Miscellaneous Monday

While out at a Mountain Man Rendezvous this last June we saw some of the most unusual cloud formations. I wish I had immediately thought to get pictures because the clouds where much more distinct; here you see them after they had shifted around for at least ten minutes. I did some quick internet research and found out that these are considered to be one of the top ten rarely seen clouds.

AltoCumulus Castelanus

Also Known as jellyfish clouds due to their appearance. These form around 15,000 -17,000 ft. when a rush of moist air from the Gulf Stream gets trapped between layers of dry air. The Top of the cloud rises into a jellyfish shape and long tentacles known as "trailing virga" form from rain drops that have evaporated.

The weather was quite interesting that week. When we arrived at the sight it was quite warm, the beginning of what would be an extremely hot summer. There were several storm fronts that passed over us in the next few days that brought the temperatures down to a more bearable level. This was our longest event yet; ten days camping out & experiencing very closely the changes that are easily ignored when comfortable in one's own home. It was very different to experience a storm front gripping the tent poles while the winds fill the canvas and make the tent seem to be a breathing, bucking wild beast! To make things more interesting, Elias was not with me; he had been setting up another tent on the other side of the trees, past the creek and over a field. I had already discovered while rushing around, getting all the stock covered & safe that the fly on our tent leaks & I was soaked through (in full, long skirts). So there I was trying to pound in loose stakes with the back end of a tomahawk (Elias had taken the hammer with him), and praying fervently that the wind would pass & the lightening spare us. Praise God, about that time the wind & rains did begin to slack off & all was well though somewhat water-logged. It was also a great blessing that we had chosen that particular location. Originally we had set up next to another trader on the ridge, but for some reason, he had to leave. Worried that we wouldn't see much traffic flow up there all by ourselves, we moved down to the other side of the creek to a spot sheltered by a line of trees. The porta-potties that were up on the ridge were blown over and rolled around by the high winds up there. Whew!...... That could have been us.

Here we are, all dried out and spinning away.

I look forward to sharing more of our experiences at the Camp Creek Rendezvous in the next couple of weeks.

Hope everyone is having a great Labor Day,

-Jayne