Hauser Dam on Saturday

Last Saturday, we loaded up to head to Gate to the Mountains.  Planning on doing a little hiking.  However, once we got there, unless we had a boat, there was no way to see the "Gates".  A little check on the old cell phones and we decided to drive over to Hauser Dam.  (I have this thing about dams.)

To get to this dam, it was a drive down a very narrow, gravel road with a drop off to the lake on one side.  However, I do know several places to go fishing now when I get me some fly fishing equipment. This area is definitely not a cane pole and worm fishing area.

Gibbs, Texter, Lady K and I walked down a trail from the top of the dam to the bottom and then along the river a bit.  As usual, the scenery was remarkable.

We had tall cliffs on one side and the river on the other.  Unfortunately, once we got down by the river, the rocks made walking a little treacherous.  And I am too busy taking in the scenery, flowers and wildlife to really pay much attention to where my feet go.

Wild flowers, butterflies and birds made the walk enjoyable.  My new favorite bird are the magpies.  This couple were on the other side of a fence dividing the trail at one point from part of the dam area.  They weren't really concerned we were walking right up to them.  And while there is not the white honeysuckle I am use to, there seems to be this smaller, pink honeysuckle.  Of course, nothing compares to the lilacs which are everywhere.

Gibbs decided to do a little rock climbing.  Texter and Lady K sat that exercise out.

Despite being carried the whole time, the little hiking we did tired Lady K out.  And the back pack carrier she was in was making both her and Texter a little hot.  So Gibbs took up 'toting' duty.  Unfortunately, Gibbs wouldn't carry me across the dam.  I don't like heights and just stared straight across and walked fast.  I did stop long enough to photograph the lake behind the dam.

How could you not want to spend the day on the lake with this kind of scenery?

After our little hike at Hauser Dam, we piled back in the car and drove down Recreation Road to Wolf Creek.  This winding road parallels I15 to Great Falls for a ways.  It runs along the creeks and is also some wonderful scenery.  I plan on going back one day and stopping along the way to take pictures of the creek.  

Lunch was eaten in Wolf Creek at this little hole-in-the-wall cafe/bar.  Pretty decent hamburgers and fries.  Overall a nice day before heading home to mow the yard.  

I'll Be "Dam'ed"

Because of the falls in this area (hence the name, Great Falls), there are four dams.  I had seen Black Eagle Dam and walked around there.  I tried to see Rainbow Dam, but you can't see anything from the side of the river I was on.  You have to go to the far side and view it face on as it is in a bend in the river.

With Saturday being nice weather (50's and windy, but mostly sunny), Texter and I decided to do a little hiking and try out the new baby pack we got for Lady K. 

It works pretty well.  Will work better when Lady K is a little larger, but we have a baby insert coming next week.  So after a walk around the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center, we decided to check out the dams in the area.

First, was Rainbow Dam which I had not been able to see the first time around and was only a hop away from where we were. 

Rainbow Dam

One of the falls on Rainbow Dam

Rainbow Dam was named, it seems, by the colors of the rocks in the falls.  And the look downriver is impressive with how the Missouri twists and turns.

Then we made the drive out to Ryan Dam.  I thought that was the only one left and didn't realize there was a fourth dam, Morony Dam.  They are both outside of town about 10 miles, but well worth the drive.  Texter, on the other hand, was less than impressed by the road to "no where" which was a little bumpy and very twisty at times.

The next dam in order of placement on the Missouri is Ryan Dam.  

Ryan Dam

Falls on Ryan Dam

Bridge over to Ryan Island

Ryan Dam is impressive with several cascades after the dam itself.  What is intriguing is the "island" you can walk over to and view the falls and dam better.  However, it does not open until Mother's Day, so this is a definite revisit when I come back from North Carolina.

The fourth dam is Morony Dam and it is probably the tallest.  You can wind down the road to the river below the dam and while we were there, several people were there fishing.

Morony Dam

View downriver from Morony Dam

At Morony Dam you can hike two trails, the South Shore and the North Shore Trails.  I will have to do some research and check them out.  They might be good trails to work up to tougher  trails.

All in all, it was a great Saturday.  Now Sunday will be spend indoors, knitting and sewing, as we are expecting snow.  Go figure!