Creating this painting at 10,000 feet was challenging. My wife and I drove from sea level to this spot straight away. When I started to work, the wind seemed hostile to me. My brushes blew over and turpentine spilled. My wife was reading when I asked her if she felt anything peculiar. "Yes," was her answer. She replied that every page she turned irritated her. Now I see why the Donner Party ate each other -- they got an attitude from the altitude!

-- Steve Tracy