Mount Of The Holy Cross With Wolf

April 2024       Oil on Canvas         50" x 72"

Pilgrimage
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For 150 years, artists have memorialized Mt. Holy Cross with painted images and photographs which are still widely reproduced and prominently displayed in homes. I have collected a few of the vintage images to my delight.
Mt. Holy Cross is a famous mountain in the Fourteener club, which has been revered and climbed by many. Photographed by William Henry Jackson in 1873, this 14,002 foot peak attracted Victorian pilgrims who would trek to the remote Wilderness to see the cross etched in snow. 13,243 foot high Notch Mountain provided a direct view. Sight of the cross was believed to bring blessings and healing to all who visited. Imagine men in suits and woman wearing heeled boots in fancy clothes with long skirts hiking at high altitude. This mountain bestows its grace on the area where I grew up and reveled in nature. The last time I summited in 2019, I had the pleasure of enjoying the views at dusk by myself. I was not wearing a long skirt.

Reintroduction
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Gray Wolves have been
reintroduced to Colorado.
Ten wolves were released to the Western Slope of Colorado in December 2024. The voters chose this controversial move. There has been no reported wolf mortality nor livestock depredation to date. With sensitivity to my ranching, outfitter and horse-loving friends, I celebrate the restoration of this apex member of the ecosystem. This majestic mammal has been vilified for too long. The fact that any wolves remain in America is a testament to their resilience. I admire their ability to successfully navigate mountain and other environments even with so much loss of habitat from encroachment of humans.
Wolves are revered by Native Americans and others that connect to their spirit. Legend and lore teaches wolf medicine guides us to explore Courage, Loyalty, Freedom, Wisdom, Leadership, Intelligence, Teamwork, Tribe and Collaborative Community.

Reflection
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 The magnificence of the Colorado Rockies inspires inner reflection. The water that collects in the high lakes of the Holy Cross Wilderness is pristine snow melt and is collected to be diverted to the Front Range of Colorado. At age six, I "Walked for Water" to raise money to fight the reservoir expansion. Water is life and this precious resource must be conserved to maintain steam levels.
For much of my life, I explored the mountains and high desert of Central Colorado. When I was a young, my mother co-founded a Nature Center. I was taught and quizzed on the names of the flowers, trees, birds and animals. Some of my first drawings and paintings were of wildflowers and mountains. I spent countless hours with my dog, Woody, hiking and riding horses by myself before age 10. Throughout my life, I found peaceful reflection in nature. I am grateful for this time to touch inner quiet and revel in the beauty of my surroundings.