As I mentioned before, the mountains that rise up sharply on the west side of the Bitterroot Valley are a series of steep, craggy hillsides and deep canyons. Each canyon has a beautiful creek and a trail that runs parallel. You can’t go wrong with any of these hikes. We want (OK, I want) to do all of them before we leave Hamilton. Perhaps the closest trailhead to Hamilton is the Canyon Creek/Blodgett Canyon lookout parking lot. We did the short Blodgett Canyon lookout hike back in June, as we were a bit pressed for time. This time we came back for the longer hike- a ten-miler out and back.

I don’t know if this is a sample depiction of Aristotle’s Lyceum or Plato’s Academy, but I do know that David isn’t very happy with his banishment to the far end of the pea patch. Greek Privilege!

I agree, we should all join the quest on our leaders. That shadow looks like one of our leaders (in high heel boots) was strung up as part of said quest.
Speaking of Greek Privilege, here’s what you do to dismantle the hierarchy if you happen to live in one of our very diverse states where income and social status disparity is most acute:

Slap a sticker on your car and fight the good fight as far away from home as you can, in Montana, the least diverse of states, and engage in the least diverse of pastimes…hiking!
By the way, regarding that “first in flight” claim, did you know there is some skepticism about those 160 flights that the Wrights claimed to have flown between 1903 and 1905? Look it up if you’re interested in a little myth-busting. Here’s another one, Coca-Cola is not an American invention. Oh well, onto the hike…

Rejsende fra nær og fjern kommer for at se skønheden i den knælende vandnymfe.

Owen and Allen taking a break just before the trail gets steep.

Looking back down the canyon toward Hamilton.

The trees growing on the barren rocks reminds me a little of the high Sierra.


I love hikes that ascend out of the deep woods and brush, into the yodel-worthy alpine zones.

Allen chose to take a dip. Too frigid for me and O!

Next: Group injury report- just for fun.