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.

Glacier: Kintla Lake at Summer’s End

Posted on September 2, 2014 by westerner54

Summer is short at Kintla Lake; even in late August the nights are getting cold, the days are shorter, the squirrels are madly caching food for the winter, and you feel like the weather could turn at any moment.   … Continue reading →

Posted in Camping, Montana, Nature, Outdoors, Photography, Travel | 13 Comments

Road Trip: Bannack Ghost Town

Posted on August 23, 2014 by westerner54

July 17, 2013:  Flash Flood in Bannack.   The annual Bannack Days celebration was scheduled last year for July 18 and 19, and we thought it would be fun to go check it out.  The rain gods, though, had something … Continue reading →

Posted in Adventure, Camping, History, Montana, Nature, Travel | Tagged , , | 8 Comments

Moose, Mosquitoes and Bear Grass: Three Days in the Pintlers

Posted on August 3, 2014 by westerner54

“Whoa…what’s that?” Margaret stops dead, pointing into the trees.    I don’t stop in time and smack into her backpack.  I look where she’s pointing in the woods off to the right of us but don’t see anything. “What?  I … Continue reading →

Posted in Adventure, Backpacking, Hiking, Montana, Nature, Outdoors, Wildlife | Tagged , , , , , | 25 Comments

Good Grebe!

Posted on July 23, 2014 by westerner54

I’ve been watching a pair of Red-necked Grebes on a local lake since early this spring.   They mated and built a nest in May, but the nest must have failed, because no little grebes ever showed up.  They hung … Continue reading →

Posted in Birding, Montana, Nature, Outdoors, Photography, Wildlife | Tagged , , | 16 Comments

Exploring Rainy Lake

Posted on July 17, 2014 by westerner54

We have a new toy, and I’m just loving it.  The cool thing about our new kayak is that it’s inflatable, which means we can fold it up and put in the camper.  And it’s a cinch to blow up.  Check … Continue reading →

Posted in Birding, Camping, Montana, Nature, Outdoors, Wildlife | Tagged , , , | 21 Comments

It’s Windy on Top of the World

Posted on July 11, 2014 by westerner54

It was 89 degrees and dead calm in the Skalkoho Creek valley when we left.  Now the wind is howling, and I’ve put on an extra shirt and the fleece jacket that I just threw in at the last moment, thinking … Continue reading →

Posted in Adventure, Backpacking, Hiking, Montana, Nature, Wildlife | Tagged , , | 8 Comments

Hidden in Plain Sight

Posted on June 23, 2014 by westerner54

We’ve been hiking down Bear Trap Canyon for a couple of hours now, and I’m more than ready for lunch.  I stop by a big log, turn to Bill and suggest that this would be a good stopping place. “Well, … Continue reading →

Posted in Hiking, Montana, Nature, Outdoors, Photography, Wildlife | Tagged , | 32 Comments

Between a Critter and the Hard, Hard Ground

Posted on June 21, 2014 by westerner54

Cowboys are pretty much always caught between two bad choices, don’t you think?  

Posted in Adventure, Life, Montana, Photography | Tagged , , , | 24 Comments

Really Forest Service? You’re Locking Us IN????

Posted on June 16, 2014 by westerner54

We came through this gate on Saturday.  On Sunday it was locked.   No other way out.   Are you kidding me??? I am generally just fine with the Forest Service.  I haven’t always agreed with their decisions, but I think they do a … Continue reading →

Posted in Adventure, Camping, Life, Montana, Nature, Outdoors | Tagged , , , | 13 Comments

Spring in Glacier: Short and Sweet

Posted on June 14, 2014 by westerner54

  Mid-June is definitely not summer in Glacier National Park.   The snow is starting to recede, and the wildflowers are just starting.  Nights are cold, but the long days and lack of crowds make it a great time to visit.    Last … Continue reading →

Posted in Camping, Hiking, Montana, Nature, Outdoors, Wildlife | Tagged , , , | 21 Comments