Something Old, Something New - Missoula, Montana

“The only real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes.” 

- Marcel Proust, In Search of Lost Time

Golden Creekside - Corvallis, Montana

“Autumn carries more gold in its pocket than all the other seasons.”

― Jim Bishop (1907 – 1987)

Wee Fall Fern, Frosted - Missoula, Montana

Today's title could have grown alliteratively excessive: Found Frosted Fall Fern Forest Foliage... any additions spring to mind?

En route to University Peak, I became a bit fascinated by what plants were growing at varied distances above the valley floor, and a week into November, no less.  These ferns were about 45 minutes into the hike, up numerous switchbacks, and still frosted at 9:50 AM; the principal red frond was about 4 inches long. Conveniently, 20-second photo stops also provided a breath-catching, muscle-resting, dignity reclaiming excuse.

Random wondering while writing this: Was the red fern in Wilson Rawls' book, "Where the Red Fern Grows" an autumn-hued symbol, or plant perpetually russet-hued?

Ascending - University Peak, Missoula, Montana

Complimentary genetics and general good health create space for leniency (ie. at first glance, you might not see my sneaky fat), but yesterday’s Health Fair numbers don’t lie: in hard currency, my value-added voluptuousness equates to a personal portfolio increase of nine extra pounds over the past year, which puts me in the red - not to mention making me a tad peeved at self.
In the interest of correcting my bottom line, I’m grateful a couple more mountain climbs are ahead this season.  But true market correction will come from inflated occurrence of lunchtime and evening neighborhood walks, plus light weight training. 
Modest but consistent deposits pay notable dividends in the long term. 
(Repeat as needed, preferably to a move-motivating soundtrack of 120 beats per minute.)

Remembered - Hamilton, Montana

"In Flanders fields the poppies blow

Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below...."

- From "In Flanders Fields" by John McCrae, May 1915

Last Perfect Day - Missoula, Montana

The last perfect fall day before winter skimmed a snowy blanket over the valley floor early this morning.
The tippy-top of the mountain on the left is University Peak, our Saturday destination at 5,806 feet above sea level. I enjoyed a nice nap on Sunday.

Un-Seeded - Missoula, Montana

Miniature treasures captured on the downhill portion of yesterday's hike to the top of University Peak.
(For the record, we didn't start from the old road that comes up the back of the mountain - since the road's gate is often locked, we started from the bottom, where we parked behind the Press Box restaurant.)