Between errands this afternoon, Karl and I hit Wayfarer’s Park in Bigfork, on Flathead Lake for some fresh air, a walkabout and the most sun and blue sky we’ve seen in some days.
Tag Archive for 'Flathead Lake in winter'
Ha, this bird I KNOW! Pileated Woodpecker aka “Woody the Woodpecker” if you are of my vintage. And in real life, they can be as much of a troublemaker as the cartoon. They are interesting and large and not all that skittish. I didn’t see this one until I was within 6 or 8 feet and may not have noticed had he not chattered at me in what sounded like irritation. Karl was some ways away so I just stopped and spoke back. He went about his business ignoring me while I got the camera out.
My pileated woodpecker story is that one day after patching about 8 holes in my guesthouse and barn made by pileated woodpeckers, I headed to the Swan River Nature Trail for a walk with Karl. Along the way a group of 6 people were crouched down with binoculars looking at something. I leashed Karl and we quietly approached to find out what they were watching…pileated woodpeckers!! They were a bird watching group from the midwest, all excited to see their first. I didn’t share their excitement…
But yesterday, having not left the property since the previous Friday and feeling like I just wanted to see another human being, I headed to Bigfork and the lake with Karl. Surprisingly there was little snow in the valley. I must be sitting right at the snowline. Although, the muddy brown of very early spring along with the blackened piles of snow from parking areas is not extremely attractive, it was nice to see more ground. Despite a brisk wind off the lake it felt warmer than I expected. Karl and I dawdled around the beach and then the cliff area we like.
This squall was making its way across the lake to the south. Squalls like this one passed through at my house off and on yesterday, but by mid-afternoon it cleared, warmed up and everything melted.
This morning, though, another fresh inch of snow coated everything. It is an interesting “Spring”.
*The woodpecker photos are also from our walk at the lake yesterday, although I see them in my woods quite often.
Happy First Day of Spring! I know – that doesn’t look like Spring. It was in fact, the last day of Winter…yesterday. Yesterday, was sunny and 40ish and I had errands in Bigfork, so we tacked on some beach time. This “beach” will be gone soon. As the snow pack melts and the powers that be allow the lake level to rise, the area that Karl and I enjoy in the winter will be under water. When the snow melts, it is all rocks, so now is the time to really enjoy it!
A beautiful day!
A gaggle of geese sat in the water across the bay. Suddenly, the volume of honking increased. They rose – circled – started forming the V – an incredible sight and sound!
If you have never read or seen the why of the goose behavior: The Goose Story
Picnic tables, campfire rings and camp sites wait for summer. Late Spring through early Fall, people who work nearby come to this park, bring their lunch and enjoy a quiet and peaceful time by the lake. The camping area is beautiful – sites from tent size to a few that will accomodate the largest RV – but all somewhat private with views of the trees and ferns. Paths from the sites, wind through the woods to the rocky shore of the lake. Even in the height of summer, when all are full, it is a beautiful spot.
Today, the first day of Spring, we start letting go of Winter.
Saturday, noonish, Karl and I headed to Wayfarer’s State Park for a walk on the beach. I was surprised to find the parking area filled with trucks and boat trailers. There is still not much of a parking area as the primary day use parking has not been plowed. On this day, every spot designated for vehicle and trailer was full as well as every other plowed spot.
The Jeep, though, is no stranger to snow, so we parked in the day lot, in the snow. Two men near were readying a fishing boat so I asked about the “crowd”. There is a fishing tournament on. It is a yearly thing. They laughed at my saying that I was surprised at the number of boaters on a cold, gray day: “Any day is a good day to fish” was their reply. They went on to tell me that they were not in the tournament, but that they recognized most of the trucks and trailers as friends of theirs that were participating.
Karl and I walked toward the lake and watched them launch on an icy ramp. It was relatively warm at 36 but the combination of snow on the road and ramp, water splashing as each launched…and a few were already done for the day and pulling out, made the ramp very icy. 4wd and chains were the order of the day.
But aside from the boat launch, Karl and I had the rest of the park to ourselves.
Another day at the lake.
The rest of my Saturday – fetching the Winnebago (see 2/27 post “the start of my Saturday”):
I loaded the Jeep with camera, computer, WINE, dogfood/treats and a few other odds and ends that would allow Karl and I to spend a night in the motorhome if I didn’t feel like making the drive back home from Missoula, 110 miles south. Bob was situated with plenty of food and water, a freshly cleaned litter box and the assurance that we would return…sometime. I pulled out of the driveway at 11:20. The relatively late start was planned to allow temperatures to rise to the point where ice on the road would be water. That part of the plan was successful. Except for the 1/4 mile of road nearest my home, it was clear sailing.
It was that 1/4 mile of turning, steep, narrow, snow and ice covered road and my ever narrowing driveway and turnaround that caused a bit of concern. I nearly turned back. I had walked the drive and looked at the turnaround and planned how I would drop the Jeep in Bigfork and come in on my road with just the motorhome, but it just looked like it could be NOT fun. I went with a bit of a Scarlett O’Hara attitude: “I’ll worry about it tomorrow”.
Although the day had started clear as a bell, the valley was hazy and as I got south of Bigfork and the lake came into view, signs of an inversion were visible in the low cloud cover moving in. I stopped south of Woods Bay, parking in The Raven Bar’s lot…
As noted, The Raven is home to the Polar Bear Plunge, the January 1 swim in the lake. And, no, I have NOT participated. I’ve partaken of a brew in the bar on occasion, mainly for the view. Today, I skipped the bar, but used the parking lot to catch the start of the inversion.
We continued south. Montana Highway 35 hugs the lake most of the way between Bigfork and Polson, although above the lake and in some places quite a distance above with cherry orchards on the slope between the highway and the water. At about the 9 mile mark, the road heads inland as it approaches Polson. As I rounded the south shore of the lake, the mountains to the north stood out. While hazy, the fresh snow on the high peaks of the Swan Range made a majestic background to the lake.
I headed into a subdivision that I thought might have a spot where I could see and take some photos. I found a spot between 2 homes at a gated entrance to a wildlife preserve area adjacent to the subdivision.
While I was fiddling with lenses…
…I could NOT resist. I believe it was she. I am partial to the Northern Breeds as is Karl. Normally, he would be barking and sounding as if he would tear the Jeep apart to get at another dog – a behaviour confined to when he is in the car and he spots another dog, but this lady caught his eye and they exchanged greetings in a language of their own. I was hoping the people at home would come out and we might make an introduction, but they did not. We said good bye and continued south.
Polson is the southern end of the Flathead Valley and then begins the Mission Valley. The Mission Mountains to the east have several gorgeous jagged peaks. I stopped at a turnout near NinePipes to take a longer look and some photos. Even in the haze of the increasing inversion, they were beautiful.
The rest of the story… As I proceeded south, I decided that I would stay overnight in Missoula, just for the rv fun and change of pace and maybe in the back of my mind I thought to put off that last 1/4 mile and my driveway part of the trip. The overnight part of the plan went awry. A glitch in the repair of my motorhome steps meant that it needed to stay for further work. Although it meant returning in the Jeep, it did not upset me at all. I told the shop to take their time, like 2-3-4 weeks… Hopefully we’ll have had a bit of melt down by then. And also, I’ll take Bob next time and we’ll add a bit of vacation to the pick up – a REAL road trip!
So, somewhat anti-climatically, Karl and I returned with exactly what we left with and that is the rest of my Saturday story.
Five years ago…if you had told me that I would someday own an RV and LOVE rving, I would have said you were nuts.
I own an RV and I LOVE rving!
I even love a 200 mile round trip just to take the beast to a dealer for repair. I don’t love needing the repair, but it was operator error ( Damaging steps ) so I can’t blame the rv. I also didn’t “LOVE” the Jeep hookup yesterday as it was 6 below zero while I was doing it. Don’t let that sunshine fool you – it was cold! And things that normally swivel and extend didn’t want to do that. A hammer and a few choice words convinced them otherwise. The good news was that I wasn’t all hot and sweaty after the hookup…
I packed a lunch, my camera, my laptop – loaded Karl…no steps…I’m glad I’ve kept up with my strength training – and off we went. Destination, Missoula – 100 miles south.
The stop light in Bigfork…too bad about that view, huh?
Although cold, it was clear and sunny and a gorgeous day for the drive which skirts Flathead Lake for 35 miles before going through Polson, Montana and then a beautiful valley with the Mission Mountains to the east and the Bitteroots to the West.
Between Bigfork and Polson, I stopped at a pullout along the lake to allow 2 following cars to pass and to do a safety check.
We continued on. I had planned on a lunch stop south of Ronan, but the pullout there was not plowed. I ended up going all the way to the dealer in Missoula and having lunch in their parking lot. I unhooked the Jeep, checked in with service, transferred computer and camera to the Jeep, took a walk with Karl and then we started back towards home.
The Missions were beautiful – loaded with snow. A thin cloud layer lay about a third of the way between their jutting peaks and the valley floor. I didn’t stop – there are times when I just like to look.
**Added 7:30 a.m. 1/27 – I just visited fellow Montana blogger Montucky – he headed to the city yesterday also, albeit from a different direction. His post in the link is a gorgeous capture of the Missions – worth the click!
I did stop at a scenic lookout just before Polson. It is not somewhere I’ve ever stopped before, although it has the first view of the lake and the entrance to the Flathead Valley.
Home is 39 miles north of Polson. We arrived there in time for a walk before sunset.
Saturday, Karl and I went to Wayfarer’s Park on Flathead Lake – a favorite walking spot just south of Bigfork. I didn’t know how our usual path would be for walking so headed all the way to the boat ramp parking area.
It was not as cold as it looks in the photos. It was nearly 40 and I was comfortable with no gloves and no hat.
Most of the snow beach is under water in the summer. There were a couple of candidates for my Flathead Lake Monster.
Karl had a good roll in the snow…
and he smiled.