Winter is here again, oh lord
The opening line from 1978’s Wheel in the Sky fits today. Snow, wind, 30f (-1c) temps. Springtime in Helena is always an epic battle between winter and summer. Winter is by far the stronger season here, but summer has a strong will and eventually prevails- though only for 3 or 4 months.
With the wind chill this morning we hit 19f (-7c) and the Lab was much happier than he was last weekend with the warm temps. I’m not sure if last weekend was second spring, or fool’s spring, but this cold snap is unlikely to be nfinal winter. Such is life above the 46th north parallel.
April and May are tumultuous- and that’s okay. We need the moisture to increase the snowpack and hopefully help tamp down the late summer fires that will most certainly start up when summer gets a full head of steam and gives us day after day in the 90’s and sometimes over 100 (30s to 40c).
Lower Mount Helena trails are just damp and lightly dusted with snow. It’s still a good day to be outdoors- just go prepared for the weather.
I’m approaching 60 miles (96k) of trail walking for April so I think 100 (160k) for the month is doable. That feels pretty good considering last April’s total was only 25 miles (40k).
In the meantime, I will be out everyday looking for birds and flowers and immersing myself in the real world. Wherever you are- enjoy springtime to its fullest.
Tons of Pasqueflower and phlox, about a dozen Wyoming Kittentails along the trail. Rocky Road is such a fun walk- totally true to its name. As you approach the top of Bompart, there are hundreds upon hundreds of shooting stars. It’s always amazing to me how so many flowers can thrive in such rocky, thin ‘soil’.
We found one new plant in bloom- Nineleaf Biscuitroot- Lomatium triternatum
Birds are out and singing. This Downy Woodpecker gave me the evil eye for stopping and capturing an image. Lots of White-breasted Nuthatches up there, too.
Tomorrow we could get snow- which we need. Ya gotta love springtime in the Rockies.
Nature, every day. 
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