I intended to spend a lot of time in Ennis, Montana, with a fly rod in my hand. Unfortunately, Mother Nature had other plans. Windy and rainy weather moved in and gave every trout in the Madison River a reprieve.
I did have one opportunity to fish on our first full day in Ennis. Rick and Debbie, the friends we met in Big Sky, drew a detailed map to one of Rick’s secret fishing spots on Bear Creek, near Cameron, Montana. With map in hand, Helen and I drove to Cameron and set out on a hike to the North Fork of Bear Creek. As soon as we walked past the Grizzly Bear warning sign, we realized we left the bear spray in our fifth-wheel and decided that we should turn back. Once again, the trout won.
On another day, with rain in the forecast, we drove to Virginia City, a trip I shared (click here) with readers earlier this week. The return from that visit is the subject of this post.
As we were eating an excellent lunch at the Road Agent’s Roost, a German restaurant in Virginia City, a storm moved in and dumped hail on the city for well over ten minutes. Fortunately, the hailstones were small and caused us no damage, but the stones covered the road and the roofs of every structure in sight.
We made it back to Ennis ahead of the storm, but we could see dark clouds moving up the canyon from the south. Eventually, the clouds circled us and began filtering into the valley from the north, moving toward the Ennis Mountain range. Only a moron would stand out in a lightning storm taking pictures, but the cloud formations and the colors of the sky were so strikingly unusual, I had to risk it.
Ultimately the storm moved on before I fell victim to it, but not before presenting us with a brilliant rainbow. We wanted more so; we waited, and, for a curtain call, we witnessed a sunset to remember. Fishing can wait…sunsets should not be missed.
Thanks for stopping by. Come back next week and join us in the unspeakable beauty of Glacier National Park.
We’re Easin’ Along.
Wow Joe. Just wow. Your pictures of this trip have been amazing…can’t wait to start making our own memories come October.
Good morning, Nancy,
So great to hear from you! We can’t wait for you to make some as well. We’re having an awesome time in Montana, leaving for Idaho today. Our trip is racing by. Please stay in touch! Joe
Storms sure do make for worthy photo-ops. Glad to hear the hail didn’t do any damage.
Good morning, Ingrid,
If the hailstones had been any larger than pea-size, we would have been in some deep manure. The storm was a beauty, and the rainbow lingered for us. Fun! Enjoy your time in Wisconsin. Have a Leinenkugel (Original) for me!
Joe, these are incredible photographs! There is nothing more beautiful than an incoming storm and you managed to capture all of it, including the rainbow and magnificent sunset. Well done and love the edits!!
Suzanne,
Coming from you, I take that as the highest of compliments. Thanks! The setting was awesome and the way the storm came over is in segments offered quite a bit of drama. Some clouds were very dark and others only gray. Big fun, although it took away my afternoon of fishing. I’ll get it back somewhere! Thanks for checking in! Joe
The Madison Valley is one of my most favorite places. Thanks for the beautiful photos. Sorry you did not get to fish though.
Good morning, Debbie,
We intended to fish where Rick sent us, but forgot bear spray…didn’t stay long. We really love the area and look forward to a return. Have a great weekend! Joe
We liked Ennis!! Loved the pics of the rainbow and the sunset!! Liked the pics you posted that looked like paintings!!! You are very good with the camera!!!
LuAnne,
I’m glad you liked them. Ennis has great subject matter for a budding photographer. The color cast off by the storm was something else. Joe
Well, you’ve truly outdone yourself this time, Joe. Your photos are gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous! Nature puts on the best show going, doesn’t she? And you’ve done her justice, that’s for sure. One of the most impressive storms I’ve ever seen was on the road from Cheyenne to Denver several decades ago. Those wide open vistas create an incredible backdrop for storms that we’ll never have here in the mountains of the east. Enjoy every minute of your explorations!
Hello, Mary,
Thanks so much for the nice comments. The Madison Valley was a great amphitheater for viewing a storm, and I was fortunate enough to be there. We have big storms in Tennessee, but no room to view them like we did in Ennis. Have a great weekend.
Some risks are well-worth taking. You photos are absolutely stunning. Thank you for sharing them with us.
Will you hate me forever if I say that I was happy that the trout won?
Good evening, Donna,
Goodness, no. When I do get to go fishing, I’m really there for the scenery and some peace. If I hook something, it’s almost a bother. Nevertheless, I had rather be in a trout stream than anywhere else I can think of, and Montana streams are staggeringly beautiful. Thanks for checking in. Have a great weekend. Joe
I so love that area. If time permits, fly fish Hebgen Lake for trolling trout. You are there at just the right time! We blogged about our experiences there in August 2011.
Follow our blog at https://DunnGone.wordpress.com
Hello, Donald,
We’ve moved on to Glacier NP then to Idaho. We’re coming back, so I’ll check it out. Thanks for visiting Easin’ Along. Joe
“Hebgen Lake – the Dam that Held.” I remember that phrase from our honeymoon 40 years ago. Wasn’t there a historical event related to an earthquake in the Madison Valley? Despite some structural damage, the dam never broke. I just might have to go look that up.
Good morning, Mary,
I’ll have to look it up as well since we plan to return next summer. Maybe Donald will give us the information. I love Easin’ Along readers and have made many online friends. Hope to meet them all someday. We’re in Washington now. Cool weather and lovely scenery. Thanks for stopping by. Joe
GA Joe,
Saw where you were heading to Glacier NP. Hopefully, you made it OK & spent a few days there? A couple of years ago, my wife & I flew into Calgary & stayed there for a week & then drove to Whitefish, MT for another week. What a great, Fall trip it was esp spending time at GNP, Whitefish, Kalispell & Missoula. One of the highlights for us was the Red Bus ride on the Going to the Sun Road in GNP. It was fantastic! Just thought I would let you know & hope GNP & the ride are open for you guys?
Safe & healthy travels!
Ron Ellis
Clemmons, NC
Hello Ron,
We had an amazing visit to GNP and were blessed to spend five days there. The busses did not run and Going to the Sun Road was closed within the Blackfeet Reservation. Nevertheless, there is plenty to see and, with no International visitors, the crowds were low and we could move around easily. Helen and I hiked every day and went into both Kalispell and Whitefish. We plan to come back next year and take in the parts we missed. I hope to get a post up about our experience in the next few days, so please come back. Joe
Amazing shots of a stormy sky, Joe! I bet the fish appreciated the reprieve 🙂 Were you able to get the permit to enter Yosemite? While we visited Mammoth Lakes last weekend, we drove the 45 minutes up the Hwy 120 to Tioga Pass entrance. Believe me, they monitor every vehicle. We parked and stepped out to walk in the nearby meadow, so I actually stepped foot into the park (my 26th time). I will share more about all that in September when my blogging break ends! Safe travels!
Terri,
We have been so busy that I forgot all about the permit to Yosemite so,
THANK YOU
for reminding me. I will get on that today. We are fearful that California will shut down completely before we get there late next week. We are having a wonderful trip and I am looking forward to traveling down the Oregon and California Coast. Time is zipping by. I look forward to your return. Hope the move is going well. Thanks for checking in! Joe
Love “Eason’ Along! Your pictures are PHENOMENAL! Thanks for letting us tag along, wonderful trips…
Hello, Gale,
We love having you with us! Thanks for the kind comments. Say “hi” to Mike and stay safe out there. Joe