I was snowshoeing the Cub Lake trail. It was not a great day because the wind was really strong, blowing stinging snow. I had my head down waiting for the wind to let up, just watching my feet. When I looked up a big elk was grazing just off the trail. I stopped and got a few shots off before the cold killed my battery.

I backed off around the corner of a big rock to get out of the wind to swap batteries and switch to a long lens, Panasonic 100-400. I thought I’d move off the trail into the meadow to get a better angle. When I got back the elk was joined by two others- even better!

It was tough shooting at 400 because the sun was in my eyes and I had to hold the camera one-handed and use the other hand to block the sun. But I had a blast shooting as best I could and watching these magnificent animals.