Hiking Great Falls Dams

We were curious every time we went to Great Falls, where the great falls were.  We seen the one set in town but they were not that impressive so we went on a search for them, someone said they are a little ways out of town but no one really knew.  So to Google it was.  Apparently there are 5 sets of falls within 20 miles and that's too much for ships to travel over so they did what any town with falls would do....build dams.  5 of them, one on each set of falls.  That's why its called the Electric City, who knew?  They were old, I was amazed how old some of those dams are, started in 1897 the oldest one and I think the last one was completed in the 30s.  I feel like we went on a history lesson lol.  But it was way more fun than school ever was.  There was developed trails to all the dams and nice signs so we went and toured them, Friday night we headed out to Ryan's Dam first cause it was the first sign we saw, even though its was 4th from town.  Its the first falls that Lewis and Clark saw on their journey

(Neil looking at the dam)

(Pretty neat how they built them on top of the falls

 so they get more drop with less build 

the river drops 550 feet over the 20 miles)

(a big tree)

(bridge to Ryan's Island...only open in the summer)

(more bridge)

(a nice lady offered to take our picture together)

(another view of the dam)

(the leaves were so pretty and so Maple like lol felt like at home)

We looked at the dam and then there was a cool walking trail we took, so much more interesting than just looking at something.  I was impressed how much Neil was into hiking on these trails with me, we decided one day we are gonna go back and do the whole trail or maybe even participate in one of thier walk/runs they do throughout the year.   Lots to see on the trail, including a rattlesnake, that was kinda a surprise, he coiled up and hissed at us...we walked around him.

(The trail sign)

(neat maps showing where all the trails and tourist lookouts are)

(Neil checking out the stone house)

(view down river)

(this tree didn't look very big till we were close to it)

(neat jutting out rock)

(Box Canyon releases into that grassy area when it rains lots)

(cool holes in the stones)

(water tower for those living by the dam)

(Ryan's Island from above, its too bad it was closed looked really nice and manicured)

(Neil at the edge of the cliff)

(the Dam from above)

(neat set of falls)

(Me on a cliff)

(Neil wondering why I am making him pose so much lol)

(Me on a rock)

(And I called Neil as he was walking through the gate)

After that there was still a little daylight and it was warm out so we headed out to the last dam of the 5, Morony Dam.  It is cool how all of them are built differently.  It got kinda dark before we left but we had to finish that part of the tour.

(the sign, I missed the one for Ryan's Dam)

(looking over it)

(the reservoir, I think it was the best reservoir we saw)

(The front of the dam from the side)

(the front farther away, it was the one we got the closest too)

On Sunday morning before we left, we headed out to see the other dams, they had to be driven to on the south side of the river.  First we stopped Rainbow at it is the second dam down, It was rebuilt a few years ago because it killed too many fish going through it, now it has a long canal and kills less than 5% of the fish that go through it.  Its kinda neat cause the falls are almost dry till the canal drops water back into the river.

(A railroad trestle)

(that we got to drive under :) )

(more signs)

(a list of all the falls and where they are)

(Lewis and |Clarks Portage trail)

(A view of the canal)

(the falls)

(still some water goes over)

(almost dry Missouri)

(a closer canal view)

(The whole front of the dam)

(A full river again)

Then we went to Black Eagle Dam which is right in town, but they have an island that you can walk around and so we did that too.  Not as nice as Ryan's Island but open.  Its the first in the string of dams.

(Monument where we were)

(info sign)

(How it all started)

The train bridge on the side)

(where the old hydro building was)

(Neil if front of the dam)

(more info signs)

(I loved this little fuzzy plant I so want one but we weren't allowed to take plants home)

(and its a good thing too cause its ugly when it grows its seed head)

(lots of flowing water)

(A Monarch landed right in front of us)

(Neil's choice to get his picture taken here)

(My pic in front of the water, I wish I'd pulled my shirt down, 

men don't notice these things)

(Statues on the hill far far away)

(Canada Geese follow us everywhere lol)

(and a Pelican fishing)

(The hydro building now, behind a not in the ground fence)

(I had to climb the dry falls)

(it was a lot easier going up than coming down)

The third dam in the row, Cochrane Dam had no road to it and it was a 4 mile hike there so we are waiting for next trip and we will walk the whole way down.

Weaver Sale

I have always wanted a Weaver Horse. Why?  I dunno.  Ever since I got into horses I have wanted them, they intrigued me being breeders for so long, well liked and good looking horses in pictures.  Well we were planning to go to Great Falls and so just on the off chance I mentioned to Neil we should go on the weekend so I could go to the horse sale, surprisingly he agreed!  He wanted to go during the week but somehow he was agreeable I was kinda surprised, well actually shocked!  But I wasn't gonna say anything just made it like it was no big deal.

We went down on Friday morning and Neil had a package at the border storage place so we picked it up and then on the way.  I got him to book in one of the hotels from the sale and so we got a good deal on them as well.  I think 144 for 2 nights thought that was a good deal!  Anyways sale started at 1 on Saturday so we headed down about noon and had a look around.  Am even more impressed how identical the colts are.  Amazing how 70 head of foals can be so similar, that is not an easy feat, that's what we aim for in our cattle too but there are always a few groups of different sizes.

(My pick, Weavers Busy Girl, sold for 4000)

(Neil's Pick, TS Strawberry Shaker sold for 2600)

(High Seller, TS Shakers Dashing for 8750)

(another of my picks,  Weavers Busy Miss, 7750)

(another on my list, lot 11, Weavers Genuine Kat, sold for 2000, they also sold the mare who is out of high brow cat for 5500, 15 years old and bred the same way)

(not on my list but this mare, Weavers Rodeo Cowgirl sold for 5000

 and her filly sold for 2500, I just love how the foal looks exactly like the mare, 

we know how shes gonna look full grown.

(Another not on my list but this little buckskin Filly was pretty nice, 

she sold for 1600, Weavers Royal Leigh)

(this cold, Weavers Smooth Light, again not on my list but he was such a 

pretty dark chestnut color and shiney really nice, he sold for 1900)

(and another not on my list I really liked, He was Weavers Cowboy Doc, 

sold for 1500, I also really liked the mare, 

Docs Ooh La, a daughter of Docs Sug, she was nice she sold for 2500)

(This is the broodmare I liked, shes broke, super quiet, 14, 

and she turrned up open she sold for 2700, sure was hard to sit on my hands,

 her colt Weaver Star Gem was pretty nice too, he sold for 2100.)

(this 2 year old from Treasure State, TS Sparkley Perks, she really impressed me, first shes pretty that never hurts and they got off a horse in the ring grabbed her, saddled her behind the announcers booth and then climbed on her and rode in the ring, so fuss, so warming up just go to work.  I coulda taken her home in a second as well, she sold for 3750, a bargain for how quiet she was)

  Lot 7 another buckskin filly, Weavers Pretty MsGem, was on my list and I never got her pic, she sold for 2900.  I also liked lot 54,  Weavers Josie Lena, she sold for 1100 I think cause she was small, but I like small not a issue here. They sold her Mom, Josie San Freckles for 5500, bred the same way, it amazed me broodmares were selling so high.  I think lot 48, Weavers Star N Boon was the buy of the sale, a plain colored sorrel colt but pretty sold for 1200 no idea why I liked him.  Also on my list but no pics were number 42, Weavers Star Peppy, a red roan filly she sold for 1500.  And lot 73 Weavers French Call, and I have no price written down for her Im not sure she was there I dont see her on the sale order list.

Neil stayed for a bit of the sale he got bored after about half hour and left to go to the sports store across the street then have a nap in the hotel room.  Neil likes the roans, specially the red roans, he really liked 98 one of the Treasure State horses.  My favorite horse of the sale was lot 1, she sold for 4000 little more than I wanna spend but she was nice.  There were a few others I really liked and they were in the 12-1400 price range and that is manageable.  Good.  I was not even sure what they would sell for but I am happy with those prices.  They sell with the Treasure State Quarter Horses and they are mostly barrel horses but they have some really nice horses and they seemed super quiet in there, some even sleeping as they were waiting to go in the ring.  They had the high selling Weanling at 8750.  He was pretty nice, I think they must be using him as a stud prospect but take a bit to earn that money back out of him.

I had made a list of horses I liked before I went and haha of course forgot it at home.  But wrote all the prices down so I could check when i got home who they were.  And I liked one broodmare and she was broke and I really liked her but I thought it was too bad she was bred back and then at the sale they said she was open, was pretty hard to sit on my hands for that one!  All in all a good day, I am even more interested in getting one now, I am in the progress of making a long term plan of horses it needs a little outside help but Im working on something.

Jessie :)

I been riding and after I ride I feed Jess and let her graze for a bit, it works really well since shes been by herself all summer so no rush to get back to her buddies.  Since I been sitting out there waiting I took some pictures.  Seems like a lot of pics, but I have cut down a lot these are my favorites.

Visitor

We had this guy visit our yard.  I walked out towards my truck and it looked like the grass was moving and something big was there, never thought much of it probly the cat.  And then next thing I knew he was sitting on the fence post.  Weird to see them on the ground he musta had a mouse or gopher or maybe even a snake, but whatever he wasn't too worried about me from across the yard and so I got my camera and got a pic of him watching me.