Fall is Harvest Time

 This time of year is the time of the PNW bounty!!  there are so many things ripe and ready for harvest and here is one!  This is Oregon's official state mushroom, the Golden Chanterelle.  Delicious and earthy, it is wonderful fresh, frozen, or even dried.  Getting out in the woods and going for a hike is such a great part of this iconic northwest activity.  I love going out with friends, or even by myself.  The joy of the first mushroom trip of the year is akin to being a child again; the restless anticipation, the "are we there yet" drive, the angst before you find a few wondering if the timing is right, or if someone found your spot.  And of course the fun when you see the first one, and you feel as if you have found an old friend..."hello! Sorry I am late"  

Fall Colors in the Upper Hood River Valley

 This is such an amazing time of year!  It is the time of Fall Foliage, harvests of all sorts of fun, and teasers of the Winter's recreational opportunities to come.  Here the Upper Hood River Valley shines resplendent in Autumn colors while the snow from a few early storms graces Mt. Hood.  Makes me want to bike, hike, and ski right now!

Palouse Falls, Washington

 I was fortunate enough last weekend to be able to travel to Eastern Washington State near Spokane for a wedding.  An amazing couple and no question the #beckweddingever2016.  On the return journey from the wedding I decided to take a sidetrip to Palouse Falls, near the town of Washtucna.  This amazing geologic oddity is right flat square in the middle of nowhere, but that only adds to it's already significant charm.  You will notice that I have actually added no images of the falls themselves, but only the surrounding terrain.  I was amazed by how much there is to see here!  There are copious numbers of images of the falls in all conditions, but I did not see a ton of shots of the periphery terrain which I found to be just as beautiful as the falls themselves.  Still waters, golden hour light, very few people and deep blue skies left a lasting impression on me.  No wonder this is Washington State's official Waterfall!

These columnar basalt pillars guard over the top of the falls and remind me a lot of formations in the Crater Lake area in Oregon.  they willingly accept the very last vestiges of sunlight and are warm to the touch a half hour after sundown!

Labor Day Sunset on Mt Tabor

 Wonderful #sunsets this Labor Day Weekend, here my outing to Mt Tabor Park with the dog on Saturday evening pays off with this incredible show.  I was amazed that on this traditional "last weekend of the Summer", it seemed that everyone was out of town.  The park was quiet and serene, the feeling of which was enhanced by the lack of even a breath of wind.  A few folks sat quietly and enjoyed the beautiful evening, but the usual cadre of dog walkers, runners, cyclists, and in-town tourists were conspicuously absent.

Summer at Timberline Lodge, Mt Hood

 A stop at Timberline Lodge is requisite when hiking around on the Timberline Trail...we chose wisely for this one getting treated to an amazing sunset and just a stunning afternoon.  Some time on the hill cruising around, then a beer and some food in the lodge, and a beer on the deck watching as the mountain reaches for the last rays of the setting sun.  It just doesn't get any better!

 I love the way the Palmer Lift lights up at Sunset, glistening in the alpenglow.  Hard to believe just a few short months ago it was completely buried in snow, with only the tops of the towers peeking out of the snow!

Bai Yok Fire, NE Portland

 This was a fire in NE Portland, which consumed the Bai Yok Thai Restaurant, and an insurance and chiropractic building.  I only had my cell phone with me but I captured it as best I could.  Although I am sorry that these people lost their businesses and possessions I was struck by what a visually stunning fire this developed into.  All scenes had such dramatic lighting...I rarely post this many pictures of a single event, butnthis one was an exceptional event.

Getting Illuminated on Summer Solstice

 These are a couple shots from the Summer Solstice Celebration on Mt Hood with some good friends, some old friends, and some new friends.  Top shot was a gift...just as everyone was packing up and clicking in for the ski down, the light which had been in and out all afternoon(mostly out, as in white out)returned for a brief moment giving us imho the best light of the day.  I t did not last long, but in the bottom shot, the seemingly indefatiguable Tommy Ellingson boots up for one last try.  Although no one got "the shot" with this light in it, I got this shot!  Mt Hood sure missed this guy this year.  Thanks all for a good time!

Hawthorne Bridge and the Portland Skyline

Sunset over the Willamette River in Portland.  It is amazing to me with all the effort that goes into some shots how this one came to be.  I often visit the same spot several years, or in different seasons to eventually get the shot I want, planning the timing and position of the sun, waiting for what I think will be the right light.  Then,  I am talking to my daughter on the phone and drive by this.  Done. Nice when it is this easy.

Oregon Coast

Why are sunsets on the Oregon Coast always so amazing?  I am always so grateful for any time that I get there...thanks #Astoria and #Gearhart.

Astoria Sunsets

I had so much fun with this shoot, and this group of people!  On the coast for work, this group was so accommodating with my repeated requests of "just one more!" each time I thought I could get one just a little bit better, then when I looked at them I had so many amazing photos I could never use them all!  Thanks to @kice_shelly, @tlive88, and @tdtucker13 for their endless patience. 

Mt Hood Sunrise

 Holy Cow!  This morning's sunrise was spectacular.  A very brief show, but beautiful nonetheless.  I was debating going out for Sunrise, but a slight mauve in the predawn clouds made up my mind for me.  So glad that I made the effort when I was rewarded with one of those mornings that makes you want to click your heels.  I will cruise through my day with the armor of such beauty surrounding me.  Thanks for the Earthporn!

Feather River Firefighting, Northern California

Firefighters in the Feather River Canyon in Northern California get an overview of ongoing operations.  This fire was started by Cartel marijuana growers making their escape from Federal Agents, and starting fires as they fled to cover their tracks.  This is amazingly difficult terrain, with precipitous walls in the Canyon, draws and smaller canyons everywhere.  Hiking is not hiking but more accurately scrambling, making firelines near vertical in spots.  The logistical challenges are unbelievable.  These Hotshots make it all just another day on the job, handling the extra effort and workload without a second thought.  With any luck the spate of recent State actions on legalization will cut deeply into the market for these illegal grows which are devastating to our National Lands, leaving garbage strewn camps, dangerous chemicals and miles of PVC piping from their "irrigation projects".

Crater Lake Reflections

Todat's shot from Crater Lake!  With the days and days of rain in the city and snow in the mountains, sometimes we can forget why we put up with it.  Here is a little sunshine and a remnder that all of the grey days allow us to have full rivers and lakes, ample fishing, spring skiing, water sports and all the amazing craft beer, wine, and cider that we can drink!  It is days like these that we pay for all winter by putting up with a little grey.  I don;t know about you, but I think the payoff is well worth it!

Raven Playtime on Mt. Hood

Taking a photo is an ephemeral thing.  It is fleeting, and if the opportunity is gone, it does not frequently return.  The light will not be the same, the moment, the conditions, you...none of it will happen exactly the same way to recreate your experience.  I have become better, as I age and shoot more and more, at seizing that moment, stopping whatever I am doing, and getting the shot.  This applies so much when I am driving.  I see a certain condition, or light, or subject, and have to know if I stop that it is not going to be a quick thing.  The right photo takes time, and often encompasses simple patience and waiting for that place in time when you get what you see in your mind's eye.  I have often yelled, danced, sung, or otherwise expressed my happiness aloud when I have gotten what I think I was after, most often with no one around...The joy of photography is not for everyone, but if you are bitten with the bug, it is gratifying.

Lake Champlain Sunset

Sunset over Lake Champlain in Burlington, Vermont...there are days when I miss this place.

White River Slide, Mt. Hood

With winter upon us and several slides having occurred around the West already, I thought I would post this photo of a slide in White River Canyon between Mt Hood Meadows and Timberline Ski Areas.  Just a reminder that we don not live and recreate in benign environments, and it always pays to keep your wits about you and be aware of your surroundings.  Although it is easy to miss, NOTICE the two Ski Patrollers from Mt Hood Meadows investigating the slide in the lower left of the photo.  This slide could have gone much bigger, but as it was, the crown was 30+ feet in spots.  Stay safe and go get some turns!

Cloud Cap Inn

Cloud Cap Inn...Home of the Hood River Crag Rats, the Mountain Rescue organization for the North Side of Mt. Hood.  They have carefully maintained this structure and it's history since 1954.  First built as an Inn in 1889, signatures of summiters on the walls are still visible to this day, often for subsequent years.  Take some time to get to know this magical place, and feel free to contribute to this amazing volunteer organization.

Skinning is Winning

I got out for a tour yesterday and was fortunate enough to be able to skin up the East side of White River to about 8000'.  The East wind was honking and I was more or less driven back down a little bit to where I could tuck in below the ridge and wait for the Golden Hour to capture a few shots of the Sunset and the commanding view that you get from there!  The spindrift that was being thrown over the ridge felt like being sandblasted with tiny ice pellets, but it was getting caught up in the setting sun and was casting an incredible halo.  By using the flash and directing it with my hand and goggle lenses I was able to light up the ice crystals, giving it the strange appearance in this photo, almost looking like meteors or star stacks.  I stayed until the sun actually dropped below the horizon, scrambling from spot to spot in the waning moments of light trying to get as many perspectives as were possible before it disappeared.

Once it was gone, I put my skis on and started down, surprised by the pockets of super fun windpack that were available here and there, slashing a turn or two wherever I could.  The runnels from the rain on snow event of last week were mostly dried out and made for a fun, consistent surface all the way down to the bottom of Mitchell Creek where I could duck back into the resort and head back to the truck to end a great day! 

Fly Fishing at Detroit Lake

Fly Fishing is an excercise in patience.  Ryan and his dog Big Head excercising some patience at Sunset at a much depleted Detroit Lake.  Hopefully with some of the recent rains, it will begin to help refill these reservoirs.  Amazingly the "boat docks" at the State Park were hundreds of yards from the feeble flow that passed for a river trickling into the Lake.  The advantage of a low water year is that you can check out the holes you would normally fish, and understand the actual topography of them and know just how deep they actually are.

Sandy River Valley

 

This time of year is often about changing weather.  These shots are from Sandy looking across the Sandy River Valley.  I sat in my puffy coat and drank coffee from my thermos, waited for the light to change, for the fog to lift, and for the feeling to come back into my fingers so I could take these shots.  A cold and foggy morning eventually broke into a sunny day which was pouring rain by the end of the day.  Gotta love Oregon.