*My grandfather, Raymond Stejskal* (originally published in 2016, after his passing). In the late 90’s, when Radiohead had released Ok Computer and Oasis was still a thing, I took a trip to Wisconsin’s Northwoods. The reason? Ten days of demolition work on my grandfather’s cabin. Our goal was to completely remove a bedroom, and board …
Last March in Yellowstone National Park, I had an extraordinary moment with one of the most resilient animals in the world: the bison. This particular bison was a giant mop-top. Indeed a relic of the Yellowstone plateau, covered in ice yet still showing its ribs as it battled a long winter. The day appeared normal at …
Hey guys, I didn’t get a chance up until now to post a 2022 year end wrap up, so here it is. I’m sitting here in a hotel room in the Pacific Northwest working on my latest novel. There’s a lot going on. To the point I’m just trying to balance everything the best I …
I drove southwest from where I’d been filming moose in Glacier National Park, descending from fifty degree temps and rain-soaked forests into a dry plain known for good elk viewing. The day was hot as I followed a crunchy gravel road through one of the last intact Palouse prairies in the lower 48. Bison dotted …
Five years ago, I was camped deep in Glacier National Park. The leaves were long free of their branches and pirouetted across the park in bitter winds. I woke pre-dawn and hiked to a nearby lake, well aware that the country was thick with grizzlies in hyperphagia. As the sun offered its first rays of …
It had been a year since I’d been to Glacier. Historically, it has always been my favorite place to spend time in nature. There’s something about its unique geology and stacked megafauna that creates a visceral ambiance like no other. But for some reason, I’d spent more time in Yellowstone recently (another favorite park) and …
The Day of the Lions. Spring time, Montana. They say spring is often a time of change. And that certain external events mark those changes. I’d just gotten out of a relationship and was adjusting to a new world, new patterns, new rhythms. In essence, I was trying to find myself again. But I was …
It’s been a long, productive winter here in western Montana. And honestly a bit wild, like the land. There’s a lot going on. My nature thriller, “The Puller” was released in early winter and is now with Pyr/Simon and Schuster. The audiobook version came out last week, and from the samples I’ve heard, the narrator …
When people see my images of Montana, or the PNW, they often see photos taken in the absolute best conditions. For example, the brief but brilliant fall, or the vibrant spring that lasts ten days between winter and the scorching heat of summer. My images of sparkling blue lakes, fall-kissed aspen leaves and warm, inviting …
A unique and incredible thing happened in late October. While hiking in Glacier, I had a once in a lifetime encounter with a wolf. Due to the weather, I was lucky to have this portion of the park to myself. As a copse of pine trees kneeled in the wind, I had a deep sense …