Sleeping Giant
4:30 a.m. and the iPhone alarm is doing its best to annoy me. No matter though... I was already awake. As comfortable as the bed is, it isn’t mine and I never sleep well away from the family. I’m in Wyoming at “Dad’s” house and looking for more Bighorn photo’s. I truly enjoy the time in the hills with these guys. I grab my gear, some water and trail-mix. Out the door I go, as quietly as I can. I didn’t step on any K-9’s this time. I did manage to catch Jabber’s (Dad and Cindy’s cat) tail in a screen door though - he was less than impressed with my gracefulness and manners, however, he remained composed and quiet about it. The diesel rumbles to life and startles me a bit as the pre dawn blackness is deafeningly quiet.
I’m headed out the south fork to locate a nice group of large rams that have been seen in a pretty rough area… just what I like… but it’s an iffy thing as the foot of snow had partially melted and now has refrozen. That’s never quiet or an easy walk. Into first gear and here we go. I make it to the end of the south fork, however, not without a few clenched butt cheeks as I slid on ice for about 100 yards down hill on a frozen part of the road. The big dually just isn’t into figure skating I guess. “That ought-a be fun trying to get up later," I say out-loud.
I’m at the right place to start, but I hesitate before I head in country. I can see broken clouds and the glow from the east is intriguing. I’m glad I waited as the sunrise was magnificent. So much so that I shot few and just gazed a lot. Well, off I go…
Man oh man, slip, crunch, crunch… kathump, kathump… not an easy go through the wash outs and rock all covered in a candy like coating of icy snow. Finally, an hour or so later, I begin to see the type of country I am looking for and begin glassing for the boys. Long story short. I spent most of the morning traipsing through the slippery slopes in what I thought was sure to be a sheep haven, but never did find them. The drive back up the ice chute was more than interesting though. I’m headed back towards Dad's now, then out the North Fork.
The drive is uneventful until I hit Wapiti, WY. Having lived here for over 10 years, emotions and memories confuse me, as they are some of the best and worst times of my life. Have never really figured out how to process all this yet. I don’t know if I ever will. No worries though as my daze is interrupted by the site of Elk in a large meadow. There 40 or 50 in the herd, but I notice only 5 calves. Some things will never make sense to me.
My mind turns to the task at hand, Big Horn Sheep. I love photographing Bighorns. You can see the young groups near the road and there are the typical drives by-s doing their thing. I pull over and stop. I like “talking shop” and love to find enthusiastic shutterbugs and strike a conversation. So I do. Time passes and new acquaintances made… as they depart, I begin my method to my madness with no one around.
Game on, I prepare to explore the grassy meadow below. Time passes, and I settle in. But the plan works, for whatever reason two young Ram’s decide they need to hash things out near me. Not long and the resonating “shots” are heard… my shutters are blazing… and my adrenalin surges. I hear myself saying, keep focused and think through the series. The young guns continue to posture and lick, they taunt and juke. A slow stroll by followed by a quick turn and every ounce of them raise and lunge forward, the boom echoes from the canyon walls and I can’t help but grin. Snot, blood and chips of horns spray upon impact and I say out loud, "You boys are tougher than tough”. One glances my way seemingly unimpressed and I swear he smirked at me as if to say, "You are merely human.” For the next hour or so the battle rages on. My front row seat, ringside if you will, couldn’t have been better. Then as quickly as it started, it ends and one young ram walks away blood dripping from his nose. If that's the worst of it, then I’m stunned, yet impressed at the beating they take and only a bloody nose to show. Truly impressive beyond words, my respect is endless.
I grab the bino’s and scan the canyon slopes. I’m bored with the flatness of the meadow… There you are, I murmur… about a third of the way from the top I see a ram grazing along with a ewe and another younger ram. I gather my stuff and I’m off. I know full well very few, if any leave the easiness of the the lower elevations for the photos. Me, I’m not that way. I like my alone time and I love the high places with the "Monarchs and Kings" of such. About 50 minutes pass and I know I’m close to the right altitude. I’m pretty sure I’m close to his domain. I slip over a small rise or two. Freeze! I see the ewe working her way to me. She sees me and stops. I sit. Moments pass and she decides she needs to relax and she lays down. As I stand up, I see him and he is working my way. I decide to work his way too, as long as we both agree. This works well and within minutes, we are merely yards apart. I decide not to push my luck and I sit down. Before I get settled, he also decides to relax and plops himself down. Perched above all, the ram emulates himself as being seated upon a throne. I can’t blame him; I bet he’s earned it. I snap a few… the younger ram soon follows and settles in right below. This is why, for me personally, I love this. Here I am high above the world. Completely alone, except for those who deserve to call this their home. It's quiet, peaceful and real, very real.
Then, just as I mentioned before, there’s THAT moment. I’ve watched this fine ram now for about 40-50 minutes. We’ve exchanged looks and even had a conversation. (I literally speak out-loud to them often, I figure why not?) Not only does this ram seem relaxed, but easily, and slowly he stretches out his head an neatly places it upon the hillside. I’m speechless, but remain about my wits and press the shutter release. The ram is unfazed by the sound of the camera. A few moments pass and then it happens… he closes his eyes and begins to sleep. I’m not sure if I’m excited or confused, empathetic or sympathetic. Perhaps all those emotions at once. I can only imagine the battles won to call this ewe his for a spell… Exhausted I’m sure. Nearly 15 minutes pass and I haven’t moved, I’ve just stared in his direction and I have only taken a handful of pictures. More for proof, than for profit I suppose. This feels like one of those moments that do not really need to be shared, but one of those for the camera within my mind.
Still… I look at where I am, pan the high country and make eye contact with the ewe and the younger ram... I gaze upon the sleeping Monarch as he lay there gently, comfortable and unthreatened…
and I press the shutter release...
That moment
Then there is that moment…
Stay with me here as this might get sentimental, but I’ll try not to get too sappy. All my life I have been an avid outdoorsman. I’ve spent a significant portion of my free time in the mountains. Most of you already know that. Over the years I’ve seen so many things I wish I could have captured on film. Truth be told, there are a few things I’m glad I have not frozen in time forever as I think everyone needs to have private moments that only they have witnessed.
My time in the west, specifically the Rockies, has given me enormous amounts of joy and fulfillment. I’m taking a journey with my muse and capturing these moments in time. Many of them good, some of them not so good and then there are those that stop time, cloak you in deafening silence and bask you in it’s true sincerity and warmth; one of those moments you almost feel ashamed to witness as it is so private and so unique that part of you feels you have not earned the right nor should you be allowed to be part of it.
Ding, Ding… Ding Ding…Ding Ding… ughhhh, mmmmpphh… uhh. 3 a.m. already. “Seriously babe!?!” I hear coming from the other pillow as I feel the covers being pulled from me. “Sorry sweetie”. “It’s OK, love you and be careful, take the bear spray.” OK, love you too, I’ll text you from the trailhead.” I pull myself from the warm soft bed, struggle to find something that resembles clothes and YELP!....wuff….crap, sorry Scout… “BABE really!!!” “…Sorry!”
Over the next few minutes I grab coffee, find my gear, load the truck and down the gravel road I go. 50 minutes go by and finally I am in town. I stop for more coffee and Gatorade. I gulp both as I drive through town and out the other side…another 20 minutes pass. Softly lit by the sliver of a moon, I see the mountain range begin to emerge. The road winds and to be honest, I’m guessing if I am even on the right track. I hastily laid out directions late last night - I’m going to a new place that a local Biologist recommended, but I’ve never been over here before. Finally, I see a faded sign that says what it’s supposed too. I take the path pointed out by the arrow, bump-bump goes the pickup and I climb my way up on a worn out road to the trailhead.
After a long, uncomfortably bumpy ride (mostly cause I gotta pee!) I’m at the trailhead and as planned, there is no sign of anyone else. I bailout, on goes the pack with the gear… Headlamp, GPS, binocs, water, snacks…..Ummm, what else, what else….ummm… just go, go… you’ve got a long all up hill trek… Off I go…
Time goes by and it’s dark. I hear stuff in the dark I should be skeptical of, but I ignore it. I push on… sweating now, a lot, the temperature said 28* at the trailhead, huh, I murmur to myself.
I finally break over the top. Morning is here, the world is beginning to take shape again. Wow, I say out loud, just wow… I refocus to the task at hand and see white spots amongst the rocks... has to be goats… off I go… I make my way to with in about 100 yards of where I think the spots were. Lighter now. I assume the prone position, cradling the big lens and body; a belly crawl over gravel, dirt, grass and rock.
Cradling the stuff works on and off, but I know the abuse the equipment is taking. I’m painfully aware every now and again. Maddening.
I glance up to see nothing but rock and above that, the horizon. They should be just over this next sheet of rock. I inch myself closer. I grab the tripod from the pack of gear I’ve been dragging. Spreading the tripod legs wide, I mount the big lens and body that feel like 100 lbs. I slowly push it into position and inch my way to the viewfinder. A wave of adrenalin washes over me, my breath is taken and I can hear my heart beating. Blood surges through me. This is a moment I’ve wanted for a long time. My mind races as I see 5 Goats placed neatly amongst the rocks. No sun up high on this side yet, I remind myself. Give it a few minutes, I think. Over the next 15 minutes, which felt like 5 hours, I calmly and ever so slowly ease myself into a shooting position so I can manipulate all the cameras functions with some resemblance of comfort. I glance up the cliffs just a bit. Here comes the sun, as I actually see it moving like a blanket of life over us. I peer again through the viewfinder.
The next moments of my life are a blur yet so vividly clear I could describe every second with the utmost clarity and detail. What I am looking at feels indescribably spectacular, tender and warm, yet so rare and so very private I am unsure if I deserve to bear witness. Nevertheless, here I am gazing upon a bond and a connection that only mothers’ truly identify... and I press the shutter release.
Stuff...
Start from the start. Life is happening, days are days and weeks are weeks. Soon a year, then another. Dreams are dreamt, smiles are had and tears fall. All in all it’s life happening and you are you. Then in a moment you see it or maybe you hear it. At the end of it you’ve felt the raw, indiscriminating pain and fear. How you deal with it going forward will be your defining scar for the rest of your life. You can hide it or expose it.
I’ve been there and unfortunately, yet fortunately, more than once or twice, more than three times even. Each time I’ve dealt with it by promising to move life towards a more satisfying road. Now you can be religious, you can be deep in theory or philosophy; you can choose any method you want to help sooth your fear of the unknown. I won’t delve into those topics. However, I think we can all agree that our physical time here is limited at best. So why would we waste time focusing on the things that in the end really are meaningless. Your “stuff”. OK, ok so you have children and you want for them. I absolutely get that or maybe you don’t have children and you just want for yourself, I get that too. But what you want is situations, things or stuff that make you satisfied and happy. Right? Happiness and satisfaction are pretty much the end goal, broad stroked yes, but happiness and satisfaction can cover it, no? Hmm, maybe the one single word that can cover it, even better with a bit more definition is Wealth. Umm no, not quite. I know, how about Prosperity? Yeah, defined as; “the condition of enjoying wealth, success, or good fortune.”
What if taking a journey and seeing something or experiencing something can bring that to you? Right now, with out the years of punching the time clock? Even if for a brief moment in time? Can you open your mind enough to let that happen? Can you find more journeys of the same to renew the prosperity again, and again?
My wife and I did. We are taking our children there too. To teach them that life isn’t about “stuff.”
Nothing good is easy
Part one of ? My wife and I had enough and said, let's just do! We become adventurous for a few weeks. First on our agenda was Glacier National Park. We had seen pictures and heard the stories so we were easily committed to hike GNP for 4 days. The drive there was seemingly unimpressive. Long stretches of highway and little traffic, through high dessert and endless prairie. Ughhhh. Little did we know there was a much more scenic route and we found it for the way home…woohoo! The drive seemed to take for ever. However, as we made the westerly turn we began to see the east slope of the front range begin to emerge and continue to grow. Now we were getting excited. So much so that with every wrong turn I made (cause I don’t need maps!) my wife grew more and more violent towards me as she felt she was missing precious time exploring! She expressed in the tones and language of any good sailor that she will handle all directions to anyplace on the planet from here forward. I guess I see her point. But I digress…
We finally made it to the KOA and after some sheer brilliance and MacGyver like engineering on my part the 5th wheel was all level and all systems were functioning. Just in time for dinner, a glass of wine (from a box!) and some planning for the next day and off to sleep we went.
Here’s where it gets good. Over the next 3 days we logged 30+ miles of hiking. We saw stunning scenery and were moved beyond words with every minute of every experience. My future blog posts will touch on this. Here's my concern. I read Facebook daily and stare at photo’s from others. I read posts, watch some of the video’s etc. I mostly do this over morning coffee from 4:30 a.m. -5:30 a.m. I do my share of post processing and picture posting as well. After all it’s what I’d really like to do to support my family. I get many comments stating that I “have the life” or that “They wished they could” even "I'd love to go there or do that." Within this time on Facebook I get a feel for many of my “friends” and their lives. Much of their emotion and “self” is evident. I feel for many as seemingly more and more of them are OK with complaining and feeling sorry for themselves. Why, why is it that too many are too OK with this? Why have too many lost the drive or desire to do something epic or even just something to make them happy? I’ve got some news for them. Nothing good is ever easy. Don't wait until the time is right or you have enough money. Because it will never happen. One of the hardest thing you'll ever do for yourself is move out of your comfort zone and do something new or different. Common.... Change things and let your life experience happen!
Crisp and New...
This photo was taken as I was walking a barrow ditch one day. I was making my way through a bunch of these young cottonwoods and upon exiting the tangled mess, I felt as though I was being watched. As I looked up I found this pleasing yet concerning situation. He was gracious enough to allow me to take a few photo's. Although apparently he was not pleased that I was in his viewshed. Either that or I awoke him from a nice mid-day nap. I did not overstay my welcome. I departed the area with a "thank you" which seemed to lighten his mood.
Eagles are always interesting to photo especially if you can get close. They tend to have unique, dramatic eyes and expressions.
