Beauty and magic resonated around us: the snow of cottonwood, the earthy scent of sage and chamomile, delicate white and yellow wildflowers carpeting the desert canyon’s muted greens and browns, the sound of the quaking aspens in the breeze like tiny shimmering wings, shiny black beetles crossing the dusty path, the creek burbling to one side as our journey wound back to it again, glimpses of the industry of beavers along the banks, ravens riding the updrafts high above along the cliffs while calling out their names, and at the end of the day the warning rattle by my foot and the sinewy striped body as it disappeared into the brush. We went on our first true road trip of the year today to the Umtanum Canyon, fleeing the rain and grayness of the western side of the mountains for the welcomed dry heat of the east.