Marias Pass

This is it, I'm caught up for now. You should be on this train!!!!

muleys

Today is Friday, I chased deer through the woods or actually they chased me. I also had a near moose sighting this am. Only moments before I passed by there was a cow moose and her calf (some folks showed me the pics) I just hate those near mooses!

sunset at the cabin

well after 10 by the time the sun goes down......and then we sleep.

Bear slide

This is where the bears slid down the snow patch. Of course they did this after I passed by and before I came back through. It's probably good though as I'd likely be nervous rather than just attentive while hikiing.

Cobalt Lake outlet

This is the outlet stream from Cobalt Lake, the lake was actually jade green but the sky was sure cobalt. There are icebergs in the lake and quite a bit of snow in patches. The glacier lilies are blooming.....wonderful bear candy!

Rockwell Falls

Ok, it's a new day. I spent the night in my tent in the campground and got up early to hike to Cobalt Lake, Rockwell Falls is on the way.

Gnarled whitebark pine skeletons

Im sure they found the trees for the tree people in Lord of the Rings here. It is kinda erie with all the bleached trees, like a bone yard.

2Medicine Valley from Scenic Point

Then I went for a hike.... just a little up hill, but worth it for the view. Stupendous!

Painting at 2 Medicine

Here I am painting again, this time on the east side at Two Medicine. This is a great little side creek that we explored last year.

here's an example of the alphabet project

Just so you don't get the idea that I'm not actually working out here.... this is a page from the alphabet I'm creating for the park's educational program. It was a fogged in wet and windy day today, perfect for working on the computer.

Checkerspot

There are still wonderful things to see on a "down" day. THe butterflies are much harder to photograph this time of year, they seem to be in a frenzy of fluttering about.... looking for love, I expect.

West Lakes District Headquarters

Day 6 was a quiet day while I worked and took a short hike up the Middle Fork of the Flathead river.

Wrecked bridge over Sacred Dancing Cascades

Speaking of water.... Buzz, Sherryl and Ryan will be impressed with this sight of the damaged bridge. That's a lot of water that rushed through here in the same November rain that devastated our area in the PNW. Go online to the Glacier Park website and look at pictures during the storm, impressive to say the least. That is why the Goiing to the Sun Road is still not open, they've had a terrific amount of repair and rebuild work to do.

Mcdonald Creek Falls

Spring time is the time of high water flow. I painted here last year sitting on the edge that is now under water.

Bowman Lake

.....on to Bowman Lake which is also in the North Fork area out of Polebridge. Today I'm off to do the 13 miles or so around all three Crystal Lakes. Doing the steep part first was a good idea since it got quite warm in the afternoon. The mosquitoes are a bit more bother in the springtime, they had a feast of me before I broke out the deet. Lunchtime at the largest of the Crystal Lakes was very nice. I packed all that painting stuff all this way and by golly I even used it. I'm still not totally enthralled with my efforts so I'll probably keep the painting projects closer to the road to save my shoulders but it is fun once you're there. You'll have to see more pics later.

Wolf Puppies!

Can you believe it? Wolf pups on the road to Bowman Lake, 8 in the morning, just dogging around. Two in the road and another in the bushes. I never saw mom or the baby sitters but there's no doubt they were there. This is a special gift.

North Fork Valley Wildflowers

Didn't I say the North Fork (of the Flathead River) was gorgeous?

Kintla Lake plein air painting

Yep, I painted here too. Easy since I didn't have to pack the stuff very far. I also saw a loon here so maybe I'll paint him in too. I actually like this painting.

Day four, Kintla Lake

Today I was up early for the drive to Polebridge, breakfast at the general store/bakery... they have the best huckleberry bearclaws and savory scones. Then down the dusty, pot holed road to Kintla Lake. Just the road is fascinating through burned lodgepole pine forest that is rapidly regenerating and through Big Prairie and back into forest. Great spot for wildlife although the biggest fauna I saw here was a snowshoe hare that posed for my camera. The lake itself is quiet and relatively pristine.

Day three is Avalanche Gorge

Another short hike close to home is the popular Avalanche Gorge hike just up from Lake Mcdonald Lodge. Another beautiful day and I packed the paints again. A bit happier with the results this time and featured in several photographs by park visitors (I think maybe I should charge a fee)

Day two, up to Apgar Fire Lookout

Today is gorgeously sunny and warm but not too hot. Hiked to the fire lookout at the south end of Lake McDonald for the BIG picture. I even painted up top... I was the source of considerable curiousity by other hikers that's for sure. (scroll down and you can see documentation of my esel set up)

...yes, I am painting

It was on and off stormy when I arrived but not without breaks so I went out and took some photos on the lake shore then painted this from my computer monitor.... kinda like plein air for sissies!

Day one in Glacier Park

So, starting at the start.... here is the cabin, VIP cabin #1105 waiting just for me! Deer meandering through the "yard", merganser visiting by water. Bats and mice so far staying outside.

almost forgot to show you this little scrapper!

AIR in Glacier National Park 2007

It's the end of my first week as Artist in Residence in Glacier National Park. Whooo Ha, I'm lovin' it here.....again! Coming in the spring is like early morning all day long. Although the weather is somewhat more variable, the unpredictability not to mention the dramatic skies is just fine with me. I have just barely figured out this computer and web access thing, technical magic is amazing too. However, being here in the woods is even more so.

Today (Sunday the 24th) is a "down" day as I have actually been working on the kids alphabet for my AIR project. I am also nursing the blisters I collected in the last few days of hiking. I have also been painting, yes, even in the wilds.... packing that darn backpack over ridge and stream. Gets heavy after 12 miles! I'm not convinced that my painterly skills warrent this much "suffering" but I did do one painting that I liked.

The changes to park infrastructure - bridges, roads etc are pretty dramatic, the other most obvious thing is that there is a LOT more water running through this place than in late summer. OK, so here's the good part..... did I mention I SAW WOLF PUPPIES!! heh, heh, heh.... did you know that it was my goal to see the big dogs this year? (it's even in print, read the book). That's just the most exciting thing since huckleberry ice cream...... I'll be back with more later.