Ollala Wildflowers - April 26, 2025

 I timed the Leavenworth visit for the Stultz's and Strong's
to catch the balsam root at it's peak. We were not disappointed and the weather was perfect. It was an amazing transformation from two weeks prior.

Peter scrambled down to the upper pinnacles.

An after hike pizza celebration!

Leavenworth Family Weekend - April 2025

It is one of the greatest joys in having the Leavenworth house is gathering the kids and grand kids for a weekend of games, hikes, food and biking. This was one of those weekends.

Most of us took the short walk up the Ollala trail.

The blue bells were a colorful harbinger of Spring.

Heading back down

View from Glacier View trail on my Horseshoe Lake loop hike.

I encountered Emily and Bode who were mountain biking while I was hiking.

 

Aurora Borealis, Saariskella Finland - April 2, 2025

 It was beginning to look like we were not going to see the Northern Lights on this trip. But at 3:00 AM, on the morning of our departure for home, we received notification on our phone app that they were visible. We spent the next hour enjoying this wonderful, awe inspiring gift.

Inari Finland Reindeer Farm - March 31, 2025

 This wasn't a farm in the traditional sense. These herd roam free over thousands of square kilometers of  Federal Land. We were taken to where this herd was wintering in sleighs towed by snowmobiles. It was a fascinating experience.

Reindeer are slaughtered for their meat and hides primarily. There is a market in Asia for the antlers which are purported to be an aphrodisiac.

Petri Mattus is the herd owner. His family has herded reindeer for generations. He was the guide for this experience.

Albino reindeer

Petri explained how technology has changed herding with the use of snowmobiles, drones and even helicopters.

We crossed a wide frozen lake  to get to the herd and back.