particularly the western U.S.

Solstice Wolves

Posted on December 20, 2014 by westerner54

I’m standing on a hilltop in Yellowstone on a cold and bright December morning.    The snow beneath me is covered with hundreds of wolf tracks.    They must have been through here early this morning – the tracks are clearly fresh, … Continue reading →

Posted in Adventure, Montana, Nature, Outdoors, Wildlife, Yellowstone | Tagged , , | 38 Comments

Rocky Mountain Wildlife 2014: from Weird to Wonderful

Posted on December 11, 2014 by westerner54

Let’s start with the weird. A baby Great Horned Owl should be cute, right?  But this guy…just plain scary. Owls are often walking the line between cute and horrifying.  Not sure which side these two fall on:   Muskrats could be … Continue reading →

Posted in Birding, Hiking, Humor, Montana, Nature, Outdoors, Wildlife | Tagged , , , , | 23 Comments

May Creek Cabin

Posted on December 8, 2014 by westerner54

December 3, 2014.  Around 1:30 in the afternoon, about 24 degrees.    We’re at the May Creek trailhead near Wisdom, Montana, ready to head out to the May Creek Forest Service Cabin that we’ve rented for a two-night stay. My … Continue reading →

Posted in Backpacking, Hiking, Montana, Nature, Outdoors | Tagged , , | 32 Comments

Grand Gulch Below the Narrows: Where to find the Perfect Campsite

Posted on November 17, 2014 by westerner54

This looks like a pretty good fall campsite, don’t you think?   Lots of afternoon sun , reflected warmth from the canyon walls during the night, nice clear water in pot holes fifty feet away, and even a cute little … Continue reading →

Posted in Adventure, Backpacking, Hiking, Nature, Southwest hikes, Wildlife | Tagged , , , | 6 Comments

Full Moon at Sunrise Over the Rocky Mountain Front

Posted on November 9, 2014 by westerner54

7:00 a.m., November 6, 2014.  Freezout Lake, Montana     

Posted in Montana, Nature, Outdoors, Photography | 4 Comments

Another Secret Ruin

Posted on November 6, 2014 by westerner54

It doesn’t get much better than spending days wandering the canyons and gulches of Cedar Mesa, looking for rock art and ruins.    Sometimes you know exactly what you’re looking for, since many folks have been there before, and the … Continue reading →

Posted in Adventure, Hiking, Outdoors, Southwest hikes, Travel | Tagged , , | 14 Comments

Beware the Steaming Bear

Posted on October 29, 2014 by westerner54

It’s not unusual to come upon plumes of steam coming from the ground when you’re hiking in Yellowstone.    You just walk around the vent, and keep on your way. Sometimes though, the steam in front of you is not … Continue reading →

Posted in Hiking, Montana, Nature, Wildlife, Yellowstone | Tagged , | 16 Comments

Sometimes They Sneak Up on You…

Posted on October 5, 2014 by westerner54

It’s cold at 9,500 feet on a late September morning in the Gravelly Mountains – I’m glad for my down coat and warm coffee.    We’re sitting on a little ridge overlooking the pond we camped near last night, waiting … Continue reading →

Posted in Adventure, Montana, Nature, Outdoors, Wildlife | Tagged , | 22 Comments

Yellowstone Skies

Posted on September 22, 2014 by westerner54

The changing season brings out the best in Yellowstone.    The critters tend toward the frantic: the bull elk are madly trying to keep their harems in line, chasing after each other during the day and bugling all night long, … Continue reading →

Posted in Montana, Nature, Outdoors, Yellowstone | 15 Comments

The Missouri Breaks: Back to 1805.

Posted on September 10, 2014 by westerner54

On our second day in the Missouri Breaks we heard a four-wheeler grinding its way down the steep road to our camp on the banks of the Missouri.  A few minutes later a grizzled and weathered rancher with a border … Continue reading →

Posted in Adventure, Camping, History, Montana, Nature, Travel | Tagged , , , , | 17 Comments