Kirk Hill Hike, SW MT (outside of Bozeman)

[mdcesq]

Went for a quick, two-mile hike near Hyalite Creek with the family yesterday.  It was a fairly easy hike, and resulted in some nice views from the top.  We didn't see any wildlife to speak of (except birds and insects).  But in these parts, not seeing certain wildlife is actually a good thing (yes, my son brought bear spray).   






































There's another mile or so long loop you can add to this hike.  Might check it out soon.  Thank you for viewing our hike. 

[Eric H]

Cool

[sasquatch]

Beautiful country.

[xjchad]

Gorgeous, I love it up there!

[mdcesq]

Yes, very beautiful - definitely need to do this hike again.  Hopefully I will encounter some wildlife worth photographing (just anything but bear, please). 

[Latimeria]

Beautiful country indeed!  It's been a long time since I was in Montana, but miss all that killer scenery (and fishing and fossil hunting...lol)

Great pics and post Mike!

[mdcesq]

Thanks Tom. 

That's one of the things I need to do - some fossil hunting.

My son bought a couple pieces of petrified wood, and I know there's a ton of it here, but I'll have to read up on the legality of removing it, etc. (I guess a lot depends on where you are, i.e., in a national park, or somewhere else).

[Pinoyfisher]

Bear spray?! Does that even work?!!

[mdcesq]

Bear spray?! Does that even work?!!

Ha, ha, I thought the same thing.  But my son read up on it, and apparently its better than having a gun in most circumstances.

Its basically the stuff they spray inmates with in the prisons - burns your eyes, your throat swells up, etc., and makes you want to get away.

Low caliber gun and you are likely just to piss off the bear, while it retains the physical capabilities to still attack you (see The Revenant).  High powered gun and you miss you might not get another shot.

If you miss with the bear spray (i.e. you don't spray it around the head, or you spray too early), you at least form a cloud of pepper stench in front of you that they don't want to enter.

Maybe best of both worlds is to have the spray and a gun.  Or just stay out of bear country.

I'm hoping I'll never have to test out any of these hypothesis.