Twas a Very Good Day

Off the charts!

That's a pretty good way of describing yesterday.

I'm sure many people around the area would agree as they did their thing on a somewhat carefree, comfortable and downright pretty June day. 

In our case, we met Anders Nystrom.

We saw several open lush, green hillsides dotted with abundant bear grass.  

Billowy, white, almost magical clouds floated above the earth beneath a summer blue sky.  

We walked a mile or two over a couple of cushiony, green trails, flanked by open stands of majestic timber.

  Both trails led to the Canadian border.

On one walk, Bill pointed to a tree where a bear had removed its bark.  As we walked back down the trail, we could see a pattern.  In almost a straight line, several trees up the hillside were missing bark. 

Bill sez the bears love the larch for its sap beneath the bark, and they're like foresters----they know their tree species. 

We did see on pile of rather fresh bear scat, and you can be sure that I remained nervously vigilant all along the way. 

Happily, no bears ate us.  

Could be they are Canadian bears, and if they're smart enough to know a tasty larch when they see it, they can probably also read those warning signs about entering the United States on foot.

After our short hikes, we continued on up to the top of Hall Mountain. I had been to the top once before several years ago.

My younger brother, a hang gliding enthusiast, was home at the time and heard that Hall Mountain might be a good place to launch off. 

So, he, my mother and I went up that way after talking to some people who owned a farm field below.  Jim asked permission to land in their field. 

It turned out that after several hours, conditions were not right for launching, so we headed on home.

It wasn't a total loss cuz that view of the Kootenai Valley, the Selkirks, the Cabinets and all lowlands in between is something else.  

Yesterday as we came close to the top, Bill said someone was behind us.  So, when we came to an opening for some pictures, Bill parked, figuring it would be a good opportunity for the "someone" to pass us. 

He did, but then he backed up, parked and got out.

That's when we met one of the nicest, enthusiastic, smart and polite young men we've met in a long time. 

Anders Nystrom is the son of a Kootenai Valley farmer, and, at 18, he's becoming very instrumental in the family business.  He pointed to the 1,600-acre beautiful farm below.  

What farm in the Kootenai Valley is not beautiful???

During our visit, Anders and Bill exchanged tales of their experiences hiking in some of the peaks surrounding us. 

Anders eventually went on his way.

"Hope we see you again," I said.

"Same here," our new friend responded.

Once we reached the end of the road where a lookout once stood, we waved at Anders who was on his way home.  

So, like so many times on other outings, Bill and I had the whole place to ourselves.  

Virtually, every single view---up, down, around----each was stunning whether it be an expansive bed of rich and varied wildflowers or a series of high mountain peaks or that magnificent, manicured valley below with the Kootenai River meandering on its way through the fertile farmland. 

A few times in my life, I have stood in areas, where at the time, I absolutely did not want to leave----once in New Zealand with Annie over looking the Tasmanian Sea, once last fall with Bill at the Cliffs of Kilkee in Ireland and yesterday atop Hall Mountain.

In each case, the setting on that particular day took my breath away. 

We have been privileged during our lifetimes to see so much of the natural beauty in this world, especially in the area where we live.  

So, when moments like yesterday afternoon's visit to Hall Mountain come along, they are truly something special. 

Twas a very good day, indeed.