Getting Out of the Inversion

I picked up a friend, and we took a small road trip in search of light, hoping to escape the inversion that had settled in the valley for over a week. Our first stop was Sawtooth Reindeer, where we spent time sharing treats, stealing a few reindeer kisses, and laughing more than we expected.

Even in Carey we were still under the inversion, but in the distance we could see light breaking through. Encouraged by what we saw—and cheered by reindeer kisses—we turned toward Challis, hoping to catch a colorful sunset.

As we rounded a bend near The Craters of the Moon, the change was sudden and unmistakable. It felt like crossing a line: one side gray, the other bright and sunlit. Looking back down the road, we could actually see it—the edge of the inversion we’d been driving under. Our spirits lifted as we continued into the sunshine.

We drove on for a couple hours to a spot where I’d been told we might find elk and antelope. There were plenty of antelope, but they were too skittish for photographs. Not all was lost, though—we did find the “wild” horses near Challis. They weren’t thrilled by our presence, but they allowed photos from a distance. Thank goodness for my crop sensor and a 400mm zoom.

There was a lot of driving, and maybe not my best work—but it was worth it. Stepping out of the gloom and into a bit of nature is good for the soul.