Tag: sunrise

Respite from Sheltering: Ute Valley Park

Posted on by Joy

I am praying you are well! Staying home even if gritting your teeth over isolation, staying safe, and even taking time to re-explore hobbies and learn new ones. Now is the time to catch up on all types of things busyness has pushed out of sight and out of mind.

Last Friday, this Monday and Tuesday, I took sunrise walks in Ute Valley Park, a 200-acre city park 2 miles from home. It has wonderful vistas, fascinating geologic formations, and lovely bird-filled meadows. Although our city mayor and governor encouraged us to be outside, staying 6 feet apart and spreading across the many parks available, Tuesday afternoon that changed. We can still enjoy all the outdoor spaces, as long as access is a SHORT WALK away. Sigh . . . Well, here is lovely Ute Valley Park which I won’t be visiting for a while. Doing the right thing is more important now, so let’s enjoy the views from earlier this week.

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One Winter Day . . .

Posted on by Joy

Winter in Yellowstone’s Lamar Valley can be unpredictable, frigid, scary at times, intimately closed in, and gorgeous. Each day can bring surprises of all kinds, and weather is no exception. One winter day the sun rose, the clouds gathered, the storms came, and the snow blanketed both the valley and our adventure. Come along and share winter’s embrace.

Ahhh, look over there . . .

SNAP*Shot: 25 Miles in Dawn’s Early Light

Posted on by Joy

We are getting an early start today, which in winter means leaving by 7:30am. This is the last 260 miles of my drive home from a holiday visit to family and friends in California. Little did I know that today’s first 25 miles along ID-33 East would be so glorious. East Butte at left, Middle Butte right, are two of three volcanic domes that grace the landscape as we journey through the Snake River Plain of southern Idaho. Come on along as we take a quick look at this unique area.

best sunrise 1

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SNAP*Shot: Vibrant, Unique Western Larch

Posted on by Joy

When autumn arrives, it is time to head north to savor the unique and beautiful Western larch, called tamaracks in western Montana. Our first stop in Swan Valley is a marvelous view of Swan Peak, the second highest peak in the 99-mile Swan Range. Swan Peak stands at 9,289 feet, with the highest peak only 67 feet taller.  Swan Valley ranges from 2,000 to about 2,500 feet giving us a spectacular 6,000+ foot rise to mountain tops. This time of year the mountains gleam with the tamaracks’ autumn gold. Let’s explore the grandeur of these glowing yellow trees of the North.

Western Larch, tamaracks

So much more to see . . .