Skywatch Friday: Montana Holiday Skies

The holidays (and low southern sun angles with the solstice) have brought us some outstanding views here in the Big Sky State, especially as seen from my home in Walkerville (on the hill above Butte America). Whether looking east:

Or southwest into the fading light, it's been a real show:

Add to that the great feasts, like the Vigil (Christmas Eve) fest when Mrs Rover served her own version of Grandma Jean Vigliotti's "Feast of the Seven Fishes":

'Tis the season for entertainment, too--like taking in local favorite Mountain Moongrass folk group at the Silver Dollar Saloon:

And (to work off all this feasting), some epic cross country ski treks around the trails at The Moulton and Mill Creek Pass (aka "Mt Haggin") areas. Here's daughter Emily (accompanied by Bernardo, a local stray; sadly, MollyTheDog ripped her belly open on a barb wire fence and is recuperating) slipping out of her sweater for the long climb up the Little California Creek trail:

Near the top, we pause at the old Anaconda Copper Mining Company logging cabins for a few bites of mule deer jerky:

And to take in the nice views to Mt Haggin and other peaks of the Pintler Mountain range across the Deep Creek valley:

Soon, it's time to start the run down. Hmmm.... wonder why they call this part of the trail "Death Dip"?:

Oh, that's why! (nice snowplow technique):

OK, time to straighten those skis out and ZOOM:

One last stop to take in the view up to Spire Rock before we make for the truck:

Happy New Year, everyone!