In a year with more typical weather, the meadows in the Paradise area of Mount Rainier National Park would look something like this photo around the first week of August, and the place would be swarming with photographers. This year, while much of the country suffers under sweltering heat, summer has barely arrived in the Pacific Northwest. The La Niña weather pattern brought us a long, cool and wet winter and spring, and lots of snow in the mountains. [read more ...]
Saturday, June 4, is National Trails Day, an annual event that celebrates trails of all types for non-motorized adventure and recreation in the U.S.A. The American Hiking Society has been organizing this event for 19 years, with the cooperation of the U.S. Forest Service, National Wildlife Service, National Park Service and the Bureau of Land Management. This year’s sponsors and partners include Backpacker Magazine, Columbia, Eastern Mountain Sports, Fetzer, Merrell, The North Face, American Park Network and REI. If you [read more ...]
The U.S. National Wildlife Refuges system celebrates the 108th anniversary of its founding on March 14. President Teddy Roosevelt signed the law creating the first National Wildlife Refuge in 1903. Today the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service maintains more than 550 refuges in the country, helping to preserve over 2,000 species of our native critters. The 95 million acres of refuge land are spread throughout all 50 states. The refuges benefit people as well as the animals they were established [read more ...]
The United Nations has declared 2011 as the International Year of the Forest, with the objective to reverse the loss of forest cover, enhance economic, social and environmental benefits, increase the area of sustainably managed forests and to mobilize increased financial resources. Here in the United States, the U. S. Forest Service, in partnership with the National Association of State Foresters and the American Forest Foundation, is participating in the efforts, kicking off the year with the campaign “Celebrate Forests. [read more ...]
National Geographic Traveler magazine recently rated coastal destinations all over the world, with a ranking based on, among other things, environmental health and visitor experience. I am very pleased to find that two of my favorite coasts are among the top-rated. Both the Oregon Coast and the Na Pali Coast on Kauai are, according to the magazine, “In excellent shape, relatively unspoiled and likely to remain so.” The rugged and remote Na Pali coast is one of the scenic wonders [read more ...]
I’ve been inspired by the blogs of a number of photographers who’ve recently posted their top photos for 2010, so decided to add my own to the mix. Most of the photographers post either landscape and scenic photos or travel photography. I do a mixture of both – something to do with being a Gemini perhaps? – so my selection of favorites is a combination of nature images and snaps from my travels this past year. Early in [read more ...]
On a beautiful early October morning I stood with a 40-pound pack on my back at the bottom of Aasgard Pass and exclaimed “O.M.G.!” Twice. Once for the incredible beauty of milky blue Colchuck Lake and the towering mountains above, and once for the daunting climb ahead of me – a 2,200 elevation gain in less than a mile of “trail”. Trail is in quotes because the route is basically follow-the-cairns over loose scree and chunks of granite rock after [read more ...]
September is National Wilderness Month, so proclaimed by President Obama. I’ve had the good fortune to hike and backpack in several wilderness areas recently, and firmly believe that our federally designated Wilderness areas rank right up there with our National Parks as some of the best things about the U.S.A. There are a number of new and proposed wilderness areas in the Pacific Northwest, places that are now protected, or worthy of protection, for future generations. Nationally, The Wilderness Society [read more ...]
The Old McKenzie Pass Highway, OR 242, has opened for the summer after snow plows were finally able to clear both lanes of the road. This part of the McKenzie Pass – Santiam Pass National Scenic Byway is an incredibly scenic route across Oregon’s Cascade Mountains. Traveling west to east, the highway passes through lush old-growth forest characterized by massive Douglas-fir and western red-cedar trees, makes a series of hairpin turns to climb to the central Cascades, and crosses lava [read more ...]
The Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), recently honored the best books in 50 categories at the 22nd Annual Benjamin Franklin Awards™ in New York City prior to the BookExpo America tradeshow. Photographing Oregon was named best book of the year in the Travel category. Judged by a panel of book industry experts including buyers at wholesale and retail levels, librarians, book critics, design experts, and independent publishing consultants, these books have been scrutinized by individuals involved in the very markets [read more ...]