Window of opportunity.

In the same way that the onset of summer spurs a frenzy of activity, so too does the end of summer -- but for different reasons.

(Old Baldy, Sept. 2, 2012)

In June motivation is high because opportunities seem unlimited. In September they are high because the window of opportunity for getting things done seems to be constricting visibly.

(Cabinet Mountains, Sept. 3, 2012)

We drove down the Bull River Valley on Monday and leaves were changing. In town it's in the 30s at night. Darkness increases at the rate of nearly 4 minutes a day, meaning each week has almost a half-hour less of light than the week before.

(Logan State Park, Sept. 2, 2012)

June's to-do list sits mostly unchecked, the weeks since then filled with tasks of opportunity and convenience. What happened to those plans to climb the Pintlars, bike the Flathead, and do 1,000 pushups in an hour?

(Old Baldy, Sept. 2, 2012)

So Labor Day marks not the end of summer but the realization that there is five, maybe seven weeks of decent weather and light. Go!

(Elk Meadows, Sept. 1, 2012)

Long weekends require a long bath:

Parting shot: Ross Creek Cedar Forest: