We Followed a Bear

Photo by Penny Hall

Photo by Penny Hall

Photo by Penny Hall

 

 

Artist friends of ours arrived on Monday and we have been busy all week mixing work with play.  Wednesday we delivered our new art works to Creighton Block Gallery in Big Sky.

We took the long road back to Ennis through magnificent countryside.  After enjoying a nice picnic on the ground by the river we headed toward West Yellowstone.

That is when we spotted two young bears feeding along the roadside.  Neither of them seemed to mind that so many people stopped to admire them and take pictures.  We followed them along the road for quite a distance until they moved out of site.  It was quite an exciting event.

Ken and our friends burned up many camera batteries and pixels capturing sites too awesome to describe or record.  The weather was perfect.

The week has been part windy, part calm.  The past two days temperatures have not risen much above eighty. 

With most of their work out of the way our friends opted to stay another day to relax, fish and play.  I see new adventures ahead.

Break Is Over

Photo By Penny Hall

Photo By Penny Hall

 

 

This morning I visited the Madison River at Burnt Tree fishing access for the first time since returning home.  A gathering of geese on the island in front of me caught my eye. 

After wandering around for a brief time three leaders seemed to signal the break was over.  They all lined up in a row and entered the water one at a time as the current swept them away at a rapid clip.

It was sixty-five degrees then.  Now it is pouring down rain and the temperature outside is sixty degrees.  I am amazed at the amount of rain these past three days.

Madison River at Burnt Tree Fishing Access

Photo by Ken W. Hall

"In the foreground the ice on the main river channel has risen 3-4 feet above the level of an island in the middle of the Madison River while determined to continue its journey toward the confluence of the headwaters of the Missouri River the constant northward flow claimed the island as the 'new channel' ". Determination to follow instinct is a mighty and powerful force with no limitations." 
                                                                                                                               -  Ken W. Hall

Below zero temperatures are causing interesting changes in the Madison river this season.  Ken took this photo at Burnt Tree fishing access earlier this week.  The wind is blowing strong as warmer air moves in.  We are expecting temperatures to warm into the low forties by early next week.

Lunch by the River

Ken and I have had our heads to the grindstone with our art this week. Yesterday I packed us a lunch and we went to sit by the river. Listening to the rushing water is so soothing. It helps calm the inner madness.

Lots of folks were out enjoying the river including this family of dogs and their master. Ken wanted to be the guy fishing.

Today it was chilly, windy and cloudy. I had to wear a jacket when I went out. But, now it is getting warmer. The wind has died down and the sun is out. I think it is getting close to eighty degrees.

It seems as if we only had a couple of weeks of summer this year. Can you believe today is the last day of July?

The Changing River

It was in the teens Sunday morning as I stood by the river admiring what resembled sparkling diamonds. The sun shown brightly as it peeked through the clouds revealing the promise of some clear blue sky.

In the distance I could hear the rushing sound of the water that managed to make its way to the surface still surrounded by frozen ice. The occasional popping and cracking sound of the ice provided a unique accompaniment to the never-ending song of the moving river.

My attention was diverted by the sound of the beating wings of a magpie as it flew past my shoulder.

Saturday I returned to Burnt Tree fishing access to see how much more of the river had melted. To my surprise the path that was so perfectly carved a few days earlier was completely gone. Here is a glimpse of what I found.

I never cease to be amazed at the changes in the Madison River in winter.