Our vacation in Montana was wonderful! The kids are still there, spending an additional week at my parent’s house. Haniya and I kept very busy taking pictures – she’s got some beautiful shots over at her blog, which she was very good about updating even while gone.
When Jeff and I got back home early Friday morning, we looked through our pictures. In fact, we keep looking through them. The trip was fantastic and we enjoyed every minute of it! We’ve never had a chance to do so much hiking before, and we took advantage of it.
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- Bull Moose at Upper Two Medicine Lake
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- Jeff and Wardeh at Cobalt Lake
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- Jeff on top of the Siyeh Pass
My parents were wonderful, hanging out with the kids while we took off on two long day hikes of our own. The pictures above show the destinations of three hikes. The first was a family hike, including my parents. We were camping at Two Medicine Lake and chose to hike to Upper Two Medicine Lake (a 10 mile round trip hike) one of the days we were there. The girls and Jeff made it to the lake first, and that big bull moose joined them in the lake right away. 
The video below shows more of him.
The second picture is also from the Two Medicine area, but just Jeff and I hiked there – Cobalt Lake. That was about a 12-mile round trip hike with a 1500 foot elevation gain, and boy did I feel it at the end of that day and for several days after!
Finally, just Jeff and I hiked the most gorgeous mountain pass – Siyeh Pass. It was challenging for me, but a walk in the park for Jeff. The hike was around 11 miles with an elevation gain of more than 2000 feet, and an elevation loss of more than 3000 feet. We were quite high up (as you can see in the picture) by the time we reached the top of the Siyeh Pass. That was the most inspirational hike either of us has taken. (And my calves still feel it.)
I’ve got many more pictures over at Facebook, and they’re publicly viewable, if you want to see more: Arriving in Montana at my parents’ house, Camping at Two Medicine Lake and hiking to Upper Two Medicine Lake, Hike to Cobalt Lake, Camping at Rising Sun and hiking the Siyeh Pass Trail, Camping at Lake McDonald/Apgar, and Visiting Whitefish Lake/Whitefish City Beach, and catching up with cousins.
Here’s that video of the bull moose at Upper Two Medicine Lake.
Also on the Upper Two Medicine Lake hike, we stopped at Twin Falls, where Haniya wowed all of us and many spectators (just arrived in on the ferry) with her breath-taking swim in the very, very cold water fall!
The wildlife I didn’t capture on film – and we’re all disappointed – are the five black bears we saw. First was a mom and her three cubs on a hillside. I didn’t get the camera out in time. The fifth black bear was pretty small, and was eating berries right above our trail. I was too scared to get out the camera that time. I wish I’d had it ready!
I like the ending, Mom.
Haniya
Still a’woowing that girl! What a trooper! We sure miss you and wish you were here still……………………….
Wow, that must have been exciting to bathe in the same lake as a moose! I saw a porcupine as big as a bear cub just slowly ambling up the center of Green Valley Road a couple days ago like he wasn’t worried at all about silly old pickup trucks! The wildlife is here, too, we just never see it!
Larisa – I need to write to you! You’ve been in our prayers. We didn’t bathe in the lake, I didn’t mean to give that impression. We were on the shore and he came lumbering out of the bushes to get in the lake. They said it was really scary and though he was a bear at first!
Welcome back! What beautiful pictures! Siyeh Pass seems magnificient.
WELCOME HOME, DEAR FAMILY — I am so happy that you had this opportunity to get away and have some fun. We have enjoyed Haniya’s pictures so much. When I see them and hear your fantastic stories, I get very lonesome for “God’s Country.”
Have a great week. When will the kids be coming home? You still have some time to enjoy the peace and quiet but I know you miss them too. I sure do!
Much love to you!
Judy
Wardeh ~
Enjoyed your vacation photos and videos.
Sounds like the Lord gave you an awesome trip.
I’ve got to check into vimeo for my blog…tried it out and
something went bonkers when I was still on wordpress.com.
Now with my domain up and running I think I’ll have a better
chance with it work right.
Take care, Pamela
.-= Pamela´s last blog ..Seeds House cleaning…….Fix ups! =-.
I had to set up hubby’s laptop so I could view the videos (mine’s too old). They’re great! That Haniya! She’s so funny.
I didn’t get to view the whole thing, just the first 30 sec. before I lost my dial up connection. I hope she warmed up quickly.
.-= Marg´s last blog ..Garden update =-.
Marg – Yes, she warmed up! There were so many people who arrived at the Falls when she was in there and as she came out of the water, many came up to her and felt her skin to feel how cold the water was.
We had a towel ready. She’s a champion! It is sweet of you to arrange using another computer so you could see them.