DEEP POWDER

There was more powder at Lost Trail resort today than I have ever skied there.  I am sure there have been days with deeper powder, I just have not been fortunate enough to ski them.  Took nephew Riley and niece Hailey (Ham) up this morning.  Riley and I stood in line to get on one of the first chairs - and we were not disappointed.  It was pretty cold so the powder was light and they said they had 20 inches.  It was even deeper over on chair 4 where we were getting face shots!  My mustache was frozen white real quick.  Did a number of runs out in Sacjac in what Riley described as "awesome" powder.  Then we went back to the other side and skied with Hailey down Femur Ride and Moose Creek.  This old uncle was getting pretty tired by then.  I headed into the lodge for a cocoa, and they continued until the lifts closed.  Oh, to be young again!

Riley out in Sacjac.

 Riley and Ham dropping into Moose Creek.

Ham's hair was frozen stiff sticking out of her helmet.

   

ANOTHER GREAT POWDER DAY

We are getting some great snow for skiing.  There was 15 inches of snow in the past 24 hours up at the ski resort when I reported for duty this morning.  Made some great turns with first tracks down a few runs.  The out of bounds area was really good once you got out there.  Getting there was a little tough though.  The wind the past few days had blown a lot of snow off the exposed areas so had to be really careful going through some rocky areas.

We had a great Christmas and hope everyone else had one also.

Mike and I skied a lot of powder in the sacjac today and it snowed most of the day.

POWDER DAY

Headed up to the ski resort today with 16 inches of new powder on the hill since it closed last Sunday.  I did not make the first chair, but was on the fourth.  There were a lot of people there.  The word was out that we had a lot of snow.  Snowbowl resort just out of Missoula had only 6 inches.  So a lot of skiers from Missoula were up on the hill enjoying the powder.  And a great day it was.  Skied until my legs were getting rubbery.  For the most part, I just skied by myself up and down the out of bounds area.  Did stop to take two pictures of the beautiful day on the slope and in the valley.  Hope we have many of these kinds of days this winter.

 This is near the north end of sacjac out of bounds area.  

Highway 93 comes up this little valley from Sula to Lost Trail Pass.

COOOMBAAAA

I finally put my new powder/back country skis to the test yesterday.  I had only skied about a 1/2 mile on them last year because the snow was just not good.  Well, we had some great powder yesterday morning at Lost Trail so I grabbed them out of the box on top of the Jeep.  I was really impressed with the K2 Coomba ski.  It is a very wide ski and I got it in a 181 so there is a lot of area gliding a long the snow.  The narrowest part of the ski is 102 mm.  Most skis are around 70 - 80.  Anyway, it is an awesome powder ski.  Handles the crud very well also.  Takes a little more effort to turn them on the groomed runs, but I can live with that as I will ski mostly powder on them anyway.  Made some great runs with another skier, Mike, who skis as fast and hard as I do.  We also ventured out to the out of bounds area.  That was my first time out there this year.  It is still a little short on snow with a few rocks and trees showing.  And a few rocks that are just under the surface which I hit.  I just finished fixing the bottom of the skis with Ptex which is a base repair candle.  I filled in over 2 feet of gouges.  Also waxed them up and am ready for the powder on Thursday. 

We have lost most of our snow around the place.  We have had rain and wind for the last two days.  Temperatures have been in the 40s around here and saw 50 on a thermometer in town today.  We have some ice left on the roads though.

 Some of the out of bounds area with our tracks.

Mike waiting for me on the track back to the ski resort.

A LITTLE POWDER SKIING

Had a pretty good powder day at Lost Trail yesterday.  Not many people up there and some pretty good powder.  Skied with Ike and Brenda and made quite a few good powder runs.  It is snowing tonight and the forecast is for more snow all night.  Will be headed up the pass tomorrow morning.

Snow coming down tonight.  Most of our snow has melted with the warm temps and rain. 

MAYBE LAST PICTURE WITH CAMERA

We had some elk down in the meadow yesterday morning when we went to feed.  Most were over in the neighbors hayfield, but there was at least one calf still down with the horses.  Gary had called and said he saw them when they headed into town for a doctors appointment so I took my camera with me when we went down to feed.  I did get a few pictures - nothing special though.  When we were headed back the camera fell off the dashboard and hit the 4 wheel drive gear shift right on the lcd monitor.  Well that sure broke it.  I took it down to local camera repair shop and they shipped it off to a Canon repair place.  Won't know if it can be fixed for a week or so.  Not good.

A calf having trouble getting through the fence.

Click to enlarge and you can see the elk in the hayfield.  Hay we are feeding in the foreground. 

Joe is a little nervous about the calf elk running around trying to get through the fence.

WILDLIFE

We had lots of wildlife around here today.  35+ head of elk were bedded down in the trees south of our place this morning when Gary and I went to feed.  They are eating in the neighbor's hayfield at night and spending the day just in the timber either in our place or one of the neighbors.  They have sure calmed down since hunting season is over.   Although I did not try to sneak up to them to take a picture or two as the snow is really crunchy and noisy.  We also have deer coming in the yard trying to get a snack or two.   It was cold and foggy around here today.  I think the high was 17 degrees. 

This years fawn is in pretty good shape.  Liked eating under the bird feeder.

SKIING UPDATE

Went skiing today as they were going to open up chair 4 which provides access to nearly the same amount of terrain as all other lifts combined.  This was the first day this area was open so untracked powder was available.  I won't say it was "fresh" powder though.  It was a number of days old and some parts were very wind blown at the top.  But pretty consistent so it skied pretty well.  The area did not open until about 1130 so skied one run with the old guys early and then skied alone. Pretty well just going up and down.  No break for lunch, well I had some gorp and water while waiting for the patrol to open the ribbon across the access trail to chair 4.  Was going to ski some with Ike and Brenda, but never did find them on the hill.  Saw them early on one chair going up when I was coming down and then at the end of the day.   My legs are pretty tired tonight - going to take some days of skiing to get into ski shape!

Did not take a picture of powder tracks until near the very end.

The trees at the top of the lift area were covered with frost even in the wind.

FIRST DAY OF SKIING

I headed up to our little local ski resort, Lost Trail, yesterday and did a little powder skiing.  We have a good start to our ski season this year with lots of snow.  Lot of high hopes of a great ski season this year.  After last year, we think we deserve it.  Of course Connie did not get to go.  Her knee is really healing well we think.  Next year she will be out on the slopes without any pain. 

I skied with the "old guys" yesterday.  I was one of the youngest I am sure.  Had a great time and the snow was great. 

My seven skiing buddies for the day.  Had a great time finding little powder stashes.

HORSES HOME

We brought our horses home for the winter.  They have been down at Tracy's to eat the hay that has grown since we cut the last crop in August and to get them out of here during hunting season.  We had a forecast for a lot more snow and were having to haul hay over there to feed them, so it just made sense to bring them back up here.  I think they were glad to get back up in the trees.  Although we still have elk running around, they are not being spooked by the hunters as there were last week.  That means that the fences will be in better shape.  This evening there were 30 some head in the hay field just to the east of our meadow.  That probably made Jack a little nervous.  He does not like elk nor moose.  Deer are okay though.  Funny old horse.

I am planning on going skiing tomorrow for the first time this season.  If they get half the snow the forecasters are saying, I will get to ski some pretty decent powder - although it might be a little heavy.  But you know how those guys are wrong most of the time.  This evening we got rain instead of snow which kind of bummed me out.  There is snow falling now though.  Connie will not be going skiing this year because of her knee replacement.  I will miss her.  She is really doing well in her recovery.  Walking and doing exercises faithfully.  Next year she will be on the slopes for sure.    

The horses eating hay in the meadow.

Brother and sister Jack and Baylee enjoying the same flake of hay.  

And a single hen turkey has been hanging around under our bird feeder for the last few days.

THANKSGIVING

We drove over to Mill Creek, WA to spend Thanksgiving with Rob, Heather, and Maisy.  Also Christian and his girlfriend Nicolette were there.  We were going to leave on Monday, but the weather was not very good so delayed one day and left Tuesday.  Roads were not that good, but one lane on the interstate was generally bare.  The passes of course were all snow packed and icy in spots, and we were sure glad we had studded snow tires all the way around.  We made it after many hours of driving.  Long day.  It was great spending a little time with the Ferraris.  Been years since we have been over there.  Of course ate way to much on turkey day, but that is what it is all about.  Also visited with Rob's aunt and uncle over on Widbey Island.  Drove back on Sunday and the roads were pretty good, but drove in the fog most of the day.  Another long day driving.  Some photos below.  Click on them to enlarge.

Down at Pike's Market.

The ORIGINAL Starbucks is down there so we had to have tea and coffee.

Getting the turkey day feast ready.

Rob and Heather's neighbors Todd and Tory also were there for the feast.

Maisy does like her whipped cream.

We helped them put up their Christmas Tree. 

The swing set at Rob's uncle and aunt's place.  And what a nice place they have. 

FIRST MAJOR SNOW

We have received our first major snow down here in the valley.  And the temperatures are pretty cool.  This morning it was 8 degrees when I got up.  Yesterday we had a lot of wind and the chill factor was below zero.  The big football rivalry game between Montana and Montana State was played in Missoula with those winds and snow.  Montana State Bobcats won for the first time in 5 years.  A few of us in the family were really excited as that is our Alma Mater.  Some of  the family was not. 

We are packing up today to head over to Washington and spend Thanksgiving with Rob and Heather.  Sounds like we will be driving in snow tomorrow though.  Will keep checking the weather.  Right now we are planning on only going part way as we are stopping and visiting old air force friends near Spokane.  And we have Ross and Brenda from Washington staying in the cabin doing some elk and deer hunting.  So that is pretty well what is happening around here.

Catmay watching the snow come down from her warm perch by the fire.

The lawn.  This was taken yesterday and we have more snow now.

CONNIE UPDATE

Connie is really doing well. She had a bit of a set back with her medicine making her sick, but we got another prescription for motion sickness patches and now is doing much better.  She is walking pretty well although still with a limp which is to be expected. 

Still have elk running around the area.  A few were just west of our hay shed this morning, and I could not get our horses to eat on that side of the manger.  They are so funny sometimes.  The weather continues to be really nice.  It was a pretty good frost this morning, but the afternoon high was in the high 50's.

The incision.  The line above her knee is where I have to measure her leg circumference twice a day.  There is also a line below her knee where I do the same. 

LOTS OF ELK AROUND

We have had a lot of elk around our place in the past week.  There have been about 40 head moving back and forth through our place.  They were right below our corrals for a while and sure had the horses watching them and a little spooked right at first.  It is not like they have never seen elk!!!!  But horses being horses - they are all panicaholics!!  Nephew Travis shot one of the bulls with his shotgun this morning.  Not a real big bull, but will give him and his family a lot of meat for the winter.

Connie is doing well.  She had kind of a rough day today.  The pain killers are making her a little queasy.  She had a motion sickness patch on until yesterday so might have to get another one prescribed.  The movement in her knee just keeps getting better.

Click to enlarge and you can see the elk that Jack is watching.

We are glad to see a lot of calves with this bunch of cows.

Travis with his bull.

CONNIE'S KNEE SURGERY

Connie had a total knee replacement on her right knee yesterday.  She is doing very well and should be home tomorrow. 

ROUNDUP 2010

We got back from the roundup over at the ranch last night.  Moved cows for four days and spent quite a bit of time in the saddle.  In fact, one day we rode from sunup to sundown.  And we could really tell it – we are not getting any younger and are out of shape as far as spending hours and hours in the saddle.  But we sure had a good time.  Caught up on the lives of a lot of people we don’t get to see very often.  And as always, ate some really great food.  I gain weight over there – desserts are my weakness. 

The first day we gathered what is called the state ground - a very large pasture with over 14 sections.  All of it hilly and some of it very steep.  We had nine riders to gather it on nine horses.  Some real tired horses at the end of the day let me tell you.  Most of them were not used to being ridden that long either.  We put the cows in a smaller field and the next day gathered that and took all the cows and calves down to the middle cow camp.  There seemed to be a lot of “foot rot” (bacterial infection in the hoof area) which makes them very sore footed.  These had to be roped and doctored.  The next two days were spent taking the herd mostly down the road to the lower cow camp.

We did not see any elk or deer while gathering the cows.  Ten years ago we would always see them when gathering the state ground.  I did see two wolves at the head of horse creek though.  A black one and one that I would describe as brindle colored.  Also saw a couple of coyotes.  The Centennial Valley is where we gathered the cows and it is very close to Yellowstone National Park (less than 30 miles) so they do have a wolf problem.

 Some of the remuda.

View of the Centennial Valley's east end from the high country.

Getting ready to gather the second day.

Getting the herd together.

Allen and Yvonne Martinell's grand kids on their horses.

Lunch break.

Gary and Margee.

 A herd of the Matador's cattle we had to go by.

The herd coming up the Kennedy hill.