Returned from Banff National Park!

Hikers on the Plain of Six Glaciers trail in Banff National Park.

I've returned from a fantastic trip to Lake Louise in Banff National Park!  Also visited were Kootenay and Yoho National Parks!

The photography opportunities were excellent.  I spent considerable time at Lake Louise and Moraine Lake, but ventured many other places as well - including the Icefields Parkway, Takakkaw Falls, and up and down the Bow Valley Parkway.

Wildlife was plentiful.  I photographed black bears, grizzley bears and several large bull elk.

I will be editing images from this trip for quite some time, but hope to be able to share some soon!  Be sure and check back from time to time!

Visiting the Canadian Rockies!

Mount Assiniboine Reflection

I'm excited to be leaving for the Canadian Rockies in just a few days!  While I won't be visiting Assiniboine Provincial Park on this trip (pictured), I will in a subsequent trip in late September.

I do plan to photograph throughout Banff National Park and possibly Jasper National Park as well.  The opportunities should abound and I am excited!

I have visited the Canadian Rockies on several occasions.  I have hiked and climbed in most of the national and provincial parks associated with them.  However, years have gone by since I last enjoyed visiting one of my very favorite places.  Redemption!

I will be focusing on Banff National Park for this trip, primarily areas around Lake Louise.  I hope to venture into Jasper, Yoho and Kootenay as well, but they will be limited.  My photography will be mostly roadside and short dayhikes.

In late September I will be returning to these very parks - and more!  I will be backpacking into Assiniboine and Mount Robson Provincial Parks, as well as Yoho, Kootenay and Jasper National Parks.  It should be an exciting season.  I hope to return with many new images to share!

Ruby Beach, Olympic National Park

Ruby Beach in Olympic National Park

To enjoy the best that the Washington coast has to offer, one must be willing to hike away from the paved roads.  For those that do, incredible beaches and sea stacks await you - Shi Shi Beach and Point of the Arches, Strawberry Point, Toleak Point, Cape Alava, Third Beach - and more.

There is an exception, however.  Ruby Beach is simply a 0.25 mile stroll from the parking lot just off Highway 101 near the Hoh River entrance to Olympic National Park.  It offers incredible scenery, including up-close sea stacks, and makes for an excellent sunset destination.

This image was captured during a March visit while camped at the Hoh River Campground in ONP.  I had hoped to photographed the sea stacks, but this early in the year the best light was further to the south.  I'm happy with what I came away with.  Others appear to be as well, as this image was recently licensed to appear in world-wide circulated textbook!

You may view other images from the coast in my Washington Coast Gallery.

As always, thanks for looking!

North Cascades National Park Gallery Update

Glacier Peak above Image Lake at dawn.

July is here and I am busy planning backpacks for the coming months, as I'm sure many of you are!  Of course, with our late snow melt in the Pacific Northwest, many trips will have to be scheduled a little later than normal.  Do you have anything special planned?

Speaking of backpacks, I've finally gotten around to updating my North Cacades Gallery with images from an extended backpack I did last September.  The trip was a loop trip, beginning at Buck Creek Pass and continueing on to Image Lake, Cloudy Pass, Lyman Lakes, Spider Gap and Spider Meadows. It's a classic backpack and I now know why!

Fortress Mountain above flower meadows.

This special trip provided me with several new images which I am excited to share.  You may view my North Cascades Gallery, or visit any of my other galleries by visiting my web site at http://www.mountainscenes.com/.  I hope you enjoy.

More images will be coming soon.

I hope everyone has a fun and safe Fourth of July!

Display at Los Angeles International Airport

Coyote in Yosemite National Park.

This is an image I took of a coyote hunting in the meadows of Yosemite Valley during a snow storm.  It caught its prey within seconds of this capture.  I have plenty images of that as well!

The image is part of a display being considered in Los Angeles International Airport in partnership with the Department of Cultural Affairs.  Its intent is the promotion of Yosemite National Park, and is part of a program meant to educate, entertain and inspire travelers.  The aim is to enhance and humanize the overall travel experience for millions of people every year.

This image was taken on the very last day of my visit, as I was leaving the park to drive home.  Funny that such an afterthought would prove to be some of my most successful images from the trip!

You can see more images from this trip in my Yosemite Gallery.

Western Byways, Wyoming Edition

Western Byways, Wyoming Edition.

Wyoming became one of my favorite states to visit long ago, after just a few trips. It offers Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks, as well as my favorite - the Wind River Range.  Of course it offers much more, demanding further exlploration.

But, it goes beyond destinations. You can't escape the history and culture while visiting. Wyoming is cowboy country as I like to call it. It's not a tourism angle, it's a way of life. And it's a refreshing experience both for "city slickers" looking to escape as well as history buffs interested in Native American culture and/or settlers of the west. 

Did I also mention how much it has to offer for the outdoor enthusiast?  Mountain climbing, backpacking, hiking, horseback riding, rafting, fishing, hunting - the list goes on.

So when I was approached by Western Byways about photos for both the front and back cover of their Wyoming edition, I was intrigued. When I discovered both images they were interested in were from the Wind River Range, well, they had my attention!

If you are thinking of enjoying the experience of Wyoming, and I highly encourage you to do so, make sure to pick up a copy of this magazine. I have visited numerous times - more than I can count. And I will be back. I will always be back.

If you need some eye candy to understand what I am talking about, feel free to visit my Wyoming galleries at www.mountainscenes.com.

As always, thanks for reading!

2013 Mountains of Washington Wall Calendar

Flowers on Mazama Ridge below Mount Rainier

I'm proud to announce that my image of flowers on Mazama Ridge below Mount Rainier will be included in the 2013 Mountains of Washington wall calendar published and distributed by Smith-Western.  It's the second time this image has appeared in their calendar line.

This image was taken during a particularly strong flower year, the likes I have not seen equaled over the past several years.  Despite appearing to be taken during mid-day, this was actually taken within an hour or so of sunrise to capitalize on the softer light.

These calendars are typically readily available in many of your favorite stores.  In past years I have seen them at Fred Meyer, Rite-Aid, Bartells, Made In Washington, The Space Needle, etc.  Keep your eyes open!

I will also be selling them on my web site and at my upcoming shows.  Details to follow soon!

WTA Hike-A-Thon Winner Prize

Matt Loesch and Don Geyer on Iron Peak summit.

Congratulations to the winning 2011 Washington Trails Association Hike-a-Thon photo winners!  Yes, this was an event that took place last summer, but the prize was only claimed this past weekend.  And the prize was?  Well...me so to speak!

Winning contestants got to spend time with me on the trail, while I offered photography tips and suggestions.

Well, that was the plan anyway!

The reality is that one winner is currently hiking the entire PCT, another was running a marathon in San Diego, and a third had a family member fall ill at the last moment.

This left Matt.  Matt wasn't very interested in photographing flowers along Ingalls Creek as had originally been planned - he wanted to go high for views. So we called an audible and headed up the Teanaway, targeting Iron Peak.

It was a fun adventure.  Matt summited his first peak outside of Mt. Pilchuck, and signed his first summit register!  He also experienced his first time of extensive snow travel (and there was a lot of snow).

This was a fun event, and one that I have been looking forward to ever since signing on last September.  Thanks for a fun day and great company, Matt!

2012 Tulip Season in the Skagit Valley

Roozengaarde Gardens

Tulip season has come and gone in the Pacific Northwest.  There was no better place to spend it than the Skagit Valley throughout the month of April.

I enjoyed three separate visits to the area.  My first visit was a solo trip to photograph the daffodils - a beautiful precursor to the tulips, which usually peak in late March.
Subsequent photography trips were made with photographer friends Brad Wetli and Kevin Ebi.  Kevin and I were fortunate enough to hit Roozengaarde Gardens at their prime.

Rows of tulips at Roozengaarde Gardens

Of course, we weren't alone when visiting Roozengaarde Gardens.  Not even close.  This place packs them in fast, especially on weekends.  I highly recommend arriving early.

The fields were a little disappointing this year.  The few we could find were still a week away - I suspect the final days of April.  This is extremely late for them.  The exception was the field directly behind (east) of Roozengaarde Gardens, which was spectacular.  Access was the issue, however.  If you wished to photograph it during prime light, I'm not sure access was legally available (though the fact they demanded to see your ticket stub upon re-admittance to the gardens tells me it was possible).

All the fields I have enjoyed photographing over the years were not planted this year.  They remained barren.  This includes my absolute favorite, the field that surrounds the parking lot across the street from Roozengaarde Gardens.  Why do I like this particular field so much?  Because it has a gentle up slope to it to better catch the rows of different color tulips, and offers the snow-clad Olympic Mountains as a backdrop on sunny days.


Tulips at Roozengaarde Gardens in Skagit Valley.

Hopefully the planting rotation rewards photographers next year.  We can hope!

I will be adding tulip images to my web site at http://www.mountainscenes.com/ soon.  In the meantime, feel free to visit for any of my other photography from around the Western U.S.

Thanks for visiting.

It's Tulip Time in the Skagit Valley!

Tulips at the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival in Mount Vernon, Washington.

That's right, it is that time of year again!  The Skagit Valley Tulip Festival is in full swing and the tulips are strutting their colors!  Now is the time to get up and pay them a visit!

A drive around in search of colorful fields will yield few results, despite what the Bloom Map might say.  However, the field behind Roozengaarde is absolutely spectacular!   It is also huge, offering many varieties of tulips - the largest collection I recall seeing in any one of their fields in the past.

Of course, the Roozengaarde Display Garden is the highlight of any visit, and is easily worth the $5 admission fee.  If visiting on a weekend, arrive early!

A sea of daffodils in the Skagit Valley.

If daffodils are your thing, it's not too late to catch them either!  There is a prime field on Beaver Marsh Road, just south of Roozengarde.  There are also many varieties still on display within the Gardens themselves.

Photographers - bring all your lenses!  There is so much opportunity here that you will tire of shooting long before you are even close to "finishing".  One can spend days here and still not come away feeling complete.  Wide-angle lenses are great for catching the fields.  Mid-range lenses work well for capturing the artistic arrangements in the display garden.  Telephoto lenses are excellent for getting up close and personal.  You can use them all here!

Definitely waterproof your gear and yourself.  I would recommend rubber boots if planning to visit any of the fields, even on a nice day.  The fields can take days to completely dry out after a period of showers.

I hope to have tulip and daffodil images from this year and years past on my web site soon. 

Daffodils in the Skagit Valley



Rows of daffodils in the Skagit Valley.

 Each spring hundreds of thousands of people descend upon the Skagit Valley to enjoy the millions of tulips in bloom.   The rows upon rows of magnificent flowers are breathtaking.  I encourage all to experience it.

The Skagit Valley Tulip Festival officially runs from April 1 - 30th.  The tulip show, in my experience, typically hits peak about the second week of April.  However, the bloom dates are heavily dependent on weather and can vary greatly from year to year.

Fortunately, we have a tool available to us to take the guessing game out planning our visit.  Roozengaarde, one of the premier tulip growers in North America, publishes a bloom map with daily updates!

And now, to share another secret with you.  Want to avoid the crowds?  Go now!  Daffodils are at peak bloom right now and the fields are amazing!  There is a good chance you will find yourself all alone as you explore them.  It will be a much different experience in a week or two when the tulips hit peak.

Enjoy, and feel free to share your experience!

Death Valley National Park Display

Hiker in Fall Canyon, Death Valley National Park.

Two years ago to the week, I shared a fantastic trip with my dad to Death Valley National Park.  It was a pretty special trip for both us, and he later voiced that of all the trips we had done together over the years, this one quickly became his favorite, and remained so to his death.

My dad died in a hiking accident this last fall.

When I remember my dad, this trip and the fun we had always jumps to the forefront. 

Shortly after my dad's death, I was approached to license an image for a new display at Death Valley National Park.  What a great way to honor my dad and our special trip together!

Artist's Palette, Death Valley National Pqark.

One image soon turned to two images as we negotiated, and an agreement was finalized.

So, it is with great excitement and pride that I share with you this announcement!

Next time you visit the Furnace Creek Visitor Center in Death Valley National Park, look for both these images on display!

Thanks for the memories dad, and the opportunity to photograph this wonderful park with you; a park with features that were so new and unbelievably different to the both of us.

More images can be viewed in my Death Valley National Park Gallery.

Thanks for visiting.