A 20% Chance of an Evening Thundershower

Dan and I spent most of Friday in town, so Saturday morning, we couldn't wait to get out and ride. Our friend Grif was at our house early (ok, early for us), and we were off to the Pryors. It was a beautiful, sunny morning, but as we got closer to the mountains, we noticed big, white, fluffy clouds forming over the peaks. But Grif assured us that we were fine. He had checked the weather and there was only a 20% chance of an evening thundershower.

OUCH!

We got unloaded and headed for the top. We basically retraced our track from last Friday night. Dan got stuck ~ again ~ in the same mudhole, but Grif pulled him out. We took the same little side-trail into the woods, because I knew Grif would like it. It dead-ends, so we stopped and walked around a bit. By now, we were hearing some rather ominous thunder. Just as we were coming back into the meadow, it started to rain. So we ducked back into the trees and donned rain gear. The marble-sized hail that quickly followed made me glad for my helmet. After a while, the rain stopped and we returned to the main trail.  

Out on top again, we realized that Mother Nature had not finished her tantrum. The valley below (and our poor truck) was getting hammered, and the storm was coming up behind us fast. Knowing that out in the open high on a bald mountain top is not the safest place to be in a thunderstorm, we went racing across the top to a safer place. We got back into the lower trees just as it started to rain again. This time was not as intense, but I was soaked and cold. Grif offered to build me a fire, but of course, everything was wet. But with persistence (and some maybe less-than-Boy Scout-approved methods), he succeeded. Lesson learned: ALWAYS carry marshmallows and hot dogs! 

Finally, the sun came out. As we rode, we started to dry out and warm up. Dan had been wanting to go down the switchbacks to Crooked Creek Road, but there was still too much snow last time. This time it was clear and we made it to the valley floor. That was when I spotted the bear. The guys said she had cubs, but I don't carry my binoculars, so I didn't see them. We then went over and peered down into the canyon, then turned in a generally homeward direction. As we stopped at an intersection in the trail to decide whether to take the main road or a more circuitous route back to the truck, the rain began for the third time. So we rode like mad into the pounding rain and arrived back at the truck soaked to the skin. As we were loading up, I glanced east and spotted a beautiful rainbow. Ok, fine, Mother Nature... truce. I'll be back. 

I had no idea that sage had berries!

Bugs, Blossoms, and Bears

The view from our "suite"

FRIDAY!!! Time to go outside and play! We loaded up the machines and the camping gear and made haste for the Pryors. Before we were even unloaded, I was noticing the blooms on the cacti. They were everywhere! Because we got off to a late start, it was afternoon by the time we got our campsite picked out and set up. So we made dinner and then set out on an evening drive.

Surveying the surroundings

The plan was to check out the road to the west side of the mountains and see if the snow had melted yet. It had, so we continued. BUT... melting snow becomes water, and water turns solid ground into mud! Dan was partway through a major mud-hole when the machine bottomed out in knee-deep muck. Despite his best efforts, he was stuck! He managed to jump off of the machine to mostly-solid ground and linked a chain between us. I pulled him free and we went out around the bog and out of the mosquito family reunion. Shortly thereafter, we came to a Y in the road. We decided to save the western side for morning and loop back up over the top and back down to camp. We made the short-but-steep ascent to the upper meadow, and that was when Dan saw the black bear sow and two (maybe even three) cubs. I, however, had stopped to shift out of low gear and did not see them. Realizing that Dan had the camera out, I hurried to catch up. We cautiously gave chase, but Mama Bear was not hanging around for introductions. So we went back to the machines and returned to camp. It was too windy for a fire, so we sat in our camp chairs and watched the lightning in a storm off to the east. 

The tiny black dots on the rock are bears. Trust me. 

I awoke early on Saturday morning (the air mattress definitely has a leak), so by 8 am, we were packed up and back on the trail. We made it uneventfully through the bog and continued west through pine forests and meadows full of purple and yellow flowers. There was not a cloud in the sky, and we could see Bridger 20 miles away in the valley below and the Beartooth/Absaroka mountain range even further away to the west. We sat and soaked up the sun and the view while we ate our lunch. We then descended to the valley floor and back to the truck. We debated taking one more ride, but I was very glad later that we did not, as a major thunderstorm hit Laurel not long after we got home. Oh well, it washed some of the mud off of the machines. Until next time, anyway...

Coolest puffball ever!

These huge bugs were starting to freak me out a little bit until this one landed on my leg
while we were eating supper. It just sat and stared at me like a tiny puppy begging for a treat. 

She's Over the Top

Natural Bridge and Falls, near Big Timber, has always been a favorite family destination. We have taken my parents, who live in Michigan, to see it. When our second daughter came from New Hampshire to live with us, she was also introduced to its beauty. 

What makes this place so intriguing is its geology. The Boulder River rolls along to this spot only to plunge suddenly into a hole in the riverbed. The river literally disappears at that point, leaving the "natural bridge," and shoots out of the canyon wall several hundred yards farther down the river channel. (The far left cascade in the picture above.) We have spent a lot of time out wandering around on the dry riverbed looking at fossils. There is a time, however, when you do NOT want to be in that river channel, and that time is during the spring runoff. 

When the water rises high enough, the natural bridge is entirely covered and the water flows faster than the hole can "swallow." Now the river rages on down the channel and cascades over the canyon wall itself. The hiking trail makes its way around the the canyon rim to an observation point directly across from the falls. The view and the sound is spectacular! New this year is a hiking trail to the bottom of the falls. In the past, people have scrambled down whatever area looks the easiest to them. (Yes, we are guilty!) I am sure that an established trail will help to limit erosion, and it certainly made it easier. (Not easy, just easier!) 

Another trail has enchanted me every time we visit, yet we have never explored it. Before we even left the house, I told Dan that this time, I wanted to try it. Of course, with the falls "over the top," we spent longer at the falls themselves than we normally might have. (This is not a predictable, yearly event. In fact, this is only the second time that we have seen it.) Without much time, we only got a little way up the trail, but it was tantalizing enough that I want to go back again another day and see where it goes. 

The view from the spot where we turned around. 

  

What a Weekend!

Disclaimer: This is a little longer than most of my posts, but we crammed a LOT into two days. Enjoy! 

I am so glad that I did not marry a "couch potato"! Dan is every bit as eager as I am to go outside and play, and this weekend was no exception! Despite being late getting out of work Thursday night (and even later getting to bed!), we were up early Friday morning, and by 9:00, we were putting fuel in the truck in Red Lodge and heading up the Beartooth Pass. It was misty, and for the first time in a long time, I was actually a little uncomfortable. We could barely see the road in front of us ~ NOT a good feeling with hair-pin curves and steep drop-offs! But before too long, the clouds began to thin and we broke through into bright sunshine. Dan pointed out that we were now ABOVE the clouds! Where one normally looks down into the valleys, there was nothing except a thick, fluffy blanket of clouds. 

We continued across the plateau, stopping several times to take pictures of the Bear's Tooth and a favorite waterfall. Coming down the far side of the Pass, I couldn't resist ever-photogenic Pilot and Index Peaks. I asked Dan to pull off on a side-road so that I could step out and take a picture. He turned, but he didn't stop. It quickly became obvious that we were not going to turn around anytime soon. This was one twisty, narrow road! We finally got to a spot where the view was as close as possible to what I saw in the first place, so I got my pictures. We got turned around, and I was staring out my window and muttering under my breath when I spotted a big black bear in the valley below us. Dan slammed on the brakes and I snapped a couple of quick shots (neither of which was any good). By now Dan had the truck in park and turned off. He grabbed the camera and we went scrambling down the hillside. The bear was completely unaware of us as he investigated a small pond of snowmelt runoff water. He was just settling in for a nice bath when he either heard or spotted us. He turned tail and was gone in about two seconds flat! Bummer!

Oh well, our main objective for the day was looking for babies in Yellowstone, so we continued on our merry way. Unfortunately, we drove the entire outer loop without seeing a single newborn of any kind. Of course, that's what makes those photos special ~ their rarity. We enjoyed hiking down to the brink of the Lower Falls of the Yellowstone and watching the mud bubble and boil at the Artist's Paint Pots. We were done for the day and almost to the park exit when we spotted a deer and her brand new fawn. No chance for a picture though, since it was nearly dark and Baby clearly heeded Mama's warning to "get up under that bush and hide." 

We stopped for dinner in Gardiner and realized that it was going to be late when we got home. Yep, it was nearly midnight when we pulled into the driveway. No biggie, normally, but this time I had to be up early the next morning. (And I am a girl who needs her sleep.)

Needed sleep or not, I rose obediently when the alarm jerked me rudely to wakefulness at six am. However, I was excited enough about our first-ever real attempt to sell our photos that I didn't stay drowsy for long. We got to the Walmart parking lot shortly after eight and got our place assignment. We unloaded and got set up with only one casualty (the good thing being that it was not one of our favorite pieces or more-expensive frames). We had a great day sharing our pictures. We even made a little money. We did agree, however, that being out taking pictures is still a lot more fun. We were glad to get things picked up and go home to celebrate our first successful show with rib-eye steaks on the grill. Yummy! 

  

Going Out on a Limb

Unless this is your very first visit to my blog, you know that Dan and I love to be outside, preferably somewhere in the mountains. We do our best to "get out of Dodge" at least one day of every weekend. Whether we are hiking, 4-wheeling, or just cruising back roads, we are happiest when we are well away from civilization. No matter where we go and how we get there, the camera is always with us and at the ready.

SO... here's the limb: On Saturday, June 7 (yes, this Saturday) at the Laurel WalMart CMN craft fair, we will be displaying our photos for people to peruse and hopefully purchase. While we do enjoy taking pictures and looking at them for ourselves, we also love to share our artwork. This is our first real attempt to sell our pictures, and I really have no idea what to expect.

Anyway, if you are in the Laurel/Billings area, please stop by the Laurel Walmart (16 miles west of Billings) between 10 am - 4 pm and check us out.  In the meantime, if you would like a preview of what we will have available, please visit our FB page, Photography by Dan & Tammi Capron. Don't forget to "like" us, if you haven't already done so. 

We hope to see you at the show on Saturday, June 7th, 10-4 in the Laurel WalMart parking lot.