Mt. Hood at sunset from Vista Ridge outside Parkdale, Or.

A small slough reflects the golden hour light in the Lava beds at the top of McKenzie Pass, Or.

A Raven eyes the shiny camera at Rocky Butte Park in Portland, Oregon

Reflections of the Hunter's Moon in Trillium Lake, Oregon

Mt Rainier hides in the clouds above Tipsoo Lake at the top of Chinook Pass, Wa.

This view from the summit of Slate peak is from the highest drivable point in Washington State, at 7440ft.and the top of Hart's Pass- A fascinating story, the road was first constructed in the 1890's to service the gold and silver mines that prompted the near 1000 residents at the time to brave the elements and live here.  The road was "improved" in the 1950's to clear the way for the construction of a cold-war radar installation, but still clings precariously to the side of a cliff in several areas.  The top 41 feet of the mountain were blasted off to make room for construction and the original Fire Lookout torn down.  The Radar Installation was removed at the end of the cold war, and the current Fire Lookout sits atop a 41-foot structure to restore the original view.  The PCT runs right through this area, and several trails access the amazing Pasayten Wilderness area.  The vistas are spectacular in any direction and are worth the significant effort involved in getting here.

This view from the road up Hart's Pass, Wa...this road is not for the faint of heart, featuring significant drop-offs in the hundreds of feet and the occasional oncoming vehicle-usually at a very inconvenient spot where somebody is backing up/down a very narrow road with consequences ...

Clouds dancing among the ridge and mountain tops as snow squalls turn to showers to snow...North Cascades, Wa.

Fresh snow above Lyman Lake in North Cascades, a precursor of weather to come.

An old ore cart from the twenties lies dormant at Trinity Mine...interesting to see the now-unusual abbreviation for Washington State.

Gathering clouds signaling the end of our window of good weather...North Cascades, Wa.

Swapping stories of the day as the frost settles in...

The view from atop Marten Ridge, North Cascades, Wa.

The Sun throwing it's last vestiges of light across clouds at the top of Buck Peak near Trinity, North Cascades, Wa.

Everywhere I went within the North Cascades, the diversity and sheer volume of mushrooms was overwhelming...I was not brave enough to sample the wares.

The seemingly endless sea of peaks visible from anywhere within the Park

One of the many stunning Lakes in this region of the North Cascades, with waterfall after waterfall, filling Lake after Lake

The view across the pickets, North Cascades, Wa.

Snotel Reflections...a Precipitation gauge at Summit Lake, OR...

Gigantic snag near  Irish and  Taylor Lakes, Or.

Weathered "driftwood" at Irish and Taylor Lakes in Central Oregon...

Nisqually Glacier on Mt. Rainier, WA...

Water splashes on the shore of Odell Lake, Or...

A bee works on a Cone Flower in Holland Meadows, Central Oregon...

 The small viewing portals above, each with the name of a geographic feature are a fascinating highlight of the Dee Wright Observatory's structure at the top of McKenzie Pass, open only June to October each year. It was completed as a CCC project in 1935.  Each opening looks directly at the geographical feature for which it is named and matches precisely the Dias pictured below that is mounted on the roof of the structure.  Built entirely of the lava from the surrounding flow, it is an impressive monument.

Interesting to note the casting by Benson Polytechnic High School in Portland, Or.-Which began as the Portland School of Trades in NW Portland. The school was coeducational after it's founding in 1908 until 1913 when the Girls' Departments were moved to the original Lincoln High School.  The school has always been somewhat ground-breaking participating in what was some of the first "GI Bill" education in WWI when it educated 50 disabled Soldiers.  

The School continues today as a Magnet School, with a lottery to determine entry as one of it's ~1100 students.

The entrance to the Dee Wright Observatory at the top of McKenzie Pass, Or...

The Moon setting over Mt. Rainier...

Moonrise at Aneroid Lake in the Wallowa Mountains, Or...

Above and below, Sunrise reflections on Aneroid Lake, Wallowas, Or.

Signs of Spring...

 Shots from the Northern Oregon Coast around the fourth...

 I've been seeing a lot of beautiful old barns lately, there will come a time when these all are gone...I have watched each of these progress towards self-destruction i the last few years...

Top and middle are from far Eastern Oregon and the bottom one is from Goldendale, Washington...

Mt. Adams in background...

The glow from the pre-dawn light of this sunrise on my wall was so profound that it woke me out of a sound sleep.  I leapt out of bed, grabbed my camera, and ran out the door.  A half hour later it was grey and bucketing rain...I feel fortunate to have enjoyed this, hopefully you will too!

 A strong will, a strong constitution, a strong back and a keen intellect make 

        most projects, this one included, a reality.  Pat McCormick prepares his baby for a mission.

Avalanche pipe in action...

Summit of Mt. Hood-11,250'

Nearly full moon from Gearhart on  the Oregon Coast...

In the depths...

me and my shadow...Mt. Hood

getting the goods...

More from the white room...

Watson Gettin' Down

Murph Dog nipple deep...