Winter in the Rockies is a difficult time for wildlife. Food is scarce, the terrain can be perilous and everyone is at the mercy of mother nature. As hardy as these rugged animals are, the matter of the fact is that times are difficult. What does this mean for wildlife photographers? Well, our already difficult task of photographing wildlife just became a lot harder!

Early one winter morning I sat, nearly frozen, at the base of a mountain. It’s giant, rocky cliffs covered in ice and snow. I had spent the morning spotting the mountainside and her tall peaks for Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep, one of my favorite animals to photograph this time of year. After what had seemed an eternity of searching, I finally spotted the Sheep I was looking for high above me. Buckling on my gators to keep the snow out of my boots, I began the steep ascent up the snowy mountainside, grateful to be moving again.

Within minutes, my body temperature had risen considerably and I forced myself to slow my pace so as not to sweat. The Sheep weren’t in any hurry and I had time. Looking down behind me I immediately cursed myself for doing so. I felt as if I’d been hiking up this vertical mountainside for miles and was quickly reminded that I’d only covered a couple hundred yards. Looking back up towards the Sheep high above, I let out a deep breath and continued on my way.

Fifteen minutes later and not too much farther up the mountain I was seriously beginning to question my life’s decisions. Smiling to myself, I remembered the similar thoughts I’d had the previous week as I set out after these Bighorns. Of course, it was always worth the effort in the end and there was truly no place I’d rather be at this moment. Rounding a familiar rocky outcropping and emerging on top, I was surprised to see a group of Sheep right in front of me! I hadn’t been able to see this bunch from below and was thrilled as the Ram I’d been looking for the last couple of weeks was here along with the rest of these beautiful Sheep.

Settling down in the soft snow, I took a moment to enjoy and appreciate my surroundings, the Sheep, the crisp winter air and to soak it all in. Finally, I raised my camera and began to photograph my morning’s quarry. The Bighorns were comfortable with my presence and didn’t pay any attention to this familiar human who frequently and willingly chose to scale this steep and perilous mountain in the middle of winter just to be with them.