HUMBUG SPIRES HIKE-CANINES RULE!

We continue our explorations looking for new and exciting hikes. Our canines have become expert day hikers, loving every minute of it, then collapsing with tired muscles and sore joints after getting back home (not much different than their human masters). We found this hike in an interesting book "Day Hikes with Dogs, Western Montana" by Wendy Pierce and Becky Warren. This unique hike is about 1.5 hours south of our home in the Boulder Mountains. It follows Moose Creek, a tributary of the Big Hole River, for the initial two miles, then leaves the creek and climbs moderately for the last 1.5 miles. We were rewarded by many wild different types flowers and unusual granite outcroppings at the top.

                                            Showy Daisy

                                               

                                              Lewis Western Flax
                   

                                        Wild Rose bud

Several old trees, 200 + years old according to our hiking references punctuate the trail. Unfortunately this one must have succumbed to a storm

                                                    The Humbug Spires at last

We named this one Penis Rock because it resembles one pointed out to Linda by the Hiking Chicks in the Black Hills of South Dakota  

            Jake ignored the sign that reads "Caution, Bridge Unsafe for Horse Crossing"

The pups love the creek-drinking its cold water and cooling off, particularly Gidget who submerges her entire body as often as she can

PATIENCE PAYS OFF

Nature often asks us to be patient. Wait for the winter storm to pass, wait for spring when all is brown and lifeless, wait for rain during a drought. Almost 3 years after this curious plant was given to Linda it finally flowered. Worth the wait. JIR

FLIRTING WITH THE BOB

The Bob Marshall Wilderness, better known as "The Bob", is a vast mysterious expanse of the northern Rocky Mountains in Montana. Horseback packing trips that last days are the best way to penetrate and enjoy the Bob. We'll do one of those soon. For now, we are determined to take small bites of the Bob by taking day hikes into its periphery. This time, we drove to Choteau, MT, about 1 and a half hours from our home. Heading west 26 miles from there we found the trail to Our Lake, also known as Hidden Lake. Seven mile round trip hike with a 1,500 foot elevation gain.

                                             The first part of the hike is through thick pine forest

                                                               Yellow Columbine

                                                 Mountain Lady Slippers    

                                             Notice the bear spray within easy reach

                               Several north-facing portions of the trail are still covered by snow drifts

                          The lower portion of the falls disappears under a gigantic snow drift

    The chilly waters of the Teton River  are the perfect cooling off spot for tired hot pups

                                Wonder how big a bread knife it took to perfectly slice this mountain

We stopped at Eureka Reservoir were Gidget displayed her expert swimming skills and Jake horsed around like only he can do