Missing Home

Although I love living in the Inland Northwest, and would hate to give up the amazing mountains, dense forests and innumerable lakes and rivers; there are days when I miss Arizona and my hometown immensely. Today is one of those days. It is August, and monsoon season in Flagstaff. I can't help but regret missing out on the sudden dramatic downpours which leave as quickly as they come, followed by the indescribable smell of the the aspen, pine, and ferns washed clean by the summer rain. Every year, I used to take drives out to Hart Prairie and Fern Mountain just north of Flagstaff with my dad. In years where there is an unusual amount of rain, the forest comes alive with rich greens that are so rare for the arid regions of the southwest.  The dense undergrowth amidst the trees at the base of Fern Mountain provide comfortable accommodations for elk, and if you are lucky, you might be able to spot a few. Today my dad took our yearly drive without me, but sent me dozens of photos of my favorite places. This year has been one of the mildest and wettest Flagstaff has seen in a long time, and the results are amazing! Here are a few of the photos my dad, Greg Smith, decided to share with me from a distance.