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“This scene shows part of the old Lolo Trail used by the
Nez Perce Indians when they left their home country in Idaho
in 1877 and crossed over the Bitter Root range into the Bitter
Root valley heading east in their attempt to reach Canada,”
says artist Howard Terpning. “The trail was extremely rough
and dangerous and yet hundreds of people managed to cross the
mountains, including old people and children, with all their
horses and goods. It was an amazing accomplishment. I could paint
this portion of the trail with some authority since I spent two
days riding the trail on horseback in the summer of 1985. It
was this adventure that inspired me to do the painting.” |