A Trip To The North 9/2020
Tranquil wildlife roams the fields from spring to winter. Massive valleys carved by ancient glaciers sit below snowcapped mountains. The northern US, with all its spirit and wonder, was calling me.
The summer of 2020 was when I leased my first car. At the ripe age of 25-years-old, a whole new chapter of adventures had just opened up for me. I had always dreamed of road trips and car camping, and now those dreams were going to turn to reality. I always indulged myself in road trips with friends who offered to drive - from Joshua Tree to Tahoe, and from LA to Sedona. Never before had I left the Southwest US.
The first time I had ever seen snow was actually in Utah. Born and raised in Houston, I was instantly mesmerized by fresh blankets of white completely transforming the landscapes that had already enamored me. So, naturally, when I got a hold of my first car, I started planning trips to places I desired to go to for years - Wyoming and Montana.
Arguably the two most beautiful states in the United States, Wyoming and Montana are home to two of the greatest National Parks in the country - Yellowstone and Glacier. While Yellowstone is renowned for its exuberant wildlife, Glacier is hailed for its towering peaks and breathtaking landscapes. Planning a trip to these states wouldn’t be easy since I lived in LA. Salt Lake City alone was more than 10 hours away. In the midst of the peak of the pandemic and right before marketing Q4, I was strapped for time and the luxuries of normal travel. I only had time to carve out a week to drive more than 40 hours, all the while adjusting to the realities of traveling during such a tumultuous time.
Nonetheless, starting on a Friday, my friend, Tyra, and I embarked on our journey to the north. Breaking the drive up into three sections, I would drive to Zion in the southwestern-most part of Utah, then head to Salt Lake City, and eventually hit Yellowstone at the end of the third stretch. Making this drive in mid-September, I wasn’t expecting to see any noticeable fall color changes. But as we traversed the red rock state, we were surprised to see such early fall colors in the northern stretches, which were some of the most beautiful hues of red, orange, and yellow! Sadly, I spotted these colors while on the road, so I didn’t get the chance to take any photos of them.
Just before arriving to Yellowstone, we made a quick stop to catch the sunset at Grand Teton National Park. Literally at the last second, we caught the last light coming from behind the mountains and were greeted with such incredible views. We made our way to the Brandin’ Iron Inn in West Yellowstone, where we stayed for about two-and-a-half days while also eating at the local restaurants (all so good).
Yellowstone was such a treat. We bought binoculars so we could watch wildlife from a safe distance, but we were also able to get close enough feel their overwhelming presence (still far enough away by park standards, of course). From families of deer and their buck leaders, to herds of bison stomping around, we were blessed to see such vibrant animals. Toward the end of the Yellowstone portion of our trip, we spotted a black bear as we were leaving, scavenging for berries on a hillside.
I left Yellowstone with a newfound appreciation for the power and majesty of those wild animals I was lucky enough to spot. To be able to survive in such harsh conditions in the winter and thrive during the spring and summer is a testament to their lives.
Where Yellowstone left me awed by animals, Glacier left me stunned by scale. From the rainforests, to the glacial lakes, to the towering mountain ranges - my eyes couldn’t choose a place to focus on. Up, down, and all around were sights more beautiful than anything I had ever seen. The nature felt so crisp and pristine - it was almost like being welcoming to heaven’s gates, where the sun was always shining and you could walk on clouds.
The wildlife here was far less pronounced, but we were still lucky enough to spot TWO black bears during our two day stay in Glacier. The hikes, however, were unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. It felt like walking amongst giants, as every step you took on the trails was watched by the towering guardians of the park - the mountains. There were razor-sharp summits , curved peaks, and even crests that hid within the clouds. Every direction was a new sight to behold in complete wonder. And the wind was enough to make you feel like you were in the presence of gods.
A lot of people take life-affirming or life-changing trips that seem like they only happen once in a lifetime. This was not one of those trips for me. Instead, this was a trip that reaffirmed my insignificance and reminded me why I do what I do. As a landscape photographer, I do everything in my power to capture the scene that captured me - and to tell the story of the landscape that I visited. A lot of the time, they are the stories of time.
Time goes on and on, and as we fade into history, the landscapes, the mountains, and every detail about them grows and transforms. The mountains were here long before us and they’ll be here long after we’re gone. There is beauty in our impermanence - as we are blessed with the present, and are able to tell the stories that are far bigger than ourselves.
