My neice Kelcy...fearless and flawless as always...
By the way Clayton, notice she's not holding onto the saddlehorn?
Monday, July 31, 2006
My favorite cowgirl-fire fighter chic...
My neice Kelcy...fearless and flawless as always... By the way Clayton, notice she's not holding onto the saddlehorn?
Where the floods began
Note- this area is a very important geological site and not only is the proposed Scotchman's Peak Wilderness Area important for its scenic beauty, but it is the origin of one of the most significant geological events to ever occur on the planet...
For more information go to http://www.scotchmanpeaks.org
A new field guide covers the best way to view the path of the Great Missoula Floods
New field guide tracks down clues to the great Ice Age floods
During the last great Ice Age that ended some 15,000 years ago, the Pacific Northwest was repeatedly decimated by cataclysmic floods unlike anything of modern times. Giant ancient lakes such as Glacial Lake Missoula were created as lobes of the massive ice sheets blocked river valleys. These “ice dams” broke time and again over the millennia, sending walls of ice-laden water, miles wide and hundreds of feet deep, racing over the land at speeds up to 80 mph – scouring a fantastic landscape and leaving a fascinating geologic record for us to wonder at today.
Now geologist Bruce Bjornstad has written the most comprehensive guidebook yet to the incredible landforms scoured out by the Ice Age floods in the Mid-Columbia Basin. His new book, On the Trail of the Ice Age Floods: A geological field guide to the Mid Columbia Basin explores the origins, timing and frequency of the Ice Age floods and describes each of 19 geologic features they left behind. It is also an exciting field guide to features, trails and tours in the Mid-Columbia Basin where we may witness today the awesome power of the ancient floods. The guide includes:
Explanations of landforms created by the floods, from hanging coulees and giant gravel bars to ice-rafted “erratics” such as boulders carried on huge ice bergs and deposited hundreds of miles from their places of origin.
~Detailed descriptions of 70 distinct flood-formed features scattered throughout the basin, with driving directions to observation points
30 off-road hiking and biking trails where adventurers can walk and ride amid the flood geology.
~5 driving tours and 2 aerial tours for day trips to view the scope of the landscape carved by the great floods.
Illustrated with more than 200 maps, schematics, photos and illustrations, including 16 pages of color plates, On the Trail of the Ice Age Floods provides a clear, concise and easily useable guide to the remarkable geologic record of the great Ice Age floods.
~Praise for On the Trail of the Ice Age Floods
“Rich in detail, this book is at once accessible, user-friendly and extremely well written.”
William D. LaymanAuthor of Native River and River of Memory: The Everlasting Columbia
“This marvelously illustrated guidebook will prove to be indispensable to both the casual outdoor enthusiast and to the serious student of the fascinating landscapes of south-central Washington state.”
Victor R. Baker, Ph.D.Regent’s ProfessorDepartment of Hydrology and Water Resources, University of Arizona
“If one thinks that Hurricane Katrina and the Sumatra tsunami were as wild as flooding water can get, there is a big surprise in store when the changes wrought by the glacial Lake Missoula superfloods are examined.”
Eugene P. Kiver, Ph.D., R.G.Professor Emeritus of Geology, Eastern Washington University
“For anybody who wants to understand the geological evidence of these Ice Age floods, or learn what these landscapes look like and how they formed, this is the book.”
Ralph Dawes, Ph.D.Professor of Geology, Wenatchee Valley College
~About the author
Bruce Bjornstad is a licensed geologist and hydrogeologist in Washington and Oregon and senior research scientist at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. He has studied the Ice Age floods and explored every corner of the Northwest over the last 25 years. An active member of the Ice Age Floods Institute, he regularly publishes and leads lectures and field trips on the Ice Age floods.
Get your copy at http://www.keokeebooks.com
During the last great Ice Age that ended some 15,000 years ago, the Pacific Northwest was repeatedly decimated by cataclysmic floods unlike anything of modern times. Giant ancient lakes such as Glacial Lake Missoula were created as lobes of the massive ice sheets blocked river valleys. These “ice dams” broke time and again over the millennia, sending walls of ice-laden water, miles wide and hundreds of feet deep, racing over the land at speeds up to 80 mph – scouring a fantastic landscape and leaving a fascinating geologic record for us to wonder at today.
Now geologist Bruce Bjornstad has written the most comprehensive guidebook yet to the incredible landforms scoured out by the Ice Age floods in the Mid-Columbia Basin. His new book, On the Trail of the Ice Age Floods: A geological field guide to the Mid Columbia Basin explores the origins, timing and frequency of the Ice Age floods and describes each of 19 geologic features they left behind. It is also an exciting field guide to features, trails and tours in the Mid-Columbia Basin where we may witness today the awesome power of the ancient floods. The guide includes:
Explanations of landforms created by the floods, from hanging coulees and giant gravel bars to ice-rafted “erratics” such as boulders carried on huge ice bergs and deposited hundreds of miles from their places of origin.
~Detailed descriptions of 70 distinct flood-formed features scattered throughout the basin, with driving directions to observation points
30 off-road hiking and biking trails where adventurers can walk and ride amid the flood geology.
~5 driving tours and 2 aerial tours for day trips to view the scope of the landscape carved by the great floods.
Illustrated with more than 200 maps, schematics, photos and illustrations, including 16 pages of color plates, On the Trail of the Ice Age Floods provides a clear, concise and easily useable guide to the remarkable geologic record of the great Ice Age floods.
~Praise for On the Trail of the Ice Age Floods
“Rich in detail, this book is at once accessible, user-friendly and extremely well written.”
William D. LaymanAuthor of Native River and River of Memory: The Everlasting Columbia
“This marvelously illustrated guidebook will prove to be indispensable to both the casual outdoor enthusiast and to the serious student of the fascinating landscapes of south-central Washington state.”
Victor R. Baker, Ph.D.Regent’s ProfessorDepartment of Hydrology and Water Resources, University of Arizona
“If one thinks that Hurricane Katrina and the Sumatra tsunami were as wild as flooding water can get, there is a big surprise in store when the changes wrought by the glacial Lake Missoula superfloods are examined.”
Eugene P. Kiver, Ph.D., R.G.Professor Emeritus of Geology, Eastern Washington University
“For anybody who wants to understand the geological evidence of these Ice Age floods, or learn what these landscapes look like and how they formed, this is the book.”
Ralph Dawes, Ph.D.Professor of Geology, Wenatchee Valley College
~About the author
Bruce Bjornstad is a licensed geologist and hydrogeologist in Washington and Oregon and senior research scientist at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. He has studied the Ice Age floods and explored every corner of the Northwest over the last 25 years. An active member of the Ice Age Floods Institute, he regularly publishes and leads lectures and field trips on the Ice Age floods.
Get your copy at http://www.keokeebooks.com
In the land of endangered species...
Most of the Selkirk Loop is endangered species territory. In recent years we've been discovered putting pressure on some of these amazing creatures. I've had both Black and Grizzly Bears on my property and its not unusual to see Moose, Elk, Whitetail and Mule Deer. Cougars and wolves also inhabit the area.
Today's shots are of Priest Lake, which is just shy of the eastern boundary of Pend Oreille County. In addtion to the link directing visitors to the Selkirk International Scenic Loop ( http://www.selkirkloop.org ) , folks can now check out Pend Oreille County's own effort ( http://www.newportoldtownchamber.org
) to learn more about the local region. The Kalispels have their own site as well- http://www.kalispeltribe.com . No matter where you go to find out about the area we hope that you'll take the following well intended advice-
Pend Oreille County-
Visit Often.
Visit long.
Come play.
You'll want to stay!
The Dixie Chicks were right...
Willie Nelson, bless his soul, offered in TIME Magazine that he was a bit surprised at the rap the Dixie Chicks got for their impromptu, wildfire inducing statements made overseas.
Nelson reminded TIME that Texan's embarrassment over the Frat Boy Prez from the Northeast aren't unfounded. "I said 'He's not from Texas and he ain't a cowboy, so let's stop trashin' Texans and cowboys.' It got a little chuckle, but I didn't get run out of the country," Nelson told the magazine.
And these days nearly 70% of Americans seem to support the sentiment that Bush is an embarrassment. As if the uninvited neck rub felt around the world, the family values language captured between the Bush and Blair at the G8 summit, and the strongest rebuke in American History served up cold, and to the point, by the US Supreme Court aren't enough... The Dixie Chicks rode back into Texas bringing "Not Ready to Make Nice" with them as a number one single.
For the Bushwhacked set, it gets worse.
In a major way the Dixie Chicks continue to prove their point-with one of the most successful country music albums in history, debuting at number 1 on the all around charts as well as the country charts and then in true "Don't Mess With Texas" style, staying in the top ten weekly sales figures for nearly ten weeks. This success has been repeated around the globe.
The album, "Take the Long Way Home", might just be some good advice for GW-it appears that Cindy, a soldier mom turned infamous activist just brought property near the Bush Ranch in Crawford. Using money she's received from her son's death in Iraq, Cindy isn't ready to make nice either.
Nelson reminded TIME that Texan's embarrassment over the Frat Boy Prez from the Northeast aren't unfounded. "I said 'He's not from Texas and he ain't a cowboy, so let's stop trashin' Texans and cowboys.' It got a little chuckle, but I didn't get run out of the country," Nelson told the magazine.
And these days nearly 70% of Americans seem to support the sentiment that Bush is an embarrassment. As if the uninvited neck rub felt around the world, the family values language captured between the Bush and Blair at the G8 summit, and the strongest rebuke in American History served up cold, and to the point, by the US Supreme Court aren't enough... The Dixie Chicks rode back into Texas bringing "Not Ready to Make Nice" with them as a number one single.
For the Bushwhacked set, it gets worse.
In a major way the Dixie Chicks continue to prove their point-with one of the most successful country music albums in history, debuting at number 1 on the all around charts as well as the country charts and then in true "Don't Mess With Texas" style, staying in the top ten weekly sales figures for nearly ten weeks. This success has been repeated around the globe.
The album, "Take the Long Way Home", might just be some good advice for GW-it appears that Cindy, a soldier mom turned infamous activist just brought property near the Bush Ranch in Crawford. Using money she's received from her son's death in Iraq, Cindy isn't ready to make nice either.
Sunday, July 30, 2006
Part Three of the Super Dooper Selkirk Loop Super Side Trip-
The Clark Fork River, looking east toward the upper reaches of the Cabinet Gorge and toward Noxon, Montana...
The Bull River Valley, looking toward the Cabinet Wilderness Area...One of my all time favorite places. It's roughly an hour from my front door to here-which is about the same distance as Spokane. Naturally I'd much rather spend as much of my time as I can in this area...
I tell my friends that this is where God goes to think...Considering recent world events, I bet He's been spending plenty of time here lately...
Highway 200, near the Idaho/Montana state line. Some of the prettiest ranches I've ever seen are in this area. But you have to know which "off the beaten path highways" to explore to find them...
Looking toward the proposed Scotchmans Peak Wilderness Area. The tracks are run by Montana Rail Link and sadly since Rocky Mountain Rail Tours quit running last year, the only way to see this area is by vehicle...bicycle...or...
Yep that's right-horse! In this case a fine team of draft horses...
This is the main drag of Heron Montana...click to enlarge and you'll spy a whole boardwalk full of loitering locals with not much better to do than wonder about the guy taking pictures with his digital camera...
The top of this peak has a forest service look out on it...
Not too bad a view to wake up to...
This shot was taken near Heron. Here the Cabinets form a narrow gorge with the Bitterroots and the Green Monarch Range...
So just to help you get your bearings, this photo was taken looking back into Idaho...
Once the Clark Fork River flows into Lake Pend Oreille, the river changes name to the Pend Oreille...About 200 miles upstream, the watershed is fed by the Black River (think Missoula)...The headwaters of the Black/Clark Fork/ Flathead extend all the way to Southeast of Butte, Montana and also cover Glacier National Park. The Flat Head River joins the Clark Fork near Paradise, Montana...
Unfortunately the Black River has experienced tremendous pollution from the mining industry. A large percentage of the water table around Butte is ruined from mining tailings, chemical contamination and large heavy metals pollution... But Butte does have a great museum located there dedicated to preserving our fine history of prostitution here in the west. Its run by a former male escort. Talk about diversity.
Anyway what's happened in Butte with the mining industry really sucks. And you'd think that with all the abuses of the mining industry, the Bush Administration would think twice about giving the go ahead for a new mine in the Cabinets. The Rock Creek Mine project has been stonewalled by local, state, and federal judges while the Bush administration relentlessly tries to push the project forward. It is incredulous that a mine would be proposed for a potential federal wilderness area, one that has been proposed by congress for three decades...
If you think this area is worth preserving why not join our effort? Here is where you can go to help: http://www.scotchmanpeaks.org/index.html
The Bull River Valley, looking toward the Cabinet Wilderness Area...One of my all time favorite places. It's roughly an hour from my front door to here-which is about the same distance as Spokane. Naturally I'd much rather spend as much of my time as I can in this area... I tell my friends that this is where God goes to think...Considering recent world events, I bet He's been spending plenty of time here lately...
Highway 200, near the Idaho/Montana state line. Some of the prettiest ranches I've ever seen are in this area. But you have to know which "off the beaten path highways" to explore to find them...
Looking toward the proposed Scotchmans Peak Wilderness Area. The tracks are run by Montana Rail Link and sadly since Rocky Mountain Rail Tours quit running last year, the only way to see this area is by vehicle...bicycle...or...Yep that's right-horse! In this case a fine team of draft horses...
This is the main drag of Heron Montana...click to enlarge and you'll spy a whole boardwalk full of loitering locals with not much better to do than wonder about the guy taking pictures with his digital camera...
The top of this peak has a forest service look out on it...
Not too bad a view to wake up to...This shot was taken near Heron. Here the Cabinets form a narrow gorge with the Bitterroots and the Green Monarch Range...
So just to help you get your bearings, this photo was taken looking back into Idaho...Once the Clark Fork River flows into Lake Pend Oreille, the river changes name to the Pend Oreille...About 200 miles upstream, the watershed is fed by the Black River (think Missoula)...The headwaters of the Black/Clark Fork/ Flathead extend all the way to Southeast of Butte, Montana and also cover Glacier National Park. The Flat Head River joins the Clark Fork near Paradise, Montana...
Unfortunately the Black River has experienced tremendous pollution from the mining industry. A large percentage of the water table around Butte is ruined from mining tailings, chemical contamination and large heavy metals pollution... But Butte does have a great museum located there dedicated to preserving our fine history of prostitution here in the west. Its run by a former male escort. Talk about diversity.
Anyway what's happened in Butte with the mining industry really sucks. And you'd think that with all the abuses of the mining industry, the Bush Administration would think twice about giving the go ahead for a new mine in the Cabinets. The Rock Creek Mine project has been stonewalled by local, state, and federal judges while the Bush administration relentlessly tries to push the project forward. It is incredulous that a mine would be proposed for a potential federal wilderness area, one that has been proposed by congress for three decades...
If you think this area is worth preserving why not join our effort? Here is where you can go to help: http://www.scotchmanpeaks.org/index.html
Wednesday, July 26, 2006
The Big Water "Selkirk Loop Super Side Trip"-Lake Pend Oreille and Clark Fork Country-Part II
The view from Noxon, Montana- looking west toward the Montana, Idaho State line...the Cabinet Range is on the right, the Bitterroots are on the left...
The infamous Toby's bar in Noxon...one of two watering holes on the very short main drag...
Bringing a whole new take to the term "red light district"...there's a flashing traffic light right over the entrance to the bar...
Which hardly prepares you for what you find once you enter the place...it takes a good hour just to look at everything...in Montana kids are allowed in the bars as long as food is served and they are accompanied by adults...there are also video poker slot machines...and the complimentary mirror ball...
Here is a backward shot of the traffic light...and the humble entrance...Toby was the life of the town in Noxon and the community hasn't been the same since his passing...Toby's Silver Dollar Bar is one of those places that defies description...
On the "freeway" between Noxon and Heron, Montana. Heading west...here again on the right is the Clark Fork River...
And what is defined as a "good road" by Montana standards...
Just outside of Heron, one of the best views of the trip...
Again for more information just gander over to http://www.selkirkloop.org
For a great book of Cabinet Range hiking trails (Trails of the Wild Cabinets by Dennis Nicholls) go to:
http://www.keokeebooks.com
The infamous Toby's bar in Noxon...one of two watering holes on the very short main drag...
Bringing a whole new take to the term "red light district"...there's a flashing traffic light right over the entrance to the bar...Which hardly prepares you for what you find once you enter the place...it takes a good hour just to look at everything...in Montana kids are allowed in the bars as long as food is served and they are accompanied by adults...there are also video poker slot machines...and the complimentary mirror ball...Here is a backward shot of the traffic light...and the humble entrance...Toby was the life of the town in Noxon and the community hasn't been the same since his passing...Toby's Silver Dollar Bar is one of those places that defies description...On the "freeway" between Noxon and Heron, Montana. Heading west...here again on the right is the Clark Fork River...And what is defined as a "good road" by Montana standards...
Just outside of Heron, one of the best views of the trip...Again for more information just gander over to http://www.selkirkloop.org
For a great book of Cabinet Range hiking trails (Trails of the Wild Cabinets by Dennis Nicholls) go to:
http://www.keokeebooks.com
Sunday, July 23, 2006
The Big Water "Selkirk Loop Super Side Trip"-Lake Pend Oreille and Clark Fork Country-Part I
Highway 200 near the Montana State Line-The Cabinet Range rises up on the Northern Flank...
A buck with velvet still on his rack dashes for shelter just east of Hope, Idaho...
Near the Clark Fork River Delta, just as it empties into Lake Pend Oreille...
Lake Pend Oreille, looking south toward the Monarch Range and toward the Bitterroots...
One of several inhabited islands in the lake...
Looking west toward Sandpoint, Idaho and the Selkirk Range.
A visual display recounting the great Missoula Floods...click on the picture to enlarge and read these displays...
Looking due south toward the deeper bays on the lake...
For more information, as always the folks at http://www.selkirkloop.org are ready to send out maps and more detailed information about the area.
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