In the Fall of 1969 John Wayne came to the mountains of Colorado to film True Grit. In 1968 Charles Portis had written the story as a serial piece that ran in The Saturday Evening Post and had received accolades with many people considering it one of the great American novels. The novel is told from the perspective of a woman named Mattie Ross, who recounts the time when she was 14 and sought retribution for the murder of her father by a scoundrel, Tom Chaney. The title of my blog is a quote from Rooster Cogburn, played masterfully by Mr. Wayne.
Rooster Cogburn: "They don't call him "Lucky" Ned Pepper for nothin'."
Mattie Ross: "That man gave his life for him and he didn't even look back."
Rooster Cogburn: "Looking back is a bad habit."
On an August day in 2024 my husband and I found ourselves in Crested Butte with some time on our hands and a hankering to look back, so we decided to make the trip over Kebler Pass to find the filming locations of this favorite movie from my childhood. We not only found the locations, but we also found some pieces of ourselves we had lost along the way while we were trying to get through this thing called life. We looked back and adjusted our forward motion.
We knew it was going to be a magical day when we spotted a mama bear and her two cubs on our way over Kebler.
If you find yourself in Crested Butte, treat yourself to a trip over Kebler Pass. It is a beautiful drive and we have never failed to see wildlife.
There are huge groves of Aspens.
Wearing sweaters in August is one of my favorite things
This face is another.
One more indication that our day was going to be perfect. It was green lights all day.
Mining brought many of the settlers to these mountain towns and some of the mines are still producing
Beautiful blue skies
There is a large State Park on the outskirts of Ridgeway, Co. We want to go back sometime when we have several days to explore.
Ridgeway, Colorado was the stand-in for Fort Smith, Arkansas in the 1969 film and they have preserved many of the buildings.
Mattie's Father is killed right there in the street in front of the True Grit cafe.
The depot where Mattie arrives in Fort Smith is now a Ranch Museum. The museum's mission is to preserve and share Ouray County ranching history and heritage, including stories of the area's early settlers from mid-1800s to today.
The Ouray County Ranch History Museum (OCRHM) began in 2006 after completing a two-volume Ranching History of Ouray County book set that highlighted interviews with many ranching families of Ouray County. In 2007, the museum leased two classrooms in the Colona Schoolhouse from the Colona Grange #259. The Colona Schoolhouse became the home of the Ouray County Ranch History Museum for ten years.
In 2016, the Museum was offered an opportunity to relocate to Ridgway and move the ranch museum into the old Ridgway Depot building, which had been owned by the Milt Mitchell family since the mid-1960s. Now situated east of Hartwell Park, the OCRHM includes outdoor displays, among them the 1968 True Grit jail wagon and other ranching machinery. (information via their website)
The jail wagon was donated to the town by a private collector.
John Wayne sat here and there is a plaque to prove it.
This museum is fascinating, and they have done an excellent job documenting the history and making it accessible to the public.
I always struggle to decide between black and white or color. Each one reveals unique aspects that I appreciate.
There are helpful plaques to mark the locations from the film.
The location of the gallows.
The True Grit Cafe in the background and my husband putting my bags in the car so that we are not loaded down during our walk around town.
The light made me capture this shot. I also wondered if the doctor's office was up the stairs like on Gunsmoke.
This photography gallery was closed, but I had to get a shot for my vision board. I actually don't have a vision board but if I did this picture would be on it. I think a gallery like this one would be a wonderful way to share my photos.
In the spirit of Vivian Maier I try to catch our refection
This is parked in front of the Fire Station that was an event space and is currently for sale.
Grates around the trees
This is the side of the building that was used as the mortuary were Mattie identifies her father's body.
and the front of the building
I wonder if this is a tip of the hat to another great John Wayne movie? Fort Apache was one of the movies in John Fords Calvary Trilogy that they filmed in Monument Valley. Michael has promised that we can make a pilgrimage there in the near future.
While waiting for Michael to determine our next direction, I sought shelter under some aspen trees. We began the morning wearing sweaters and jackets in the low 40-degree weather, but now the temperature has risen to the 90s. As I was standing there a breeze came up and the aspens started singing. I wish I could bottle that sound. I tried to capture the motion.
I adjusted my depth of field and got some sweet bokeh
Chen Lee's
John Wayne "home" was in the back room of Chen Lee's
Rooster Cogburn: [cocks his gun] "Mr. Rat... I have a writ here says you're to stop eating Chen Lee's cornmeal forthwith. Now it's a rat writ, writ for a rat, and this is lawful service of the same. See? Doesn't pay any attention to me." [shoots the rat]
Chen Lee: [runs into the room] "Outside is place for shooting!"
Rooster Cogburn: "I'm serving some papers."
Expanding my third eye
This wasn't in the movie. I just think it is a cool building.
The mortuary from across the street.
View from the public restroom.
I entered even though they said not to.
Michael decided we would head to Ouray for lunch and more sight seeing.
There is a massive flag displayed along the highway connecting Ridgeway and Ouray. I admire our flag and the way various elements come together harmoniously to form a stunning entirety. The stars and stripes blend with the red, white, and blue colors. I hope that our nation could begin to reflect the unity symbolized by our flag. The essence of America lies in the unity of many becoming one.
Beautiful views around every turn.
What an entrance!!!!
We parked and started exploring. This is for sure one of the most stunning main streets I have ever seen.
We did not get Brats but they smelled like the sign might be telling the truth.
In Colorado sticking stickers is a sport they excel at. If someone starts the trend no one rests until the object is completely covered.
I would not trust this guy to guide me through the mountains. I think that is a fake beard. Never trust a mountain man with a fake beard.
Truth!
The Elks building is gorgeous. The monuments men build for themselves that we are able to enjoy for years.
Orange
Many of the streets are still dirt.
They filmed the interior shots of the courthouse in this building.
We left Ouray and headed back to the road that takes you to Owl Creek Pass and the meadow were Rooster has his faceoff with Lucky Ned Pepper and his gang.
From the moment you make the turn onto the road you can see Courthouse mountain and Chimney Rock in the distance.
During that part of the journey, I began to question my deep affection for this film. Despite not being a masterpiece, why does it hold such a special place in my heart and memories? The exact moment I first watched it eludes me, but I've seen it so many times that I've memorized a significant amount of the dialogue. What I do remember vividly is the Christmas when I turned 13. On that day, my dad, who was also my hero, gave me my grandmother's Stevens 22 caliber crack shot rifle and a copy of True Grit. He expressed his desire for me to read the book, believing I possessed the same determination as Mattie. Although I cherished the book, it also frightened me, knowing I lacked the courage to undertake the bold actions that Mattie did on her quest for vengeance for her father's murder.
Throughout the day, tears welled up in my eyes as I reflected on the past and discovered that I possess resilience. I rediscovered this inner strength in a new and unfamiliar setting on my journey.
There is a popular game where you inquire about someone's preferred movie scene. A few years back, my friends and I were engaged in this activity, and I chose the "Fill your hands you son of a bitch" scene from True Grit. Following everyone's responses, the person posing the question reveals that your favorite scene reflects your deepest desires. It dawned on me that I longed for a figure like Rooster Cogburn to come to my rescue. I envisioned someone who would boldly confront challenges, armed with a Winchester in one hand and an ivory-handled Colt in the other, eradicating all my troubles.
During my childhood, I believed my father was like Rooster. Although I never witnessed him horseback riding, he possessed remarkable shooting skills and remained composed during challenging situations.
When I was 26 and he was 56, my father ended his life, leaving all of us behind. How can a daughter seek justice for her father when he was the one who caused his own demise? I am now 58, just two years older than my father was when he passed away.
Memories flying past
After ascending for a considerable distance along switchbacks, we suddenly spot the meadow on the left side of the road. Stepping into the meadow, a powerful realization hits me: no one is coming to rescue me. However, the most crucial insight is that I possess the capability to save myself, a skill I have demonstrated repeatedly.
The previous year was filled with sorrow. We have said goodbye to numerous individuals whom we cherished, some due to death and others due to various circumstances. Individuals whom I believed would always be a part of my life have chosen to part ways. I left that sorrow behind in this lovely meadow.
I have also let go of the guilt. The guilt of lacking the energy to go up on the porch the night before my father took his own life. Not having that final conversation and attempting to uplift his mood. I was aware of his depression, yet I failed to reach out. That is why, if you are my friend, I will express my love for you so frequently that it may become awkward. I never want to lose another person without them knowing how much they are valued by me.
I moved on from the burden of surviving addiction when my older brother was not as fortunate. I moved on from the recollections of discovering him on the bathroom floor following his overdose.
We have overcome challenges we once believed were insurmountable, emerging even more resilient. We endured periods of depression and emerged from them with newfound sobriety.
We don't require saving from anyone as we have rescued ourselves with the assistance of our higher power.
Back to our scheduled programming. In the movie, this is the rock featured in the scene where Beau falls on Rooster and pins him down.
This meadow is called Katie’s Meadow (sometimes called Debbie’s Meadow or Deb’s Meadow) because it was the site of filming for How the West was Won with Debbie Reynolds playing Katie.
Up the mountain a few more turns right at the pass you will find Mattie's rock where she was sleeping before she slides down the hill and runs into Tom Chaney.
What is the lesson learned from both mine and Mattie's stories? I believe it is that we possessed true courage all along. Mattie is the one who bravely confronted the coward Tom Chaney, willing to take his life had Rooster loaded her gun correctly. As for myself, I have come to the realization that I had been avoiding confronting my own emotions, seeking distractions through substances initially and later through seeking validation from others. I have now understood that I needed to face my inner struggles in order to progress. This year, I have dedicated myself to confronting my past, sitting with the pain, and doing the necessary inner work. I have witnessed my dearest Michael going through a similar process, and together we have dealt with our past and are moving forward, focusing on the future rather than dwelling on the past. I am grateful for the supportive individuals who stood by the shore, cheering us on as we navigated through challenges. To those who offered help and support, we are truly thankful and have everlasting love for you.
One last shot as we pass by on our way back to life.
Happy Trails to you until we meet again and keep looking through the windshield.
Yorumlar