Taken at Devil’s Lake State Park of Baraboo, WI. This marked my second trip to the area, and there was good reason for so much fewer people being present. Ice and snow blanketed the lakeside trails and made for very treacherous crossings. A persistent wind intensified the already punishing cold, and the open lake provided no shelter from either. I was prepared for the hike, but accepted that the scourge of winter would make quick work of my outing.
A thick sheet of ice on the shoreline rocks forced my return after a while, and the outing in general weighed on my heart and mind. I kept pace throughout the hike to help stay warm, which left little time for art and admiration. I watched the lake while returning, hoping to at least find a sense of calm for all of the trip’s difficulty, and was stopped by these two wanderers, striding from one bank to the other without fear or hesitation. They took their route as only true companions could – no uncertainty, no second thought, and no slowing down.
I admired their bravery and daring, but didn’t stay to watch them. I knew they didn’t go that way for the spectacle of it, but for the bond they shared and the gift of togetherness.
Minolta XD 11
Minolta 75-200mm MD f/4.5
Kodak TMAX – ISO 100