Since we returned from Red Rocks (see previous post), the weather has been beautiful. So, we have headed out to some of our favorite hikes to enjoy the spectacular scenery, especially the wildflowers.
Those of you who have visited us here will not be surprised that one of the first hikes out was to Beehive Basin. As I've said previously, we are having a late spring here, so we were surprised to find that the wildflowers on this trail were not as far along as they normally are this time of year. This is good news for the Dodds, who will be visiting in August, as the flowers on the Beehive trail should be near peak. Don't get me wrong - there were still plenty of wildflowers, just not as many as there are normally. Here's the other surprise - when we got to the lower lake, we were in snow up to our knees!!! Good grief - this is mid-July!! We couldn't even get to the upper lake without snow boots. A long-time friend from Chattanooga, Phyllis M., was here with her daughter and son-in-law, Rachel and Robbie T. I hope their memories of this scene will help them feel cooler in the hot and humid South.
Phyllis is getting ready for a trek up Mt. Kilimanjaro in January. She wanted a test of her fitness hiking at altitude. The Beehive Basin trail starts at 7500 feet and ascends to 9500 feet over 3.5 miles. We did stop often to reset our heart rates, but she made the hike in fine style, and the snow was a rare treat. In the 9 summers we have been here, never have I seen snow at this level in July.
The next day, we headed down toward Yellowstone and hiked into Gneiss Creek. There were so many wildflowers there you would think that they were cultivated. This is
a flat trail that goes from one meadow to the next with several water crossings. Each meadow is a different tapestry of colors. The first meadow is yellow with the Arrowleaf Balsamroot and the Little Sunflowers predominant, touched with the blue of Lupin and Forget-Me-Nots. The next meadow continues the blue, but adds the white of Sulpher Buckwheat and a sprinkling of the red Mountain Sorrel. And, so it goes, from one meadow to the next. This was a 9-mile round-trip hike, and once again, Phyllis did really well. She definitely has a good start on her training for the Kilimanjaro hike.
a flat trail that goes from one meadow to the next with several water crossings. Each meadow is a different tapestry of colors. The first meadow is yellow with the Arrowleaf Balsamroot and the Little Sunflowers predominant, touched with the blue of Lupin and Forget-Me-Nots. The next meadow continues the blue, but adds the white of Sulpher Buckwheat and a sprinkling of the red Mountain Sorrel. And, so it goes, from one meadow to the next. This was a 9-mile round-trip hike, and once again, Phyllis did really well. She definitely has a good start on her training for the Kilimanjaro hike.Jim and Phyllis trained together in the OB-GYN program at Erlanger in Chattanooga. It was really a good time visiting with her, catching up with each other and showing her around here in Big Sky country.
On the way back home, we spotted a grizzly at mile marker 28 in the canyon. Perfect ending!!
On the way back home, we spotted a grizzly at mile marker 28 in the canyon. Perfect ending!!STRINGS UNDER THE BIG SKY
Every 
summer, the Muir String Quartet visits Big Sky and Bozeman. One of the founding members of the quartet, cellist Michael Reynolds, grew up in Bozeman and comes back every summer bringing talented musicians with him. Based in Boston, most of the quartet and other musicians are affiliated with either the Boston Symphony or Boston University, or both. The event this year, as in most years, is held outdoors on the lawn of a private home on the Gallatin River. This year, the concert benefited the string program at the local school, Ophir School and Lone Peak High School. Funds raised are matched by the Classics for Kids Foundation (established by Michael Reynolds) to put stringed instruments into the hands of students. The program was prece
ded by tasty hors d'oevres, and the music starts at about 7:30. As the sun sets over Lone Peak, we are serenaded with wonderful strings. This event is one of my favorites of the summer - just another day in paradise!!
summer, the Muir String Quartet visits Big Sky and Bozeman. One of the founding members of the quartet, cellist Michael Reynolds, grew up in Bozeman and comes back every summer bringing talented musicians with him. Based in Boston, most of the quartet and other musicians are affiliated with either the Boston Symphony or Boston University, or both. The event this year, as in most years, is held outdoors on the lawn of a private home on the Gallatin River. This year, the concert benefited the string program at the local school, Ophir School and Lone Peak High School. Funds raised are matched by the Classics for Kids Foundation (established by Michael Reynolds) to put stringed instruments into the hands of students. The program was prece
ded by tasty hors d'oevres, and the music starts at about 7:30. As the sun sets over Lone Peak, we are serenaded with wonderful strings. This event is one of my favorites of the summer - just another day in paradise!!
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