[1]

November 16, 2010

For all the naysayers to global warming or is it just climate change {I don't see the difference in the end result}Winter setting in for the past number of years with the exception of last year is again about 3 weeks late. we had temperatures into the 60's much of October and early November even reaching 70 on one occassion in late October. The past 10 days has seen an abrupt change to much cooler weather and a little snow which is a little more normal. This morning we have a nice storm blowing through the area with snow beginning about 7:00 and by 9:00 I decide it is just too tempting not to get out and see what is happening. I have always had a love affair with storms and feel some of my best paintings have come from my experiences in them. Torrey Crek is my destination and just off the hiway I am glad I made the decision to go out. Snow is covering everything in a very low visibility and the wind is having its way with all things out here. It is only 30 degrees so not too cold temperature wise which also contributes to the snow sticking onto everything as opposed to blowing off.

[2]

November 16, 2010

Wildlife such as these Mule Deer does are keeping a pretty low profile hunkered down in this wintry blast. I am lucky to find even these two out in the open.

[3]
November 16, 2010
Visibility at times is near zero until I get into the more protected regions such as along trail Lake. The inlet has nearly frozen shut in just the past few days.

[4]
November 16, 2010
Just above the inlet to the lake is a favorite area for Bighorn Sheep as there are natural salts in the soil that are craved by these magnificent animals. I am surprised this early to find about 15 head scattered about chewing the dirt for the salts the soils contain. Their snow covered bodies attest to the hardiness of these critters. There are a number of Ewes, one lamb, a very young Ram and a Ram about 5 years old. There has not been that much snow to drive these animals off the mountainsides yet here they are. The first of many that will be showing up in the next week or so when Rams will fight and vie for the many ewes standing around waiting for outcomes. The area will then be filled with many artists, photographers and wildlife watchers all showing up to watch, photograph and even paint this extrodinary event.

[5]
November 16, 2010
They are so engrossed in this salt treat that they only casually look up in wonderment that I would be out in weather such as this.

[6]
November 16, 2010
At the Glacier Trailhead the snow has let up to just flurries and I decide it is a good time for a short hike. This is an intriguing area where the granite geologically abruptly shoots up out of the earth from overlying sedimentary rocks. Over time with glaciation huge granite boulders have been deposited along morain ridges such as what I am hiking over creating a magical land of Rocks, Pines. Douglas Firs, Spruce and grasses. Huge dead trees are scattered about creating an interesting landscape. It all makes for a fun interesting hike.

[7]

November 16, 2010

Of course I can't be satisfied with a nice pleasant walk through the woods and end up [still nursing this crushed heel]in the bottom of the canyon just to see what the creek is doing and getting some photos of it nearly iced over. It is actually pretty pleasant down here scrambling over downfall, brush and rocks and carefully along the ice covered shore. Such a pristine soothing world where all cares are shed away.

[8]

November 16, 2010

By the time I gain surer footing the snow has become merely flurries and the visibility has improved to the point that the surrounding high peaks are visible through a misty haze. Circle Mountain looms above through light snowflurries. The wind has even dropped to a mere breeze.

[9]

November 16, 2010

As I leave headed back to Dubois I encounter the Sheep again who have now left the salt lick headed for somplace out of the weather. They pass so close to me that even a telephoto lens is barely needed.

[10]

November 16, 2010

I spend some time photographing and just visiting with these brave creatures of dizzying heights. They pass on by and head up the steep slopes of Whiskey Mountain.

[11]
November 16, 2010
Approaching Trail Lake I see what appears to be a fog bank rolling up the canyon with great speed. It is not a fog bank but another onslaught of wind driven snow that hits me with a punishing ferocity. For a time it is a total whiteout and I stop the truck at the head of Trail Lake which is just yards to my right but completely unseen. While waiting I get a call on the truck phone from Vicki wondering where I am and to tell me that Dubois was hit with this same wall some minutes earlier. Pretty wild. I am sporting a bad cold and she was not much in favor of me going out. I figure nothing could be better for a cold than exercise and fresh air.
Thirty minutes later the "sudden" storm is over and the clouds even breaking a little. I head for home and by wednesday morning I have a doozy of a cold that I am now nursing. Maybe I need some fresh air and a little exercise?

[1]

November 10,2010

Winter has taken its sweet time in arriving this year. Up to this last weekend we have had record breaking warmth and it has been quite dry with the exception of one snowstorm of about 3" over a week ago. Saturday afternoon was clouding up and the change towards winter was quite evident. Vicki and I had the opportunity to go to Jackson and spent some time walking along the beaver ponds at Scwabachers Landing along the Snake River. There were no people. We had the place to ourselves. The Grand Tetons themselves were reflected in a stormy looking reflection in nearly calm waters with no sign of a breeze whatsoever.

[2]
November 10, 2010
I am fortunate enough to stumble onto a pair of Muskrats working away along a beaver pond. both taking turns at preparing for winter.

[3]
November 10, 2010
I watch for some time as this little fellow climbs out of the waters up the steep bank into the tall mountain marsh grasses to cut and gather material for winter house keeping. His presence in the grass marked only by the movement of the grasses themselves. Then I watched him slip off the bank into the water with a mouthfull and swim along the bank only to dissapear underwater with his bounty headed for an unseen underground burrow. This little chore is repeated over and over. they are sure busy.

[4]

November 10,2010

It was nearly twilight when I stumbled onto these three Mallard Drakes casually resting and grooming along the shallows of a Beaver Pond. Their occassional outbursts of joyful quacking and light splashing of the waters was the only sound of an otherwise quite evening. A truely wilderness encounter.