Summer fun is here, but snow lingers at high elevations

Summertime is here, so camping, fishing and hiking season is in full swing.

Last week I was hiking at the 6,000- to 7,000-foot level and still encountered some 6-foot-deep snow drifts.

These drifts were on the shaded north slopes. So be advised that if you're hiking in the high country you will likely encounter occasional snowdrifts for another month.

Experienced mountain hikers know there can be a world of difference between valley weather and mountain weather. You always need to pack along a waterproof windbreaker, an extra sweater and warm hat for those unexpected mountain storms.

Boaters are reminded that every occupant of a boat must have a good personal flotation device. Children under 12 must wear their PFDs whenever they are on the water. It's also a good idea for all adults to wear their PFDs, especially while under way.

Most professional fishing tournaments require fishermen to wear their PFDs when motoring.

If you're not wearing your PFD, at least keep it stored where it can easily be reached in an emergency. I find it amazing that people will purchase an expensive boat, then cut corners on good safety equipment.

A few years ago my wife and I invested in good warm jackets with built-in PFDs. Once you get accustomed to that somewhat bulky jacket, wearing one becomes very acceptable.

If you are launching your boat at one of Montana's 304 state fishing access sites, you can launch your boat free because those sites and site maintenance are funded by fishing license money.

If your vehicle has a Montana license plate, entrance to all 50 state parks is free for all day use activities including boat launching.

If you want to recreate on the five million acres of State School Trust lands, your conservation license included a fee for use of State School Trust lands for hunting and fishing.

But that fee does not allow you to hike, mountain bike, bird watch, pick huckleberries or camp on state lands without buying the regular $10 annual recreation use permit.

Last weekend I had an interesting encounter with a mother grouse and her chicks. I saw several chicks scurry across a road, followed by ma grouse. I decided to have a closer look at the chicks. Ma grouse thought otherwise.

As I approached the hiding chicks, ma grouse made the traditional faking of an injury to lead me away from the chicks. When I continued towards the chicks, she became very aggressive, coming within six feet of me, puffing up her chest and flapping her wings, trying to scare me off.

Here was this brave little mom, ready to take me on, when I outweighed her by 200 times. So I respected her concern for her chicks and left them alone.

Do you remember the brain-twister from two weeks ago? If you have a 10-pound granite rock in your boat and drop the rock into the lake, will the lake level go up, go down or stay the same?

Most people will say it doesn't make a difference if the rock is in or out of the boat, so the lake level will stay the same. If that was your answer, you are to be commended for thinking very logically, but your answer is wrong.

The correct answer is that taking the rock out of the boat and dropping it into the lake will cause the lake level to drop.

When the 10-pound granite rock is in the boat, it will displace 10 pounds of water. When the rock is the lake, it will displace its volume of water, not its weight. Since it is heavier then water, it will displace less than 10 pounds of water, so the lake level will drop a tiny bit.

Have a good time in the great Flathead outdoors!