Time for some golf again! This time we headed for the Island Park Village Resort, about 15 minutes away, and took advantage of their 2 for 1 deal (after 3 pm) they had going on for the month of July.
We had a tee-time at 6pm and although it looked like we might get a thunderstorm later on in the evening we started out with beautiful weather and temperatures around 72F. Just perfect!
It's a 9 hole course, perfect for us, and winds it's way through an upscale mountain resort with beautiful, big, mostly log-cabin type houses and the last 3 holes skirting the edge of the 'flats' of the valley.
A little 'long' for me with par 3's of 150 to 180 yards but fun nevertheless.
On Sunday we visited Big Sky, one of Montana's biggest ski areas.
From West Yellowstone the road follows the Gallatin River as it makes it way through the Gallatin National Forest.
"The Meadow" sector of the area lies in an Alpine valley and is braided with small rivers that channel mountain snow run-off.
Just before we drove up to Big Sky Resort we met these two Mountain Big Horn Sheep by the side of the road:
As you can see with this pair the females have less curled and lighter horns than the males (which grow throughout their lives).
Although they usually live in large flocks, and do not typically follow a single leader ram, these 2 seemed to be by themselves.
These adult Rocky Mountain bighorn rams and ewes are much larger and heavier than their cousins, the Desert Bighorn sheep.
The Big Sky community has two large ski resorts that are sited in the "Mountain" sector: Big Sky Ski Resort and Moonlight Basin Ski Resort. Both are Alpine ski and golf resorts. The combined terrain of the two resorts allows them to boast "The Biggest Skiing in America".
At the base of Lone Mountain, at 7500', we took the Swift Current Lift to the top of it's line. From there you have a nice view of Big Sky Resort but it was very hazy due to fires in Idaho.
We hiked a short distance of the Summit trail until we reached a particular treacherous and steep part with a lot of loose slate. Not dressed for this kind of adventure we headed back to the lift to bring us back to Resort level.
The trees struggle at this elevation...
On the way back down we caught some raindrops! I guess this broke our 'good weather' streak!
These mountain bikers went down the steep first part like madmen! I presume the sign, 'look before you leap', (bottom right) is for them and not for the people in the ski lift!?
All of a sudden this fox popped out from the forest, sat down for a moment in a clearing and before I could get a good shot of him, disappeared again on the other side!
On the way back the weather got much better again the closer we got to West Yellowstone. What a beautiful area!
A couple of mornings ago I was having a cup of coffee inside when, out of the corner of my eye, I see this huge animal walk by the RV. Just on the other side of the wire!
It was a big bison bull, all by his lonesome! As you can see he's missing a large part of his tail.
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| Here I had run outside to just catch his butt end.... |
He followed the fence down the hill, all the way to the road, where he took a left and disappeared out of sight!
How's that for waking up in the morning!
The next evening, here he comes again walking down from the foothills, all the way up to the fence of the cow pasture!
The 'girls' got all excited and followed him wherever he went (safe on the other side of the fence)! It was hilarious!
The light was a little too low to get a good shot of him but you can still 'get the picture' :)
How time flies! Another week gone!
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