Saintgrizzly, Swatch Range, 1997

Vern pauses atop the sprawling summit of Mount Hope in Colorado’s Sawatch Range after he and I finally caught up to his girlfriend (who’s name I now fail to recall). She shot up the mountain at lightning speed. She showed us up physically, but it did not quell Vern’s anger. She was not interested in his insistence that the group remain together and rebelliously struck out on her own, leaving us no clue as to her whereabouts until we found her on the summit. This was one of several stormy relationships Vern had with women. He seemed more content to live life on his own, though I’m sure he would have been very glad to have the right companion to share his life. Digtal scan of a 35mm photo. Photo by Aaron Johnson