location: steens mountain
season: fall
backstory: this is another of a series from the steens. see: fall bows to winter, aspen in fall.
wandering the high desert backcountry inspired me to express this beauty through photography. the first treks into the steens were pivotal in this process. the challenge of showing the spirit of this powerful place took me step by step through what needed to be learned. these aren't aspects easily learned in class, online or in books. the experience of being there and feeling everything about the place provided great motivation and inspiration to learn.
i kept returning to the steens as my photographic and creative skills deepened. it was the best classroom and the best teacher possible.
and, somewhere along the way, without trying, planning or wanting, i could feel that this was home.
not home like my wonderful house overlooking the john day river valley and canyon mountain. or, home where i was born and grew up. it feels like home for my spirit.
perched at 10,000 feet, looking out to the cascades, idaho, nevada and washington is breathtaking, or rather breath inspiring.
riding out white-out blizzard, sideways blowing snow for days to watch dawn break through clouds to fresh deep powder and a clear blue sky feels like waking to a whole new world.
walking the ridges and valleys where people and wildlife have traversed for centuries is humbling to the core.
seeing the milky way splashed across half the deep purple night sky, so close it can be touched, over snow covered ridges and rocks is a spiritual/religious experience.
watching deer, pronghorn antelope, elk, golden eagles survive and thrive here is a powerful model of living life.
freeclimbing up and down 3,000' canyon walls like a big horn sheep, tracing the river back to it's initial spring-source.
rounding a river bend to see a golden blaze of aspens in the fall, setting sun, fresh snow-capped peaks glistening in the background.
hiking the steep trail down into wildhorse canyon in awe, realizing the rest of my photographic career could be spent in this canyon and never exhaust all of the possibilities.
finding home. our spirits/hearts all have/need a home, a special rooted place that we are always connected to, no matter where we are. i can feel the steens, those powerful mountain roots, wherever i wander this region. always connected to home.