It's Spring!!!

[Ralph Thornton]

Well sort of.
Here's the view just up the valley of the South Fork of the Teton River west of Choteau Montana on the second day of spring. I did have a nice ski today.

 

[Kev Pugh]

I envy you the views and the skiing and clearly your spring is less green than ours, for us this is a winter shot but I still love it Ralph........the stream leading into and beyond the centre of the frame...

 

[Rob MacKillop]

The water is so clear! Beautiful.

 

[Ralph Thornton]

Thanks Kev.

Our trees will get their green leaves starting the third week of May. By mid September they'll look like they do in the photo below. Seems like, around here, the trees have no leaves most of the time.

Here's another shot of the same spot. Slightly different angle but the big rock in the creek is the same in each photo.

 

[Kev Pugh]

Ralph.......enuff, stop all this visual envy making.............

 

[Brian Moore]

Looks like you had a chilly hike, Ralph. Or ski. Well worth it though for a shot like that. MAkes you realize how hardy the native peoples were to live through this and worse in teepees and under buffalo hides. This would be Lakota country maybe back in the day?

 

[Hamish Gill]

Blimey, that looks to be a chilly spring day!
I was walking around outside in a tshirt today for the first time or any length of time ... Admittedly I was a little chilli but not as chilli as I would have been where you are by the looks of it!
Very nice shot!
Nice to see te comparison too! I'm glad I'm not the only person to visit the same places with a camera!

 

[Chris Dodkin]

What a vista Ralph - stunning

Does look a little bleak and cold though - looks like you're a way off from spring yet!

 

[Ralph Thornton]

This would be Lakota country maybe back in the day?

This part of northern Montana was Blackfeet land prior to settlement. The valley I skied in was also settled by the Metis People's from Canada.

 

[Ralph Thornton]

Bleak, cold, chilli? Not really. It was right around 32 F (0 C) so not all that cold. And when skiing cross country, your producing plenty of warmth from the effort. I've heard it said though that in Montana we have only two seasons, Winter and August. I've seen snow fall from the sky in every month of the year here and I've only lived in Montana 12 years!

 

[Hamish Gill]

Have you always lived somewhere so cold as that Ralph?
I'd go out of my mind... I really need summer to keep me sane!

 

[Ralph Thornton]

Don't worry Hamish, come July and August it'll get to near 100 F (maybe). It's really not that cold here compared to some places I can think of. It does get warm and spring, summer and fall are nice, if somewhat short lived. But when family or friends are coming to visit and ask what kind of clothes to bring I remind them that here winter is always only a day to two away. It can be very warm one day and a few days later it might snow some. It's a fun place. Someone might have said living in Montana is like a box of chocolates, you never know what your gonna get.

 

[Hamish Gill]

I suppose it's not just dreary ... Dull grey is the worst of the weather and what gets me down the most
At least when it snows it seems brighter
The thing is, I don't even like it that hot... I just need sun shine!
Hannah always moans at me when we go on holiday as I just sit in the shade
100f is way to hot for me...

 

[Ralph Thornton]

The folks that dislike winter the most never learned to play in the snow. The beauty of a snow covered landscape is breathtaking especially when the sun is out. Most of us here start looking forward to winter around the end of August. Could be because it's inevitable but also because it's so darn much fun. It's tough when the snow is hammering down but delightful when the sun is illuminating the scene. Right now though, I'm looking forward to when spring really kicks in.