Into the Cold

It's supposed to go down to -2 degrees here in the Bitterroot Valley next Tuesday night. Right now, it is sunny but a bit nippy, with afternoon temperatures in the 50s -- just warm enough to finish raking, mulching and bagging our MANY maple leaves. But on a recent really warm day, friend Mel Holloway and I went on a photo safari to catch a glimpse of winter.

We are greeted by a dusting of snow at lower elevations of Skalkaho Road.

On the diagonal -- a tree hit by ice, snow or old age at a campground on Skalkaho Creek.

We turn off and start climbing on Skalkaho-Rye Road, and I'm so glad that Mel's '92 Nissan Pathfinder has a full tank of gas, 4 new tires, 4-wheel drive and a great driver behind the wheel. (Can you tell that I love pictures of empty mountain roads?)

Higher still. Are we only in a black-and-white world?

Nope. Suddenly there's color -- in trees holding onto their leaves and a glimpse of blue sky, beyond.

And we stop near the top, where shapes and textures make for a magical landscape.

We make it to the top and, boom, the sun starts to wash over selected peaks.

Off in another direction are clouds over eyebrows of pine slashing across an old burn in the forest.

Roadside red twigs grab my attention on the way down.

And then there's a grand finale. Instead of turning toward home, Mel heads up to Skalkaho Falls. He'd been there the day before, when there was no snow. Now, there's plenty!  Here is Mel, tiny figure at lower left, with tripod and camera snapping the tree-shrouded falls. His photo ends up on several admiring Facebook pages.