Tues, 7/26 - Palisades Falls, MT

Tuesday morning, we fired up Tergel (and Smartie) for a trip to Bozeman, approx 30 miles west on I-90. We had an appointment at Jonny's Repair Shop, to see if he could fix our front Jensen television so we could hear it. For an unknown reason, upon our return to the Seattle area from Alaska in mid-June, the TV sound ceased coming thru the surround-sound, and we could barely hear sounds thru the television speakers. Jensen was no help. Winnebago was no help. Jonny seemed doubtful, but he said he'd do what he could, and he'd get back with us. Well, we said later, phooey on the stupid television. We don't watch much television, tho it would be nice to have sound if there was something we wanted to see.

We gather lots of things-to-do info when we get to an area where we'll be staying, so much that our RV begins to look the visitor center! We knew from Bozeman brochures that several fine hikes and beautiful falls just south of Bozeman can be reached from Hyalite Canyon Rd. We parked Tergel and off we went in Smartie to take our minds off a depressing thing like an almost-new TV that doesn't work properly. Of course, this canyon road is an uphill climb for car and people. When we came to a fork in the gravel road, we veered toward Palisades Falls, on the Hyalite Creek Trail. Good choice!

Outstanding Palisades Falls.

 Jimmy, resting, after climbing the talus slope!

 

Look at the amazing columnar basalt on either side of the waterfall.

 

Rippled from a former waterfall?

Delicate yellow mountain columbine (lots up here).

 

A simple lunch at scenic Hyalite Lake, watching Goldeneye ducks diving for their own snacks and a bald eagle eyeing the water for fish.

We were surprised to find a paved path, that - though steadily uphill @ 7400' - is accessible to most. We saw a couple of very pregnant ladies and several baby strollers making the grade. Less than a mile later, we could hear the falls before we saw them - and when we caught a glimpse thru the trees, we knew we were in for a real show. The falls is made all the more spectacular surrounded by a crescent of basalt columns. Throw in strata or piles of conglomerate rocks that look oddly out-of-place and it's geologically fascinating, at least to me. We climbed up the talus to the base of the falls and gingerly made our way down, taking a few photos for ourselves and for others - "Will you take a picture of us?" Jimmy always obliges.

We sat quietly on a beached log at the above lake, one of the more serene places we've had the privilege of seeing. The blue sky, snow-capped mtns, green conifers all reflected in the clear water... well, we forgot all about that dopey TV and just enjoyed our afternoon.