montana

Here is Part 2 of my trip in the Wild West!

I am SO grateful to have held two collage workshops during my trip. One in Kalispell, Montana and one in Las Vegas, Nevada. Thanks to my friends, Amy and Erica for their support and helping me set them up. Both groups created their own Landscape Collages from images they personally selected. It is great to see everyone’s finished artwork, they are always unique to each individual.

Most of us find it hard to make the time for our creative sides. But when we do and open up to the experience, we realize it’s just what we needed. Thanks to everyone for coming out and exploring your creativity. So fun to see you all!

In Nevada, I also met up with my hiking buddies. The plan was to attempt Mt. Whitney, August 31st. To prepare we hit the trails…those are my friends Lori and Steve at the bottom of the pic. This is an area right outside of Las Vegas near Mt. Charleston.

As a group of 6 we started Mt. Whitney at 4:30 am on the 31st.

Mt. Whitney is located in California, and is the highest summit in the contiguous United States and the Sierra Nevada. My friend Steve comes here often and we all thanked him for leading the way to the summit. As a marathoner most of his life and now being 76 years old, he hasn’t slowed down. You can find him leading groups of hikers around the Las Vegas area (and as he would say) and beyond!

We stepped foot on the summit after climbing some steep sections. If you look in the picture above of Steve and I, directly above our heads is the route to the top. This is called the mountaineers route. Its shorter in miles but very tough in elevation.

We reached the summit at 11:30 am. It took about 7 hours to get there. Total – we hiked 14 miles that day with over 7,000 ft of elevation gain. We were all excited at the top. It was my second time being there and just as amazing. With these guys, we always celebrate with Fritos and yoga poses. Lol!

After the climb I had a few more days before heading back east. During a resting day I created this landscape collage inspired by the Nevada blue sky, mountains, and desert. The night before I headed back east I had a nice dinner with friends.

That’s all for pictures! Thanks for taking a look!

What I loved about this whole trip experience was that it involved so much creativity and inspiration. I am grateful for visiting friends and experiencing new adventures. I look forward to more.

Let me know if you have any questions about these hikes, Glacier National Park, the National Bison Range, or the North Fork Hostel. I would love to help if you plan to visit.

I would also love to hear about your trips or adventures this year, let me know in the comments section.

xo, Rebecca

Hello! I recently returned from a trip out west! I visited Montana, took a quick stop in California, & ended in Nevada. My trip was centered around great friends, nature, & art-making. I had a wonderful time. I want to share pictures from my travels but in two parts, cause I have so many pics! Here is Part 1 🙂

For the first few days of my trip I stayed in Polebridge at the North Fork Hostel click here to visit the website. It was a great place and I had a comfortable stay with a lot of great company. I met new friends and ventured out to Bowman Lake several times. (pictures below from the website)

Sitting on the porch chatting with new friends, and we were visited by a deer and her baby.

Bowman Lake was where I took my watercolors to paint. It is located in the North Fork area of Glacier and not commonly visited by most visitors to the park.

Below is a picture I took off the web of The Mercantile “The Merc” click here to visit The Merc website. I could walk from the hostel to the Merc and pick up coffee and a bear claw – this place is known for the pastries. It was also a gathering place where everyone stopped before heading out on their adventures.

One of my new friends named Rick had asked me how I had found the hostel. I said I had found it on the web and it looked very inviting. He said, “Well you found a gem, I have been coming here for 32 years with my sons, and now my grandson.”

A group of us went to visit Rick’s friend, Joseph C. Moore, an artist that lives right outside of Polebridge in his artist’s studio cabin. When we arrived we saw that he left a note on his door that he was out running an errand (he doesn’t have cell service, so he leaves notes lol). We walked around his property and I got to look into the windows of his studio to see some of his work. On the outside of his home he displays these faces that he makes with cement:

I later got to meet Joseph that same evening but didn’t have my camera on me to take a picture with him. He had a gray beard and rosy cheeks. His personality was bubbly and friendly, he leaned in when he spoke to me, and asked me several questions about my art and travels. He doesn’t have a website and his studio can be visited only through word of mouth. So unless you talk to the people in Polebridge and ask about him, you’d never know he was there. He invited me to revisit that next week so he could give me a tour but I had to say no cause I was leaving the following day.

The North Fork Hostel does exhibit a few of his paintings in the common area.

I wanted to share the picture I took of his view from the backside of his studio… ahhh-mazing:

My last evening at the hostel I shared pizza and beers at the Northern Lights Saloon about a mile walk from the hostel. There Rick’s son played the blues while his grandson break-danced:

The National Bison Range in Dixon, Montana, is about a 1.5 hour drive from Kalispell. The NBR is one of the oldest National Wildlife Refuges in the United States. I saw bears, antelope, an eagle, deer, mountain goats, and of course the bison herd…all on a 19 mile loop. Seriously this place was freakin’ cool. So much to see!

I was longing to hike in Glacier National Park. I didn’t have a hiking partner so I asked around for what trails were most populated and was told The Highline Trail. When in bear country I especially do not want to hike alone.

I got up early one morning and headed for the trail head but first stopped at the Apgar visitor’s center. I talked to a park ranger who suggested the Highline Trail was best for hiking alone and she made sure I had bear spray…yes I sure did lol!

I left and while heading for my car a young woman named Lisa approached me and asked if I would like a hiking buddy? She said, “I overheard you say you were hiking Highline, I am too, and I would rather not hike it by myself” HOW COOL IS THAT?! I was so grateful that Lisa joined me… here are pictures of our hike. In the one with my hands in the air, I am standing in front of the Grinnell Glacier!

BTW this same trail was closed a week after our hike due to bear activity! yikes!

Lake McDonald is a great hang out spot for relaxing or several water activities. And Amy and I visited the local farmer’s market in Colombia Falls – Beers, food, art, and bluegrass music!

More to come! Thank you for taking a look at Part 1… Part 2 coming soon!

Rebecca

Art & Hiking in the Wild West – Part 2

I’m Back! Art & Hiking in the Wild West – Part 1

rebeccamaloneyart