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.

The Owls

Posted on June 6, 2014 by westerner54

This is the contemplative stillness that I seek when I’m meditating.  I get it sometimes for minutes at a time, but the owls…they’ve got for hours. I can walk right up to them.  They notice me.  Blink.  Blink again.  Then it’s back … Continue reading →

Posted in Birding, Life, Nature, Outdoors, Wildlife | Tagged , , , | 27 Comments

A Tale of Two Eagle Nests

Posted on June 3, 2014 by westerner54

Back in January I wrote a post about watching the bald eagles at two different nests beginning the process of fixing up their nests for the spring.    The first couple – which I called the Hauser eagles because the nest … Continue reading →

Posted in Birding, Montana, Nature, Outdoors, Wildlife | Tagged , , , | 14 Comments

The Unbearable Cuteness of Being

Posted on May 23, 2014 by westerner54

Sure, bears can be cute.   That Yogi, he’s pretty dapper.   But bear cubs? Now that’s some unbearable cuteness.* (* thanks, Linda!) And everyone in Yellowstone thinks so, too.  A mama bear with a cub is sure to bring out the crowds. … Continue reading →

Posted in Montana, Nature, Outdoors, Wildlife, Yellowstone | Tagged , , | 31 Comments

The Wolf

Posted on May 19, 2014 by westerner54

We’re idling in a line of cars on the road to Norris Hot Springs in Yellowstone.  Five cars ahead I see a white van stopped in the middle of the road. A car is stopped in the other lane as … Continue reading →

Posted in Adventure, Montana, Nature, Outdoors, Photography, Wildlife, Yellowstone | Tagged , , | 21 Comments

Sipapu Bridge Hike…and a Secret Ruin

Posted on May 14, 2014 by westerner54

It’s not supposed to be cold and windy in southeastern Utah at the end of April.  I’d envisioned clear blue skies, warm sun, and hiking in shorts and short sleeves.   What we got was highs in the 40s, and 25 … Continue reading →

Posted in Hiking, Nature, Outdoors, Southwest hikes | Tagged , , , | 17 Comments

Evening in Canyonlands

Posted on May 10, 2014 by westerner54

Canyonlands National Park,  May 2014  “Let me keep my mind on what matters, which is my work which is mostly standing still and learning to be astonished. — Mary Oliver    

Posted in Hiking, Life, Nature, Outdoors, Photography, Southwest hikes | Tagged , , | 18 Comments

Hidden Yellowstone: What Else Have I Been Missing?

Posted on April 22, 2014 by westerner54

Waaaaay off in the distance – at least a mile away – we could see a brown dot moving around a meadow.     There was no one around with a good scope, so we had to depend on our binoculars to … Continue reading →

Posted in Adventure, Humor, Montana, Nature, Outdoors, Photography, Wildlife, Yellowstone | Tagged , , | 18 Comments

Pelican Island and Other Wonders of a Blustery Saturday

Posted on April 15, 2014 by westerner54

A winter storm warning put a crimp in our plans for a long spring hike this past Saturday. Instead, we checked out the weather, saw the storm heading our way from the northwest and decided to head southeast and see … Continue reading →

Posted in Birding, Montana, Nature, Outdoors, Wildlife | Tagged , , , | 25 Comments

April is the Coolest Month…

Posted on April 4, 2014 by westerner54

“Spring” in Montana is a weeks long exercise in frustration. Gray skies, wind-blown dust, snow storms, driving sleet…it drives me nuts. But when I hear the snow geese honking overhead as they make their way north, or see “my” eagles … Continue reading →

Posted in Birding, Life, Montana, Nature, Outdoors, Wildlife | Tagged , , | 20 Comments

A Nice Batch of Eagles

Posted on March 28, 2014 by westerner54

Snow geese weren’t the only migrators at Freezout Lake last week.  We were thrilled to discover a healthy bunch of bald eagles gathered at the south end of the lake.  We counted at least fifty of them – all ages – sitting … Continue reading →

Posted in Birding, Montana, Nature, Outdoors, Wildlife | Tagged , , | 19 Comments