Recently, I made a pilgrimage to the Southwest. I had friends to visit and art to see in Jackson. A concert in Salt Lake. And time.
Miraculous moments have occurred in my life on these sojourns and I expected no less.
Being alive on this planet lends itself to whatever travel we can muster. I drive to Bozeman often and it occurs to me if I take those trips and straighten out the line and go south I can change my environs dramatically.
I was afraid the heat was already more than I could navigate with my dogs, and then a friend posted pictures of a fresh snowstorm!
I followed a sign on the interstate to Great Basin. Drove across almost a hundred miles of straight desert. And spent the night at this oasis.
Montana girl that I am, when I looked around in the morning at what I wanted to paint; this scene was screaming out to me. And melting fast. This is called Wheeler Peak. 13,063. Granite Peak, the highest in Montana is 12,807.
The world is complicated.
Every forest service campground I was familiar with, was closed. Most visitor centers were also closed. Some were open with very harassed and overworked, frazzled employees. Cutbacks are affecting everyone. All I could say to folks was, hopefully things will get better. Their looks said they were unconvinced.
Still the natural beauty that we need so much, abounds!!