After the snowfall, Old Man Winter rests. He is warm now, with his long white hair flowing down his shoulders. After conjuring up infinite patterns of snow flakes, each one unique, and gently laying down the soft blanket of albescence, he tucks his chin into his full beard and begins …
Although the rather unexpected warmer temperatures and lack of snow at low- to mid-elevations during most of our recent hunting season did not help much, many hunters had a great season. And seasons are measured in a variety of ways, depending on each individual hunter.
In Greek Mythology, a Phoenix is a long-lived bird that is cyclically regenerated or born again. Associated with the sun, a Phoenix obtains new life by rising from the ashes of its predecessor. In Kootenai Country Montana, our families and community have been doing just that. Noble souls will rush …
As the smoke clears, the east face of the Cabinet Mountains wears a white skirt of early season snow. The rain has soaked down into the ground. Cooler temperatures and steady pounding of crews makes headway on local fires. The red fox returns to her den via a mudslide near …
In the pitch dark, with layers of smoke blocking out the moon and stars, a lone driver takes off on a mission. He meanders his pickup through a maze of old logging roads that would trap a man easily. He feels a slight adrenaline rush of the fight or flight …
The thwap-thwap-thwap of chopper one propeller blades vibrate overhead. The ship is flying low, with combat experienced pilots at the helm and sophisticated heat-sensor equipment aboard. It is another hot day with continuing warm and dry conditions. The 3 p.m. winds are both cool and concerning.
The short summer, August night envelopes the Cabinet Mountain Wilderness. In the quiet darkness, lynx tiptoe across rocky landscapes, grizzly mom’s nurture their young, and mountain goats cool off, anticipating another hot day. The birds begin to sing, and although they do not yet see the light, they know it …
July 4th weekend usually signals the time when the snow recedes from the high country, opening the ridge trails and mountain peaks to serious hikers. It can be an opportunity for proud, patriotic, legal citizens of our great country to contemplate as they walk along serene mountain pathways and are …
A serene quiet envelopes the Timberlane campground as the flora and fauna station instructor scouts his area. Along Pipe Creek, named for the Kootenai-Salish practice of collecting semi-soft stones from the creek bottom to carve smoking pipes, a pair of common mergansers hunt for fish in a backwater eddy. A …
Though the first days of May can begin with a frosting of our surroundings, we know the sun will eventually shine, the birds will indeed sing and surely the colorful flowers will blossom. The outdoor “re-creational” spirit of northwest Montanians seems to grow big hearts. The kindness and generosity of …
