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Location: Maudlow, MT -  Northern Bridger Range, Sixteen Mile Creek

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May 11th, 2024 12:35 am

I was extremely excited, and pleasantly surprised to see how many people were able to get out and see this last absolutely unbelievable display of the northern lights! Not only here in Montana but all over North America and the world, it was a sight to behold! 

I follow several Aurora Borealis websites to keep an eye on when there are possible chances for a flare up to go out and take some photos. And, along with the excitement of everyone else, it seemed like this was going to be a big one.

I loaded up the camper and all my gear to head north, trying to find a good location that would give me the best possibility of seeing the Northern Lights again, not only from absence of city lights, but also the absence of people and wandering car lights. With a little due-diligence and studying of my trusted-heavily-marked-on and-falling apart Montana Gazetteer maps, I was able to find just what I was looking for out at at the old Maudlow Schoolhouse on 16 Mile Creek. The intact though decrepit school house from 1909 still has the old teeter totters, swings, and basketball hoops still up in the playground. It is such a beautiful place in time, that you can almost hear the children still laughing and playing in the distance. 

With no cell service, and no one else around, I could hear the roaring spring waters of 16 mile Creek in the distance as I sat and watched the mind blowing dance of colors throughout the night. It was such an amazing experience, that I really had a hard time keeping myself focused on just taking photos, and ended up just laying down in the grass and watching the dancing show for the rest of the night into the early morning before crawling back in the camper for a couple hours of sleep.

 
"Hoop Dreams Under the Stars" -  Maudlow, MT

"School District 91" Maudlow, MT

MacKenzie River Pizza in downtown Bozeman recently completed a 3 month long remodel on its original downtown location. The new look turned out great! Was able to put up a updated display with all pieces on location available for sale...

 "Learning Patience" Smith River 90"x30" Canvas

I am very grateful to the original owners of MacKenzie River Pizza, Christin Cooper,  Mark Tache, Don MacKenzie and the subsequent franchising through Glacier Restaurant Group in Whitefish. (The restaurant is now in 29 locations across Montana, Idaho, Washington, North Dakota, South Dakota, Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky and Nevada)

Mark & Christin purchased one of my first large pieces of "Wheat Lines" , a custom hand tinted black duo-tone print of the Bridger Range, for the Bozeman restaurant from my gallery in the Emerson Cultural Center back in 2003.  I have been working with them ever since, and am extremely grateful for their continued business over the last 20 years!

Be sure to swing in to the newly remodeled downtown Bozeman location (and the new Belgrade location) next time you are in town!

 "Wheat Lines" Bridger Range from Three Forks - 2001