Winter Wallpaper #2010-x

THE "BOMBS" ARE RUNNING

 

(1600 x 1314- big)

In The Meantime

IN PURSUIT OF THE SUBLIME

More Than Just Pretty Pictures

not pointing & Shooting

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.. We are always amazed at the images shown on the Photo Site 1x.com. From straight and simple to complicated and contrived the images leap from our monitor. It's hard to escape once the browsing starts.
.. With 19 categories and hundreds of pages in each category there is enough to saturate the visual machinery of any of us. Periodically we imagine the sorts of images that could be made in our neighborhood. Would that we were talented enough to create & share them with you.

.. We find our self returning to the NATURE, LANDSCAPE, & EVERYDAY, pages most frequently. It's not an addiction yet, but the winter is a fine time to let the mind and soul wander.

.. The site is the work of a community of photographers from around the world. They have a vision and screen the images before publishing them on the website.

MONEY QUOTE:

1x is a photo community with a difference. Take the work of the most talented photobloggers, various famous photographers, and many serious amateurs, select their best work and collect it all in one place - that is 1x. Everyone is welcome to contribute, but every photo is screened, which means it has to be approved by an editor (screener) before being published. 1x is a photo gallery with a constantly evolving exhibition. We publish dozens of new images every day.

.. The founders wanted a site that was elegant, easy to navigate, & would demonstrate their search for the sublime. Click on over and see how they have fared.

.. This year their published book contains images from 205 artists In Pursuit Of The Sublime. The photobook is of the highest quality, as only those from Sweden know how to do it. It costs $79 (USD) and has been shipping for about one month. When the books are gone  - they are gone. To glimpse a view of the book and preview some images CLICK HERE.

 .. We're looking forward to our copy. We're also looking forward to the forthcoming primmer on how to use a point and shoot camera. It's been promised by Tom over at The Trout Underground.

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Not Quite Yet

It Seems Just Yesterday

Winter Peril

THE ICE COMETH

Neighbors Itchy

Grand Teton Too

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.. The brief cold snap last week has been enough to put a skim of ice in some places on Hebgen Lake - Jackson Lake too.
.. Quite a few of the neighbors use homemade lures for ice fishing on Hebgen Lake when the ice thickens up to the point of safety.

.. Many of the "lures" are flies in the traditional sense. We'll be reporting the wonderful array of these as the season progresses, (check HERE for a suggestive discussion.)
.. One new component to the winter mix is the regulation for Grand Teton National Park. There will be a provision for 25 Best Available Technology, (BAT,) snowmobiles to access Jackson Lake. BAT sleds are very clean and quiet 4-stroke sleds designed to comply with the Yellowstone National Park access regulations. They are touring sleds and required in Yellowstone.

.. Snowmobiles have been used on Hebgen Lake since they arrived on the scene and provide easy access to areas that are not available to wheeled vehicles, or are prohibitively distant for walking. Some of the local ice fishing fly patterns date to the early post-war, (WWII,) era.
.. The combination of early snowmobiles and other snowmachines with ice fishing developed in Canada and the upper Midwest at the same time. The practice has been entrenched in our local culture since the earliest days as well.

.. The current epicenter of motorized ice fishing access is the upper Midwest and Canada but, it's becoming more popular by the year in West Yellowstone.
.. The catch can include "SMOKERS" (very large Whitefish, to 6 - 7 pounds,) as well as both Rainbow and Brown trout of the same size.
.. Although not considered by many to be "Fly Fishing" the local tradition is certainly "Fishing With Flies." Some of the flies are old favorites, others have given rise to successful attractors when cast in running water. Many, interestingly, come from the reject pile that won't, (or didn't,) work in the streams of our neighborhood.
.. More to come.

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Pick Your Devil

GREENHOUSE GAS

Cow Farts

Al Gore

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.. Ignoramus, ostrich, liberal, conservative, reactionary, curmudgeon, rationalist, nationalist, politician, etc.: choose your position and blame the other.
.. Methane, carbon dioxide, CFC, fossil fuel, deforestation, nitrogen oxide, rice paddies, orbital wandering, natural cycle: all or something else is the cause.

.. Whatever the case, there is some sort of long-term climate change trend in Montana, (and elsewhere - we're told.) So what?
.. A note, yesterday, in the Billings Gazette  presents one bit of activity for "Conserving Montana's wildlife during climate change."

SOURCE

MONEY QUOTE:

Montana's average air temperature has increased 2.3 degrees Fahrenheit from 1951 through 2006, compared to a 1.25 degree increase for the entire United States. Our average winter snowpack has declined 17 percent over the same period, and spring rain has increased 5.9 percent. August precipitation has declined more than 20 percent in the 55-year period. Glacier National Park's storied glaciers are disappearing, with only 26 remaining of 150 that existed in 1850.

SOURCE

Reduced snowpack, more spring rain, lower streamflows and melting glaciers tell a story of environmental change that is beyond rational debate. People might argue about the cause, but the trends in air temperature, precipitation and recession of glaciers strongly suggest our state's climate is changing more rapidly and extremely than we predicted just 20 years ago.

These changes are forcing our big-game populations to adapt to changes in their forage base and shift migration patterns to accommodate the changing weather. Variations in water quality and quantity are transforming some of our native cutthroat trout rivers to smallmouth bass waters.

SOURCE

Wetland loss in the prairie pothole region in northeastern Montana could severely reduce waterfowl productivity in North America's duck-breeding “factory.” The loss of the insulation of prairie snow cover can kill young prairie grouse and pheasants in early spring when air temperatures are still low or freezing.

.. Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks is updating its comprehensive fish and wildlife conservation strategy to include adaptive measures to better protect and manage fish and wildlife across broad landscapes in a changing climate, using strategies presented in “Beyond Seasons' End,” and from the USFWS.
.. The newspaper article also paints a pretty bleak picture of the future for our native Bull Trout and Cutthroat Trout.

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.. The "SEASON'S END" website points to changes and actions that can be taken to address these times and conditions.
.. They have published a book about the happenings. Request the Free book HERE. They have also made the book available, (online PDF download, Give it time it's large and full of pretty pictures.)

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.. It's above zero by a degree or two and the snow flies are going to be dancing all day between the lakes at the Hebgen Tailwater. The snow is getting deep but the trail is keeping pace. Time for some bangers and mash.

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SOURCE

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Ever So Humble

HOME PLUG

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.. Snow is far easier to drive on than is black ice. We're home and there is still fishing to be done.
.. The trip was a brilliant success for the fish. We'll stick with our original plans next year. See you south coast folks in the spring.
.. A few of the neighborhood sports have reported giant whitefish and brown trout from the bits of open water available on Hebgen Reservoir. The Hebgen Tailwater is not too snowbound yet and the midge circus is in full flight.
.. The nice snowfall has provided the beginning of a base for the coming winter. Looks good, (but it's way early,) for this time of year. The neighborhood sledheads are getting a jump on the visitors.
.. We'll be enjoying a nap after some chores. More to follow.

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