A goat in the Selkirks

Laura, Dad and I went hiking in the Selkirks yesterday.  We were fortunate enough to see a mountain goat. I got a few pictures but Laura took some better ones that she posted on her blog.  It was a hot day and we were all dragging a bit by the time we got back to the pickup.

Snack time

Goat country

The Goat

Chimney Rock

Looking down at Laura

Long Canyon - Parker Ridge Hike

Laura and I hiked up Long Canyon and down parker ridge last weekend.  It is something we have been wanting to do for a while and we finally made it happen.  It ended up being 33.8 miles to hike the whole thing plus a 3.5 mile bike ride from the Parker trailhead back to the Long Canyon trailhead where the pickup was.  It was an enjoyable hike and the weather was great.  The trails had been recently sawed out making the hiking that much better.  We also made it to the top of Parker peak.

Laura headed up the Long Canyon trail

Snack time

Crossing the creek. It was COLD!!

Camp the first night along Long Canyon

Nelson cooling down on Parker Ridge

Camp the second night below Parker Peak

Laura on Parker Ridge 

Laura on Parker Peak

Ryan and Laura on Parker Peak

Fire Lookout reamins on Parker Peak

The bear grass was in full bloom

Dropping back into the Kootenai Valley on Parker Ridge

Continental Mine

 Laura, I, Mom and Dad went to the Continental Mine last weekend.  The weather was nice though there were a few bugs.  We walked out to Continental mountain and enjoyed the views from there.

Dad and Lucy enjoying the view from the mine

Laura with Continental Mountain in the background

Continental Creek off of the north side of Continental Mountain

                                         

Laura and Nelson and some mountains in B.C. 

Dad looking for critters

Looking South back at the mine

Dad in the main tunnel

Nelson and the light at the end of the tunnel

Turbine Thrush

Leigh Lake

We went to Leigh Lake in the Cabinets today.  The day started off beautiful but got increasingly cloudy.  It rained a bit but not enough to get wet.  We saw a total of nine goats.  None were close enough to get good pictures but still neat to see.

Ryan, Laura and Nelson above the lake

Laura at Leigh Lake with Snowshoe peak in the background

The closest we got to any of the goats

Nelson enjoying the view

Helio

I saw a Helio on amphibs fly by the other day.

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First Day of Summer

Burton

We went up Burton Peak and beyond today.  We made it to the lookout then followed the ridge to the west and north to the next two mountains.

Bonners Ferry and the Kootenai Valley 

Burton Lookout

Selkirk Crest

Laura and Nelson

Burton from behind

Back Home and a Hike up Goat

I got home from Alaska on Saturday.  Laura and I went for a hike up Goat Mountain on Sunday.  It was a good hike but left me feeling a little sore afterward.  Its nice knowing there will be more hikes like it to come this summer.

Laura on top

Nelson enjoying the snow

Bonners Ferry and the Selkirks

The little pond behind Goat

Snack time

Third Day of Spring

This is more like it.

First Day of Spring

Brush Lake Ride

Laura and I  rode the trail around Brush Lake. We went clockwise on it but it should be just as fun going the other direction too.  There was just a  bit of snow in the shady areas but the trail was mostly melted out and firm. Right now there is a fair amount of blowdown across the trail. It was a fun ride and I look forward to doing it again.

Just one of many trees across the trail.

The snowiest part of the trail right now.

Latest Find

Right in the middle of the field.