"October's Call" Original Oil Painting

24x30 inch oil painting on canvas.

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.