Restored neon at the American Legion Hall, Choteau Montana
I was standing in the middle of Highway 89 my first afternoon in Choteau, making a necessary photo for the project, when a gentleman emerged from the bar to ask me what I was doing. Explanations ensued, we had a great conversation, and he told me that the American Legion has just restored their sign. The people I met there were just nice like that. And I made one of my best images of the trip the next evening, “Legion.” Only a few short hours later (sunrise comes quickly after sunset in June in the northern latitudes), I made this singularly bad record shot.
Grizzly bear
I like to keep the camera with the 70-200 VR on the body when I’m driving, just in case I see something. Hmm, that’s not a cow, nor a deer. It’s too big for a dog… The region around Choteau is known as the last place in the contiguous United States where grizzly bears can forage on the open prairie. It was just book-learning to me, until last Sunday at 5:03 am. Know what a grizzly bear does when it comes to a barbed wire fence? Spreads the strands with a paw and the back of its head and keeps on going, at 30 mph. It went through 2 fences before it turned 180° and crossed behind me into the Teton River drainage.
Sunrise on Ear Mountain, west of Choteau Montana
I drive on. I don’t want to be late for sunrise. 39 minutes later, I’m making a series that includes this image. Not the best, nor worst of the trip, but definitely worth the 4:30 am alarm.
Lessons learned: 1) I cannot outrun a grizzly. I knew this in the abstract, now I am 100% certain. 2) The best and worst can follow in quick succession. I don’t know what I’ll get unless I’m out there. Time to drive on.
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