Black Diamond NOW

Juvenile Bald Eagles

It's going to be a great week with lots of sunshine.  A perfect time to go birding in the Samish Flats along Bayview Edison Road near the town of Edison in Skagit County.  Salmon runs up the Nooksack and Skagit rivers have ended and a large number of eagles head west to feed on migrating birds that congregate here.  I saw over 30 eagles perched in one tree.  What caught my attention was the large number of immature juveniles under 4 years of age.  At least two thirds were juveniles.  How can you tell a juvenile from mature bald eagles?  Pretty easy.  Following is a picture of a youngster learning to fly here at Lake Sawyer.  

Despite being just 3 or 4 months old, Junior (my nickname for him/her) had grown to be pretty large by then - nearly the size of an adult.  Junior was learning to fly by hopping between branches where they were nesting.  Note the black beak.  That's a sure sign of a first year bald eagle.

Here's another 1st year juvenile feeding on fish in our front yard.  They grow to full size quickly.  Note their feathers - more white feathers on their back and definitely not very graceful.

In the second year, juveniles acquire more white mottling on their back and underwings and their bill begins to turn yellow-brown.

As you can see, they aren't afraid to take on the adults.

In year three, almost there.

And finally, in year 4, ready for a post card.

 

 

Lake Sawyer - Sunrise Winter Capital of the Pacific Northwest

Well, I may have gotten a bit carried away with this post's headline, but it's not that far off either.  Living in Black Diamond and at Lake Sawyer, we certainly fly below the radar screen of the photography community in the northwest.  What makes our location so cool is that at this time of year, particularly in December, January and February, the sun rises and sets as far south as it gets.  The angle of the sun is also at it's lowest which results in particularly intense colors.  With Lake Sawyer waters often calm like glass and given spectacular views of both the Cascades and Mount Rainier, we live in a pretty neat area.

Earlier this week, we saw some of this season's most spectacular scenes to date.  Following are photos of my favorite sunrises over the Cascades and of Mt. Rainier so far this year.  This first one was taken on Thurs. 1/30/2020 and the other on Monday 1/27/2020.  For those interested, I've included camera settings used for each photo.  As you will see, I experiment a lot and change settings frequently to best fit changes in lighting and satisfy my penchant for learning through experimentation.

18 mm focal length, f16, 15 sec., ISO 800

Earlier in the week, the clouds parted long enough to give us some great views of Mt. Rainier.  Since the trees have grown tall enough over the years to obscure our view of the mountain, I find it best to head out in my kayak.  This gives me the mobility necessary to find the best locations.

84 mm focal length, f20, 1/100th sec., ISO400

The other advantage of taking photos from a kayak is this keeps you very low in the water and a perspective you don't often see.  I like vertical shots too, though using a longer focal length brings you closer to the mountain.

154 mm focal length, f20, 1/100th sec., ISO 400

Time doesn't stand still either.  The changes in scene and lighting over a short period of time make it challenging to make the appropriate changes in camera settings needed, which I do manually, while also trying to keep my kayak properly oriented.  Without use of a tripod, all pictures are taken with a hand held camera, which results in faster exposures than one might use if on terra firma. 

92 mm focal length, f16, 1/100th sec., ISO800

72mm focal length, f16, 1/100th sec., ISO1000

Back on our dock, more time to play with different camera settings, focal lengths and compositions.

26 mm focal length, f4.0, 4 sec., ISO200

The above photo was the first one I took while experimenting with alternative camera settings and compositions.

16 mm focal length, f22, 3.2 sec., ISO200

35 mm focal length, f22, 30 sec., ISO200

Some fog in these last two photos as the sun began to show on the horizon.  While in my kayak, I use manual focus and a faster shutter speed to keep the image sharp, while on the dock, I can use longer exposures and more auto-focus.

Having too much fun and enjoying the beauty we have at Lake Sawyer - Sunrise Winter Capital of the Pacific Northwest.

Feeling Housebound? A Cure for What Ails You!

Short days, dreary skies and wet.  Sounds like January in the pacific northwest.  Rather than mope around complaining, it's time to get outside and go exploring.  When was the last time you hiked down into the Green River Gorge, visited the Seymour Botanical Conservatory at Wright Park in Tacoma or went for a walk in the Washington Arboretum in Seattle?  We have boundless choices that will put a smile on your face.  For me, being a Cougar, I had never before been to the Washington Park Arboretum and Botanical Gardens just south of the UW campus.  So, on a wet overcast day last week, Judy and I headed off to go exploring and what a great experience it was.

We even found Winter Gardens full of flowers now in bloom.

What a beautiful natural setting.

I think what surprised me most was the size (234 acres) and natural character of the arboretum with trails galore.  And so much color for this time of year.

Over 1 mile from end to end, you have an opportunity to get some exercise too.

Any idea what these are?  Or these?

And don't forget your umbrella!

What's Your Favorite Color?

You sure can tell a lot about people - their asperations, their mood, their personality - simply by observing individual color preferences.  What color clothes do they wear?  What color cars do they drive?  What does their home décor look like?  What color artwork or photography do people buy to hang on their walls, often indicative of people's "comfort zone"?  With our daughter (E.R. physician) and son (pastor) both having intense professional lives, yet also immersed in artistic endeavors (fabric/clothes/quilt design and photography), I've become more observant about color and its meaning in our every day lives.  

According to the "experts", color has great symbolism.  For example:

• Red - excitement, energy, passion, aggression, heat, danger
• Blue - peace, tranquility, calm, harmony, wisdom, stability
• Orange - energy, enthusiasm, warmth, vibrant
• Yellow - joy, happiness, betrayal, optimism, idealism
• etc. Symbolism of Color

So if I wanted to take a photograph of Mt. Rainier, for example, what colors am I looking for that would appeal the most to people?  The mountain can be  impressive even in black and white and scene composition matters a whole lot too, but so does color.  What colors do I want to see?  Would you believe PINK?  Part of it is the overall lighting that tends to go along with pink hues, but this is certainly my favorite during both sunrise and sunset.  It's also highly symbolic:

• Pink - love, romance, caring, tenderness, acceptance, calm

For example, here's one of my favorite "calm and tender" photographs of Mt. Rainier in recent months.

In a cold and icy environment, pink tones seems to make it much more comfortable.

The same can be said for Mt. Adams even though it was just 20 degrees when I took this from the shore of Trout Lake.

You can even see a silhouette of Mt. Rainier in this one.  How about Mount Hood?  Pink and peaceful to be sure.

And Mount Baker too.

As you can see, just a hint of pink is enough to soften an image and bring calm, while even in cold and snowy conditions.  Here's Mt. St. Helens dressed in pink.

Can you guess which colors top the list for 2019 Color Trends - the worlds most popular colors?  If you guessed Plastic Pink along with Proton Purple and UFO Green, you would have been right on the money.  I think I'll stick with Landscape Pink, slightly ahead of our time in the northwest.

Next up, how to predict Pink skies.

Lake Wilderness Rocks

With Lake Sawyer and all of the many acres and miles of trails through Lake Sawyer Regional Park and the Black Diamond Natural Area, many of us who live here probably under appreciate our neighbor to the north - Lake Wilderness.  Though smaller in size and more developed for recreational uses, Lake Wilderness is another of our area's real gems.  Recently, I've grown to particularly appreciate the Lake Wilderness Arboretum and the many plants and flowers that we can find growing there in a beautiful natural setting.  But I must say, it's been years since I explored the lake.  So armed with my camera, it was time to go exploring.  Good decision.

Were you aware of the fantastic views of Mt. Rainier that you can find here?  I certainly don't recall seeing the mountain from here before.

Now, if only I can find a way to get on top of the roof of the Lake Wilderness Lodge. 

Here's one of my favorite photos of fall colors that I've taken this year.

Even the Lodge is beautiful in its setting.

Between the lake, the park and the arboretum, plenty to see while you wander about.  And did I mention the Cedar to Green River trail that borders the east side of the lake?  Bring your jogging shoes too or take your kids and grandkids for a bike ride!

Nature's Magic

What a great time of year it is right now.  Leaves are turning brilliant shades of red, orange and yellow and falling from trees in bunches.  There was a time growing up when I didn't appreciate all those leaves.  It took time to rake them up into piles and haul them away to compost.  Today, I have a much better appreciation for nature's magic and look forward to time in the mountains to experience the change of seasons.  This weekend, I observed and learned something new - one of the better places to see brilliant colors in the forest now is to visit areas recently logged.  An area recently replanted can be perfect, like this Gifford Pinchot National Forest land shown below.

Young douglas fir trees have been replanted here but this still "leaves" (pun intended) quite a bit of land area at risk of erosion.  Air borne seed from deciduous trees, like alder and maple, help fill the voids and hold the ground until youngster firs can begin their tall reach for the sky and shade out their temporary companions.  So much beauty here right now.  The above photo was taken along Hwy 23 just north of Trout Lake.

And then I return home and look out the window across Lake Sawyer.  I gotta say, this view is pretty tough to beat.

 

 

More Birds of Prey - Some Odd Shots of Owls

What does a baby Great Horned Owl look like when it first ventures out of the nest?  It looks like it had a rough night!

Taken from a very long distance but managed to get focused on this one's eyes.  These two youngsters were moving about very carefully in the crotch of a tree at the Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually Wildlife Refuge.  Both had what looked like a feather "crust" still clinging to them around their head area.  Lots of growing up yet to do for these two.

Fierce predators.  Because most owls are nocturnal and silent hunters of the night, finding and photographing them has for me been very challenging.  Short eared owls in the Skagit Valley have been the easiest to find during the day.

For Burrowing Owls, who also hunt and wander about during the day, Othello is the place to go.  You'll find them burrowed under some old irrigation ditches.

Cute little guys.  Speaking of little guys, try to find a tiny Northern Saw-whet Owl like this one hiding in the bushes at Nisqually trying to get some sleep.  Not much larger than my fist.

This Long-eared Owl was nearly impossible to find and photograph hiding among all the branches.  Finally, it was his eye that blinked open, giving him away.

In Black Diamond, Great Horned Owls seem to be the most common in the forested areas around Lake Sawyer and I have heard reports of a Great Grey Owl.  Though I have heard a lot of them, I have yet to get a decent photo here.  But it's a fun challenge.  Keep your ears open and let me know where you see or hear them.  Thanks

Northwest Wildlife Photos for Sale

Current Northwest Wildlife favorites include:

Tommy Talon

Bully Boy

Gone Fishing

Kokanee for Dinner

Bomber

Talons Out

Sweetie

Here He Comes

Shorty

On Patrol

Price List:

• Greeting Cards  $4 each, 3 for $10
• 8 x 12 Matted Prints   $25
• 13 x 19 Print   $25
• Call or email for quotes on other sizes, canvas prints and metal prints

craig.goodwin99@gmail.com

 

Northwest Scenes Photos for Sale

Current Northwest Scenes favorites include:

Plummer Peak Tarn Reflections

Milky Way over Sunrise and Mount Rainier

Full Moon Rising

Tipsoo Sunset

Tipsoo Moring Reflections

A Star is Born at Shi Shi

Sunset at Bench Lake

Tipsoo Sunset as Winter Arrives

Moonlit Night

Snowmelt Reflections

Price List:

• Greeting Cards $4 each, 3 for $10
• 8 x 12 Matted Prints $25
• 13 x 19 Print $25
• Call or email for quotes on other sizes, canvas prints and metal prints

craig.goodwin99@gmail.com

 

 

Black Diamond Scenes Photos for Sale

Current Black Diamond Scenes favorites include:

Lake Sawyer Sunrise

Lake Sawyer Mountain Reflections

Winter Wonderland

Time to Get Up

Time for Bed

Evening Calm

Morning Magic

Price List:

• Greeting Cards $4 each, 3 for $10
• 8 x 12 Matted Prints $25
• 13 x 19 Print $25

Call or email for quotes on other sizes, canvas prints and metal prints

craig.goodwin99@gmail.com

 

Hiking to Park Butte - Another Gem

The more hiking and backpacking that we do, the more "must do" hikes we find.  And so many yet to explore.  The trail to Park Butte Lookout in the Mt. Baker Recreation Area is a great case in point.  We've heard about it and read about it, but somehow never had or found the time to go exploring there.  It is a bit of a drive (about 2.5 hours), but so much to see once you get there.  For this trip to the Mt. Baker area, I used a campground near the dam at Mt. Baker Lake as base camp.  The drive from there to the trailhead is about 20 miles along logging roads similar to driving along FS70 and FS73 just east of Greenwater that take us to Kelly Butte and Suntop respectively.  Graveled, dusty and bumpy but doable with patience.

The trailhead is a large one with parking for about 60 vehicles.  But with the many trails that begin here, including climbing to the summit of Mt. Baker, it's busy and don't even try to park here on weekends and get there early on week days.  My target for this day was the lookout trail - a hike of about 4 miles one way and 2,100 feet of elevation gain.  And did I tell you about the views?

Note the 3 glaciers that you can see coming down the mountain.  The one on the right is where you begin the climb to the summit.  A spur off the main trail can get you to the base.  Lots of wildflowers along the trail too.

You can see the top of the mountain just over the horizon and small streams flowing down the hillside through the meadows.

I love seeing tarns and trying to photograph mountain reflections in the water.  I found four that were still reasonable size, even in August.

Hard to photograph in mid-day with full sun, but pretty none the less.  Here's a view from the top.

Looking for a new and different hike?  You gotta go to Park Butte.

 

Hiking to Owyhigh Lakes and Tamanos Mountain

Looking for a hike that rates A+ for wildflowers, has expansive alpine scenery and great Mt. Rainier views?  Then now is the time to head to Tamanos Mountain, elevation 6,790 ft.  While gaining 3,135 ft. over 4+ miles, you will get your exercise - and views of Mt. Adams too.  Though the lakes are nice, hike past them and you will soon find the best display of wildflowers that we have seen this year.  Lupine and paintbrush are both now in their prime.

But for me, it's the unique and wide open views of Mt. Rainier that I really love up here.  Nice and close even with a wide angle lens.

What makes this viewpoint different is that it is taken from the east/northeast.  Summerland is over the ridge directly ahead, but you can't get a full view from there.  Directly behind us some miles back to the east is Shriner Peak, but it's not as close up.  You also get an interesting view of Sarvent Glaciers.  Snow melt from here, joins with runoff from Frying Pan Glacier flowing into the White River born at Emmons Glacier.

.

This trip, once we reached the saddle at the top of the ridge, we took the trail to the left heading south, rather that go right (north) to the peak summit  Great views from this side.  Stitching several wide angle shots togethers yield this broader view yet from this vantage point.

Oh, and did I mention the wildflowers?  This one was taken on the way back down.

A little steep as you can see.

Needless to say, Judy and I had lots of fun.  Following is a map of Mt. Rainier National Park that might give you a better idea of where Owyhigh Lakes and Tamanos Mountain are located in relation to more well known landmarks.  I added a red arrow pointing to Tamanos Mountain from Owyhigh Lakes.

To get there, drive to the White River entrance to the park as you would if heading to Sunrise.  Before you reach White River Campground, you will see a sign and pullout on your right for the Owyhigh Lakes trail.  To get to Tamanos, go a short distance passed the lakes and take a rough trail that heads off to the right through the wildflowers.  It's all uphill from there.  About 9 miles roundtrip.   Hope you have fun.

 

 

Predators

Living in the northwest, we are blessed with nature's bounty.  This includes the cute and cuddly looking bunnies, squirrels and chipmunks that we so love to see, even in our yards, as well as those predators who rely on these same creatures as a staple in their diet.  I didn't think that I'd ever see bears roaming around Lake Sawyer, but so they were this year, even swimming in the lake.  Raccoons are also regular visitors and not to mess with as are river otters and beavers.  We've even seen a weasel in our yard.  But it's birds of prey that we see most often among the predators and their antics can be amazing to watch as they target their dinner of the day.

What's the most amazing bird of prey that we've see while hiking and exploring?  Not eagles and not osprey, though they are so much fun to watch, but I would have to say seeing a peregrine falcon in action was the most exciting.

We saw this peregrine eating dinner after downing it's prey along Shi Shi beach.  Never thought that we would be so close.  Did you know that peregrines are the fastest bird in flight in the world with speeds topping 200 mph.  They literally dive bomb their prey, stunning them with the force of their hits.  They are not big (about the size of a crow) but they sure pack a wallop.  

Eagles, of course, are reining kings of the sky and appear to fear nothing.  Just look at those talons.

For the best form diving, however, it's osprey that win the prize.   And look at the size of the prey they can catch.

This kokanee salmon must weigh 2 or 3 lbs.  A family of osprey take up residency here at Lake Sawyer most of the year, while bald eagles typically head north by mid July or so for summer vacation - and summer salmon runs.  Here's one at Lake Sawyer with a large catfish.  Poor picture but it does show the catfish.

Not quite as glamorous perhaps as peregrine falcons, bald eagles and osprey, we also have quite a few of what I'll call "blue collar" birds of prey of the hawk and owl families that we can see more widely in the Puget sound area.  We even get to see short eared owls in flight during daylight hours.  Very graceful and very powerful.  I wouldn't want to be a rodent with these guys around.

Rough legged hawks are somewhat smaller but fast and also in pursuit of rodents.  Even saw one of these guys hunting at Kelly Butte lookout.

American Kestrels are one of the prettier, though petite, members of the hawk family.  

Kestrel will eat anything from insects (beetles, dragonflies, spiders and butterflies), to rodents, to small birds.  Really really quick.  Too many more to include in this post.  Soooo much fun observing and photographing them all.  One thing they all seem to have in common - so graceful and so determined.

 

 

Exploring Windy Ridge

For those seeking to see Mount St. Helens and learn more about the epic eruption of 1985, the Johnston Ridge Observatory is the go-to place.  Great trails, great facilities and wonderful wildflowers in bloom this time of year.  If you haven't been there, you must go.  However, if you want to avoid the crowds and see first hand the devastation wrought closer to the mountain, then Windy Ridge is the place.  But you really have to want to get there.  It's an adventure.

Johnston Ridge Observatory is located northwest of Mt. St. Helens.  Windy Ridge provides a completely different perspective located northeast of the mountain, closer than Johnston Ridge and also overlooks beautiful Spirit Lake.  Here's a view of sunset from Windy Ridge this past Monday.

This photo was taken using an ultra wide angle 16 mm lens.  The mountain is a lot closer than what it looks to be.

You can climb up on the ridge to your left and get even closer.  Not much snow left this time of year.  A great place for sunset too, overlooking Spirit Lake.

Notice the paintbrush blooming here now.  This whole ridge was once completely denuded with trees blown down and buried in ash.  It's great to see wildflowers coming back.  Also from this vantage point, I could see Mt. Rainier, Mt. Adams, Mt. Hood and Mt. St. Helens all at the same time.

Mt. Rainier to the north.

Mt. Hood to the south.  Mt. Adams to the east was partially hidden by cloud cover.  I was so excited to see all the wildflowers, though only a small fraction of those we can now see at Johnston Ridge.  But it's a start.

By means of comparison, following is what we now see at Johnston Ridge.

There is no road directly linking the two Mt. St. Helens visitor sites.  If you are at Johnson Ridge and want to also visit Windy Ridge, you have to travel back to I-5, head back north to Hwy 12 and go east on Hwy 12 to Randle, head south from there on Hwy 131 and now the adventure begins.  It's only 34 miles from here on Forest Service Road 25 connecting to Forest Service Road 99 to get to Windy Ridge but it can easily take 1.5 hours.  The road is paved, sort of, very bumpy and as windy as it is windy.  Lot's more exploring to do here.

Following the Milky Way

What is it about stars and distant planets that command our attention and wonder?  Is it the possibility that other life forms exist out there in some faraway galaxy?  Or is it the incredible beauty they bring to night skies, especially when the Aurora Borealis is acting up?  How can we even imagine the immensity of  the many galaxies we can see at night with the naked eye - like the Milky Way?  Our solar system is but a particle of sand compared to others and part of a small spiral arm of the enormous Milky Way galaxy.

For me, my love of night photography developed as a result of getting out into the mountains and away from cities and towns to where we can see the stars.  We can see the Milky Way in some detail and photograph it aided by today's digital technology and long exposures possible with today's equipment.  We can even see the Milky Way while Old Faithful erupts at Yellowstone as shown in the photo above taken during my visit a couple of years ago.  And we can see it move too!  That's when I fell in love with Time-Lapse photography - capturing the movement of the stars (actually it's the earth that is moving) and not just the Milky Way as a static statute.

We can't see the Milky Way's core each year until nearly the end of March.  With great weather in April and so far into May, this has provided plenty of opportunity to do some Time Lapse Milky Way photography.  Mt. Rainier from the Carbon River road to Mowich offers an excellent vantage point.  Notice how flat the Milky Way is this time of year.  It becomes far more vertical as the night goes on and as the year goes on.

 

This video represents 175 images taken over 80 minutes.  The lighter blue at the end represents the Astro start to sunrise that begins now at about 3:00 am.

About a week later, I explored two lakes in the North Cascades.  Palmer Lake is located just below the Canadian border.  This view shows the Milky Way "on the move".

 

Once again, the lighter blues in the sky at the end signal the beginning of the early Astro sunrise period.  Further south located just below Sun Mountain Lodge near Winthrop is another lake with a southeastern exposure called Patterson Lake.  In this one, I played a little hide and seek.

 

The earth moves a whole lot even over just an hour's period of time.  Time Lapse photography also allows us to see star trails.  In this case, though, we need to be looking north toward the North Star to capture the full circular movement.  Here are 100 images of the stars rotating around the North Star at nearby Deep Lake, Nolte State Park.

The Star Trails at Palmer Lake show a clearer picture given the darkness of the skies.

There's a whole lot to see out there at night.  And just think, you can be up having fun in the wee hours of the morning too!

Watching Eagles Fly

What is it about watching eagles fly that is so much fun?  And even better is having an opportunity to photograph them.  This time of year is not always the best, but we sure got lucky this weekend.  It's been years since Judy and I wandered the beaches of Point Defiance, but decided to visit some of our old haunts so off we went.  In addition to the innumerable seals, gulls and herons, a low tide always exposes some fun to see marine life.  And then, perched on a tree overlooking the entry channel to Gig Harbor, we happened across both an eagle and a whale.  No whale pics but I was dialed in to the eagle as it pondered staying perched on the tree limb or flying away.

Looks to be a little wet after having breakfast no doubt.  And then it was time to fly.

Always so stern and concentrated.  I don't think he liked us.

Is that a wing span or what?

I didn't have my long lens with me, but for some reason he chose to fly low along the water and close to shore, providing us with some great views.

What a treat.  Judy and I are so very fortunate to have the many opportunities we have for experiencing nature at its best - in the northwest.

Great Time for a Trip to Mt. Rainer National Park

Roads all the way to Paradise are clear. The weather outlook is great.  No worries about crowds.  What better to do than to head up to the mountain?  Take your snowshoes if you want to hike on the trails above Paradise but if you just want to stretch your legs and enjoy the sights, you have many options available.  Why not park at Narada Falls and head up the trail/road to Reflection Lakes and beyond.  For the heartier souls, the trail up to Pinnacle Peak is well marked but you will need snowshoes and be in good shape to make it to the saddle above but only boots to get to Reflections Lakes.  Along the way, you also get some of the best views of Mt. Rainier and surrounding peaks that you can find right now.   This view, which is only about 1/2 mile from the parking lot provides some great sunsets.

The good news, after only a couple hundred yards on a snow covered trail on the way to road that leads to Stevens Canyon (not yet open to automobiles), you will find the road clear of snow and easy walking.  There are a couple of spots where some avalanche risk remains before you get to the lakes, but stay to the far right away from the hillside and all should be well.

The views of Pinnacle Peak and other peaks along the ridge above are spectacular.

Reflection Lakes remain snow covered but there is a small area near the outlet that remains uncovered.

On your way back, the view of the mountain is about as expansive as it gets.

You can see the road on the far right with the buildings at Narada Falls directly below.   On your way back, take a quick stop at Christine Falls.

The hardest part about the hike from Narada Falls parking lot to Reflection Lakes and trails beyond is finding the trail up to the road.  I've seen some people try to go up the face of the steep hill just above the falls.  Though I have done this too, in the past, it's not a good idea particularly when snow covered with risk of avalanche as it now is.  As you walk by the "Comfort Station" with restrooms, you will see a sign and small trail immediately to the left.  Follow your way up this and follow previous hikers foot prints to eventually get to the top and the road just as the bridge crosses the stream that is between the trail and the main highway.  Rather than follow the road to Reflection Lakes, you can also hike up another road that veers left after just a little bit and goes all the way up to Paradise - about 2 miles.  Still snow covered but no snowshoes now needed.  Have fun.  The Stevens Canyon road should be open by about May 21, but no need to wait until then.

 

Multnomah Falls

This is a great time of year for visiting and photographing area waterfalls.  Snow melt has begun and the streams that feed the falls are roaring.  If you enjoy photography, waterfalls are also a great place to go when it's cloudy or even raining, while waiting for the mountains to open up and the sun to show its face.  Many falls, like Snoqualmie Falls, are also readily accessible for the handicapped and elderly.  I always thought that Snoqualmie was the king of waterfalls in the northwest.  Not so - Multnomah Falls along the Columbia River Gorge east of Portland is bigger and rates as number 2 in the entire country with a drop of over 620 feet.  Following is a postcard of Multnomah Falls from 1950.  

Photo courtesy Tacoma Public Library, Sirles-44, circa 1950

If you like geology, you'll find evidence on the cliff face of 5 separate flows of Yakima Basalt.  Two years ago, disaster struck Multnomah and many other waterfalls along the gorge.  Wildfires caused by kids throwing lighted fireworks down the hillside from the top led to the burning of acres and acres being charred with public access closed.  Fortunately, repairs have been made and some, though not all, waterfall and trail sites are open once again.  Last week, while exploring the gorge for wildflowers (it's early yet), I stopped by Multnomah Falls.  It was raining cats and dogs and foggy up top, but what's one to do - get wet.  Couldn't pass up the opportunity.

Lots of water flowing now and well worth the trip.

Camping Season is Here!!

Yep, time to get out your tent and backpack essentials.  The trails await.

With clear skies forecast for Tuesday night in the North Cascades, how could I miss the opportunity to do some hiking and a little night photography?  And yes, some campgrounds are already open, including at Diablo Gorge east of Newhalem.  Nice campground too.  The sound of water rushing by as you nod off to sleep is pretty neat.  The next campground a few miles up the road still has snow on the ground so I expect that's why camping here was permitted at this early date.  Ross Lake is a long time favorite area to explore and this is as close as I could get for sleeping over.

You've got to love all the mountain peaks up here.  The above photo was taken from the Diablo Lake overlook, which has some pretty neat views too.  Here's another view of Diablo Lake from below.

Following are a couple of views from the overlook as the sun set.

That's Diablo lake below.

The North Cascade highway is currently closed at the Ross Lake trailhead.  After hiking down to the dam and back (snow free), it was getting dark and time to hike up the snow covered road about a mile to a couple of Ross Lake overlooks that provide views all the way to Canada.  It gets very dark up here - too dark to see much of the river valley.  I call this my "noisy" night shot of Ross Lake because of all the camera noise resulting from the darkness and wind movement of the trees.  Will have to take two separate exposures next time and exclude the trees.

I did find the Milky Way up here.  After about an hour and only very faint northern lights that I had hoped to see, I hiked back down and drove on down to Diablo Lake.  The "dam lights" really show up from the overlook.

Still dark, but some better views of the Milky Way and stars over the lake view plus a meteor.  The lights in the background are from the dam behind the mountains.

And finally, here's a Time Lapse look from this spot spanning about an hour, then finally to bed about 1:30 am, just before the moon rose.  Fun time, though a little cold back at the tent.

 

We have so many wonderful places to see and experience virtually year round and the North Cascades ranks right up there.

 

Living History

Built in 1908, what historic landmark still stands today, yet remains literally alive with new life every day?  Where else can you go to see the full spectrum of the color chart so vividly on display.   No entry fee here, though a $3 donation is recommended.  Seldom crowded and off the beaten path.  Guaranteed to make you smile and wonder why you haven't been here before or visited here in a very long time.  Do you like hibiscus?

Here's a picture of the building taken in 1920.

Photo courtesy Tacoma Public Library, NWRPC-60, circa 1920

Some of you will recognize the above photo as the Seymour Botanical Conservatory in Wright Park, Tacoma.  It looks pretty much today as it did back then.  After visiting the daffodil fields at Knudson Farms in Sumner last weekend (another landmark of local history), I decided to head to Wright Park and the Conservatory to learn more about photographing flowers - it's not quite so easy without spending big on equipment and lighting.

Following are a few of my favorite "on the cheap" images.

Looking for soft light, colors and texture.

There's something really neat about spending time with flowers like these.  Slows the heart beat and muscles relax.

So much fun and so much to learn.  If you find the time, I recommend that you visit Wright Park soon.  Over 100 years old, the conservatory is currently scheduled for a remodel and expansion by City of Tacoma parks.  Though I love the historic building, it is time for renewal.  Will miss the old, but look forward to seeing the new.