Category Archives: Outdoors

A Little Rain? A Little Snow? Who Cares if You’re in Blodgett Canyon?

Posted on June 6, 2012 by westerner54

A few years ago a friend of mine from New Jersey was surprised that I wanted to head to the Caribbean in May.  “Why leave in May? Just when the weather is getting wonderful, and you can start backpacking?” Right.   We’ve … Continue reading →

Posted in Backpacking, Hiking, Montana, Outdoors, Travel | Tagged , | 11 Comments

The Indispensables

Posted on May 21, 2012 by westerner54

Those first couple of miles of the first backpack of the season are always tough, aren’t they? Hiking without a pack never prepares me for the shock of suddenly hauling all that extra weight, and my hips and shoulders are … Continue reading →

Posted in Adventure, Backpacking, Camping, Hiking, Outdoors, Travel | Tagged , , , , , | 10 Comments

Backpack to Casey Meadow

Posted on May 10, 2012 by westerner54

Casey Meadow, in the Elkhorn Mountains, is a great early season backpacking destination.  It’s close to Helena, the three-mile hike to the meadow isn’t too strenuous, and it’s one of the few high places that is free of snow in … Continue reading →

Posted in Hiking, Montana, Nature, Outdoors, Travel | Tagged , | 12 Comments

“U R Brave”

Posted on May 2, 2012 by westerner54

Last year I posted on YouTube a video of some Yellowstone wolves crossing the road in front of me.   One of the first comments was just one line:  “U R brave.”    I didn’t think it was brave, but it looked … Continue reading →

Posted in Adventure, Hiking, Life, Montana, Nature, Outdoors, Travel, Yellowstone | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 25 Comments

Chaudiere Pool, Dominica

Posted on April 27, 2012 by westerner54

A few years ago an issue of Backpacker magazine included articles on both McCart Lookout in southwestern Montana and Grand Gulch in southeastern Utah, two places I just love.   I was both pleased and dismayed:  pleased that the magazine agreed that these two wonderful … Continue reading →

Posted in Adventure, Caribbean, Nature, Outdoors, Travel | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

Out My Back Door and Up the Mountain

Posted on April 17, 2012 by westerner54

My favorite part about living right in town is that I can pretend that urban sprawl has skipped Helena, Montana.  It hasn’t, but the old downtown part of Helena butts right up against hills and mountains that are protected from development.  The city stops and open space … Continue reading →

Posted in Hiking, Montana, Nature, Outdoors, Photography, Travel | Tagged , , , , | 10 Comments

Close to Home: the Missouri

Posted on April 9, 2012 by westerner54

Sometimes I need a reminder to stop and see the wonders of my own neighborhood, and I appreciate bloggers who — Thoreau-like — keep their focus small and remind me to do the same.  Two of my favorites are  Some Little Crum Creek and  Walks Under the Trees.  They … Continue reading →

Posted in Hiking, Montana, Nature, Outdoors, Photography, Travel | Tagged , , , , , | 10 Comments

Spring in Yellowstone: Critters and Empty Roads

Posted on April 2, 2012 by westerner54

A handsome black wolf stopping by to check out the campsite is a pretty auspicious start to a weekend in Yellowstone, don’t you think? We arrived at the Mammoth Campground in Yellowstone at about 6:00 on Friday evening.  We set … Continue reading →

Posted in Adventure, Camping, Hiking, Montana, Nature, Outdoors, Photography, Travel, Wildlife, Yellowstone | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 27 Comments

Snow Geese in the Fog: Shades of White and Gray

Posted on March 26, 2012 by westerner54

Freezeout Lake, Fairfield, Montana. Seventy-thousand of them, and it looked like we’d get skunked and not see a single one.    We’d arrived later than we wanted because of the dense fog that was blanketing central Montana.  We parked at a spot on … Continue reading →

Posted in Adventure, Birding, Montana, Nature, Outdoors, Photography, Travel, Wildlife | Tagged , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Montana’s Gravelly Range: Camping in the Sky

Posted on March 24, 2012 by westerner54

The Gravelly Mountains of southwestern Montana are certainly not a roadless area, and plenty of ranchers run cows and sheep on them during the summer.   But they’re one of our favorite car-camping destinations, especially in late July when the wide meadows … Continue reading →

Posted in Camping, Hiking, Montana, Nature, Outdoors, Photography, Travel | Tagged , , , , | 7 Comments