A view of Big Mountain from downtown Whitefish's Central Ave. On the left side of the street is the Great Northern Micro Brewery. On the near right side of the street is the Great Northern Bar & Grill. In the center of the photo is the train depot. Whitefish, MT. 

Comet soaking up the sun on the porch of my townhome. From my townhome, I have a great view of Big Mountain. 

Comet doing what beagles do best in a lot of land prepared for development across the street from where I live. The property is perfect for Comet to roam free off the lesh. At 2 years, Comet has developed well. She's a great companion. She stays with me where ever we go, no matter whether we're walking or biking. The only time I have to be concern, is when we encounter other dogs. 

This is the view of Big Mountain from my townhouse in early spring. Most of the snow has melted off in the lower areas, but there is still some snow on the ski runs up at Big Mountain Ski Resort. Whitefish, MT. 

Last year's Pond Skim Event (2006). Big Mountain Ski Resort, Whitefish, MT. 

The object of this event is to ski down the mountain and try to skim across a man-made pond. The event starts out easy with the contestants starting out in the first round at a higher level or greater distance up the mountain from the pond. With each passing round, the distance from the starting point to the pond get shorter and shorter. Thus, making it harder to get the speed needed to make it across the pond. Pond Skim Event (2006), Big Mountain Resort, Whitefish, MT. 

This lady made it across the pond. Last year's Pond Skim Event (2006), Big Mountain Resort, Whitefish, MT. 

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. 

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. 

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. 

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. 

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. 

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. 

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. 

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. 

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

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. 

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. 

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. 

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. 

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. 

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. 

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. 

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

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.