Spring Comes to the High Country

A beautiful spring day at 12,500 feet! Just six weeks ago this area was under snow. Now, with the ice giving way to water here on the tundra, these little flowers can bloom.

Often, when you look at mountains, you have to look at them from far away to really see them. With tundra flowers, however, you have to stop, really stop, bend down -- back and knees be damned -- and look hard, maybe even squint. In the course of their six-to-twelve week growing period, these little beauties may grow 1/8 of an inch. But look at the joyous display they make!

I find that there's no more beautiful bouquet, especially when you're under a sky as big as forever.