The always gorgeous Swan River! (Keith Hammer photos)
Nine Swan Rangers hiked The Nature Conservancy's Swan River Oxbow Preserve on a sunny Saturday, September 10, 2016!
The Preserve is open to the public for foot travel and lies between the Swan River Wildlife Refuge and Porcupine Road, just south of the town of Swan Lake.
It was a beautiful Fall morning, cold and wet with dew, with time to pause and consider who should go first and get the wettest pantlegs!
Early morning wetland!
A flock of chickadees were feeding on these Douglas fir cones while a couple other birds perched in the morning sun!
It was a bluebird sort of day but, what kind are these birds?
This mushroom was just sitting there, like a bump on a cottonwood log!
This old, fallen-down cottonwood tree just refuses to give up and is resprouting!
These Swan Rangers also refuse to give up, still smiling after a flatlander hike with an elevation gain of some ten feet!
The Swan Rangers meet every Saturday at the Echo Lake Cafe for breakfast at 7:30, leaving at 8:30 for a partial day outing in the northern Swan Mountains and foothills.
They carpool from the Swan River School parking lot next to the Cafe.
When hiking in bear country, remember to carry bear spray and avoid the 3-D's: dawn, dusk, and darkness.
Everyone is welcome!