Gifford Pinchot

We've got one of the older national forests here in Southwest Washington. Originally named the Columbia National Forest in the late 1800s, it was renamed in 1949 in honor of Gifford Pinchot, chief of the forest service from 1905-1910 during the Teddy Roosevelt administration. He transformed the way national forests were managed, and greatly increased the amount of land set aside under federal management. Gifford Pinchot National Forest encompasses over 1.3 million acres of land in southwest Washington, beginning at the southern edge of Mt. Rainier National Park, and extending south to the Columbia River. The national forest includes Mount St. Helens and Mt. Adams. It's rugged country, but now that I've got my Curious Gorge guide book, I plan to explore it...although I think I'll save the higher elevations for the summer months!  This beautiful little stream, sorry to not know the name, is just north of Carson in Skamania County.

Curious Gorge

Well, no fabulous sunrises to report this week, but I did finally purchase a guide book I've been eyeing for the last few months.  Curious Gorge. It's filled with over 100 hikes and attractions in the Columbia River Gorge. I don't know why I didn't purchase it sooner.  I can't believe all the cool hidden stuff in the gorge, and I'm so excited to visit all the sites!  Today's trip was sort of a bust though.  Too much snow still on the road once it started climbing toward Mt. Adams, so I had to turn around and head back.  On the way back I stopped and took a few shots, just to console myself.  This mossy woodland scene was one of them. Rain, fog, snow about 2000', and moss, moss, moss!

It's That Time of Year

Looks like colorful sunrise season is here! I missed this one at Mt. Vista near the WSU Vancouver campus by about 10 minutes, so I'd better start setting my alarm clock through mid-February, just in case anything good develops.

Salmon Creek

Salmon Creek at dusk, looking pretty full after all our rain so far this winter.
Linking to Weekend Reflections.

Sunrise near Astoria

The companion shot to yesterday's post. Sunset Beach State Park in Oregon (at sunrise). This time facing north. The tide was just heading out, and the wet sands cast a terrific reflection as usual.

Linking to Weekend Reflections and Skywatch Friday.

Sunrise at Sunset Beach

We got out to the coast over the weekend, visiting Astoria.  Usually when we're in Astoria we stop at Fort Stevens State Park, but this weekend we went to Sunset Beach instead.  And at sunrise no less.  Sunrise in the deepest part of winter is around 8am, so it wasn't so bad in terms of sleep.  The temperature was only 38 degrees though. Pretty pastel colors, this photo is looking north.  I'll post another tomorrow looking south.

Sunbreak

Dramatic clouds and sun in the gorge. I was on the Washington side, so this view is looking at Oregon which has the more dramatic landscape in the gorge. And this photo was taken close to Stevenson, which is often where the weather shifts as the river bends.

Multnomah in Winter

A very frosty view of Multnomah Falls.
So far this winter we've either had rain or cold.
 For today's scene: cold!

Happy New Year!

A wintery reflection to star the New Year: Multnomah Creek just downstream from Multnomah Falls. Hard to believe this little creek, so quiet and meandering, is all that is left after the falls!

Linking to Weekend Reflections