Now that the spring runoff is well over, the lake has really cleared up. We can easily see down into it 25 feet or so. This makes for some interesting views when you approach the steep rocky shores.
Clear Cool Water
I’m Back, Baby!
Just some clear water and colorful rocks …
I guess the novelty of winter is wearing off a bit and thoughts are turning towards spring.
Here is a short clip of some clear Rocky Mountain water and colorful glacier scoured rocks:
So, this is kind of bizarre: I have always enjoyed maps and now with the advent of Google Earth, I have come to enjoy examining places of interest from above — usually when I am dreaming of visiting the place or am planning some hike, etc. I was looking over Google’s satellite imagery of Flathead Lake when I stumbled upon a boat with two yellow elongated objects protruding perpendicularly off of its stern. I realized that I was looking at Marlene and I underway — from nearly 500 miles above!
Yeah, I’ve seen satellite images of my house and my car parked outside of my house, but I have never seen myself in motion via satellite. Wild stuff.
We live in interesting times.
Wayne’s World
Here is an early morning visit to Wild Horse Island State Park with Captain Wayne J. Anderson at the helm.
You can watch this full screen and increase its resolution to 1080p HD
(the two icons in the lower right hand corner).
Wild Horse Island Loop Trail
Skeeko Bay has a trailhead for a 3 mile loop hike. From the lake, it rises gradually through an old-growth Ponderosa Pine forest …
to a hill top with a, primarily, southern view. There are remnants of the island’s earlier residents here.
An optional spur trail leaves the loop and steeply climbs to an panoramic overlook, revealing the lake north, west, and, south.
The little sailboat haven town of Dayton can be seen off in the distance.
The loop trail then gradually drops back down through another valley and another old-growth Ponderosa forest. Eventually, it rejoins the eastern shore of Skeeko Bay.
Wild, Wild Horses
Wild Horse Island State Park has about 6 resident wild horses. They sometimes come down near the Skeeko Bay anchorage in the evenings. They are not particularly afraid of humans, though approaching them is forbidden, for good reason, anyway.
With well over 100 resident Bighorn Sheep, the island might have been more appropriately named Bighorn Sheep Island.
This place is a treasure.
