Scenic Drive on SR 141 through Helmville to Avon

Taking a scenic drive from Lincoln west on SR 200 to SR 141 where we headed south to the intersection with US 12 where we headed east back into Helena.

July 28, 2007.

We are staying in Lincoln Road RV-Park Helena, MT less than a mile west of I-15 at exit 200. Lincoln Road RV-Park is about 10-miles north of downtown Helena but in a very good position to access everything in the area. $25.04 with Good Sam discount plus-taxes for FHU in nice gravel pull thru sites with some shade. Free wifi was available but no cable TV.

After visiting the town of Lincoln and the Hi-Country Trading Post we continued west on SR 200 for another 20-miles until we finally turned south on SR 141.

Once turning south on SR 141 we were following a well watered valley that was producing prodigious amounts of hay. It is a really beautiful valley, pastoral in every aspect.

It seems like everyone has baled hay at the same time and not had time to get it out of the fields yet.

Mike, a virtual friend that lives near here wrote to provide more information about this picture:

" The rancher that owns this land is taking part in an experimental program to control weeds using sheep. Every summer, they bring about 700 sheep from Choteau and they feed on the weeds on the opposite side of the road from the picture. The sheep *really* blend into the landscape and I know a lot of people drive by them and never see them. I don't know if they were near the road the day you drove by. They actually have a couple shepherds ( along with 2 or 3 *big* dogs) that watch over the sheep - they have a tiny trailer that they tow around to be in the vicinity of the sheep".

Thanks to Mike we have this added information.

We totally missed the sheep. Like he said they blended into the landscape or we were just blind. VBG

Ok, here is a field that has not yet been cut.

This is an odd sight, a pasture full of sheep. This field looks ready to be mowed and baled yet it is full of these sheep. We wonder if this isn't an accident.

A reader that lives near here "Mike" wrote to tell me that the sheep are the pet project of the ranchers wife. He sold off his cattle a few years ago but she still has about 80 sheep. It actually costs more to get a sheep shorn than you can sell the wool for. The field they were/are grazing on is just about out of grass. He is about the only rancher in the valley that still bales the small 90lb bales - everyone else uses big rounds or big squares that weigh close to a ton.

I am not sure they are planning on picking up this hay.

Large bales of hay are everywhere.

If this valley were to be named today I think it would have to receive the moniker of "Hay Valley".

Then for a moment the road veers away from that well watered valley and presents us with this dry rangeland. Actually, this is what Montana looks like where irrigation is not available.