With the high winds we had a real blizzard of leaves, but much better than the real snow fall back East . . . → Read More: Wonderful Weather—But Changes are a Comin’!]]> After a blustery day yesterday (Saturday) today’s weather was much improved.  Yesterday the wind blew like the dickens with sustained winds of over 30 miles per hour and gusts as high as 55mph.

With the high winds we had a real blizzard of leaves, but much better than the real snow fall back East along the Atlantic coast.  Today was a day for raking and burning, putting away hoses and lawn chairs and preparing for the weather change that is predicted for the coming week when high temperatures are forecasted to be in the 20’s and 30’s.

The high winds did not seem to hamper some local six man football teams from our local area as the Denton Trojans  beat Lone Peak 87-0.  That’s right eighty-seven to zero.  In all fairness, it should be mentioned that Denton is the defending six-man champions and has many of their players back for a final season, while Lone Peak, located at Big Sky, Montana, is only in their second year of existence.

The Stanford-Geyser Wolverines also crushed Terry 59-6 in six-man action. Six man football is much like a track meet with a football involved since every player is eligible to catch a pass and speed is of the utmost importance.

Will close with a picture of the changing weather conditions.  Stay warm and have a great Halloween!

Dark Clouds Loom Over Bale Trail at Halloween

Today, however, a much different story.  Rainfall overnight—much welcomed by most farmers and ranchers—and dark, stormy clouds all day brought us . . . → Read More: What a Difference a Day Makes!]]>

Monday, October  24^th and fall is definitely here (maybe  even a preview of winter).  Yesterday was another beautiful late Indian summer day with temperatures hovering around 60 degrees and deep blue skies.

Today, however, a much different story.  Rainfall overnight—much welcomed by most farmers and ranchers—and dark, stormy clouds all day brought us temperatures in the 40’s.

The hunting season kicked off over the weekend with less than ideal conditions.  Warm temperatures and some gusty afternoon winds both Saturday and Sunday made hunting quite difficult.  No snow for tracking, and too warm to force the “big ones” down to lower elevations.

The exceptionally warm and dry fall, combined with the cold wet spring which drastically cut into the survival rate of deer and elk fawns, made the big game opening weekend much more difficult than usual.

Tonight, temperatures will dip into the lower 20’s with snow showers in the forecast.  Tomorrow’s high temperature—about  35 degrees.  Fall is definitely in the air along the Montana Bale Trail.

Here in central Montana, big game season means the opportunity to bag yourself a whitetail deer, . . . → Read More: Big Game Hunting Opens Tomorrow]]> Today, Friday, October 21^st  Main Street of our serene little village was alive with hunters heading into the mountains.  Since big game season opens tomorrow morning, at one hour before sunrise, hopeful hunters are flocking to the hills.

Here in central Montana, big game season means the opportunity to bag yourself a whitetail deer, a mule deer, a trophy bull elk, a mountain lion, a wolf or maybe even a moose (although rare we do have ‘em).

Antelope season has been open for a couple of weeks as has the season for pheasant and upland birds—grouse, etc.  Many successful local hunters as well as some from out of state.

Late this afternoon, Main Street looked like 5^th Avenue in New York City—without the yellow cabs.  The street was full of vehicles of all descriptions:  pickups, campers, RV’s of every size, horse trailers, four-wheelers, motorcycles, and hundreds of trailers.  All heading out for the Little Belt Mountains with high hopes of filling their freezers.

Tonight, stories will be told around the campfires,  life-long memories will be made, many beverages will be consumed and, co-incidentally, some game animals will be taken tomorrow and Sunday.

Best wishes for good hunting from the folks along the Montana Bale Trail.

Nice buck taken in Central Montana

Cattle, particularly young calves born last spring, are now being shipped to feedlots around the country.  Hunters are gearing up in anticipation . . . → Read More: Beautiful October 18th on the Trail]]> After a frosty (25 degrees) night, the sun rose to brilliant blue skies, perfectly calm conditions and a very nice day to finish the last minute outdoor chores before winter sets in.

Cattle, particularly young calves born last spring, are now being shipped to feedlots around the country.  Hunters are gearing up in anticipation of the big game season which opens Saturday, the 22^nd. 

Antelope hunters and some bird hunters (pheasant, grouse) have already been in the field and successfully filled their quotas.  While temperatures cool, and the nights get longer, it’s nice to remember the warmer days like the one pictured below.

Have a great week and good huntin’!

Most people have completed their absolutely “must do” fall chores—draining the irrigation . . . → Read More: Fall Storm Along the Trail (Friday, October 14)]]> October is nearly half over, and while the weather has been relatively mild (at least for Montana), that seems to be changing this weekend.  Predictions are for hard frosts (25 degrees the next couple of nights) and possible snow by Saturday night.

Most people have completed their absolutely “must do” fall chores—draining the irrigation systems, cleaning out the last of the abundant garden crops, moving the cattle to their winter pastures.

Only one football game left, and with the World Series only a week away summer must really be over.  Big game hunting begins very shortly and hunters are anxiously awaiting the first big snow to push the “trophies” out of the high country.

From the feel of the air and the look of the clouds, they shouldn’t have long to wait.  Winter’s comin’ to the Bale Trail!

Low lying clouds in the Little Belt Mountains west of the Bale Trail

The latest possible Harvest Moon is on October 11th which just happens to be last night.  Often, the . . . → Read More: Harvest Moon Along the Trail]]> The Harvest Moon, which appeared last night (Tuesday) is the full moon which occurs closest to the autumnal equinox.  All full moons rise around the time of sunset, so last night’s moon appeared about 6:15 pm.

The latest possible Harvest Moon is on October 11^th which just happens to be last night.  Often, the Harvest Moon appears to be bigger or more colorful than the other full moons.  The warm orangish-red color of the Moon shortly after it rises is caused by light from the Moon passing through a greater amount of atmospheric particles than when the Moon is overhead. 

The atmosphere of the earth scatters the bluish component of moonlight, but allows the reddish component of the light to travel directly to your eye.  Therefore, all celestial bodies look reddish when they are low in the sky.

The Moon appears larger in size because the brain perceives a low-hanging moon to be one that is larger than one that is high in the sky.  This is known as a Moon illusion, and it can be seen with any full moon.

The Harvest Moon is also known as the “Blue Corn Moon,” and the “Elk Call Moon.”

These two isolated mountain ranges helped to create what is referred to as the Judith Basin.  A large, fertile, productive plain surrounded by . . . → Read More: First Snow of the Season]]> Early October and the first snow has arrived in the high country.  As predicted, snow fell in elevations above 6,500 feet in the Little Belt and Snowy Mountain Ranges overnight Saturday.

These two isolated mountain ranges helped to create what is referred to as the Judith Basin.  A large, fertile, productive plain surrounded by majestic, timbered mountains and crossed by the Judith River.

Early fall also brings harvest dinners and an outpouring of thanks for a bountiful harvest.  The annual Sacred Heart Catholic Church fall dinner—delicious, moist, juicy turkey with all the home-made trimmings was held today in the Hobson Multi-purpose room, and, as usual, was home to a full house.

In the photo below you can see the first snows of the season up at Crystal Lake in the Snowy Mountains about 20 miles east of the Montana Bale Trail.  Throw another log on the fire, a chilly night is comin’.

Snow in the high country

Heavy gray clouds obscure the Montana Big Sky today and much needed rain began falling a couple of hours ago.  In a rather . . . → Read More: Fall Comes to the Trail]]> After weeks of warm (even hot) late summer weather, fall has arrived.  As predicted, the temperatures have fallen from near 90 degrees on Monday to a high today (Thursday) of 55. 

Heavy gray clouds obscure the Montana Big Sky today and much needed rain began falling a couple of hours ago.  In a rather cruel twist of fate, this summer turned out much drier and warmer than normal.  After weeks of torrential rains and unbelievable flooding during the spring and early summer months, when the rains quit—they really quit!

Very little significant moisture since the end of June, making the seeding of winter wheat kind of a gamble.  Many farmers, like the one shown below, took that risk and began putting seeds into the ground a couple of weeks ago.  The long awaited rainfall, which began to today and is expected to last for a couple of days, is a welcome sight for farmers and ranchers. 

With snow predicted in the high country tonight, the change in the weather pattern brings smiles to big game hunters, skiers, and snowmobile enthusiasts.  Time to say goodbye to summer along the Trail.

Hoping for the best -- seeding winter wheat in the Judith Basin

With the constant struggle between warm and cold air masses over Montana, unusual and magnificent cloud formations and . . . → Read More: Shifting Weather Patterns Along the Trail]]> Typical Indian Summer weather along the Montana Bale Trail. Beautiful blue skies and 86 degrees yesterday(Monday), overcast and 70 degrees today, and snow possible by Friday night with a high temperature of 55. Fall is coming!

With the constant struggle between warm and cold air masses over Montana, unusual and magnificent cloud formations and interesting lighting effects often occur this time of the year.

Below is a picture taken along the Bale Trail as what appears to be a column of sunshine peeks through some dark storm clouds. If you happen to be in our area keep a close eye out for similar awe-inspiring views.

"May the light be with you"

The chapter members had marked off a portion of the . . . → Read More: Homecoming Along the Trail—Part 4]]>

One of the most unique, and most say weird, events of the Homecoming festivities occurred after the parade and before the volleyball game.  Sponsored as a fund raising project for our local FFA chapter, Livestock Bingo was held at the old football field.

The chapter members had marked off a portion of the practice field into a giant bingo card and then sold the squares to people willing to watch an animal defecate (hopefully, in their chosen square).

Traditionally, this event uses a cow or steer of some sort and is referred to as “Bovine Bingo.”  This year, however, in a quirky change of pace, the animal chosen to be the star attraction was a pot bellied pig named “Molly.”

In an attempt to induce Molly to “do her duty” a little more quickly and in front of hundreds of adoring fans, she was given a light lunch—scraps left from the sack lunches prepared for the students who had built floats earlier that Friday.  Unfortunately, the lunches contained ham sandwiches, which seemed, to some, a little inappropriate.

Despite the heat, the noise, and the constant urging, Molly finally succeeded at her task and the lucky winner walked away with a nice cash prize. 

Thanks to the FFA, all the folks who paid to watch a pig “poop,” and to the Stevenson family for the loan of the lovely Molly—a fine specimen indeed.

For you volleyball enthusiasts, the Mighty Tri-City Titans broke the Lady Broncs of Melstone by scores of 25-15; 25-20; 14-25; 25-19.  Good Job Lady Titans!