The Kenow Wildfire was a real son of a bitch. In late summer 2017 it burned up approximately eighty percent of Waterton’s trail structure. It also threatened the entire town site including the iconic Prince of Wales hotel.

Almost ten years later the forest is coming back. On trail after trail we witnessed new births of aspen trees that barely reached our waist as well as super thin pines already standing seven feet. Ten more years and these new trees will be part of the old guard.

No matter how unplugged we have been this summer, we can’t help but notice a similar devastation ravaging the United States. As the horrors pile up, we take comfort in knowing that everything exists in a cycle. There will eventually come a time when America rights itself. At least that is what we tell ourselves. The alternative is just too bleak to contemplate.