Monday, September 29, 2008

Back to Big Sky


Being on sabbatical, it was important for me to maximize the atmosphere conducive to thinking. Hmmm....where to go? (people always ask you 'Where are you GOING on your sabbatical').

Big Sky!!!

I do some of my best thinking there.

Besides, I had never been here at this time of year. I expected it might be cold. Perhaps snowing already. Well, it's been around 70 both days so far. Clear skies. Very sunny. Brilliant foliage.

I took a quick drive into the park this evening (NW corner), hoping to see some wildlife and foliage. There is not an abundance of aspens here, but when they occur, they are gorgeous - brilliant gold, and sometimes with a tinge of orange I don't remember seeing before. But more than this, along the river (Gallatin) there are reds (Vacciniums I think; I haven't stopped to look yet) and yellows (willows) everywhere, grading into the sage green of the upland areas and the deep green of spruces. In the setting sun, the Gallatin Valley was truly spectacular.

I thought I wasn't going to see any wildlife, but then this cutie popped up on the side of the road. He wanted to cross, but headed back as I braked to avoid hitting him. I then turned around and pulled over in a pullout and got this shot of him as he tried again to cross the road.


There was also a rather worrisome looking fire on the back side of the mountain the Lone Moose Chair is on. Not too far from Southern Comfort. Haven't heard what that is all about...but here is a photo.

4 comments:

Kevin said...

Nice lookin' coyote! Great to see the fall color in Big Sky. Hope there's still some to see in a couple weeks when we are there briefly. (What's up with the orange hue?)

That fire looks semi-serious! Maybe it will make for some nice glade skiing. I'm only half joking. This happened at Sun Valley last year and opened up some great glades I hear.

Kevin

Jim said...

A lot of people were pulled over on the big sky access road to look at it (from afar). I tried to drive up into the Hidden Village condo area (south side of access rd) to get a better look, but they were paving the streets up there and I couldn't get far enough up.

Jim said...

A lot of people were pulled over on the big sky access road to look at it (from afar). I tried to drive up into the Hidden Village condo area (south side of access rd) to get a better look, but they were paving the streets up there and I couldn't get far enough up.

Kerry! said...

I agree, nice coyote shot there! :)