Category Archives: Outdoors

The Hungry Griz

Posted on March 13, 2016 by westerner54

Imagine you’re a big old Yellowstone grizzly bear who’s just woken after your winter sleep.  Food. You need food. Now imagine that you’re lucky enough to be wandering around the Blacktail Ponds in Yellowstone on an early spring day, and … Continue reading →

Posted in Food, Montana, Nature, Outdoors, Wildlife, Yellowstone | Tagged , , , | 22 Comments

The Christmas Tree Hunt

Posted on December 21, 2015 by westerner54

We’ve hunted the wild Christmas tree nearly every year since 1983.   We head into the National Forest, hunting tag in hand, and look for that perfect evergreen to bring into our house and remind us that there is still … Continue reading →

Posted in Montana, Nature, Outdoors | Tagged , | 16 Comments

Small Wonders

Posted on September 17, 2015 by westerner54

Montana is full of big wonders: the grizzlies, the elk, the moose, the huge mountains and the equally huge sky.    We visit Yellowstone and look for wolves and bears, and hope that we’ll be one of the few visitors … Continue reading →

Posted in Birding, Life, Montana, Nature, Outdoors, Wildlife | Tagged , , , , | 22 Comments

Six Days in Grizzly Country: A Backpack in the Scapegoat Wilderness

Posted on August 6, 2015 by westerner54

If you’d told me twenty years ago that my 61 year old self would even think about spending six days backpacking in grizzly country, I’d have laughed you out of the room.    Wasn’t gonna happen.    I wouldn’t even consider … Continue reading →

Posted in Adventure, Backpacking, Camping, Hiking, Montana, Nature, Outdoors | Tagged , , | 16 Comments

Backpack to the “Not Unduly Spectacular.” Curly Lake, Tobacco Root Mountains.

Posted on July 18, 2015 by westerner54

I’m trudging up the steep trail to Curly Lake, thinking – somewhat crabbily – about the Montana Hiking guide’s description of Curly Lake as “not unduly spectacular.”  I haven’t been there, and right about now I’m wondering why we chose … Continue reading →

Posted in Backpacking, Hiking, Montana, Nature, Outdoors | Tagged , , | 16 Comments

Travels with my Coffee Cup

Posted on July 7, 2015 by westerner54

My coffee cup has had a good life. And it ain’t done yet.

Posted in Camping, Hiking, Life, Montana, Outdoors, Southwest hikes, Travel | Tagged , | 14 Comments

Campsite Visitors

Posted on June 9, 2015 by westerner54

Early morning, Many Glacier Campground, June 6, 2015 Something is crashing through the willows at the edge of our campsite.  I put down my coffee and stand to see what is making such a racket.  I see three shapes through … Continue reading →

Posted in Montana, Nature, Outdoors, Wildlife | Tagged , , , | 24 Comments

Malheur Wildlife Refuge

Posted on May 14, 2015 by westerner54

I’m standing on the edge of the Blitzen River, watching – and being watched by – a pair of Northern Harriers.  I think they must have a nest nearby, since they don’t seem to like the fact that I’m hanging … Continue reading →

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

Being Here, Being Now

Posted on April 19, 2015 by westerner54

I’m sitting in a meadow near Harrison Lake, watching a pair of Short-eared Owls courting high above me.  Their soft “wup-wup-wups” and the wing-clapping of the male is surprisingly loud, even when they’re hundreds of feet away.   A pair … Continue reading →

Posted in Birding, Life, Montana, Nature, Outdoors, Wildlife | Tagged , , | 18 Comments

March Gladness

Posted on March 14, 2015 by westerner54

The snow geese are landing, the eagles are in their nests, and the meadowlarks have found their favorite fence posts.  Nature keeps on truckin’, and all’s well in this little corner of the world… Happy spring!

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