Capturing Moments #7

a morning of cloud-gazing on a rainy Tuesday

Yesterday, the day dawned moody and grey. It had rained through the night, leaving a fresh, damp scent in the air. I ate my breakfast, glancing out the window every few moments, checking the clouds hadn’t dissipated, that the sun hadn’t come out again.

Luck was with me, as was the weather, moody it would remain. Tossing on my leggings and hoodie, hurriedly stuffing my feet into my hiking boots and donning my backpack, out I went.

Up, up, up the steep, rocky trail just up the street from home. Few mosquitos to bother me, ah, the day just kept getting better and better. First stop was bluff #1, my dad and I walk together often, and are not always the most creative in our names for the places we frequent. We have bluffs one through four, two of which you’re visiting with me today.

The view from my first destination is my undeniably beautiful. A peek of the green glaciar-fed lake and overlapping hills, my heart sighs happily every time I’m here.

A look to the left and I am blessed with the hillside, mist dancing along behind it over the next ridge. I sat on the bluff for many minutes, soaking in the cool air, watching the clouds shift and dance and flow through the trees and over the mountains. Bluff #2 was next, I decided, after a lovely little interlude through a raindrop-glittering forest.

After a slow meander, with so many reasons to stop and just look and breathe, I come out onto the second bluff. This one bigger, and one I visit the most often of anywhere in this valley. It feels like home, sitting atop the cliff and looking out over the mountains.

The hours pass as I watch the clouds in their dance. Cloud photography is not my forte, I find it easier to capture the small forest scenes than the ever-changing, dark cloudscapes. Harder still to edit the photos to truly capture the mood I experienced.

How the mist weaves into the valleys and peaks along the mountainsides, each moment different than the next. Before I knew it, 2 hours up here had passed. I was getting hungry, silly me, not remembering to bring a snack. I could have easily stayed up here amidst the clouds much longer.

But alas, other responsibilities called. I begrudgingly packed my camera away, shouldered my pack, and set off home. Only to catch my eye on the small patch of fireweed growing amidst fallen logs and rocky terrain.

One more capture, I think. Okay, maybe two. Below, a final glance back out towards the mountains to one of my favourite trees, standing skinny and tall and straight.

See you next time,
♡ Whitney

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