28 May 2009

The Spring Sky Goddess of the Northern Rockies

We are in the heart of Spring on both sides of the Continental Divide near Butte, Montana. On clear, warm days Spring Sky Goddess blows moist air over the mountains to create high, lenticular clouds, which make for spectacular sunrises:

On these clear days, the temperature swings from frosty 30 deg F mornings to 70+ deg afternoons. The sky is so pure and blue, you drink it in and it creates euphoria:

But Spring Sky Goddess cares for her Earth and waters it well. The rainstorms that sweep into town make for wonderful views like this one from my front porch in Walkerville:

And, so long as you have your raingear and warm layers, Spring Sky Goddess is even more beautiful when you are out hiking in the hills:

The high prairie is greening up, just in time for the elk cow people. They have migrated from their winter range, and are filling their bellies to nourish soon-to-be-born calves:
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17 comments:

  1. The Hunter's WifeThursday, 28 May, 2009

    Beautiful pictures. I especially like the second one.

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  2. AnonymousThursday, 28 May, 2009

    We're in early summer here, so it's funny to see a post about spring.

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  3. Vicki ~ FLThursday, 28 May, 2009

    God's country delivers beautiful shots and you did a great capturing those ... we lived 25 years in Colorado Springs and I do miss the beautiful blue skies and the snow capped mountains. Florida is quite the change!

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  4. BarbThursday, 28 May, 2009

    I like the spring story you tell. Your views are much like mine. Very beautiful!

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  5. JanieThursday, 28 May, 2009

    Your skies are beautiful, whether they're blue or stormy. Nice to see the elk feeding.

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  6. Lancashire and Lakeland Outback Adventure Wildlife SafarisFriday, 29 May, 2009

    Nice motor Ecorover. The butterfly in the previous post looks very similar to our Green Hairstreak and could well be the same species, we share a fair bit with you over the other side of the pond. was there any Bilberry (Vaccinium) around?

    Best wishes

    Dave

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  7. ArijaFriday, 29 May, 2009

    Wonderful scenery in the Rockies.
    I would love to live there.

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  8. SannaFriday, 29 May, 2009

    Beautify photos with amazing motives and captures. Each photo have a life and a drama to tell. I love it! =)

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  9. aspiritofsimplicityFriday, 29 May, 2009

    Very nice sky photos. I love the color.

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  10. This Is My Blog - fishing guyFriday, 29 May, 2009

    ER: What a neat series of of skies. They are certainly a neat sky show for SWF.

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  11. Larry DFriday, 29 May, 2009

    Wonderful photos! Happy skywatch Friday!

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  12. Deer PassionFriday, 29 May, 2009

    Gorgeous views!! I don't think I could pick a favorite this time..

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  13. Lisa WilsonFriday, 29 May, 2009

    Nice photos!! Hope you get some photos of the elk calves after they are born. Our elk move into a basin for elk calving here and they don't allow hiking in that area for their protection, so we don't see them until they are old enough to move back down into our valley. :(

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  14. AnonymousSaturday, 30 May, 2009

    Another set of beautiful photos. I am going to enjoy visiting here each week.

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  15. Betsy Banks AdamsSunday, 31 May, 2009

    Hi there, Those sky pictures ---whether it be a blue sky or an angry rainy sky--are terrific. Your area of the country is so gorgeous. Which season(s) do you enjoy the most?

    Betsy

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  16. EcoRoverSunday, 31 May, 2009

    Hi folks, and thank you all for your kind words.

    Janie & Lisa, we saw our first elk calf on a hike through the hills yesterday. I did not get a photo as we had dogs on a tight lead and did not want to disturb the mother cow. In a week or so, the calves will be big enough to run & keep up with the herd, and the mother cows will be bringing them into the open.

    L&L OA, thanks for the butterfly tip--I'll look into it. No huckleberries in the area we hiked, but ther are lots of a closely related species "grouse whortleberry" (much smaller berry). No blossoms that I've seen yet--most gws grow on higher slopes, and are still under snow.

    Betsy, I have no favorite season--I look forward to the cycle of hiking, trout fishing, backpacking, elk hunting, Nordic skiing... As the Judeo-Christian-Islamic god was reputed to have said in the first week of creation, "It's all good."

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  17. troutbirderMonday, 01 June, 2009

    There is something about mountain air and skies that draws me to it. The only place really other than here in Gods Country that can always do that...

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