Fall in Plains, MT (and CA)

As I look out toward my back cliff (no bears on their way into the trees), my mind’s rambling like Autumn moving toward winter. I’m unhooking hoses, wearing an extra layer, and bringing in plants. With my slightly green thumb, I can only hope for the 80% Teen Challenge success rate reported by the group visiting Paradise and Plains Methodist Churches a few Sundays back. I especially related to one woman whose life had turned from streets to structure and hiking Missoula trails on her one day off. Because of their stories, I’ve a connection to Higher Grounds Coffee kiosk near MT U; we pass it each Thursday on the way to rehearse Missoula Community Chorus pieces for the Christmas Concert, December 10, at Loyola. Tod Trimble’s getting good sound blends, pure vowels, and musicality from us! Tickets: me or Andrew.Morris@Missoulachorus.net. Closer to Plains, we’ve begun a community chorus with Director Dixie who’s moving us toward choirdom as we increase from a handful to dozens at New Horizons, a care facility that’s closing soon. What are those dear old folks to do if ousted from what’s become home?  Their assisted living digs make a good yoga meeting place, but it’s a sad substitute for life care there.

I recently left Plains’ colors for a week near Napa, CA, babysitting grandkids while my son and wife celebrated their tenth anniversary at Chalone Winery, where they were married. They returned renewed, the kids never slowed down, and I came home happy, if exhausted. Owen’s part of a Spanish Immersion Kindergarten and eager soccer team. Lila’s up for most any food, swing, or story. At two, she kicks hard and straight!

Bob, Harry, and Cliff have generously made me their golf project each Wednesday; I’m seeing enough progress to keep me enthused! Views from the 9-hole course couldn’t be beat on $$$$ courses. Other calendar events bring surprising Arts and fun to Plains: MT Rep Theatre “Legend of Sleepy Hollow” 11/5, 7pm, at the highschool, www.sanderscountyarts.com 406.826.3150, Christmas Tour of Homes, 12/11, www.plainswomansclub.com , MT Rep Theatre “Bus Stop”, 1/31/11, and removal of Art on the Walls to make way for a county children’s exhibit. Call me for tickets or overnight in my guest room.

9/27-10/1 More Perfect MT Days

Blue skies, sunshine, and animals  got KS friend, Ivan, and me outside all week. I was proofing the last blog entry when a black rump caught the left edge of my vision below my window. The neighbor’s dog? I peered out and looked into the watery, blinking eyes of a black bear. I froze. He moved up the flowerbed incline, paused, stretched like a cat (or a clown?), and ambled on uphill past the brush that lines my wild backyard. I was so excited, I didn’t think to grab my camera!  All I had was a story for my brother, Ron, and Ivan when they arrived for fried chicken, garden squash, cucumbers, green beans, baked potatoes and pumpkin pie.  We decided to let Ivan recover from a two day’s drive from Wichita, KS, and do a mere 80-mile Bison Range roundtrip under the Big Sky next day.  No bears, but we saw buffalo and antelope and heard elk bugling. A stop at St. Ignatius’ Catholic Church’s mural-painted ceiling and walls gave testimony to Father DeSmet’s cook’s talented brush.

Back outside, we determined to see Glacier Park next day. Clouds above the water and below the Mission Range gave good contrast.

Glacial silt made aqua water along Lake McDonald, rushing from river falls. Aspen flashed gold and dulled our disappointment that we could only drive as far as Avalanche Lake. Going to the Sun drive closed! We hiked to Avalanche’s log jam through lengthening shadows, past nearly-continuous falls, spotting a white dot of a mountain sheep high on rocks. The 1.7 mile trail was damp, often steamy, and wide. The KS flatlander did it with a minimum of complaints; we were both ready for Thai Place meals hours before we reached Kalispel as the sun set on our partial-Glacier trip.

The sun shone. Ivan’s Star Wars hat only came off in restaurants. Legs feeling every step of the 3.4 round up-down trip, I snapped picture after picture of shadows, thinking I’d venture that direction in  painting.  Three waterfalls above the Avalanche Lake lifted our gaze.

Adequate reward for hiking the lower Glacier regions! 

Ron joined next-day’s 10-mile winding, gravel drive toward Weeksville. He pointed out a bear hurrying up through yellows, reds, and evergreens. We hiked downfall 2.7 miles this time, looking for Big Hole Fire Lookout Cabin. There it sat atop the highest rocky cliff, over 6000′ high. We could see Plains and, possibly, into Idaho–why not Canada?–from our lunch spot. Chicken on salad with fresh tomatoes, dilled rice checks, blueberry muffins, and fruit tastes good from a backpack hauled uptrail. It was much quicker descending past a surprising amount of deadfall. Pine beetle or a dry winter?  The guys discussed Vocational Ag days at Fredonia High. Driving all-wheel-drive down the mountain, we scared up the bear  (or a cousin?) who dashed up a ravine splashed with fall ground cover. “Can’t wait to hibernate!” played on the tape player.