Ladies Day: Hiking in the High Country

To me, one of the greatest joys in life is finding people to share your passions with. Hiking in the great outdoors is one of mine. And so in the summer, I love to hike with friends--male and female---who share that passion, every chance I get. And we have the greatest of fun when we get together!

I see where President Bush, an avid exerciser who loves to mountain bike, is encouraging us all to get more exercise. I couldn't agree more. No matter where we live, what time of year, we are well served---mentally, physically and emotionally---to, at the very minumum, take a good brisk walk every day. In the heat of summer, that would be very early in the morning or in the evening.

Unfortunately, there are several forest fires burning in the area and the atmosphere is hazy and heavy with smoke----smoke from fires in California, Nevada and nearby in the Bridger Teton forest-----not a good sign for June. It's very similar to conditions in 1988 when the great megafires of Yellowstone captured world attention.

Those fires came within five miles of my cabin near Moran, Wyoming, before firefighters dropped a napalm bomb from helicopters and created a massive back burn that sent the inferno back in the opposite direction. We were ordered to evacuate several times by the U.S. Forest Service, before the end of that fire, when an early September snowstorm began to quell the flames.

But I digress.

Looking for balsamroot, larkspur, Indian paintbrush and forget-me-nots. Enjoying the stunning scenery, large vistas, great company and a chance to get a good aerobic workout.