myMountainStudio
  • Home
  • Shop
  • Blog - Out Here
  • Contact
  • Other
    • About
    • FAQ
    • Reviews

sapphire mountains from the refuge. february 2023.

2/14/2023

0 Comments

 
Picture
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

blustery day at the refuge. february 2022.

2/20/2022

2 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. :)

Picture
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.
​
Picture
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. :)
​
2 Comments

fall pics and a pelican at the refuge. october 2021.

10/18/2021

0 Comments

 
Picture
Sunshine and blue skies made the water a beautiful bright blue on our walk through the refuge a couple days ago.
Picture
One of my favorite views at the refuge as we head back from the shelter at the end of the Kenai trail.
Picture
Blinding sunshine as the sun starts to drop over the top of St. Mary's Mountain.
Picture
Fall adds its own touch of beauty all around.
Picture
We got to watch a pelican busy feeding.
Picture
We saw one pelican, along with some ducks. Love the fading touch of sunlight!
Picture
It never gets old watching the wildlife and seeing the changing views at the refuge. :)
0 Comments

a doe with her fawns at the refuge. june 2021. (video)

6/28/2021

2 Comments

 
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. :)

2 Comments

rainy day drive .. highway .. refuge .. backroads.

6/9/2020

0 Comments

 
Picture

​
​We discovered these yellow pond-lilies along the highway near home.

Gotta keep your eyes open and camera ready anywhere you go in Montana, as you never know what, where, and when you might see something. I'm known to pull over and hop out on the side of the road at a moment's notice. :)

Picture
Picture












​


​

There were plenty of red-winged blackbirds hanging out on the dried cattails as we drove along the main pond at the refuge. 
​
Picture






​​
Another angle of the barn at the refuge.

​The straight on view with the cloudy mountain background is what attracted my attention on this trip.
​
Picture
Picture
St. Mary's Peak obscured in the rain clouds behind the pond and barn.
​
Picture
The colors in this photo caught my eye after leaving the refuge.
​Always something to pull over and stop for. :)
​
Picture
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... :)

0 Comments

today at the refuge... barns and mountains and...

5/19/2020

0 Comments

 
Picture
A cinnamon teal enjoys a swim along the cattails on one of the ponds.

​




Lee Metcalf Wildlife Refuge
Bitterroot Valley, Montana. 



The refuge always has something to see. Whether it's the wildlife, or the mountains, or the barns ...

​... it's always changing with the different seasons, time of day, weather conditions, etc.

I just go again and again, never really having any certain expectations, but observing and taking delight in whatever is around me at the time. :) 
​
Picture
A portion of the Bitterroot Mountain Range southwest of the larger pond attempts to peek through today's rain clouds.
Picture
An awesome old barn that sits alongside the road that runs through part of the refuge.
Picture
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? :)

0 Comments

a beautiful day at the refuge. february 2020.

3/8/2020

2 Comments

 
Picture
A beautiful February day at the refuge!
After crummy weather, being sick, and working on taxes, it sure felt glorious! :)
​
Picture
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? :)
​
Picture
My three musketeers. :)
​
Picture
A little fun at the refuge with a quick race or two. :)
​
Picture
Always taking pictures. It's what I do! :)
​
Picture
A fabulous view of St. Mary's with plenty of snow on top. I love our mountains! :)
​
Picture
For some unknown reason, I've always had a fondness for interesting trees. :)
​
Picture
The geese seem to be enjoying the sunshine, too. :)
​
Picture
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. :)

​-----------------------------

2 Comments

swans at the refuge. january 2020.

1/26/2020

0 Comments

 
Picture

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.  :) 
​
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
0 Comments

at the refuge on the shortest day of the year. 2019.

12/24/2019

2 Comments

 

​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. 

Picture
Little Saint Joe and Saint Joseph Peak.
Picture
The swans are all tucked in for a little nap. Funny how they sleep.
Picture
Under the Big Sky.
Picture
There are a couple of boardwalks on this trail for crossing marshy areas during times of high water.
Picture
The continually changing light and clouds add interest to our late afternoon, early evening walk.
Picture
The layering effect of the clouds behind this lone tree fails to escape my eye.
Picture
The swans are awake and active again.
Picture
Much of this trail is in the open with a long panoramic view of the Bitterroot Mountains.
Picture
Discussing past and future destinations.
Picture
Picture
Picture
Saint Mary's Peak with a partial reflection in the water.
Picture
A downy woodpecker gives us a farewell on our way back out.

Looking forward to longer daylight hours ahead. :)
​
2 Comments

ominous clouds and sunshine at the refuge. fall 2019.

11/17/2019

2 Comments

 
Picture
Picture
Picture
A bit of sunshine momentarily lit up these trees against the dark clouds behind as we drove into the refuge.
Picture
I love this tree at the visitor center as you head to the Kenai Nature Trail. Photo by Jamie Weiss.
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
I'm always taking photos. And so is Jamie. :)
Picture
The Kenai Nature Trail offers a splendid view of the Bitterroot Mountains.
Picture
The mix of clouds and sunshine were continually changing as we walked along taking photos.
Picture
The clouds and the sun had quite a battle for a bit, but in the end the clouds won.
Picture
Picture
Picture
It's always fun to watch the swans and other waterfowl at the refuge.
Picture
Picture

Although it had been raining all day and was still currently raining when we left the house, we decided to get out for a quick walk at the refuge on the Kenai Nature Trail anyway.

It was interesting to watch the ominous clouds moving about over much of the valley. The clouds were especially dark over the refuge where we were going.

We thought we were in for a very rainy hike, but despite the dark clouds, the rain let up for us just as we hit the trail.

The constantly changing views were absolutely captivating! :)
​
November 2019.
Picture
A nice view of Little Saint Joe. The views from the top of this mountain peak are incredible! :)
Picture
Geese in flight. Photo by Jamie Weiss.
Picture
As it was getting late, the geese and swans were hunkering down for a little shut-eye.
2 Comments
<<Previous
    Picture

    author

    Nikki Weiss
    mountain adventurer
    ​+ photographer.

    Out Here.
    Out Here in nature.
    Out Here in the mountains.
    Out here in Montana.

    Picture

    follow by email

    * indicates required

    ​Follow me on Facebook
    ​
    Picture

    categories

    All
    At Home
    Backroads
    Bailey Lake
    Bass Creek
    Bass Creek Crags
    Bass Creek O.
    Bear Creek
    Bear Creek O.
    Big Creek
    Blodgett Canyon
    Blodgett O.
    Brooks Creek
    Camas
    Canyon Creek
    Chaffin Butte
    Fred Burr
    Gleason Lake
    Glen Lake
    Goat Mountain
    Gold Creek
    Kootenai
    Lake Como
    Larry Creek
    Little Rock Creek
    Little St. Joe
    Lolo Pass
    Lost Horse
    Mill Creek
    Refuge
    Roaring Lion
    Rock Creek
    Sawtooth
    Soft Rock
    St. Mary's Mtn.
    Sweathouse
    Sweeney
    Tin Cup
    Videos
    Ward Mountain
    XYZ (misc)

    Picture
    fitness, hiking, + weight loss coach

    fitness group

    Let 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

    Picture
    scarves and cowls
    Picture
    photo note cards
    Picture
    natural rope baskets
Montana Handmade by Nikki Weiss in the Northern Rockies.
home | shop | about | faq | reviews | blog | contact

Unless otherwise credited and linked, all photos on this site are copyright protected by Nikki Weiss, all rights reserved.
If sharing on a blog or social media, please give credit and link to my website, shop, or blog. For any other use, please ask for permission.
Thank you.
mymountainstudio.com