I was driving along the Seward Highway when a flash of white caught my eye—Dall Sheep, grazing lower on the mountainside than I had ever seen them. It felt like a rare invitation from the landscape itself. Thankfully, my camera was already set up on the seat beside me, so I pulled over at a safe distance, heart thumping with that familiar blend of awe and urgency.

One sheep stopped mid-chew and looked directly at me, a tuft of autumn grass still tucked in its cheek. For a moment, everything else went quiet. Meeting my gaze—a quiet, watchful guardian of the mountain.

Higher up the rocky ledges, a few others peeked over the cliff edges, their silhouettes playful against the sky, almost as if they were taunting me with a lighthearted “You can’t get us!” but the one in front of me stayed grounded, unhurried, and fully present. This piece honors the quiet moments that we should all enjoy when we are lucky enough to encounter one.

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