I love walking in the high country: down long, open ridges, through intimate sub-alpine meadows, along talus slopes near flower-covered alpine tundra, and frequent vast vistas. My favorite animals are mountain goats, wolverine and pika.  And while I certainly find joy in colorful songbirds or a humorous-looking puffin or toucan,

there are few wildlife subjects to me rivaling the beauty of a white-tailed ptarmigan in winter. There is a simplicity of color—deep blue skies, muted greens, stark blacks and the subtle artistry of white on white. 

The simple beauty I have seen of ptarmigans in winter in a clean winter setting surpasses all other wildlife settings to me.  Unfortunately few people have ever seen this timberline member of the grouse family, and even fewer have ever encountered a small flock or covey in winter snow, perfectly camouflaged in plain sight or sheltering under an alpine fir.   

As I look through these images just now I remember snowshoeing through high meadows in a stark and quiet landscape looking for ghost birds—the ice coating my beard, the distinctive crunch of snowshoes on snow, the tracks of a snowshoe hare wandering past sub-alpine fir.  My spirit soaks up the memories of beauty, peace and adventure.

I had hoped to spend a week again this winter in the back country of the Northern Rockies searching for ptarmigan.  But in these days of Covid it was not to be.  I really believe a person needs to surround him/herself with beauty and inspiration.  Until I again walk the high country ridges and valleys these photos give me a boost and my heart a smile; hopefully they will give you a touch of beauty too.