Helpful Tips on Predicting Fall Colors

Wahkeena Creek below Wahkeena Falls.

 Overall, many photographers in the Pacific Northwest grew frustrated with the poor showing of fall colors in 2013.  There were colors to be had, mind you.  If you could get to the larch despite the early season snow fall, they were fantastic.  However, if looking for native deciduous trees in the lower hills or valleys, it was a trying time with many leaves simply turning brown and falling to the ground while other leaves waited to turn.

This was rather easy to predict, however, with the uncharacteristically dry summer we had - one of the driest on record.

Let's start with the basics.  The most important element needed for beautiful fall colors is leaf volume.  How is this achieved?  Typically, with a moderate summer.  Too wet of a summer can promote disease and insects.  In a drought summer, as we experienced with no rain in July and very little in August, volume will be limited.

Healthy leaves stay attached to the trees longer, and present a better quality viewing surface (nice, radiant colors).  Dry conditions, pests and disease disrupt leaf surfaces.

Bridal Veil Falls in Bridal Veil State Park.

Temperature and precipitation during the fall color season will also greatly affect the colors of leaves.  Cool temperatures during the night with no freezes or frost, coupled with bright sunny days will enhance the changing of the leaf colors.  Slightly dry conditions in the last half of the growing season and during the transition into fall promote the changing color effect.

Fall rain systems and long overcast conditions diminish color appearance.  So do gusty winds that blow the leaves from the trees.  Freezing temperatures and hard frosts will kill the color formation, simply turning the leaves brown.

Here's another tip:  Keep a record of prime fall color dates for a specific area(s).  Peak color dates tend to repeat themselves.

The images appearing in this blog were taken in the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area towards the end of October, 2013.  You will note mostly brown leaves on the ground with only a few gold one's serving as highlights.  Meanwhile, cottonwoods and other trees were still mostly green.

I hope this information helps you to better plan your fall color trips in the coming years.

Feel free to view other images from the Columbia River Gorge on my website.

See you on the trail!

Oxbow Bend in Fall - Grand Teton National Park

Grand Teton National Park can be an incredible place to visit in the fall.   The crowds have diminished, the colors are poppin', the elk rut is on, and bears and other wildlife are commonly seen as they prepare for the winter months.

Colors peak anywhere from the last week in September to the first week in October, typically.

There are many favorite places to photograph fall colors within the park.  Most popular are Schwabacher Landing, Oxbow Bent (pictured here), Snake River Overlook, Mormon Row and Blacktail Ponds Overlook.  You will rarely be alone at any of these locations.

The image above was taken at Oxbow Bend.  Early morning promotes calm water on the Snake River, helping to capture the reflection of Mount Moran in its waters.  Sunrise is best, and requires arriving well before sunrise to stake your spot along the shoulder of the road before the crowds arrive.

This image was recently leased to appear worldwide on an editorial news website.  It has been a very popular image for me.  I hope you enjoy.

As always, thanks for visiting!

A Challenging Fall in the Pacific Northwest

Ingalls Peak and fall larches from snow-covered
Headlight Basin in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness.

The snow came early to the mountains of the Pacific Northwest this year, making it more challenging to visit some of the more popular larch shows in our area.  Couple this with colors running late and the government shutdown closing all the national parks in our state, and it has been a test for even the most patient and understanding photographers and hikers.

Despite a run of nice weather over the last week or so, temps remain cool up high (as one would expect) and the snow does not appear to be going anywhere.  The usual suspect for displays of larch have only been available to those prepared for snow travel.  These destinations include:   Ingalls Lake, Enchantment Lakes, Lake Stuart and Horseshoe Lake, Carne Mountain, Cutthroat Pass, Snowy Lakes, Blue Lake, etc.

What do we have to look forward to?  According my weather forecasting friends, October is not supposed to see any storms this year.  While we might have some minor systems move through, the extended forecast is one of relatively nice weather.

There are many areas of bright fall colors remaining to be enjoyed lower down in the coming weeks, including along the Columbia River Gorge, the lower western slopes of the Cascades, Sol Duc, Crescent Lake and Dosewalips areas of Olympic NP, and if one is willing to put some miles under their wheels, the northeastern part of our state is always a great choice.

Wherever you elect to go, remember that hunting season is well underway and the wearing of bright colored clothing is highly recommended if hiking in areas with hunters present.

Good luck in your search for colors and hope to see you on the trail!

Enjoying Mount Rainier's West Side

Mount Rainier from Emerald Ridge at sunset.

This image is of Mount Rainier at sunset from Emerald Ridge. The Tahoma Glacier has carved out a feature called the Sunset Amphitheater on this side of the volcano. It is my favorite side of the mountain due to its mix of rock and ice in such a wild and remote setting.

The story:

Yesterday I did a rather ambitious trip to Mount Rainier. I left home at 6:00 am, and would not return until nearly 1:00 am this morning.

I drove down to the West Side Road and hiked up the road 8 miles to St. Andrews Creek, then 2.6 miles up to Klapatche Park. Here I soaked up the sun for a few hours, having the place entirely to myself. Finally, I ventured 0.8 miles over to St. Andrews Park, where I lounged for about an hour and chatted with a few thru hikers. From there, I descended 3.2 miles to the South Puyallup River, and ascended 1.8 miles to the prow of Emerald Ridge for sunset.

I arrived a little later than hoped, but still in plenty of time for the evening show. What a fantastic place!

As soon as the final show was over, I hurriedly packed my gear for the descent of the Tahoma Creek trail in the dark. Earlier in the my trip, I spoke with a couple of hikers that had ascended the trail. They gave it a clean bill of health. No issues, no problems - easy going.



Mount Rainier above meadows on Emerald Ridge.

This was not the case. This trail has changed much over the last few years with many more washouts. Though easy to follow with headlamp, the trail is tedious with many steep climbs over recent washouts. I honestly can't recommend this route to anyone any longer due to the length of time and effort to get up and over all these.

The climax of washouts was when nearly back to the road. I encountered the washout I had heard about from others, but heard rumor that WTA had fixed. This washout can't be fixed. The entire hillside collapsed, leaving a wall of rock in its place; a giant cliff that cannot be navigated around.

I soon realized the cairns had me crossing the river over a giant log, though I looked for all other options before committing. Once on the other side, three more cairns lead me along the river's far side, then ended. I spent over 1/2 an hour exploring all options. Soon I saw a headlamp ahead in the dark. I knew no one else was on the trail, so it must be coming from the road. It was less than 100 yards away. Frustrated, I again explored all options. I then weighed the terrain on the other side of the river where the trail should be, and realized aiming directly for it was the best option.



Sunset Amphitheater and the Tahoma Glacier on Mount Rainier.

There was no way to cross the river. So I decided to investigate fording it. The Tahoma is a raging torrent, for those that don't know. It has inflicted heavy damage along its route for a reason over the years. I wasn't crazy about the idea - crossing a dangerous river, in the dark, and alone. But I found a spot that seemed to minimize the dangers and stepped in. I found myself nearly knee deep. A second step had me knee deep. I probed ahead with my poles and grew confident the depth would not grow much deeper. A third step had me lower thigh deep and feeling the river's push. Two more steps and I was on dry ground, and more importantly, on trail!

With wet boots I walked the final mile of road back to my vehicle, arriving around 10:30 pm.

Total stats 21 miles round trip, elevation gain ~5,600'.

 

Haystack Falls in Glacier National Park

Haystack Falls

After spending extended time down on the Oregon coast, I am trying to get caught up on print orders and other business matters.

Here is one of the images I am creating a print of.  It's an evening picture of Haystack Creek Falls along the Going-to-the-Sun Road in Glacier National Park, taken just as the sun was highlighting the peaks of the Garden Wall above.

This beautiful waterfall cascades down the western side of the Garden Wall, and spills under a stone bridge.  It is seems terraced, as if it were man made (it's not).

The Going-to-the-Sun Road is voted one of America's most scenic roads year after year.  If you haven't visited the area, I highly recommend you do so.  And don't forget to take your camera!

You will need a wide angle lens (this was shot at 24mm), and if shooting in evening light as I did, a 2-stop graduated neutral density filter.

More images of this area can be viewed on my website at www.mountainscenes.com/glacier.html.

As always, thanks for viewing!

The South Oregon Coast

Sunset at Harris Beach State Park, Oregon.

I've just returned from an excellent trip to the south Oregon coast, having visited Harris Beach State Park near Brookings, and Bandon Beach.  These beaches are my favorite of the entire Oregon coast, and they did not disappoint!

I hope to share images in the coming days - stay tuned!

Replacing my Canon TC-80N3 Remote

Programmable remote controls for Canon DSLR.

One of these remotes retails locally in Seattle at a reputable camera store for $159, while the other can be easily found online with a $31 price tag.  Can you guess which is which?

Let me get your attention even more.  Look past the name stamped on the front and these remotes are completely identical - clearly the same manufacturer.

I began my search for a replacement TC-80N3 remote for my Canon bodies due to battery corrosion (lesson learned - ALWAYS remove the battery when not in use).

I Googled the model number first, and had immediate sticker shock upon seeing the results.  I guess I had forgotten how much I paid originally.  The best price I could find for the TC-80N3 was $129 online.  But wait, some aftermarket remotes came up in the search, which I honestly hadn't considered. 

So I changed my search phrase to "remotes for canon dslr" and up popped this alternate remote by from Cowboy Studio.  From the picture it looked like the exact same remote as the Canon!  The reviews were overwhelming amongst photographers - over 70 reviewers giving it 4 to 5 stars, and no negative comments.

So I took the chance.

The remote arrived yesterday, and yes, it appears to be the EXACT same remote as the Canon.  The box has a cover photo of the remote with no name brand on it.  The manual appears to be identical to my Canon manual for the TC-80N#.  The model number for the new remote?  TC-1002.

I am leaving for the Oregon coast in the morning and will be testing this new accessory out over the coming week.  I'll let you know the results, but I can't imagine they are going to be anything but positive.

Mount Rainier Flower Update

If you haven't been up to Rainier to enjoy the flower show, you are running out of time!  Flowers are still very nice at Paradise, but are slightly past peak.  Tipsoo Lakes and Naches Peak are well past peak, as is Sunrise.

Spray Park is putting on a nice show, with the best display up high.  Mazama Ridge is looking nice too - I recommend hiking the Skyline Trail and The Lakes Trail.  I haven't seen any reports on Indian Henry's, but would expect it to be sporting a nice display.

Get out and enjoy them while they last!

This will likely be my last report on the flowers at Rainier for the season as I am leaving in a couple of days for the Oregon coast.

Mount Rainier Flower Update

Early light on the Tatoosh Range above meadows on Mazama Ridge.

Yesterday, I spent a long day on the south side of the mountain.  I left my home at 3:00 am, drove to Fourth Crossing near Paradise, and hiked up Mazama Ridge in time for sunrise.  I then ascended the Skyline Trail to the highest meadows before reversing my tracks and traversing the trail back to Paradise proper, using the Paradise Road to loop back to my vehicle.  Not done yet, I drove to Longmire and hiked up Eagle Peak!

I arrived home too late to process images to share (soon), but know many people would like a flower update before the weekend.

Mount Rainier above lupine at Paradise.

So here it is.

This year seems to be lacking variety on the south side.  Lupine are out in force, with paintbrush dotting the patches here and there.  The only asters I saw were along the Paradise Valley Road, and they were well past.  I believe this unusual dry spell we have been experiencing over the last 1-1/2 months may be having an adverse affect on some flower species.  It will be interesting to see how things play out.

Mazama Ridge is still a ways out, with both avalanche and glacier lilies still out in numbers, though well past.  I was disappointed with the meadows along The Lakes Trail, though there are some nice patches lower down, out-of-sight of the mountain, but in full view of the Tatoosh Range.  The same can be said along the Skyline Trail.

Paradise Meadows are fantastic right now - near peak, I would say.  The lupine are in full bloom and the meadows sport intense lavender color.  The area just shy of Edith Creek and the Edith Creek bridge crossing are particularly attractive.

Mount Rainier above Paradise Meadows.

Reflection Lakes are well past, and surrounded with construction.  I was going to drive down Stevens Canyon to scope things out, but decided the inconveniences were too much.  It was fascinating to watch the workers placing the stone blocks on the side of the highway though.  While many photographers are fearful of limited access to the lakes in the future, I think this project is bringing a much needed facelift to the area, and I'm excited to see it at completion.

Tipsoo Lakes and the Naches Peak Trail continue to have fantastic displays of a wide variety of flowers.  This area has probably been the most impressive of any place in the park this year, in my opinion.

Summerland is sporting a profuse display of Monkey Flower right now near the creek.  More varieties can be found up higher.

All of these locations share a common bond:  BUGS!  Be prepared!

Happy shooting!  I hope to see you on the trail!

Edit:  Images added 8/10.

Flower Update For Mount Rainier National Park!

Mount Rainier from the Naches Peak trail.

Have you been out to see the flowers at Mount Rainier yet?  If not, what are you waiting for?  There are lots of great showings right now!

Tipsoo Lakes are sporting an excellent show right now - probably peak.  Yakima Park at Sunrise and Berkely Park are also rocking the look, with peak probably happening later this week, based on what I saw last Saturday.

The Naches Peak Loop trail is looking very nice right now.  I would guess peak is still a few days away - maybe by this weekend.

Grand Park still looks very nice based on reports I've received, but is on its way out as one would expect.

If you are a fan of avalanche lilies, Spray Park or Lake Eunice is for you!  The Paradise area is also offering a carpet of white as most of the snow melts.  I would guess Paradise and Mazama Ridge are still on target for their prime show around the second weekend of August or so.

I hope this helps in your planning!  If you have any additional beta, please feel free to share.  Hope to see you on the trail!

Edit 8/1:  The park web site is stating flowers at Sunrise have indeed reached peak!

Flowers at Mount Rainier!

Mount Rainier above Yakima Park at sunrise.

It's that time of year again!  Yes, it is flower season at Mount Rainier, with beautiful displays appearing in select locations.

Stevens Canyon Road and the Sunrise Road are currently sporting impressive showings of lupine, aster, paintbrush and more.

Berkeley Park is ablaze in color right now, as are Owyhigh Lakes and Eagle Peak saddle.

Lupine is on display all along the Sourdough Ridge Trail and below Dege Peak.

While the flower display in Yakima Park at Sunrise is well underway, I believe they will be more impressive in another week or so. I would expect the same to be true for Summerland.

Avalanche and Glacier lilies can be found at Paradise, Indian Henry's, Van Trump Park & Spray Park, as well as along the trail to Gobblers Knob.  Heather is also in early bloom at Paradise and Mazama Ridge.

Remember that with along with flower season come those pesky mosquitos and biting flies.  Don't forget to pack your bug spray!

A Recent Visit to Mount Rainier

Mount Rainier reflected in Upper Tipsoo Lake before sunrise.

I spent this past weekend up at Mount Rainier, enjoying the opening of Sunrise for the season.  Hooray!

Snow is melting fast, and flowers are only weeks away on the north side of the mountain.  But why wait for flowers when scenes like this present themselves?

This image is from Upper Tipsoo Lake.  I arrived at 3:30 am (yes, you read that correctly) in hopes of doing some star photography.  Unfortunately, the half moon in the sky had me casting shadows on the snow, and washed out all stars over the mountain.

So I sat and waited for sunrise.

While I waited, I composed this image as the Earth's shadow with it's classic blue and pink colored ribbon, reflected in the calm water of the lake.  It was a very peaceful and serene setting, making the early hour worth while (as always).

To see more images from Mount Rainier, please visit my Mount Rainier Gallery.

Thank you for visiting.