The night before we left Mammoth, it snowed at the higher elevations and we heard that Tioga Pass was closed. We packed up and left in the morning and when we got to Lee Vining we asked about the pass and heard that it had just opened again. The road was clear and dry but the peaks above the pass were dusted with snow. Near the top, we stopped for photos and I used one of them for this painting.
There was a post on Facebook to advertise Chris Ellsworth's clinic at V6 ranch this year. It included a photo of Chris riding out in the hills of the ranch. It was a great photo and I was inspired to try and paint it. The clinic starts next week and Maureen and I were signed up to go, but she decided that she was not yet ready for the rough riding and long hours in the saddle. I've enjoyed being there the last couple of years and I'll miss it.
