As our main focus point with the original Corps of Discovery, we choose the Marias River. Over the next 5 years we will be developing ideas, lesson plans, evaluations, and more about our territory.
(These panoramic views may be big files - please be patient)
The Marias River is made up of three branches, the Two Medicine River, Badger Creek (or crik as we say in Montana), and Birch Creek. It flows south-southeast through north central Montana approximately 100 miles until it joins with the Missouri River near Fort Benton.
Panorama view of Birch Creek. 3/3/00 4:35 PM (jm)
The panorama starts east to south to west to north and back to east.
Conditions were cool (45 degrees approx.), light southwest wind (<5 mph), mostly cloudy sky.
No green vegetation visable, tall dried prairie grasses, wet earth smells although it wasn't muddy near the road, faint grass mold smell, old cattle dung smell, no *man-made*smells.
You could hear the water moving under the ice, and the wind in the dried grass stems.
Panorama of Two Medicine River below the convergence with Badger Creek. 3/3/00 5:05 pm (jm)
Panorama starts southeast to south to west to north to east.
Conditions were cool (45 degrees approx.), light southwest wind (<5 mph), mostly cloudy sky.
No green vegetation visable, prairie grasses, earthy smells, fresh cattle dung smell, faint petro-chemical smell from the oil dericks nearby.
You could hear the water running under the ice, cattle lowing, a pickup truck (it was feeding the cattle on other side of river) and the wind in the dried grass stems.
Decision Point 3/3/00 8:15 am (pb)
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Sounds: Gurggling water, moving water, geese honking, peaceful
Description: serene, magestic temp was about 40 degrees (just a guess, but I had shorts & a jacket on & was ok). No wind!
Wildlife: 3 whitetail deer, geese, Blue Herons or cranes ( I wasn't close enough to tell for sure)
Plantlife: Cactus, yucca plants, general prairie grass, and sagebrush, I also noticed lost of quartz type rocks on the ground
Panorama view of Birch Creek. 4/8/00 2:25 PM (jm)
The panorama starts east to south to west to north and back to east.
Conditions were 50-60 degrees approx., southwest wind (20-25 mph), clear sky.
Low water flow, no snow or mud, green grass on road side. You can hear water gurgling, wind in the dry grasses. Water is clear (low turbidity), there is a hawk flying and pigeons nesting in the oposite bank by bridge. There are angus cattle on the hill.
Panorama of Two Medicine River below the convergence with Badger Creek. 4/8/00 2:50 pm (jm)
Panorama starts east to south to west to north to east.
Conditions were 50-60 degrees, light southwest wind (5-10 mph), clear sky.
You could hear the water running, cattle lowing, and the wind in the dried grass stems. There was hawk in the sky, a bed of red rosehips down the embankment, green and brown grass visible, and a newly open gopher hole by the tripod. The river was moderately flowing with some silt run-off.
Rosehips on Two Medicine
Newly opened gopher hole
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