A before-and-after of the storm which rolled through while we were at West Fork Butte lookout.

Sunrays shine through clouds onto hills. [DJI Mini 3 Pro]

Book Rated: Saltcrop, by Yume Kitasei

Cover for Saltcrop
> SCANNING: Saltcrop> AUTHOR_SIG: Yume Kitasei> SENTIMENT_Q: 60.0% POSITIVE> THEMATIC_VECTORS: SASQUATCH_APPEARANCES, LEXICAL_ANALYSIS, NARRATIVE_STRUCTURE> LEXICAL_DENSITY: 44.09> MEMETIC_HAZARD: LOW

Our lookout was swarming with butterflies and squirrels, as depicted in the second and first pictures. It wasn't until the third picture that I realized I'd never actually seen a squirrel eat a butterfly before. Hm.

A squirrel chases another away. [Fuji X-T5 / Tamron 18-300]

The sun setting near the Idaho-Montana border.

The sun sets in a cloudy sky, turning mountains purple. [Fuji X-T5 / Tamron 18-300]

Book Rated: The Fisherman, by John Langan

Cover for The Fisherman
> SCANNING: The Fisherman> AUTHOR_SIG: John Langan> SENTIMENT_Q: 60.0% POSITIVE> THEMATIC_VECTORS: UNDUE_SNARK, NARRATIVE_STRUCTURE, CHARACTER_ARC> LEXICAL_DENSITY: 50.19> MEMETIC_HAZARD: LOW

Many of our trips end up with "signature plants" that we remember best, for whatever reason, and I think the plant for this summer will be beargrass.

A white-blooming plant loops up near a purple-flowering one. [Fuji X-T5 / Tamron 18-300]

For the last couple of days we'd headed over to West Fork Butte, which is an old lookout in the same district we work for. We were treated to a summer thunderstorm, which was pretty lovely!

A fire lookout stands on a rocky hill amidst trees, with mountains and clouds behind. [DJI Mini 3 Pro]

Book Rated: When We Were Real, by Daryl Gregory

Cover for When We Were Real
> SCANNING: When We Were Real> AUTHOR_SIG: Daryl Gregory> SENTIMENT_Q: 60.0% POSITIVE> THEMATIC_VECTORS: CHARACTER_ARC, UNDUE_SNARK, LEXICAL_ANALYSIS> LEXICAL_DENSITY: 43.46> MEMETIC_HAZARD: LOW

Book Rated: Between Two Fires, by Christopher Buehlman

Cover for Between Two Fires
> SCANNING: Between Two Fires> AUTHOR_SIG: Christopher Buehlman> SENTIMENT_Q: 60.0% POSITIVE> THEMATIC_VECTORS: SWEARS, NARRATIVE_STRUCTURE, CHEESE_DISTRIBUTION> LEXICAL_DENSITY: 48.90> MEMETIC_HAZARD: LOW

Georgetown Lake, looking south toward the mountains. My wife was very eager to go fishing here, but was betrayed by a poor-quality reel.

A little spit of grassy land heads into the water, with hills and mountains behind. [Fuji X-T5 / Fuji 10-24]