The Aerial Horizon

Crossing the grasslands of South Dakota, what looked like an innocent line of stratiform clouds begins form into something else…The horizontally blowing vapor takes a turn, kicking up into delicate vertical spires along a neatly formed line of cloud…To us, this was nothing but an interesting pattern blowing up off the earth; given enough energy before the sun vanishes over the horizon, these delicate spires may become a violent line of storms and pose a different challenge for the aviators who pass behind us…the sky is ever-changing, and our attention constantly shifts between appreciation of the beauty and vigilance toward the potential threats along our path.