My June 2026 Photo of the Month is PC620, a photography taken in Park City, Utah.
PC620 Background
My latest workcation in Park City wasn’t how I expected. I knew that this time of year could be “mud season.” As it turned out, after a very poor wet season, it was much too dry. In fact, even at 7,000 feet, many days were even hotter than back home in San Diego. My bad photo luck travels, too.
This particular image was taken on one of the “good days.” I admired the Cove Trailhead area, and had been waiting for a day with something dramatic in the skies. On the clearer (and much hotter) days, I hiked Roxy Hill and did an entire loop, and even managed to not scare up a moose while doing it. But on this day, I spent some good time on the saddle, admiring the clouds developing and capturing a few moments.
This was the first time up there where the action wasn’t up at Guardsman Pass, but I had been there previously when the Aspens were changing color, so that was easy to focus on.
The trip ended on a somber note, as well, because it felt like the entire State of Utah was on fire. For as many jokes as people make about California’s wildfires, the rest of the West is far from immune. A couple fires brought immense smoke to the air, and going out for a walk in the morning felt like Los Angeles in the 1970s (!). At one point, driving home on Interstate 15 near Beaver, I passed what looked like an uninterrupted 50 mile wall of smoke that was the Cottonwood Fire. I hope San Diego County can avoid the same this coming fire season.
Thank you for viewing, and I hope you enjoyed the image.
Further Viewing
Photos of the Month Portfolio Archive
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T.M. Schultze is a San Diego-based photographer, traveller, and writer. He writes, photographs, and draws things of the outdoors that have inspired humans for thousands of years. He co-authored the Photographer’s Guide to Joshua Tree Park which can be purchased here.
The sky adds sweep and drama to the image.