Of Goats and Gratitude
This was the weekend of GRATITUDE. My BFF Amanda and I worked for the Forest Service in the Sawtooth National Recreation Area in college. There, we met Ed Cannady, a soft-voiced and bold-minded and strong-legged mountain goat of a man, who took us into the backcountry (even to the top of Castle Peak), and taught us how to channel an elevated goat spirit (and suction cup hooves) in treacherous terrain.
Ed had a close call with cancer over the past year, so to celebrate life, a group of folks gathered in the Boulder Mountains for GRATITUDE. We saw it, and felt it, all around us.
Especially on a hike the next day, when carpe diem went wild on a backcountry fashion shoot.
In an abandoned miner’s cabin, Amanda shows how to look good in outdoor-friendly layers. Pink plaid and pink shoes and a pink-racing striped poly skirt with built-in shorts underneath? Yes please.
Thoughtful layering is a survival essential. I wear Columbia lycra coolots (Riverwear, $50, Stanley, ID), a quick-dry tank with a built-in bra (Ross Dress for Less, $10), fleece-lined Merrell boots (REI garage sale, $11), and black-and-white wool gloves that Kelly made for me.
In the high elevations, the ancient, centuries-old white bark pines are dying. But they are still a sight to behold. Specially with this lady in them, layers down.
A Turkish pashmina does a lot of heavy lifting in the backcountry, acting as variably a pillow, blanket, sling, poultice, sun shade and fashion statement/prop.
North Face blue quick-dry tank. Smith sunglasses. Go anywhere jewelry.
Striped scarf. Mossimo faux animal print pullover. Rose-colored glasses.
In the Boulders, the background bests the models. Gratitude.
