A man with a beard and tattoos giving a thumbs-up gesture, standing in front of a birthday decoration with a banner that says 'Happy Birthday' and a poster referencing '30 things I adore about you.'

Long Way to Thirty

Headed westward through the Great Plains and Rocky Mountains has been such a deep part of my life that I’ve held close to my spirit. My first time experiencing these remote regions of the US was back in 2011 when my folks and I drove to Colorado and decided to take the long way there. To say the least: it was a pretty neat trip filled with lots, and I mean lots, of little moments that are still referenced today.

Since then, I’ve made my way out West twice. Each time, I’ve expanded and explored new routes. During my last visit in 2018, I had discovered a place that many friends and family have heard me talk about: Crazy Creek Falls. It was by total whimsy that I had stumbled upon this place. Like, I mean, I woke up that day planning to drive a completely different route into Yellowstone. I struck up a conversation with the post office clerk in Wibaux, Montana, and they recommended I drive the Beartooth Highway out of Red Lodge. 

It had rained pretty aggressively that night at Crazy Creek Campground and left a dense fog throughout the valley, which made the experience of hiking up to the falls feel so dreamy and ethereal. I remember the feeling of lush mist on my skin and the low rumble of the water crashing into boulders while I prepared my Canon F-1 to capture the moment. I was thinking to myself this shot was going to be great, but little did I know that it was going to be the photograph that would ground me and be a constant reminder of what’s out there. I’ve longed a return to this memory.

When I moved back to Chicago in early 2023, I had that photo printed in Black & White, framed, and placed it throughout the apartment where I could constantly see it every day.

So, fast forward, when the question “what do you want to do for your 30th birthday?” came up, I felt it was time to return west. This trip westward was accompanied by my lovely beautiful partner, Alexis, who had never been out this way. We’ve both been so incredibly busy this summer and wanted to create core memories for ourselves to hold and cherish. The photos are a collection of moments we both photographed and are truly just a glimpse of the incredible journey we made and will never tell the full story of our travels. I do hope they inspire you to discover your own path through the Great Plains and Rocky Mountains. It’s a beautiful place filled with ways of life and culture that can only be experienced, not told.

Enjoy,

mackle

Line drawing of a dog, possibly a Rottweiler, with a muscular build and alert expression.

Westward

July 25 - August 5, 2026

Line drawing of four birds in flight against a black background.

Enchanted Highway

Gladstone, North Dakota

An outdoor art installation featuring a large circular metal structure with flying bird sculptures and a ring at the center, set against a cloudy sky and surrounded by a sandy ground with some grass.
Open farmland with hay bales, a white barn, and distant silos under a gray sky.
Open field with silos and modern wind turbines, cloudy sky, daytime.
Outline drawing of a mountain peak rising above layered terrain.

Theodore Roosevelt National Park

Medora, North Dakota

Scenic view of a vast desert land with rugged hills and sparse vegetation under a bright, clear sky.
Contemporary building with curved roof and walkway, with people walking on grassy hillside and outdoor plaza area, under overcast sky.
Interior view of a modern building with large wooden columns and a high ceiling, where a group of people are standing near an entrance or exhibit area.
A scenic view of a park with a winding pathway, grassy fields, and a parking lot with cars. There are a few people walking along the path and a parking lot structure in the distance under a hazy sky.
A rugged dirt trail winds through rolling hills covered with shrubbery and sparse vegetation, leading into a hazy landscape with distant hills under a pale sky.
A park with large trees, a pathway, picnic table, and a small grill in a peaceful outdoor setting during late afternoon or early evening.
Person setting up a tent in a grassy field with trees and hills in the background.
A scenic view of an open valley with rolling hills, a winding dirt road, sparse trees, and a distant flat-topped mesa under a hazy sky.
A black and white photo of a winding river flowing through a valley, surrounded by rolling hills and scattered trees.
Sun setting over a winding river through a hilly landscape.
A dry, grassy hillside with a rocky hill or small mountain in the background under a clear sky.
Dry, brown, and gray wild plants in the foreground with a blurred, rocky background.
Close-up of a textured, reddish-brown rock surface with rough, uneven patterns.
Sunset over a mountainous landscape with rocky cliffs, green vegetation, and a river in the valley below.
Two people walking along a dirt trail overlooking a winding river in a valley during sunset, with hills and sparse vegetation.
Sunset over a mountainous landscape with a dark sky and scattered clouds.
Nighttime scene featuring a camping tent illuminated from within, set among trees with the moon shining in the clear sky above.
A black and white illustration of a chocolate bar with the text 'G'day Pass' and 'Elevation to' on it.

Beartooth highway

Red Lodge, Montana

Black and white photo of mountains, trees, and a cloudy sky.
Blurry black-and-white photo of a mountain landscape with a large tree in the foreground and mountain peaks in the background.
A black and white photo of a rugged mountain range with steep, jagged peaks and forested slopes.
Black and white photo of tall mountain with rocky slopes, evergreen trees in foreground, and snow patches at the top, seen through the side mirror of a car.
Black and white photo of a mountain range with patches of snow on the peaks, under a cloudy sky.
A white SUV with a roof cargo box parked on a barren, rocky landscape under a cloudy sky, with distant mountains on the horizon.
Black and white photo of a mountainous landscape with rocky terrain, a chairlift, and a few parked vehicles against a cloudy sky.
Black and white line drawing of a bird perched on a branch

Beartooth highway

Cody, Wyoming

A rugged mountain landscape with cliffs, snow patches, a small lake, and rolling hills under a cloudy sky.
A mountain landscape with snow-capped peaks and clouds in the sky, a red SUV and a blue car parked on the ground, a person sitting on the red SUV, and a flock of sheep grazing nearby.
Two red snow grooming machines on a mountain landscape with snow patches, rocky terrain, and cloudy sky.
A landscape scene with rolling green hills, small ponds, and a cloudy sky.
A vast open landscape with grassy terrain and scattered rocks under a cloudy sky.
Scenic view of a lake and mountain landscape with green trees and rocky terrain, partly visible from a car window.
Mountain landscape with rocky terrain, patches of snow on mountain peaks, and a forest of evergreen trees.
Three black cows walking through a grassy field with shrubs, trees, and rocky mountains in the background.
Scenic view of a forested mountain landscape with a waterfall and a bridge, viewed from a moving vehicle.
A scenic view of a mountain range partially covered by clouds, with the sun setting behind the mountains. The road in the foreground curves through a dense forest of tall pine trees.
A black silhouette of a cartoon character with a curly hat, glasses, and a large mustache. The character has a round nose and big shoes.

Crazy Creek Falls

Cody, Wyoming

A forest scene with tall pine trees, a dirt trail with rocks, and a brown trail sign indicating 'Trail to Falls' with an arrow pointing right.
Green pine tree branches with pinecones against a clear blue sky.
Information board for Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness with a map, guidelines, and safety tips about bears and wilderness preservation, including images of a bear and a hiker.
A forest scene with tall pine trees in the foreground and a mountain range in the background under a clear sky.
A mountain stream rushing over rocks and fallen trees with a forest of pine trees in the background.

Yellowstone National Park

Northwest Corner of Wyoming

Grand Teton National Park

Northwest Corner of Wyoming

Shoshone & Big Horn National Forest

Western & North Central Wyoming

Devils Tower National Monument

Northeast Wyoming

Black Hills

Wyoming & South Dakota

Badlands National Park

South Dakota

Dignity of Earth & Sky

Chamberlain, South Dakota

Devil’s Lake state park

Baraboo, Wisconsin

Winter Count