Category Archives: writing
july, july
july has started on a high note for me.
i went to austin for the fourth, to spend time with my brother, sister, mom, sister-in-law, brother-in-law, my niece, and all three of my nephews. it was eventful, to say the least.
the kids aren’t always angels, but then again, neither are we adults. regardless, i always leave full when i have the chance to hang with my family.
i am truly blessed.
so i made a quick film of our fourth to solidify the good memories we made…
music: july by the innocence mission
random morning thought: montana
6-19-09
though i slept at the cooke city dump again last night, when i awoke today, the sun greeted me.
it was so bright, i almost expected it to talk to me in a low, cartoonish voice, and extend its two scoops of raisins my way…
— shallow thoughts by andrew slaton
journal: montana
6-18-09
my car is facing away from the mountain. i wake to the cold and rain. it’s 5:30 a.m.
behind me, the mountain is covered in a thin fog, like a bride under her fine lace veil. she thought she was hiding from me, but how could i not notice her?
cooke city, montana has always treated me well, but this morning, i feel lost.
i rolled in late last night. weary from the road and rain. the miner’s saloon, as inviting as it always is, seemed distant. they only take cash, and the big city man i am, i only had plastic. no problem, i thought. this always happens. luckily, they have the only atm in town. i slid the blue card in nice and easy, and yanked it back in a forceful, but fluid motion. “out of order.” !?!? but i had already started drinking my beer!
i apologized. the bartendress seemed annoyed at my genuine apology.
“well, i guess this one’s on me,” she said angrily.
i finished my free scapegoat pale ale and left.
my usual “free” campsite at the edge of town was closed with no explanation. i put “free” in quotes because i believe you’re supposed to pay. but i always seem to pull into cooke city after dark… so, i never have.
i decided to park at the old city dump, on the other edge of town. it only takes about two minutes to walk from one end of town to the other.
i reclined the driver seat of my chevy aveo rental, wrapped myself haphazardly in a sleeping bag, and called it a day.
now here i am; seven hours of restless sleep later.
the sun rose somewhere already, but not here. the cloud cover is thick, and there’s a light drizzle. 35 degrees. massive lodgepole pines in front of me absorb the rain like thirsty sailors imbibe on the first day of fleet week.
lately my heart’s been heavy like a sandbag.
this morning is no different. in fact, today it’s worse.
it feels like someone tied a cinder block, or a dozen, to my chest, and dropped it in the deepest ocean.
if it felt possible to cry, i would. but i wouldn’t know what for. after all, i’m in one of my favorite places in the world.
so i decided to start my day.
i made a cup of coffee and rolled a cigarette. yeah i know, i quit smoking three years ago. it was three years ago almost to the day when i started again in spain. then it continued on into lebanon…
you can smoke anywhere in lebanon. just walk into the airport in beirut with a lit cigarette, and see if i’m exaggerating.
so, unfortunately, for a time, i’m smoking again.
slowly my mind and body, cold and slightly wet from the night before, begin to wake up.
the lamar valley of yellowstone anxiously awaited my arrival. but the sun still hides it’s precious rays.
in spite of my thoughts, behind the clouds, the light is there just waiting for me to remember it still exists.
…last week in wyoming…
one of my first, and best, friends when i lived in wyoming was kim. she recently got married and had a gorgeous little girl, kate. first thing’s first… i had to go see them.
now on to my animals. a coyote searches for food in the elk national wildlife refuge near jackson.
two ocean lake in teton wilderness provided fantastic scenery.
on the way out of two ocean and pacific creek, one of my favorite views of the tetons materializes quickly. almost out of nowhere, the jagged peaks come into view with force and drama.
then, of course, the jackson lake dam provides unimpeded views of this beautiful mountain range, the grand tetons.
a lone big horn ram wandered, grazed.
early in the morning, the elk eat dew-covered grasses.
lamar creek. the hidden gem of the lamar valley. always one of my favorite spots to sit in the morning.
the lamar valley in the summer is a haven for the american bison. they graze it heavily in massive swarms.
the lamar valley is also home to many bears. this pair, one black bear and one cinnamon black were inseparable as i watched them cross miles of open landscape. i saw this same cinnamon about four years ago in the exact same spot. glad to see he’s got a lady to keep him company now…
bull elk are scattered across yellowstone this time of year. typically alone, they seem to know that the autumn rut and breeding season will be coming in a few short months.
sulphur stained ponds dot the landscape of yellowstone.
a lone black bear on the northeast entrance road scavenges in the shadow of the mountains surrounding the montana/ wyoming border, near cooke city.
not even a mile away from the bear, a fox too looks for an evening snack.
on the road to lulu pass, just outside city limits, seedlings, clear cuts, mountains, and sky provide the backdrop for cook city, montana.
early morning, heading back from a night spent at the cooke city dump, the mountains and fog performed a ballet. mist danced across the tops of trees as the light watched passively from behind the clouds.
and it only gained dramatic crescendo as i made my way back, further into the lamar valley of yellowstone.
after a long morning hike up the side of a peak in the lamar, a lone antelope kept his distance.
a 45 minute exposure at oxbow bend in grand teton national park, well after sundown.
morning glow over the tetons. i love waking up to this view!!
mid-morning at oxbow bend. light slowly makes it way toward me from behind, painting my canvas.
jackson lake was glass. a rare site.
string lake, near jenny lake, grand teton national park.
back to my old haunt in sublette county… green river lakes in bridger-teton national forest.
the lower lake was in tumult, with wild winds from the south rumbling like a freight train through the valley toward the upper green.
the green river was calm the next morning, though the sky overhead read drama.
i hiked the highline trail toward the upper lake. squaretop mountain spectacularly reflected the patches of sun.
i followed massive grizzly tracks all the way to the upper lake about three miles. it was not alone. two smaller sets of tracks alerted me to the fact that a sow with two yearlings could be around any bend.
on the way into little soda lake, the aspen groves catch a reflection more colorful than reality.
cactus patches keep me aware of where i place my feet…
just a few minutes from the front door of my old house in pinedale, soda lake reflects the wind river mountains, creating impressionistic hues that would make any artist salivate.
andrew slaton | blog 