The Contrast

As I immersed myself in the natural beauty of Wyoming and Montana, I kept coming back to this idea of contrast. Think of delicate wildflowers gently waving in the wind with stony peaks in the background. The flowers move and shift in response to their environment, moment to moment…and season to season.

Every where I paused, I was struck by this contrast. Sunflowers danced in a coming Kansas storm. Wandering Daisies and Paintbrushes lined the trail to an alpine lake in the Tetons. And in Yellowstone, I was struck by the vibrancy of flora next to geothermal activity. And in Glacier, the Harebell and Yarrow was joined by huckleberries!

But the theme of contrast extends beyond wildflowers that refuse to be defined by weather, soil, or even stomping boots.

I noticed this contrast while watching the bull moose nuzzle noses with a female. They nibbled greens, checked in with one another, and then crossed the trail ahead of me. The bull kept an eye out to make sure I wasn’t a threat.

But casually returned to the business of…moose-ing. This intimidating creature also had a gentle side.

I also saw contrast in the way water pushed its way through “immovable” rock. From the aptly named Artist Point in Yellowstone, I wondered at the difference between liquid and solid. This contrast tells a story about perseverance and the changes that happen over time.

And what about temperature?

From geothermal ground that will burn your skin off…up to glaciers. These natural wonders are within just a new hours of one another. Can you imagine stumbling upon this world for the first time? One moment the water is chilling you to the bone…and the next it’s hot enough to sanitize your dishes.

Then there’s my willingness to crawl out of a tent at 4 am for the ideal start time…contrasted with the desire to stay curled into a cozy, comfy bed.

That’s where I am now.

I look back at three weeks of constant movement, early mornings and evenings – rising and setting myself with the sun, long days of hiking, dehydrated meals more often than not…

And that’s over. For now.

I’m settling into a season of stillness. Work responsibilities kick back into high gear. Meal prep becomes a part of the weekly rhythm. I sleep in the same place for more than just a few nights. And long hikes are for the weekend.

I’ve been in Spokane for a week now and the acclimation has been harder than I anticipated. It feels like everything screeched to a halt. But I know that’s not true. There’s adventure to be found in stillness. Now, please excuse me while I go find it.