6. On the Lolo Trail - From Indian Post Office 7033' looking South West
Copyright © 1999 Tony Foster

with BV • Tuesday 13 July • from below Devil's Chair we hike uphill with full packs on FR 500 • over + under uncleared blowdowns + across occasional snowfields • to the highest point on the Lolo Trail • make camp • July 14 • up at 5:15 am to a dazzling yellow dawn light • find painting site on a snowfield on the ridge + start work • finish work at 7.30pm • frozen though the sun still shines • July 15 • sky blanketed by bulging rainclouds + threatening rainstorms moving fast • a young whitetail, antlers still covered in velvet grazes insouciantly 4 yards from where I work • it keeps a wary eye on me but seems unconcerned • when I sneeze violently it jumps but then continues to graze. • July 16 • work • hike back to Devil's Chair •