The Winter that Will Not End!

Still waiting for spring to arrive but not making much headway so far. The photo below was taken this morning and it is snowing as I write.

Sunday Apri 17, 2011

I'm still chomping at the bit to get out and get to work and my teeth and patience are wearing mighty thin. I've got a million and one projects I would like to begin and times awasting. It will be winter again before I know it.

Around here people are back in the forest after firewood because most have run out by now. I'm good because I produce my own here at the ranch and always put up more than I need. That way I never run out and if I don't use it all it's just that much less work I have to do the next year.

Even the mule deer are still hanging around. They are normally long gone by this time.

Sweet Cheeks raiding the bird feeder

Koty isn't very happy about the weather either.

Koty, all dressed up and nowhere to go.

It hasn't even been good for photography either. Dreary. Dreary. Dreary. Friday we could stand it no more and went over to the West Kootenai. There was intermittant sun but it was windy and cold. I stopped on the bridge to take a photo and nearly got blown off it. The wind was blowing so hard it was literally playing a tune in the aluminum guard rail.

Koocanusa bridge-Lake Koocanusa Montana

We headed on down the West Kootenai road and pulled in at the road that goes to the Little Northfork.

On days like this I focus (pardon the pun) on designs in nature. The forest is my MOMA and it's where my moma aka Mother Nature does some of her best work. The arrogance of humans, particularly in the art world, makes me chuckle.

Lichen growing on a boulder

Tufted heads of grass growing on a bank

Looking through the clear water of a spring creek at the sandy designs below.

I find these designs in nature endlessly fascinating and beautiful. I think sometimes I must be some kind of nut. Better to be nutz than blind?

Big Creek and the Little Northfork are running pretty full and there hasn't been much in the way of melt. It has been way too cold for melting snow of any significance. I reckon the streams and rivers are going to roar when, or should I say if, spring ever gets here and the melt gets underway.

Little Northfork Montana April 15, 2011

Big Creek Montana April 15, 2011

There have been moments when the clouds have lifted and the sun shone but they have been few and far between and lasted maybe fifteen to twenty minutes at a time. It is my great good fortune not to have to go anywhere to see beautiful vistas so when those transitory moments appear I get to warm not only my body but my heart and soul as well.

The view

The mountains you see above are the Purcells and what is called the West Kootenai which is exactly where I was when I took the other photos displayed here.

©Kinsey Barnard

Monument Valley Arizona/Utah

As far as photography goes this is a tough time of year here in the Rockies. The splendors of winter have faded and left a certain barren landscape whilst we await the wonders of the new life spring will bring.

Monument Valley

So, I'm going back to last winter at this time when I was shooting in Monument Valley which straddles Arizona and Utah. I don't think there is a more colorful desert anywhere. No matter in what direction you look there is some kaleidoscopic something to see and to shoot.

Monument Valley

The sky and the clouds are truly incredible. The sandstone desert is capped by the most intense blue and the clouds are pure, well purity. They are big, boisterous and beautiful. I'm quite partial to the clouds in Montana's Big Sky but there can be no doubt those in the Monument Valley give them a run for the money.


Monument Valley by Kinsey Barnard

There's something else I like a lot about Monument Valley. It's still some what primitive. The valley belongs to the sovereign nation of the Navajo and it is their intention to keep it primitive for as long as they can. I believe that will be indefinitely. If you come with the right kind of vehicle you can travel the desert to your hearts content. Koty and I put in I don't know how many miles just going up and down the dirt roads.You can see for miles and miles and miles .....

Looking Down the Road

As mentioned many times, patterns in nature fascinate me no end and there is no shortage of that kind of thing to see in Monument Valley. As they say, you can't make this stuff up! If you are into this sort of thing the sandstone designs will knock your socks off. Mother Nature just keeps coming up with extraordinary designs. One commenter thought the image below looked like sharks teeth. I think she's right.


Monument Valley Designs by Kinsey Barnard

The main event is the Tribal Park where you will find the biggest, baddest monuments. This area is quite crowded. You can take guided or self guided trips around the loop road. I recommend you take one of the park jitneys unless you have a car you're not too concerned about. Most of the road is just fine but the first quarter mile down into the park or so is a real goat track.

As for accommodations go there are really only two choices. You can go upscale at the relatively new The View hotel which is within the tribal park and sits on a bluff overlooking the valley. Even if you don't stay here you should stop in for "The View".

The other option is Gouldings Lodge. Before The View it was the only accommodation in Monument Valley. It played host to John Wayne and John Huston and is steeped in the history of the valley.


Stagecoach by Kinsey Barnard.

The Lodge is a little frayed around the edges but I think it's part of the charm. The view from here isn't too shabby either. You'll have the opportunity to see some awesome sunsets from your balcony. Even if you don't stay here you might want to stop in to check out the museum.

Whether you are interested in photography or not I can pretty much guarantee you you will have an eye popping time in Monument Valley. It's truly a natural wonder.

©Kinsey Barnard Photography