Here above the canyon there’s a ridge that looks out over the lake. It’s a good hike up there. Once at the top, the panorama on three sides is of different mountain ranges, some rocky, some pine-topped. Standing at the north end of the ridge, the sensation is like being projected out over the lake. It’s an incredible view in all directions, mountains everywhere, but also a great expanse of lake, and often with a circling red-tailed hawk above.

Perhaps it’s the lake valley/mountain effect but the wind can really pick up speed here. Not a breeze, this wind has a definite attitude, it gets fierce and kicks up the dust. At times while walking I don’t realize how much I’m bracing against, how much it holds me up, until passing a bush with the wind suddenly blocked, it’s easy to almost fall over.

Sometimes the wind is perfect, not too wild, just strong and supportive. Another thing that is often noticeable are the alternating currents of warm and cool wind while moving along the ridge, it’s like walking through different layers. It’s easy to connect those movements of air with the temperature associations we have to colors. For instance, warm air hangs thick and orange. The sudden thin cool air is like being washed in light blue.

When the sun bounces off of the rocks and the perfect wind swirls around, the air is full of color -such a day was this.

I Climbed The Mountain to Touch The Wind -open edition on paper
* 19 1/2" x 15 1/2"
$135.00

Please contact Joan to purchase by check.

* sized to allow the choice to mat as a print with a white paper border showing around the image