Sunday, November 30, 2008

Did Someone Say Clouds?

RIMROCK II
Wood River Valley, Wyoming
Oil On Canvas
11.25 x 6.5
$450 USD Unframed
$650 USD Framed


Towering rim rock mesas along the Wood River Valley opalescent in the afternoon sun… should have paid more attention to the clouds creeping up behind them -- Wyoming is famous for its fast moving storm cells that quickly overwhelm the landscape.

I continued into the mountains and set up camp where my visiting brother was scheduled to arrive. First came rain, then temperatures plummeted to sleet then snow -- I held out until the all hope of a dry night faded, then quickly stuffed wet gear into the car as nightfall settled in. I would be lucky to get out on the wet clay roads.

Driving in the blinding snow, car tires slithering and bucking in protest up the hill, dark forms appeared on the road ahead, so large that I wondered if it was cattle. Instead it was a rockslide where fortunately one very critical rock was movable. The car fishtailed but I squeaked through and continued slogging onward, gripping the wheel as white snow bombs blotted the windshield. Half way out I spotted headlights and it turned out to be my brother’s truck. Even more fortunate was the little hotel 30 miles away that had a vacancy. We were lucky indeed. The following day it was bright sunny and dry again. Weather is like this in the Rockies, a storm cell appearing out of nowhere and gone just as quick. No sense in fighting it as nature always wins and we are but small specks in the natural world.