Georgia O'Keefe

All day hike up to a range I've been wanting to climb nearby for a while now.

I've gotten to call them Georgia O'Keefe because they remind me of the smooth ridged brushstrokes of her paintings of the southwest hills.

Tall folded mastifs of paramo across far side of valley like giant wrinkles of sleeping beasts slumbering in your imagination.

Magical play of light over the folded hills. Moody dance of wind and cloud painting sunshine and shadow over the grasses like brush strokes.

Slipping and sliding downslope through the tussock grasses. Reminds me of Wyoming.

Sweaty, pushing through a jungle of grass and shrub at valley bottom. Tall grass hiding treacherous ravines, flushed a night hawk.

Ascending to first ridgeline, wind and wildflowers.

Descend and begin long upward climb to Georgia O'Keefe looming above in clouds.

Burn in your thighs and calfs. Short of breath, high altitude struggle up.

Take a break to collect herbs and wilflowers at the near summit.

Happy and exhuasted we all trickle in.

A grassy meadow of iris and purple lupine dancing in the breeze.

Jump up and high five! This is us. 360 views and lunch over the world. PBJ, pita, and homemade hummus at 12,000 ft.

Fall asleep tired and full, content. Siesta in the grass as the clouds race by close over your head.

Mmmmm, delicious sound of wind whistling through grass....

Now back below looking up. Following meandering cattle trails near the river.

Return to our new swimming pool for a dip in late afternoon.

Feel the water evaporate off your shoulders. Bask on warm rocks like lizards.

Full circle back in time to make a dinnner of pasta and roasted garlic bulbs circled round a great bonfire from the charred beams of our late cabin.

Falling asleep to be woken by Seth. Last to bed stalked on trail by cat's eyes in the shine of the full moon.

A visitor amongst us. Excited commotion, jumpy and giddy both, hard to fall asleep. Sharing camp with a wild puma.