"October's Call"

The story behind October's Call

For three summers my husband and I worked as rock climbing guides at Devils Tower in Wyoming. We were employed by a guide service and naturally spent a lot of time with our coworkers due to the job's remote location. 

Our days were spent in constant motion. When weren't guiding, we were trail running with our coworkers (who quickly became friends), giving harder climbing routes a try, or hanging out in the creek on the hot summer afternoons.

There was very little cell service and the wifi was spotty at best. We spent our time away from screens and out in the real world, interacting with people and our environment - just the way life is meant to be. 

At night we slept in our cozy little trailer that my husband built. It was only large enough to fit a full size bed. A tiny shelf just below the ceiling held handfuls of books, and string lights softly illuminated the space.

There were many nights I'd walk out to the trailer under a sky full of stars with only the silhouette of Devils Tower breaking up the twinkling mass. I learned quickly to bring a light while walking on the path because porcupines visited after sunset. 

I loved everything about where we lived. Our friends, the unmistakable smell of the Ponderosa pines, the local bar that we all visited on Tuesdays, and the outdoor shower that faced Devils Tower.

Inevitably, the season would come to an end in October - and that’s when the elk arrived.

When we woke up to the crisp fall air, we could hear them bugling at dawn not far from our trailer. It made me smile hearing them nearby, but it was bittersweet knowing we had to say goodbye so soon.

Their call was a reminder of the changing seasons, and was also our queue to pack up our things and leave until the next summer arrived. 

Their appearance was bittersweet, but even as we packed up to leave I was already looking forward to the next season - another summer full of adventures. 

Print details:

All prints are museum-quality with archival inks that last a lifetime. Paper reproductions are printed on textured watercolor paper, while canvas prints come with a beautiful gloss varnish finish. 

* Paper Prints: Archival giclée prints, produced on fine art watercolor paper.

* Rolled Canvas: Canvas prints are rolled with care and shipped in a tube. In order to be hung these prints must be stretched by a professional framer after arriving.

* Stretched canvas: These gallery wrapped canvases arrive on sturdy 1.25" deep wooden stretcher bars. They are ready to hang in your home as soon as you unbox your print.

All prints are made to order and may take up to 4 weeks to ship when demand is high. Thank you for understanding!