Carlsbad Caverns in Carlsbad Caverns National Park, New Mexico, is a magical place. Carved out of the very fabric of the Earth itself, this cave system stretches for endless miles. Although many of the caves have been well explored and well mapped, there remains much to be found yet. Intrepid spelunkers are still working on the caves, still finding new passages and still finding new rooms. Science is expanding its knowledge rapidly.

Yet, even in the known sections there remain wonders to be found. Every step of the path reveals something new, and turning around gives one a fresh perspective. The warped walls, the intricate stone formations, the mighty pillars, stalactites and stalagmites all combine into one, dancing between your light and the darkness, calling, beckoning ever onward.

High up on one wall is the heart of Carlsbad. The walls twist impossibly around the void, framing the heart perfectly, and reminding explorers, new and experienced, that the cave is alive here in the world of shadows. The silence, and the very caves themselves, go on forever into the darkness. Yet the heart beats on, forever, just as it always has and just as it inexorably will.

Morning in Yellowstone National Park. It’s a time to start a new day, and a time to catch up with old friends to see how they are doing. It doesn’t matter that the ones catching up are elk, for they miss their friends, too What struck me about this scene, however, is the calf next to its mother. Standing there, not quite patiently, yet not ready to leave her side, either. Still, it is inquisitive and it can’t wait to get about its day.

Elk are social animals, with the females choosing to live in loose herds, while male elk typically live alone or in small bachelor groups. Being social, they are friendly to each other, and watch out for each other. The morning ritual is an important one, for many reasons.

Yellowstone National Park is home to approximately 20,000 elk in the winter, and up to 30,000 elk in the summer months; its pristine environment and habitat are perfect for the animals that live there. Here, the bends of the tributary that later flows into the Yellowstone River afford a perfect place  for water and forage, and, importantly to these elk, a perfect place for the morning meeting.

Shortly after this moment, the calf received its wish, and it was off into the day’s adventure.

Small Footsteps

There is, perhaps, nothing so incredible for a parent than to see their little one take their first footsteps. And, perhaps, there is nothing so incredible for the little one as taking that first footstep into the world and the adventures that lie ahead of them.

In Yellowstone National Park, during the month of June, this tiny vignette is repeated across the park every day by all manner of creatures, from the smallest to the largest inhabitants. Mothers everywhere watch their young find their feet, gather them up, and stand for the first time. From there it quickly progresses to walking, running and then keeping up with their parents.

This particular photo to me is exceptionally poignant. Taken extremely early in the day, it is a small moment in a baby elk calf’s life… he is clearly so proud, so happy and so eager to climb the mountainside to see what wonders await him at the top. His mother, meanwhile, just looked up from her grazing to carefully and proudly watch her youngster, exactly in the manner that all mothers carefully and proudly watch their young depart on their first adventure. It matters not who you are, for all parents experience that moment and it reinforces how wonderful, how incredible and how awesome our world is. Proud footsteps!

Peek-A-Boo Elk

“Whatcha doin?”

I about jumped out of my skin, for, after all, I wasn’t exactly expecting to be spoken to just then. All my attention had been focused on the sunset in front of me, and, well, most of the time Elk don’t really talk much. Turning to the young fellow, though, I explained that I was trying to take a picture of this amazing sunset here at the Grand Canyon.

“Oh.” was all he said in response to that, and he continued to peek over the top of the other Elk who was was simply enjoying the sunset. The sun continued to creep lower and in a moment it would be perfect. But just as I was getting ready to finally get the perfect shot, a loud, and very startling “NOW!” broke the spell. I jumped about a mile, straight up. The camera went flying (but I caught it), and I was left breathless. Glancing at him with a questioning look, he said (gently this time) “now it is perfect.” Indeed it was, and so the moment was captured, the camera put away, and equipment quickly stowed.

And with that, we all watched the sun slip below the horizon in companionable silence.