I am glad to see the photos and KPAX had a good feature about you in Great Falls, the good guy in the white hat!! I love following your adventures on the blog, it's nice to have this subscribers only feature. But I signed up to support YOU and do not feel the need for a bonus. The world of blogging is becoming complicated. Here's to community and friendships!
These stirred my heart. I can only imagine how it felt to you to see tipis in the distance, see Buffalo, hear the drums. (I get super romantic/nostalgic/melancholic when I go to Scottish clan gatherings.) Vicariously loving this beautiful road trip.
Ack this is so great. When I lived in Oregon I had to take long road trips to Eastern Oregon regularly and people would ask me similarly if I was tired of it and I was like are you kidding? I loved every excuse I could get for a road trip. My favorite part of the state is the Wallowas, when you get near Hell's Canyon and get a sense of it spreading east into Idaho and Montana. Living in Alaska, you can take road trips, but there are basically two highways, and the boreal forest is loonnnng. I miss that variety of high desert and buttes, pines, and the chance to see a few pronghorn in the distance. Beautiful to see it, thanks so much for sharing and giving us a view of your road trips---which I agree are the best.
I loved this! I would also 100 percent listen to a podcast or other audio-type offering. BUT even your free writing alone is worth the subscription. :)
I love the photos, Chris. I don't get to your part of the world often, so it's good to see it in this way, to have some current pictures to place in my mind when I'm reading your words.
I also love the idea of a podcast, although I do not want to sign you up for that work if you're not super into it yourself. As I understand it, the editing alone is a ton of time and effort. You do have a great voice though, in both senses of the word, and I know you don't think your meanderings are that interesting, but I and [how many readers now??] respectfully disagree. I have just a few podcast-type things I listen to on the regular. I like to listen while I'm cutting back the blackberries or tending the tomatoes or pruning the weird shrubs that came with this house. Desert Oracle gets a lot of that listening time, for example. I'd love to add you to that short list.
It was your writing and photographs that immediately engaged my attention upon arriving here as a free subscriber. Your writing and photographs are what keep me engaged. Becoming a paid subscriber is how I can actively show appreciation for your work. With a paid subscription, I wasn't expecting more than you already give so generously. It is a joy to look at your photo essay, especially the glimpses from the Little Shell Pow Wow.
I know you shared this a minute ago but maybe you will see this... I found you through AHP and subscribed to your substack for a couple of reasons. The manner in which you put thoughts to paper is beautiful, of course, but I also felt an opportunity to learn about a culture, a place, and people that I know nothing about. With this in mind, I would love to ask you a couple of questions. You mentioned that the "cowboy life" has been "politicized". If you do not mind explaining to a girl from an Island off of MA, (and yes I have read and learned about the Wampanoag tribe) why? The second question is that when you go to these events that you have highlighted in your photo essay, is it appropriate for non-indigenous peoples to attend, even to dance when they call everyone into the circle, or no?
I just wanted to say how much I love this photo essay. I do the same thing, thinking nobody could possibly want to look at all these photos, but yours are absolute stunners and what's more, they give me a way to go and be places I could never otherwise go and be. Sunrise at National Park Mountain, the shadows on the face & feathers of SUPAMAN, so much more ... I'm so grateful to you for giving me this opportunity.
Sep 8, 2022·edited Sep 8, 2022Liked by Chris La Tray
Great photos, thank you for sharing. I echo other sentiments regarding my subscription is to support you, not pressure you to give more. You give so much and we are so appreciative. I love being your audience. Thank you again.
I am so grateful for the summer you’ve had. I do wish I had tried harder to come say hello at any one of your destinations, but it sounds like you’ve had a wonderful time. The photos are fabulous and I might have even danced. I agree about the fancy dancers. This was great to receive. More of everything, please. Thank you.
Kind of a Photo Essay
I am glad to see the photos and KPAX had a good feature about you in Great Falls, the good guy in the white hat!! I love following your adventures on the blog, it's nice to have this subscribers only feature. But I signed up to support YOU and do not feel the need for a bonus. The world of blogging is becoming complicated. Here's to community and friendships!
These stirred my heart. I can only imagine how it felt to you to see tipis in the distance, see Buffalo, hear the drums. (I get super romantic/nostalgic/melancholic when I go to Scottish clan gatherings.) Vicariously loving this beautiful road trip.
Your photo of the First People's Buffalo Jump reminded me of this article. Hope your other subscribers
take the time to read it. Although there are many, this is a fine example of your writing gift.
https://www.highdesertjournal.org/chris-la-tray-ulm-pishkun
Ack this is so great. When I lived in Oregon I had to take long road trips to Eastern Oregon regularly and people would ask me similarly if I was tired of it and I was like are you kidding? I loved every excuse I could get for a road trip. My favorite part of the state is the Wallowas, when you get near Hell's Canyon and get a sense of it spreading east into Idaho and Montana. Living in Alaska, you can take road trips, but there are basically two highways, and the boreal forest is loonnnng. I miss that variety of high desert and buttes, pines, and the chance to see a few pronghorn in the distance. Beautiful to see it, thanks so much for sharing and giving us a view of your road trips---which I agree are the best.
I loved this! I would also 100 percent listen to a podcast or other audio-type offering. BUT even your free writing alone is worth the subscription. :)
I love the photos, Chris. I don't get to your part of the world often, so it's good to see it in this way, to have some current pictures to place in my mind when I'm reading your words.
I also love the idea of a podcast, although I do not want to sign you up for that work if you're not super into it yourself. As I understand it, the editing alone is a ton of time and effort. You do have a great voice though, in both senses of the word, and I know you don't think your meanderings are that interesting, but I and [how many readers now??] respectfully disagree. I have just a few podcast-type things I listen to on the regular. I like to listen while I'm cutting back the blackberries or tending the tomatoes or pruning the weird shrubs that came with this house. Desert Oracle gets a lot of that listening time, for example. I'd love to add you to that short list.
It was your writing and photographs that immediately engaged my attention upon arriving here as a free subscriber. Your writing and photographs are what keep me engaged. Becoming a paid subscriber is how I can actively show appreciation for your work. With a paid subscription, I wasn't expecting more than you already give so generously. It is a joy to look at your photo essay, especially the glimpses from the Little Shell Pow Wow.
Great photos!
Love these gorgeous photos...thanks for taking us along for the ride!
This is great! Gorgeous photos with a great story of your trip. ❤️❤️❤️
I know you shared this a minute ago but maybe you will see this... I found you through AHP and subscribed to your substack for a couple of reasons. The manner in which you put thoughts to paper is beautiful, of course, but I also felt an opportunity to learn about a culture, a place, and people that I know nothing about. With this in mind, I would love to ask you a couple of questions. You mentioned that the "cowboy life" has been "politicized". If you do not mind explaining to a girl from an Island off of MA, (and yes I have read and learned about the Wampanoag tribe) why? The second question is that when you go to these events that you have highlighted in your photo essay, is it appropriate for non-indigenous peoples to attend, even to dance when they call everyone into the circle, or no?
I just wanted to say how much I love this photo essay. I do the same thing, thinking nobody could possibly want to look at all these photos, but yours are absolute stunners and what's more, they give me a way to go and be places I could never otherwise go and be. Sunrise at National Park Mountain, the shadows on the face & feathers of SUPAMAN, so much more ... I'm so grateful to you for giving me this opportunity.
Great photos, thank you for sharing. I echo other sentiments regarding my subscription is to support you, not pressure you to give more. You give so much and we are so appreciative. I love being your audience. Thank you again.
I am so grateful for the summer you’ve had. I do wish I had tried harder to come say hello at any one of your destinations, but it sounds like you’ve had a wonderful time. The photos are fabulous and I might have even danced. I agree about the fancy dancers. This was great to receive. More of everything, please. Thank you.
I loved looking at these Chris. I also very much want to eat those tacos.
I love the photos, even though they make me homesick. Thanks for a little trip around the state when I can't be there in person.