I have a new hiking buddy.  And a new chauffer – Ralph!

We meet everyday to walk the trails along the Bitterroot River.   It’s fun to share each day’s adventure – watching crows gathered in the winter-bare cottonwoods, hearing pileated woodpeckers drumming overhead, enjoying geese honking on the west shore and sometimes seeing a moose. 

Coco searches the shoreline of the river and channel for feathers.  Usually duck feathers, she pounces on them with adorable enthusiasm.  Some days the hunt is successful, sometimes not, but she gets her feet wet and has fun.  And sometimes we just sit and savor the view.

Though we’ve had basically no winter in Western Montana this year, spring fever is still an issue.  Ralph offered to do a drive yesterday, just to get out of town for a bit, and I gladly accepted – it’s rare I get to be the passenger and gawk at our scenery – a real treat!

Heading south of town, we stopped first for coffee in Darby.   Darby was used a lot in the TV series Yellowstone, and just south of town we passed the Dutton Ranch (really the Chief Joseph Ranch).  We paralleled the Bitterroot River and eventually made the turn to head up the west fork of the river. 

Past pine forest, open meadows, cabins and a gorgeous river we cruised.  The canyons carved into the Bitterroot are dramatic, geologic marvels.  Once upon a time a giant lake covered this part of Montana, and the results of it filling up and gushing out to the west repeatedly are amazing. There are caves in the cliffs and this day a very picturesque frozen waterfall.

I watched for moose in the willows and along incoming creeks.  We watched for big horn sheep, often seen along this stretch, often standing in the road. This day there were none.  But –

A herd of elk surprised us on the south side of the road, grazing in green pastureland.  There must have been 30 in the handsome group, even a few bulls still hanging onto their antlers.  Some of the elk were spotted – hmm?   The bulls watched us carefully.  We snapped pictures like crazy.

Then all of a sudden something from the west end of the pasture got their full attention. They moved as one in a fluid wave, looking over their shoulders as they ran toward the trees.  Nature in action – what a treat!

We continued further on up the hill, past creeks, campgrounds and Painted Rocks Lake.  We’ve had little moisture this winter and it didn’t look like much water left in the lake. What’s left is frozen over. All the stumps from years of clearing poked out of the empty lake bottom, making for a funny picture.

On up past the lake is a buffalo ranch.  So “out west”.  Too early for babies but the massive critters are very handsome and Montana-ish, and more pictures were snapped. 

At some point it was time to head home.  Darn.  Still no sheep on the way home, but every mile of scenery was awesome.   And then, one of my favorites blocked the road – turkeys!  Goofy and pretty, they scampered across the road and gathered to watch us go by on the other side.  Of course, we took more pictures! 

And this whole time, Coco was curled up and sleeping at my feet. 

What a joy to spend a day with a like-minded friend and my sleepy dog enjoying a little corner of heaven !!!  I wish the same for all of you!