Sentinel

Fog in the gorge highlighting one of my favorite scenes along Hwy 14 between Stevenson and Bingen. A lone tree, clinging to a rock outcropping, and standing guard over the hillside. How this little tree hangs on and manages to sustain itself I don't know. It always amazes me.

Back to the Gorge

Winter is my favorite time to drive into the gorge, because the weather varies so much from day to day. It's always a new scene.  Today's image is the companion shot to last week's post, On the Way to White Salmon. Both images taken from the same park/boat ramp just west of Cook, Washington; this one is looking west toward Cascade Locks and last week's is looking east toward White Salmon. For another winter view at this location click here. I almost didn't post today's photo, because I really object to the gray cloud reflection in the lower right. It really was a very overcast day, except for a few moments of bright sun on the nearby hills. The little house on the right is part of what appears to be a small family compound. I imagine the little homes like this one, dotting the banks on the Washington side, have been in the family for many generations.

Linking to Weekend Reflections.

Old Fence

Old barbed wire fences all over the place around Trout Lake.  I liked the negative space created with this mossy old post against the snow. 

Linking to Good Fences at Run*A*Round Ranch.

Blue Sky

A bright and sunny day at Trout Lake, near Mt. Adams.  Elevation at Trout Lake, 1800 ft. It was probably 50 degrees yesterday, and forecast to hit 60 today, so the snow is melting away. A winter blue is not my favorite, but after our rainy winter I'll take it! Cute little tree farm in the foreground.

On the Way to White Salmon

Calm waters on the Columbia. 

The Hood River-White Salmon Bridge barely visible on the horizon.  

Linking to Weekend Reflections

Snow Lines

Oak Tree, Sky View

A different oak tree than yesterday's photo.  This one is more of a West Coast Oak, like the Valley Oaks in California.  It's a much larger tree, rounder in shape, with smaller, rounder leaves that fall off before winter.  Although it looks like there are a few holding on still.   At the WSU campus entrance there is a big sign behind a fabulous oak tree.  Around the perimeter of the campus and Mt. Vista area there are many other "lesser" versions of this tree, which I like the imagine is the original parent. No leaf prints on the sidewalk under today's tree.  My guess is that the leaves fall before the rainy season and don't get their print washed into the cement.  (Maybe?)

Oak Tree, Ground View

It's pretty soggy around here right now with all the rain we've had, which does make a person pay attention to where they are stepping.  Lots of large oak trees on the back side of the campus, and I couldn't help but notice that the sidewalk reflects it.  This particular oak tree is much smaller than the others, and is still holding onto its leaves, like an oak from the Midwest.  Pin Oak?  The leaf tannins have made such a beautiful print on the sidewalk!  Glad for the opportunity to stare at my feet this week. 

Dog Creek, View2

Another more abstract view with my zoom lens. I liked the thick layer of moss on the rock and just under the surface of the water. And I liked the shape made by the rock and water. It has a nice yin-yang quality.

Cliff Dweller, Version 1

 Taking advantage of the uninspiring, white winter sky to highlight some of the things growing along the steep hills on the Washington side of the Columbia River Gorge near Dog Creek.  Love the lush green on the moss during our rainy, winter season!
Linking to Skywatch Friday.

Dog Creek Falls, View 1

Finished up our drive to White Salmon on the Washington side of the river today, so we made a short stop at Dog Creek Falls which is right off Highway 14. A little drizzle was starting so I hurried to the falls to get a few photos before the rain.  And of course I had the wrong lens on the camera, as usual. I took a few close ups before retrieving the wide angle lens from the car.  Here's my tightest view.  I thought it came out pretty interesting. 

Battle Ground Lake

I've been curious to visit Battle Ground Lake State Park for several years now, but really got interested in it after this summer, when I learned that it is a much smaller version of Crater Lake in southern Oregon.  A lake in a collapsed volcanic caldera.  I finally got there today and walked the perimeter of the lake with Clover and friends.  I have to say, what a little gem of a lake! A beautiful walk along the lower trail, which did have its obstacles.  There is also an upper trail, which I imagine being wider and flatter along the upper perimeter of the caldera.  Definitely going back here again!

Linking to Weekend Reflections.

Mid-Winter

Mossy view

Mt. Hood Reflection

If you turn around, you'd see the fabulous view from White Salmon, Washington across the river to Mt. Hood.  On a sunny day though, you don't even need to turn around to be reminded of the scenery!  Mt. Hood reflected in the Book Peddler window.

Linking to Weekend Reflections

If I Were a Groundhog...

We finally got a beautiful sunrise this morning, and I almost missed it too!  I got lulled into dull, rainy sunrises last week, and didn't remember to look out the window until after sunrise. Luckily this was one of those sunrises that built slowly.  It's a pretty spectacular scene when the mountain casts a shadow, and it seems to only happen at this time of year.  I was just imagining it happening on groundhog day, and the poor little groundhog heading back into his den to hibernate for eternal winter!  Still struggling with color balance on these vivid sunrises.  My eye sees pink, but the camera records the sunrise in a bloody-orange color. A quick online search for how to correct this turned up blank. Any advice?  The very low-lying clouds have taken on the correct pink, almost lilac color.  This is what happened to me last year too.  Low clouds and fog got the correct color, and the sky came out a bright orange. 

Linking to Skywatch Friday

Groundhog Day

Well, after a long, rainy winter, we were blessed with bright sunshine today. What does this mean?  Can we all count on the groundhog in Pennsylvania or is this seasonal forecast purely a local thing?  And what time of day does the groundhog peer out?  This morning we started out with fog, then midday bright sunshine with high clouds, now later in the afternoon the clouds are getting thicker.  Plus, it turns out we have our own season-predicting hedgehog here in Portland.  Who knew?  And he didn't see his shadow this morning.  Good thing he didn't join me for lunch in White Salmon, Washington, where this bright shadow photo was taken!

A Closer Look

Another version of the pretty little stream I photographed on my drive in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest last week.  We'll have rushing water like this for a long time this year because of all our rain/snow.  I read in the paper that Mt. Hood has already gotten 324 inches, and that was last week.  This stream would have its origin closer to Mt. Adams, or possibly Mount St. Helens.