Thank you, Mother Nature, once again. You have been very generous with awesome autumn days.
It used to be, when we lived between the airport and the train tracks, that we'd hike in the woods below Greenhorn Mountain and even on the mountain overlooking where we all grew up when that first stretch of rough trail, now known as Mickinnick, was in its primitive stages.
We would also go up Baldy or Schweitzer. When we moved back into the country out here in the Selle Valley, some new areas opened up our zest for exploring. Over the past few years, one of our personal discoveries has evolved into one of my favorite places on earth.
It's been there for years, but when we first discover such places, we kinda take ownership. I can't imagine how many thousands of other folks claimed the aspen grove up Rapid Lightning Creek as theirs.
It's kinda neat, too, that we can all continue to feel a sense of personal ownership because just about every time I've visited the area, sightings of other rigs with humans aboard has seldom exceeded the fingers on one hand.
And, so, yesterday afternoon, when my sisters and I stopped off at Pack River General Store for some goodies and then headed up the road, those past trends repeated themselves.
At one point where we stopped to take pictures, the only outside stimulus to disrupt our day came in the form of two squirrels chasing each other and crashing along the tree limbs with enough clatter to cause two of our trio to scream out and start running.
Yup, it's amazing how much noise those little critters can make. For a split second or two, Barbara and I thought sure some big bear or moose or maybe even a deer was coming in for the kill.
Laurie simply stood there and laughed at her two fraidy-cat older sisters, and then one of the squirrels raced up a tree and provided some nice poses for Barbara's camera lens.
Later, I set up my tripod for a sisters' photo shoot near a huge boulder in the middle of a wide open field. We goofed around and then got serious for the "portrait," which I'm thinking could be called "Rock of Ages," since more than 200 years of living and another 100 years of teaching was represented within the group.
Of course, I think the rock may have us in the age category.
We were hoping to see some vivid fall color at the aspen grove, but the beauty of that stretch of earth---with its tall, slim, white trees standing side by side on the hillsides reminiscent of fashion models along the runway---is that it does not need the fall color to cause a jaw-dropping reaction.
It's that stunning. Any time I return to the place, I still find myself emotionally struck with awe.
Barbara, Laurie and I decided that we will probably return in the next few days when the color show is at its best.
Nonetheless, yesterday's experience of walking alongside those majestic trees with colorful shrubbery on the ground beneath them was one to behold.
I'm really kinda glad the full color show of the Rapid Lightning Creek aspen grove had not yet arrived for our visit yesterday because we GET to go back again.
Some places are just like that.
Twas a fun afternoon for the clickin' sisters, and we have the photos to prove it!
Happy Friday.
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| Just three retired teachers/sisters enjoying a glorious fall afternoon: Marianne, Laurie and Barbara |
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