Hiking | RadleyIce

Mount Blackmore Summit

Aug 102010

This past Saturday, Vida and I decided to hike up to the tippy-top of Mount Blackmore (10,154 feet ASL), the highest peak in the Hyalite group of Peaks in the Gallatin Range. The best way to describe this hike is an ass-buster. It gains over 3500 feet at a steady always up slope in about 6 miles. But man are the views worth it. Oh, did I mention mosquitoes? We had a few; well, we actually had a biblical style plague of the pesky bloodsuckers. Usually, the higher you go, the less of a swarm is possible. Today was the exception that proves the rule. At the very summit we encountered an electrical buzz. Is it static build-up from the approaching thunderstorm? Nope, it was thousands upon thousands of mosquitoes, and I guess you forgot the bug dope (sorry Sweets). One of the real treats were the chirping Pikas of the talus slopes below the final pass.

Hiking the Squaw Creek Divide

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Jul 192010

Yesterday, Somewhat Birding Vida and I went for an 11-mile hike up to the Squaw Divide, which divides (duh) the Squaw Creek (or Storm Castle as the new name) drainage from the Hyalite Basin. This is a hike that I’ve wanted to take for quite awhile. Many times I have stared at the route and thought about all the times that I had hiked to the basin and not attempted to make it to the ridge top. It is quite a haul with more than 2800 feet elevation gain and a top elevation of over 9800 feet. The Squaw Creek Basin is outstanding with many American Pipits and several Gray-crowned Rosy-finches. I even heard a Pika that called from directly beneath my feet as it hid in the jumble of talus. We had to traverse across a large snowfield, which was alternating between slick but stable to total postholing up to the crotch. The wind at the top was, well, outstanding; I had a couple of visions of sailing over the edge and down a 1000 feet to Hyalite Lake.

This is a great hike that doesn’t appear on hardly any guide books or websites. Maybe that’s a good thing, in that we had the trail to ourselves. The sun and snow made for some good sunburns, just ask my arms and Vida’s back. There are an absolutely ton of switchbacks as you ascend into the basin. The distance and elevation gain makes this one a good challenge while completely enjoyable.

Hiking to Lava Lake and Tabletop Mountain

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Jun 292009

I went for a hike up to Lava Lake and extended it to a trudge up to Tabletop Mountain. The hike itself was great if not tiring. Not much in the way of birds, but a few butterflies. A lot of water is flowing in Cascade Creek. I found a couple of Golden-mantled Ground Squirrels at the rocks around the lake.

Panoramas

Map and Google Earth

Google Earth KML

Leverich Canyon Hiking

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Jun 182009

This evening I went for a quick jaunt up Leverich Canyon. Both Swainson’s and Hermit Thrushes were singing along with McGillivray’s Warblers and Dark-eyed Juncos. I managed to run into both Hairy and American Three-toed Woodpeckers in the Douglas-fir forest above the old mine. The first orchids of the year were seen – Fairy-slippers as well as Trillium.

Trail Information

Distance:	3.4 miles
Type:	Out and back
Elevation Gained:	1300 feet
Google Earth File:	Link

The Pilgrimage – Annual trip to the Pryor Mountains

Birding, Butterflies, Hiking, Photography, Rare Birds No Responses »

Jun 152009

Every year (well almost), Sam Koenen and I make a trip to the Pryor Mountains and specifically Bear Canyon for bird species that cannot be found elsewhere in the state or are very difficult to find. These include Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Canyon Wren, Blue Grosbeak, and rarities such as Black-throated Gray Warbler. Full trip report at WilderTrack.

Our route took us first to Itch-Kep-Pe Park near Columbus and Barb Jaquith’s house in Red Lodge. The park produced White-breasted Nuthatches and a multitude of songsters. The sunrise was spectacular and Barb’s house kick ass as usual. At Red Lodege, there was lots of interesting variations of plumage coloration among the Red Crossbills. There was also a female Broad-tailed Hummingbird and several Cassin’s Finches among the Pine Siskins.

Leaving Red Lodge, we headed for Bear Canyon. When we arrived the morning was cool and ground was actually damp. Immediately, the Rock Wrens and Dusky Flycatchers were singing. We found many Blue-gray Gnatcatchers as the Sagebrush Lizards scurried in the undergrowth. White-throated Swifts were very active and vocal. Say’s Phoebes were in abundance as well. Besides the birds, we had several great butterflies; Acmon Blue, Melissa Blue, Sagebrush Checkerspot, Nevada Skipper and Juniper Hairstreak.

Leaving the canyon, we headed towards Gyp Spring for Mountain Plovers (hopefully). As we drove to the spring, we turned up Loggerhead Shrikes and Sprague’s Pipit. Arriving at the spot, we started scanning the short vegetation for the plovers, and there it was, a lone Mountain Plover followed by woo-hoos and high fives. After this we decided, to keep driving until we were south of the border – the Wyoming border that is. We had no maps or experience in this area, but we managed to come out at Cowley, Wyoming. We headed back into Montana and stop at the traditional Blue Grosbeak spot, and we could not find any grosbeaks. We did, however, turn up a Northern Mockingbird (my second state record). I managed a few documentation images. From here we headed back to Bozeman.

Full trip report at WilderTrack.

Sourdough morning and Drinking Horse Mountain afternoon

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Jun 142009

Singing Veery

This morning, I went for a walk along the Sourdough Trail where I was treated to the usual cast of characters. I manage to get a few decent shots and a nice video of a singing Veery, though.

In the afternoon, I decided to go for a hike along the new Drinking Horse Mountain Trail, which is a great route for birding and doing a little flower photography. I was treated to great views of Green-tailed Towhees, Rock Wrens, and a Sharp-shinned Hawk.

Pioneer Falls Hike with Vida

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Jun 132009

On Saturday, Vida and I had a great hike up to Pioneer Falls in the Spanish Peaks area. the hike goes along the beautiful Spanish Creek and culminates at the top of Pioneer Falls, a gorgeous ~50 foot waterfall followed by an extended cascade. Olivia had more than fun kicking it along the trail (I actually believe that she got tired).

Topographic Trail Map

June Snow in the Hyalite

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Jun 072009

In Montana, we learn that June doesn’t necessarily mean summer. Today, there was several inches of fresh snow in the Hyalites, so I naturally decided to grab Olivia and go for an early morning hike to Arch Falls. The gray skies and heavy, wet snow didn’t make for many photo opportunities, but the stillness of the air and sound of falling snow made for a memorable morning. Not many birds, save for a few American Robins, Golden-crowned Kinglets and Dark-eyed Juncos.

Late, tardy, or just plain lazy

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May 262009

I’ve been largely absent from posting for awhile as I have been having a great life and along with it, too much fun. I’ve shot a lot of frames and seen a few good birds. The highlight of the past few days is definitely the Rose-breasted Grosbeak along the Sourdough (just south of Bozeman). I unfortunately don’t have pics of it, yet (it still there as of noon today). I also managed a Townsend’s Warbler at the Kirk Hill area.

May 20th

May 21st (My birthday)

May 22nd

May 23rd

May 24th

May 25th

New arrivals and a great day

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Apr 122009

This post covers both Saturday and Sunday of an incredible weekend

Saturday

This morning I started the day at the Cherry River Fishing Access with several Cinnamon Teals and a Great Yellowlegs. The surprise was a Columbia Spotted Frog engaged in amplexus with an otherwise dead partner. Seems like froggy love knows no bounds. It was very unexpected to have a frog this early…a nice pleasant surprise. I decided to walk down the trail to the East Gallatin Recreation Area, and I happened upon a deceased Meadow Vole…a bio-geek’s dream. Of course, I had to pick it up and take a documentation pic with the cell phone (camera battery was dead…bummer).

Later in the day, Non-birding Vida (NBV) and I went down to the Bear Trap Canyon on the Madison River for a little relaxation and vino. A Canyon Wren was singing high up on the rocks and Red-breasted Mergansers (a single male and his two “bitches” – NBVspeak).

Sunday

The morning started at the Cherry River Fishing Access where a male Northern Harrier was doing a remarkable display flight that consisted of acrobatic roll and twists. As he was flying by, a Wilson’s Snipe was winnowing overhead, a welcome sound indeed. Three Ring-necked Ducks were swimming in the pond with a multitude of American Coots carrying-on with their squeaks and chases with the participants running atop the glassy surface. An American White Pelican glided overhead briefly as the Sandhill Cranes trumpeted in the open fields. The Killdeer numbers are definitely picking as well.

Richardson's Ground Squirrel At the East Gallatin Rec. Area, the spring’s first Tree Swallows were calling and feeding over the cottonwood forest. Richardson’s Ground Squirrels were all over the place.