Clayton Lake Flathead National Forest Montana

I was just saying the other day in my article on Jardine, Montana how Koty and I spend not so much time in US national parks because of the dog rules. How we spend more time photographing outside of them than in. And, how this is really a blessing in disguise because we end up exploring and photographing places that not so many people get to see.

Clayton Lake is another one of those places right next to a national park, in this instance Glacier that has every bit the beauty as its neighbor. Clayton located in The Flathead National Forest  and is considered part of the Jewell Basin complex.

To get to the trailhead from Hungry Horse and Hwy 2 you’ll travel south along the Westside road of Hungry Horse Reservoir passing over Hungry Horse Dam to the end of the pavement (16 miles) and continue until reaching the Wheeler Creek road (FS #1633). Turn right and drive to the trailhead. The trail is rated as moderate but it’s not all that long so I rate it as easy. It’s only 2.3 miles to the lake.

CLAYTON LAKE TRAIL

Like most lake trails there is a bit of a grade but no steep drop offs and about half way up the view east toward the Great Bear Great Bear Wilderness is nothing short of spectacular. In the distance the Flathead Range rises up in your face. You can’t help but be awestruck by the incredible beauty of this panoramic view.

 

VIEW TO THE GREAT BEAR WILDERNESS

As you can probably tell from the photos Koty and I made our pilgrimage in the fall and I can’t image a better time of year. The fall colors were bursting out all over. Although we didn’t see any bears be forewarned the trail is loaded with bear berries and they didn’t get that name for nothing.

BEAR BERRIES

Speaking of bears I have some thoughts on that subject, what a surprise. I always carry a .375 revolver but my first line of defense is bear spray. They always say don’t hike alone. Well I’d do darned little hiking if I didn’t. The trick is to be aware of your surroundings at all times. Keep an eye out for fresh sign like scat. Be especially alert going around corners and hiking through thickets. Most problems occur when bears are surprised. They also say don’t hike with your dog because it my go off, encounter a bear and bring it back to you. I don’t ever go hiking without Koty but he is always on a leash. If you hike with your dog I recommend you do the same when hiking in bear country.

Considering the short distance of the trail I don’t think you can beat the beauty effort ratio. The lake is not particularly large but mountains surround it and for my money it is awesomely beautiful. There is a trail that goes around the lake but we didn’t make it because it gets pretty thick and bush whacking isn’t one of my favorite things to do. I did get some pretty fine images of the lake.

CLAYTON LAKE, MONTANA

CLAYTON LAKE, MONTANA

CLAYTON LAKE, MONTANA

Clayton Lake in the fall is a definite candidate for your “to do” list. In the fall, in addition to experiencing the awesome colors you will most likely have the whole place to yourself as we did. I’d categorize it as a definite picnic place.

And, of course, last but not least the gorgeous Lakota Sunrise at Clayton Lake.

©Kinsey Barnard

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Eureka - Holland Lake, Montana 09/23/09

We got on our way at 7:30am. Had to stop at Stein's, the local grocery store, because they had Tillamook Chocolate and Peanut Butter ice cream on special. I just love that stuff. It's usually over $6.00 for whatever size they are now selling. One thing's for certain it isn't the half gallon we used to get for 69 cents!

Had several stops to make in Kalispell. First stop was at Kari Dodge where I had just had Clementine serviced, although service had little to do with it. When I took her in I specifically asked that they check the air in the tires. These days if you don't ask it doesn't seem to get done. I confess I didn't look the bill over too carefully until I got home. When I did look at it I saw that they had charged me $27.00 to "remove the tires" to check the air pressure. I was livid. Clem has duel axles in the rear but the tires have valve extenders. You certainly do not have to remove the tires to check the air pressure. They told me I would have to bring Clem in for them to look at it, if you can imagine.

It was an unpleasant stop. They tried to argue with me that they had made a mistake when they wrote up the order. The charge was to pop the wheel covers! Something that should take about two seconds per cover. I've had the pressure checked fifteen times and no one has ever charged a penny. It was clearly a case of the technician padding the bill. They were not going to give me a credit until the service manager overheard the conversation and he very quickly told them to make the refund. I should also mention I had had the fuel filter replaced at the same time and after I got about fifteen miles from the dealership the fuel filter light came on. I had to drive all the way back to the dealership to find that the same technician had forgotten to plug the fuel sensor back in. I'll be thinking long and hard about returning there.

I had a couple of other, more pleasant, stops and then we headed to Bigfork. Actually, we just drove through Bigfork. Our objective was someplace down past Swan Lake toward Seeley Lake. I didn't really have plans as to where we would stop.

I actually did something intelligent for a change and stopped in at the ranger station in Condon. The gal there told me about Holland Lake. A lake I had never heard of before. We headed straight there and it was a great tip.

We almost had the place to ourselves and our campsite was right on the lake and the lake was picture perfect.

Holland Lake

Our Campsite

After getting camp set up we took a wander along the shore and found this picture in the water. I thought it was kind of fun with the rocks in the sky. The view is looking east toward Holand Falls and the Bob Marshall Wilderness (The Bob) to locals.

Pebbles in the Sky

Even though it was getting to be late afternoon I decided to hike up and take a peek at the falls anyway. The falls face to the west and the setting sun. Afternoon shots are not too special but I thought we could use the exercise and I could scout the location. The hike is about a mile and a half up along a very pretty trail. And, there are some great lake views as the elevation gain is considerable. But, shooting in to the sun isn't fun. We will set out early tomorrow morning for the serious picture taking.

Still there are no clouds. Where oh where are my Montana skies?

Holland Falls

Koty at Holland Falls


Back at camp I cooked up a hamburger patty using meat I had purchased at Roseauer's in Kalispell. It was the best ground beef I have had in twenty years. I cooked it seared on the outside raw in the middle. It was beyond delicious.

After the sun had set it became so very quiet and still. The lake is like glass. The air is warm. It is seven-thirty in the evening and I am in a t-shirt. I can look out over the lake and hear waterfowl calling, some type of duck I would reckon. It was a another of those very special moments. I had hoped to hear a loon but that was not to be.

Evening Comes to Holland Lake

Fingernail Moon Over Holland

Koty seemed to be very comfortable with our surroundings as well. No people, no phones, no internet. Can't get any more peaceful than that.

Koty Relaxing at Camp

Cost of the campground $15.00/night. Can't get much cheaper than that! :) I tell ya. It's true. The best things in life are free or nearly so.

©Kinsey Barnard

SCOUTING LOCATIONS-SUNSETS- MONTANA TEA

I got a call from Montana Woodworks saying my stool was ready. I have, for sometime wanted to try and get some shots of the Koocanusa from the west bank. I figured I might as well kill two birds with one stone. It never ceases to amaze me that after seven years I still find trails I have not been down before. This day I found a new one that was just the ticket. Below is a photo of the bridge that spans the lake to the West Kootenai.

REXFORD BRIDGE

The day was not good for photography. It was very hazy. Most likely due to a fire somewhere. Although, as fire seasons go this year was a very light one. The important thing is I found a promising place to return to when conditions are more favorable.

LAKE KOOCANUSA

KOOCANUSA THROUGH THE PONDEROSA

You can see that the leaves have already begun to change. It never ceases to amaze me how fast the sun moves north and south here in north Montana. We've already lost well over an hour of sunlight. I don't know why it is but I always seem to get the best shots of Lakota in the Fall.

LAKOTA

Fall always seems to bring with it the best sunsets of the year and they have started already. Pleas note there has been no color enhancement of these photographs. This is the true color.

SEPTEMBER SUNSET


SUNSET OUT MY WINDOW

This summer I have invented a new drink. Normally, I don't mix alcohol with mixers. I drink it either neat or with water. But, I found something to which I am well and truly addicted. The great thing about it is it's fantastic without the alcohol! Now please keep in mind I live in the woods and what's new to me may be old hat to you. It's Lipton White Tea Peach Papaya. I mix it with gin and it's the most refreshing drink I think I've ever had. I dubbed it Montana Tea. Seriously, if you haven't tried it you must. It's diet so no wasted calories and as I mentioned straight is delicious too which is actually how I discovered it.

©Kinsey Barnard Photography

THANK GAWD FOR GINNIE GPS! OR, GPS'S ARE GREAT BUT YOU GOTTA TURN 'EM ON.

Before heading out from Wickenburg we took a good long morning walk in the lugga. Oh, sorry that's swahili for wash or riverbed. I use it because it reminded me so much of luggas I have tramped in Kenya, stories about which I will one day get to at my Musings and Memories blog.



I couldn't resist a snap of this punk rock cacti I saw in the park. So cute! Anyway, another travel day so not much photography.

Technology is a wonderful thing but one of it's short comings is that if you don't use it, it doesn't help much. Such is the case with my Garmin GPS. I bought the thing on last year's shoot of the Pacific Coast (if you want to look at some photos you can visit my SEASCAPES GALLERY) The GPS is a minor miracle.

The thing has a female voice that gives you verbal directions which is great especially for a solo flyer because reading maps whilst driving can be hazardous to your health. As you know by now I have a penchant for naming everything and the GPS was dubbed Ginnie. Ginnie can do so much. In addition to getting you where you want to go she'll find all the places you need when you get there. When I arrive in a place, that's largest enough, my first two inputs are Costco and Wal-Mart. You just punch in your desire and Ginnie takes you there like you've lived in town all your life. It is so cool!

But, there are a couple of problems. First, in case you haven't guess it, I am the dinosaur and it IS hard to teach old dogs new tricks. After forty plus years of traveling all over this continent, and several others, I'm still mentally geared to paper maps and my innate sense of direction. I am forever forgetting about poor Ginnie. The other problem is that I doubt her. She tells me to do something and I don't believe it's right. And, the girl has attitude. When I don't follow her directions she says in a very put out and exasperated tone "Recalculating!" I usually tell her to stuff it. :) Actually, sometimes ignoring her is a good idea because she is programmed to take you the shortest route to your destination without any regard for your mode of transportation. So, if you're in the boonies driving and RV you might want to consult the old map too. Ginnie doesn't know it but all routes are not created equal.

Today, thank goodness, I got old Ginnie routed in for Tucson and it's a darned good thing I did. I thought the shot south to Tucson would be a no-brainer. All I can say is if Ginnie hadn't been guiding me I would still be wandering the highways trying to find my way around Phoenix. My sense of direction would have been all but useless. The way to Tucson is via Interstate 10 East! Now I defy you to look at any map and tell me Tucson is East of Phoenix. I'm told, the highway does go east but that's after you have driven over a hundred miles south! Anyway, if we hadn't had Ginnie, we would have been like that poor guy beneath the streets of Boston who never returned. Mind you this whole, nerve wracking time, Koty Ko-pilot was sound asleep in the co-pilot's seat. Thank you Koty Bear!

But, we're here and wowser I've never been in an RV park like this one. It's enormous. It's also like a cruise ship, a gazillion activities and schedules. Ain't no kinda place for this country girl. But, as always, we'll make the best of it. I would like to thank hurricane Ike for messing up my plans to shoot the Gulf Coast of Texas. Thank you IKE!


If you're dying for photos you can see all of our trip so far in high resolution at TRIP GALLERY.
Ciao for now,
Koty & Kinsey

©Kinsey Barnard Photography

Dillon, MT to Ogden, UT Pineview Reservoir- Day 2

It didn't get anywhere near freezing in the night. Something of a surprise. We got up early and were on the road by 8:00am. At this time of year all there is for light is the morning glow. I must say that from the junction of US 90 and Interstate 15 (about 65 miles north of Dillon) to Idaho Falls the road is straight and pretty boring. So, I put Clem on cruise control and let Koty drive. I took a nap. Nobody seemed to notice.

We made pretty good time. Pulled into Ogden just after two. It occurred to me that maybe we should spend two nights instead of just over nighting. I've never actually stopped and looked at the Great Salt Lake and we are about a week ahead of schedule so as long as the weather is holding might as well dawdle.





The weather surely is holding. It was around 70 when we arrived. After getting everything setup and a snack we needed to stretch our legs a little so we drove out to Pineview Reservoir. Not all that picturesque but easy to get to and a good trail along the reservoir. To get there you drive through a narrow, windy canyon, Ogden Canyon, along the Ogden River. There would have been some great photo ops except for there was no place to pullover. I hate it when that happens.



Koty could care less whether or not where we go is photogenic. As long as he's on the move he's happy. He's off his feed again. This always happens when we take off and I always worry until he adjusts and starts eating. The boy has a fussy gut.





All along the trail were these plants that had gone to seed. I don't know what they are but I suspect some kind of thistle. I thought they were quite intriguing, in a very natural way, so I had to try a few shots. I really love to photograph plants. They are such intricate works of art.



I also enjoy shooting lines and contrast. Along our path we came across a boat club and these empty boat slips. Everybody gone home for the winter.

As they day started to dim we headed home. A pasta dinner for me and a boycott for Koty. One thing I don't much care for about these RV parks is their proximity to freeways. Gads what a racket! I woke at 2:00 am when the shower started to leak. Drop. Drop. Drop. It seems to be leaking behind the faucet so all I could do was go outside and turn off the water. I love Clem but boy they sure put chintzy plumbing in her. I've already had to replace both sink faucets for leaking. Needless to say they weren't replaced with Winnebago parts.

Ciao for now,
Koty & Kinsey

Eureka to Dillon - The Journey Begins

I must start this with a confession, the photo above was taken this past June in Alberta. I didn't take time to take any photos on the way down. For some reason I managed to burn up 8 hours without stopping for photos. This is cattle country so that's why I chose it. This one's for you Al B in Alberta.

It wasn't that there was a shortage of photo ops. I saw some fabulous things at 60 mph. The drive down along Flathead Lake was a beauty. This is a gorgeous lake. Flathead Lake. Next up was the buffalo herd at the National Bison Range. Normally, you don't see them on the south end along 93 but there they were in all their glory. I weep for their ancestors every time I see them.

The fall colors along the Clark Fork and Blackfoot rivers were simply stunning. We saw some fly fisherman casting in the afternoon sun. The water sparkled like diamonds. The scene looked like something straight out of "A River Runs Through it" another little welling in the eye over this one.

As everyone knows, lighting in photography is just about everything, that along with knowing where to stand. In the fall, the sun has journeyed so far south that it looks like afternoon all day long here in Montana. The shadows that are cast bring a whole new meaning and beauty to the landscape. I would have loved to photograph it but we have miles to go before we sleep. One day, when we aren't leaving for the winter, we will come down this way just to photograph it.

We left at eight and pulled into the RV park at four. Long bloody day for this old broad. Koty and I stretched our legs for about an hour and called it a day. Since we are in travel mode I dined on Marie Callender's finest. Actually, accompanied by a goblet of Cabernet it wasn't half bad. :)

Ciao for now,
Koty & Kinsey

Saying Goodbye

We're getting mighty close to departure now as we will soon leave for parts south. It is always is bitter sweet that we go, for this place is truly where our hearts live no matter where we travel. The past few afternoons we have taken a break from the chores and walked our ranch in the warm autumn afternoon saying goodbye to our friends who share this forty acre patch of heaven with us. My dear friend Scruffy hasn't shown up yet. I fear she may have not made it through the summer. A dear sweet doe that Scruffy.





We don't need a special day to give thanks for the privilege of living in this wild and wonderful place.

I'd better stop talking like that or we're libel to start unpacking!

Winter Comes Early In Montana

The weather in Northwest Montana has been wild and wooley this past week. One day we are taking our weekly walk along the Tobacco River, delighting in a beautiful autumn afternoon, and the next .....
MORE FALL LANDSCAPES





In the six years that we have lived in the Tobacco Valley this is THE most snow we have ever seen on the Canadian Rockies at this time of year. Last weekend Interstate 15 was completely closed south of Dillon and through the Monida Pass and we just heard from a friend that Red Lodge got 50 inches of snow! Now that be a lot of snow! Also, one night this week, the temperature fell to 23 degrees! Last night it was downright balmy at around 50 degrees.
MORE MOUNTAIN LANDSCAPES

With all this crazy weather we are re-thinking our departure plans for our winter shoot in the Arizona desert. We've already had our plans upset once by the weather. Originally, we were scheduled to shoot the Gulf Coast of Texas and up into the Piney Woods Region of Texas. But, Ike pretty much took care of that notion. Now we are on pins and needles as to what the weather will do next. The Monida Pass mentioned earlier is right on our route. Bottom lime is, if we can take care of business here we'll try to leave a week early. Stay tuned for this trip. If we make it out it promises to be an interesting one.



The weather can run you ragged but Mother Nature always provides some beauty to help you make it through.
MORE CELESTIAL PHOTOS

That wraps things up for us this week. Hope you all are enjoying your autumn season as much as we are. Maybe not so much if you are in the stock market? We are and wowser what a ride it has been! This is a time when we try and spend as much time with nature as we can. It helps take your mind off the messes man seems determined to make. Until next time.....

Koty & Kinsey

PS: Be sure and check out KOTY'S 2009 CALENDAR He's a looker! :)

©Kinsey Barnard