Tuesday, August 29, 2006


People of all kinds gathered around to hear the Blues-type music at this year's 4th Annual Brewfest at the village at Big Mountain Resort. The event was short for what you paid for, but still fun. Big Mountain Resort, Whitefish, MT. Posted by Picasa

In order to drink a beer, you had to remove a tab from a blue wristband like the one the guy in this photo is wearing, and then give it to the person serving the beer. Big Mountain Resort, Whitefish, MT. Posted by Picasa

The way the brewfest works may seem like a rip-off to some folks and it probably was, but it was for a good cause. Here how it went. There were 10 tents each housing one of 10 microbrewers from all over western Montana. These mircobrewers brought various kinds of their brew. In order to drink their brew, you either had to know someone, or like me, you had to pay $25 for a ID tag that you see the people drinking in this photo wearing around their necks, you got this blue plastic wrist band with 10 removable tab, and finally you got a little drinking glass. Each time you wanted to get a beer, you go to a tent, tell the server what you wanted, gave him or her your glass, and then remove a tab from your blue wristband and give it to the server. The whole event was only 4 hours long. It started at 3 PM and ended at 7 PM. Big Mountain Resort, Whitefish, MT. Posted by Picasa

Towards the end of the festival, and the more the brew was flowing, folks found their dancing shoes and began dancing. Mostly women were dancing. I felt sad for the lady sitting on the left wearing the neck brace. I saw her several times throughout the festival and each time she looked very uncomfortable. While the girl in the pink on the right side of the photo was with a bunch of her friends were celebrating her bacholarette party at the festival. She looked as if she was having a very good time. Big Mountain Resort, Whitefish, MT. Posted by Picasa

The brewfest was not very crowded this year. I don't know why that was. The weather was perfect and there wasn't a whole lot of anything else going on besides the usual stuff like hiking, biking, rafting, rock climbing, boating, water skiing, and fishing. Still, I thought there was just the right amount of people there who all seem to be enjoying themselves. Tho, the dogs looked a little bored. Big Mountain Resort, Whitefish, MT. Posted by Picasa

Saturday, August 26, 2006


This magnificent shot of these Bighorn sheep was taken last year by Eric Pero while hiking the Highline Trail. Bighorn sheep make themselves right at home along the Highline Trail. Glacier Park, MT. Courtesy photo by Eric Pero. Posted by Picasa

Just before Eric set out on his road trip, He, Lea, and I decided to do the Highline Trail hike on a beautiful August day. We started at 12:45 PM at the Logan Pass trailhead. Earlier, we parked our car at the Loop parking lot and then we hitch-hiked up to Logan Pass. On this day, we hiked 12 miles from Logan Pass down to the Loop. We didn't get down to the Loop until 8:30 PM that evening. Yes, we were moving very slow. We were sore and very tired at the end of the day. Glacier Park, MT. Posted by Picasa

At first, the Highline Trail is fairly easy. The trail winds along the mountain side with lots of mountain flowers and wildlife everywhere. Glacier Park, MT. Courtesy photo by Eric Pero. Posted by Picasa

The view from the Highline trail looking back towards Logan Pass which is where we started. Glacier Park, MT. Courtesy photo by Eric Pero. Posted by Picasa

These little fury creatures are everywhere along the Highline trail. When hikers stop and break for lunch or a snack, these little guys come out of the woodwork. At first, they are reluctant to approach, but after a while, they're taken food right from your hand. Glacier Park, MT. Courtesy photo by Eric Pero. Posted by Picasa

These five beautiful mountain flowers play in the mountain breeze before a magnificent view of the Going-to-the-Sun valley down below. Glacier Park, MT. Courtesy photo by Eric Pero. Posted by Picasa

We saw lots of wildlife along the Highline trail. This mountain goat was close enough to touch. These critters seem un-phase by the presence of people. Glacier Park, MT. Courtesy photo by Eric Pero. Posted by Picasa

This is one of my favorite views in Glacier Park. If you get in the right spot, it looks as if the these ridges form a hollowed-out mountain top, or a volcano peak. Nonetheless, no matter how one sees it, it is a spectacular view. Glacier Park, MT. Courtesy photo by Eric Pero. Posted by Picasa

Eric stands tall upon a high rock formation, yet he is still dewarfed by the majestic towering peaks along the Highline trail. Glacier Park, MT. Posted by Picasa

High upon a ridge on the Highline trail, we look back toward the place we started from some 4 miles off in the distance. The path we took can be seen as a long scar that leaves a mark along the mountain side. Glacier Park, MT. Courtesy photo by Eric Pero. Posted by Picasa

Wednesday, August 09, 2006


While enjoying a well-deserve lunch after a long hike, Lea observes an un-invited fury guest. These little guys would literally take food from your hand. Glacier Park, MT. Courtesy photo by Eric Pero. Posted by Picasa

Lea, Eric, & I pose for the camera with the beautiful mountains of Glacier Park in the background. Courtesy photo by Eric Pero. Posted by Picasa

After climbing a gurling .6 of a mile straight up on the Overlook trail, we end up on a ridge overlooking Grinnell Glacier. The view was simply spectacular. Glacier Park, MT. Courtesy photo by Eric Pero. Posted by Picasa

Sunday, July 30, 2006


Patrick and I saw this beautiful bald eagle three times before our journey came to an end. This magnificant bird stayed put long enough for Pat to beach his kayak, find his camera, and then get close enough to take this picture. During this adventure, we also saw several seals, three ottos, and one raccoon. I believe Patrick is a magnet for wildlife for just a few days before, we saw two young black bear cubs, and one older black bear cub at Mt. Rainier. Cypress Island, Puget Sound, WA. Posted by Picasa

The next day after camping on Cypress Island, Patrick and I prepare to kayak around the far side of the island. Puget Sound, WA. Posted by Picasa

After camping over night, Patrick is breaking camp early the next morning. Cypress Island, Puget Sound, WA. Posted by Picasa

The view of the western side of Cypress Island from a top of the island. The hike up to this majestic place was a mile high hike up a cutback trail through a dark deep wooden thick forest to a small clearing high above Cypress Island. Just before this photo was taken, Patrick and I saw a bald eagle flying over this area. We were at awe on how quickly the great bird flew from one side of the island to the other. Cypress Island, Puget Sound, WA. Posted by Picasa

An artist delight over Puget Sound viewed from Cypress Island, WA. Posted by Picasa

A lonely tugboat pulls an empty barge down Puget Sound, viewed from a top of Cypress Island. Posted by Picasa

A sunset viewed from high upon Cypress Island, Puget Sound, WA. Posted by Picasa