Tonight's Hike

Following today's middle school track meet, LR and I decided to do a quick evening hike to the windsock above the M. The weather could not make up its mind if it was going to rain, snow or just blow gusts of wind in our faces the whole way up. We found a few tent worms (I think that's what they are - below).We had first debated should we try to catch the tail end of the mother's day caddis hatch on the Bitterroot, or agree it was too late in the day and head up the hill at the U? Given the amount of wind, the choice became a simple one. I am supposed to be on R&R anyway, so I'm not sure if Mr. Chicken Wing would be up for casting woolly buggers into the wind if the dries were not working. We are itching to get the raft out as well before the big spring run off begins and I know the scapula will love that! The spring flowers are nervously poking their pedals forth. This morning the was a full frost on the lawn and as these photos were taken, it was snowing in the surrounding mountains while raining on us. The wind was full blast on top. I have not hiked up the front of Sentinel in a long time, preferring to ride up the back side normally. The trails are in pretty good shape with some newer ones on the north face. LR said he enjoyed leaning into the wind and having it catch and hold him up.I almost forgot about my friends, the ravens. We watched them darting about in the wind above the windsock. One we watched go into a full tuck and bomb down the north face as though to gain enough speed to plunge to the depths of the deepest pool in the Clark Fork below.