Out there with Tom: A week's worth in "isolation"

The climber's cairn on the Scratch Gravel Hills high point

Katie looks at the Scratch Gravel high point

The big falls on Falls Creek in the Front's Dearborn country

The majestic Steamboat Peak towers over the Dearborn and Falls Creek

Still plenty of snow on Rogers Peak and the Continental Divide looking toward Flesher Pass

On the Continental Divide Trail ridge line west of Rogers Pass looking toward Green Mountain

On Center Ridge in the Highwoods with snow covered Big Baldy in the distance

The governor has issued a "phased" relaxation of isolation that permits some businesses to open, but encouraging people to exercise caution with their contact with other people.
I'm one of those who is all in for caution and will continue, for the seventh week, to stay in social isolation.
We've been shocked and appalled at the number of folks who gather at the trailhead or in city parks, oblivious to the admonitions to stay apart for health's sake. Dogs and runners are particular menaces, who we can't seem to avoid.
With the exception of running into a grocery store for no more than 5 minutes on two occasions I've been socially isolated for seven full weeks.
That means no friends over, no visits with family members, no shopping, not even take out food.
We don't particularly enjoy the isolation, but it has had its positive sides.
I've concentrated on my Polish lessons, done quite a bit of reading, watched more streamed shows that I am proud to admit, exercised, house-cleaned and eaten quite well, thanks to my wife.
We walk in the neighborhood two to three times a day. Katie is in her second year of challenge to walk the number of miles in a year, so that means 5-6 miles a day.
We get antsy and go for drives, and now that the weather has been clearing, we have headed for the mountains 3 or 4 times a week for a hike.
In the past week we climbed the high point of Helena Valley's Scratch Gravel Hills, took a leisurely hike in the Rocky Mountain Front up Falls Creek, I climbed to the ridge lines on both sides of Rogers Pass in a long loop, and then we checked out the flowers on the North Fork of Highwood Creek in the Highwood Mountains, throwing in a quick run to the top of Center Ridge.
We've seen a lot of the season's first alpine flowers, particularly Pasque Flower, yellow belles, butter cups, Douglasia, Phlox, Spring Beauty, Chick Weed, Shooting Stars, Glacier Lilies, Kitten Tales. I know I'm leaving out plenty.
Side note on Rogers Pass trip: tons of deep snow on the north face, and lots of snow visible on the west side of the Divide.