Moon Shot

There is nothing more comforting than finally getting a clear day in the middle of winter and getting mooned by mother nature; she was a little bashful though, only giving us a half glimpse. The weather was perfect though, and continues to be simply amazing outside with temperatures in the low 60's. The evil man on the television is threatening to take it all away this weekend however...rain, rain go away, come again some other day.

Round Two

We did it! The Lower Table Top Mountain has been conquered once and for all, and it did not disappoint. I have to be honest, there were several points on the trail where I had to stop and find my breath; (It seem to escape and run off into the woods on it's own quite a bit.) The weather was perfect; this was a slight concern because on the ride over the fog had rolled into the valley...again; that was not an issue as the sun burnt off the lower layer of haze and opened up an incredible view. The temperature was in the mid 50's, a perfect shorts and shirt hike. Once the top was reached it was like an entirely different world, the comment of it looking like a Martian landscape was made a few times. Millions of small lava rocks framed by tiny strands of yellow grass and moss covered the mesa. A few trees here and there stretched up from the sides but overall the skyline was unobstructed and gorgeous. If you are afraid of heights do not follow the trail to the edge (see the top picture) as it will make feel like a very small speck on the face of this planet.

A Step Above

Okay, if you have driven through Medford, Oregon on Interstate 5 (North or South) you will have had to of seen two mountains with incredibly flat tops (mesa). Not being known to leave well enough alone we pursued these lumps further than just a subtle driveby. We ended up driving through a little town known as White City and playing slave to the little brown signs that pointed the way. By now, it is close to 4pm which left little time for exploration (but still enough time to get into some trouble.) The road ended at the trail head to the lower Table Top Mtn. It offers a 3.5 mile loop (with the first 1.75 miles being straight up.) I'm sorry to say that we were slower going up the trail than the sun was falling out of the sky so the top we did not make (thank you Yoda).

Busy as A...You Get The Picture

Wildlife photography is always fun, especially when the subject of the day happens to be insects. I can't speak for other enthusiasts out there who can probably snap this shot off in two minutes but for me it took close to 50 pictures before I was satisfied with the image. That was close to an hour of sitting in the pile of rosemary at this little park in Santa Rosa, California with bees orbiting around me like tiny buzzing satellites.

Head in the Fog

The winter mornings in the Rogue Valley along Interstate 5 look a lot like this in early February. These silhouetted pear trees offer a haunting look giving the feel of isolation and solitude in the little town of Phoenix. What you don't see here is the huge Home Depot shopping center to the immediate left of this picture, again displaying the wonders of the Medford, Oregon area.

"All Aboard!"

If you find yourself in Yreka look this little place up on the East side of town. This little train has a history of giving tours in the Summer; (It didn't in 2009, but they are working very hard to make sure it happens in 2010). It features an "open air" car for the visitors so bring something warm to wear just in case the evening is a little cooler than what was planned. There is also a little gift shop there so you can purchase a memory to take home with you.

Head in the Clouds

What better way to spend Groundhogs Day than in an area where Winter's thumbprint is felt the most, Mt. Shasta, California. Actually, we didn't make it that far as this was taken from a vista point north of Yreka off of I-5 south. No matter how many times I see this it still takes my breath away; the size alone can be very humbling.

Home Sweet Home (For Now)

A few short steps down the street from my front door (and a slight turn to the right) and I find this rather cold looking lanscape. Medford, Oregon is diverse in that man made structures can be found on one side of the street and then views like this one open up across the horizon on the other side. I am looking forward to returning to Colorado later this year (2010) to have the opportunity to capture more of this incredible country one picture at a time.

Twinkle Twinkle Little Star(s)

This was another one of those trips where dad had to get out of the house and go take on nature head to head. We ended up in Brookings, Oregon, his old romping grounds. He grew up there so it was fun to hear the stories that came rushing back to him as we strolled down the streets of memory lane. If you time it right the tide pools are worth a visit, extremely colorful and fun. Some of the biggest starfish I have ever seen could be found there, snuggled up on every rock structure that dotted the white sandy beach.

The Suburban Country

Hot off the press, this little setting was taken from the parking lot of the Farmers Market in Phoenix, Oregon. The winter storm was beginning to break up just enough to create some amazing lighting conditions. This is why I try and take my camera with me everywhere I go, (I'm just not always successful.)

Group Therapy

Mmm.....Fruit. There are some things that just look better in their natural surroundings rather than all bunched together under faux sprayers at the grocery stores. The grapes were found at the Sundial Garden in Redding, California; the blackberries were hanging around off of a trail in North Bend / Coos Bay, Oregon.

Going Down?

On Hwy. 62 in Southern Oregon, there is a sign that reads Butte Falls. If you take that exit and follow the dirt road for a few miles you'll find a perfectly groomed parking lot. Nope, the journey does not end here; there is still a 1/4 mile hike down a forested hill before you come on to this location. you would think that this majestic waterfall would be be the most memorable part of this exploration wouldn't you? I'm afraid the 30 or so mosquito bites trumped that card.

"Something Wicked This Way Comes."

On a trip back to Medford, Oregon from Klamath Falls we discovered this little gem hiding in the hills above Crater Lake. 2009 was a very active year for thunderstorms and lightning strikes in Southern Oregon, which afforded me several opportunities to capture some amazing pictures.

Got Wood?

The best places for me to recharge my inner batteries are along the coast or deep in the heart of a Redwood grove, like this one at Prairie Creek State Park in California. Pictures and words really don't do any justice to the beauty of this magical landscape.

Baby, it's cold outside!

Here is Klamath Falls, Oregon! This should answer the question of if it snows there or not. The bottom shot was taken in 2008 from behind Pelican Cinema staring out over the railroad tracks, the snow was about knee level then. The top view was my front yard, the tree on the left fell from the weight of the ice. I learned that clouds need not be present to snow in this area that year, an all new experience to be sure.