July is always a good time to climb Mount Timpanogos. The wildflowers bloom is about to peak, the mountain goats feed at dawn in the meadows above timberline, and it is just plain beautiful and quiet up out of the heat in the valley below.

I have been watching this old female for about five years. She usually has a young kid with her, but this year is alone. I think she is getting very old and solitary. You can see that she is suffering from weakness in her hind legs as she climbs higher after grazing in the meadow.

Alone and in a weakened state, she may become prey for mountain lions. Nature is beautiful and sad.