Sunday, April 22, 2012

Dawn To Dusk

I can think of no better reason to wake up before dawn than to be on a mountain trail as the sun rises. An early morning frost only enhances the scenery as the sun rises over a nearby ridge. Rabbits dart across the trail, while deer watch warily from a distance before walking briskly away. As the sagebrush fades away, the path is covered in a carpet of orange aspen leaves and pine needles, and the sky is clearly visible through bare trees.



At 9500ft there is evidence of very recent snowfall, while at 10000ft and above last season's snow still lies at depths up to 2ft, which makes travel difficult and obscures the trail ahead. Even so, wild buttercups and strawberries, oregon grape and more are all coming to life once more. Chipmunks and small birds inhabit the coniferous trees, and grouse can be found among the aspen.



At 11000ft the trees become sparse and those that remain are prime targets for lightning and avalanches  from nearby peaks (still laden with snow). Above the trees the whole valley below can be seen, and a boulder makes a great place to sit and appreciate the surroundings. Everything else fades away up here. This is why I came to the mountains.

Saturday, April 14, 2012

Creativity

As I was preparing to escape to the mountains, I thought a great deal about living in the wilderness and all the opportunities for great photography. I also thought about the opportunities for change (both habits and circumstances), but I didn't anticipate quite what would happen when I unleashed my stifled creative instincts! The bench that I showed here a couple of weeks ago was just one of nearly a dozen wood projects of varying sizes that I've completed over the last few weeks. I also have a near-constant compulsion to be outside. The changeable spring weather only adds to the excitement of being present and experiencing an April afternoon. As my rhubarb begins to flourish and leaves appear on the wild, native plants nearby, I feel a strong desire to join in by sowing a few seeds alongside those of nature. My only problem is the number of hours in a day!

Spring is a great time to be in the mountains. Just a few days ago, I was lucky enough to see many bighorn sheep. I've already seen my first wildflower of the year, and I'm eager to see some outstanding displays of color on my travels in the wilderness.


For more bighorn shots, see the spring gallery.
Still on the theme of creativity, I'd like you to be the first to see my new project - a new range of gifts and shirts! In addition to FTHC images available on cards and gifts, I've designed a small range of shirts that are in keeping with the values expressed in this blog. I hope you like them!

Sunday, April 8, 2012

Age

 This time of year is associated with new beginnings and growth. It's a time of change in the natural world, and nowhere is this more evident than here in the mountains. For me, it's a time of reflection as another birthday comes around. In our culture we seem to fear the passing of each year, but we can achieve a great deal in twelve months and we should feel able to celebrate both the achievements and the precious time that we've experienced. I recently read an article about the most common regrets of people who've reached the end of their lives. Not surprisingly, those regrets were as follows:
1. I wish I'd had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me.
2. I wish I hadn't worked so hard.
3. I wish I'd had the courage to express my feelings.

Even here in the mountains it is easy to become preoccupied with work, but time in the wilderness reminds me of my priorities and goals, and with breathtaking beauty all around trivial problems slip away.


By living purposefully and being truly present, you might be surprised at what you'll experience.


You can view more spring images here. Enjoy your week!