|
|
 Love this view of the Sapphire Mountains from the refuge! Somehow we ended up missing the sunshine the other day when we went for our walk on the Kenai Trail. We happened to get there in between the earlier and later sunny moments of the day.
Oh well. Sun or clouds, I like to get out there for the views and fresh air. :)
0 Comments
"Let the wind blow.... blow as hard as it can." (Song lyrics that came to mind on the trail yesterday.) It really blows on the open Kenai trail at the refuge on windy days!! Which is why we had the trail completely to ourselves. :)  Our view looking northeast with the Sapphire Mountains. The clouds were a stormy blue to the east, and a dreary gray to the west. The in-between felt pretty turbulent.  Our view looking southwest with the Bitterroot Mountains. I really do enjoy this kind of atmosphere. It's such a contrast to the fair-weather-sunny days, adding a different dimension to our experiences in nature. Just a little reminder that God's beauty is all around us, no matter what the weather is currently doing. :)  Sunshine and blue skies made the water a beautiful bright blue on our walk through the refuge a couple days ago.  One of my favorite views at the refuge as we head back from the shelter at the end of the Kenai trail.  Blinding sunshine as the sun starts to drop over the top of St. Mary's Mountain.  Fall adds its own touch of beauty all around.  We got to watch a pelican busy feeding.  We saw one pelican, along with some ducks. Love the fading touch of sunlight!  It never gets old watching the wildlife and seeing the changing views at the refuge. :) Here's a quick little video of a doe and her two fawns we watched at the refuge last night. I'm better at photography than I am at video, but here it is, short and sweet. :)
 St. Mary's Peak obscured in the rain clouds behind the pond and barn.  The colors in this photo caught my eye after leaving the refuge. Always something to pull over and stop for. :)  As we took the backroads home, we stopped to watch and photograph a flock of turkey vultures. While doing so, this bald eagle flew overhead and landed off in the field.
I captured several cool photos of the vultures, so they will be featured in their own post. Coming up next... :)
 A portion of the Bitterroot Mountain Range southwest of the larger pond attempts to peek through today's rain clouds.  An awesome old barn that sits alongside the road that runs through part of the refuge.  Another awesome old barn, this one is located on private property near the southern entrance to the refuge.
Don't forget the like button and comment box! Won't you share your thoughts? :)  A beautiful February day at the refuge! After crummy weather, being sick, and working on taxes, it sure felt glorious! :)  I love this view of Mill Point and Mill Point West! Who knows, maybe I'll manage to get to the top of them someday? :)  My three musketeers. :)  A little fun at the refuge with a quick race or two. :)  Always taking pictures. It's what I do! :)  A fabulous view of St. Mary's with plenty of snow on top. I love our mountains! :)  For some unknown reason, I've always had a fondness for interesting trees. :)  The geese seem to be enjoying the sunshine, too. :)  The ridge between Kootenai and Bass. I'm hoping to get up to the crags this year. :) -----------------------------
Whatever you choose to do, take time to enjoy life! See you in the next post. :) -----------------------------  We enjoyed watching the swans on our mid-winter, rainy day walk at the Lee Metcalf Wildlife Refuge today. There's always something to see ... and take photos of. :)         Kenai Nature Trail at the Lee Metcalf Wildlife Refuge, December 21, 2019. A mix of mild temps, increasing clouds, a bit of wind, and changing skies.  Little Saint Joe and Saint Joseph Peak.  The swans are all tucked in for a little nap. Funny how they sleep.  Under the Big Sky.  There are a couple of boardwalks on this trail for crossing marshy areas during times of high water.  The continually changing light and clouds add interest to our late afternoon, early evening walk.  The layering effect of the clouds behind this lone tree fails to escape my eye.  The swans are awake and active again.  Much of this trail is in the open with a long panoramic view of the Bitterroot Mountains.  Discussing past and future destinations.    Saint Mary's Peak with a partial reflection in the water.  A downy woodpecker gives us a farewell on our way back out. Looking forward to longer daylight hours ahead. :)
 A bit of sunshine momentarily lit up these trees against the dark clouds behind as we drove into the refuge.  I love this tree at the visitor center as you head to the Kenai Nature Trail. Photo by Jamie Weiss.      I'm always taking photos. And so is Jamie. :)  The Kenai Nature Trail offers a splendid view of the Bitterroot Mountains.  The mix of clouds and sunshine were continually changing as we walked along taking photos.  The clouds and the sun had quite a battle for a bit, but in the end the clouds won.    It's always fun to watch the swans and other waterfowl at the refuge. 
 A nice view of Little Saint Joe. The views from the top of this mountain peak are incredible! :)  Geese in flight. Photo by Jamie Weiss.  As it was getting late, the geese and swans were hunkering down for a little shut-eye. |
authorNikki Weiss 
follow by email
categories
All
fitness, hiking, + weight loss coach
fitness groupLet me help you get "out here", too. I will soon be offering a hiking related fitness group with coaching and support for getting in shape and getting out in the outdoors more. Stay tuned. :)
shop handmade
scarves and cowls
photo note cards
natural rope baskets
|
