Nobody But Me

Ive reached an age where solitary roaming through backcountry for weeks on end has sadly come to its own culmination.  I can look at this as though it were the end of my creative journey, but maybe its just another beginning.  Kind of like when I stopped taking technicolor sunrises and started foggy pastels. Or wildlife in their environment instead of trophy head shots at 800mm. To be honest, my back probably couldn’t take it anymore anyway, and avalanches had become a little too close for comfort in the back country. So, visiting the Grand Tetons as an actual tourist was new to me but I still had some tricks up my sleeve. “You see, the only way to see any animals in the National Parks is to wake up before dawn and catch them before they bed down for the hot afternoon.” I told my family. They groaned but complied for 3 straight pre-dawn wake up calls. Luckily, each day brought spectacular wildlife within yards of the rental car and I was touted as a genius. By the 4th pre-dawn wake up call, they were spent. Oh darn, I just had to go out by myself then, and as I climbed into the rental, I started to think that maybe I was an actual genius. The family wouldn’t even open an eye for another 3 hours. There had been a storm the night before and when I drove into the “scenic” pull out my hopes started to wane as the clouds to the east were thick and moody. There was no way the sun’s rays would be allowed to penetrate and light up the Tetons. I guess everyone else in the entire park had gotten this memo, and my genius hopes were beginning to fade as there was nobody but me standing there with my tripod and trick camera ready for the impending cloud close out. Then the first beam hit the North Teton. The entire range exploded in pinks and purples, and it was as if someone had adjusted the dimmer switch in the living room when the movie ended. Yes, I really was a genius. And then the rainbow lit up over the Grand. I think I actually laughed to myself, kind of an evil Dr. No chuckle. I tripped the shutter, and that was it. Lights out, back to cloud close out.