Everest in Full Flight

 Some encounters are simply too special to walk away from.

I first noticed this bald eagle watching fishermen unload their catch in Craig, Alaska. The busy dock offered little beauty, and I was on my way to supper when the eagle lifted effortlessly into the air and glided toward a quiet cove. Instead of following my friend to the café, I followed the eagle.

Perched atop weathered pilings draped in moss, he seemed to embody the spirit of coastal Alaska—wild, confident, and completely at home. For several minutes, we shared the cove in silence. Then, without warning, he launched into flight, sweeping past me with wings outstretched and absolute purpose.

This photograph captures the moment he departed, but not the feeling he left behind.  I decided to call him Everest.