The Pull of Sisyphus
Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming, 2013
In January 2013, my best friend and I loaded up sleds, strapped on Nordic skis, and took off along the Teton Park Road, which is groomed in the winter for skiing. It's a level path, but there's no getting around the fact that pulling a sled full of gear on skis is hard work. Despite high temperatures hovering around 12 degrees Fahrenheit, we were pouring sweat in the intense sunshine, which wasn't a problem until the sun went behind the range and the temperature dropped to well below zero. -20-degree sleeping bags are expensive and bulky but worth every cent and every gram in such circumstances.
Mike also is largely responsible for introducing me to existentialist philosophy, including The Myth of Sisyphus by Albert Camus. This trip and this photo in particular became a metaphor for us when describing a difficult, frustrating day at work. Every so often, I get a text from him that reads something like, "Today's a 12-miler."
Photo © copyright by Greg Owens.