August 16, 2013 - Our plan to leave early for Many Glacier and hike to Iceberg Lake did not go as expected.  Jeff had extreme allergies this morning with lots of snorting and sneezing.  It was like a bear joined us during the night.  Even though we arrived at the land of many glaciers around 11AM, we decided to hike the Iceberg Lake trail anyway and at least get to Ptarmigan Falls.  After a tail-gate snack of granola and banana, we were off.  Jeff was not feeling his usual strong self, but I was ready for our last hike in the Park, 10.4 miles round trip but only 1200 feet of elevation gain .

In bear country again, we sighted many bear spray containers on other hikers.  But I had my bear song that Jeff composed yesterday.  Bears do not like noise, especially my off-tune melody.  The meadows and mountains rising to the heavens were spectacular.  So much of it untouched and there for the hiker to enjoy and renew one's spirits and dedication to make this world a better place.  We ambled through more miles of God's garden in the high country.  We arrived at Ptarmigan Falls, both of us hot and tired from hiking in the mid-day sun.  We agreed that in spite of Jeff's headache, his back ache, and allergies, and my slower hiking speed, that we were too close to an experience that we have never encountered (icebergs in a glacial fed lake) to not take advantage.  And so we moved on and up into more pristine forests and meadows.

Finally we reached Iceberg Lake.  I'm so thrilled that I made it --- 5.2 miles one way.  Sitting here on one of nature's chairs marveling at the icebergs floating in the lake and the emerald green water glistening in the sunshine.  The mountains rise high above, forming a cozy little cirque for hikers to relax and ponder the beauty of creation.  A breeze pushes the mini icebergs across the lake and cools my sunlit body.  I found another "forever" place to rest my tired body when I leave this Earth. The the ice clinging to the rocks is not going to break off and crash into the lake during my short visit here.  From what others have told me, there are more icebergs in the lake this year than in previous years.  This has been a hot summer at Glacier National Park.

What I value so much about our experiences is that we are in an environment where war and human pain and suffering  do not exist; where peace can be experienced as it should be, where we know and accept that we must return to that "other" world to share our gifts and talents in a place where peace and joy are hard to find or identify.  I am forever grateful for these opportunities to enjoy God's many creations and so cognizant of the moral response they demand.

On the way back, Jeff went exploring off-trail for a bit and found a small unnamed lake surrounded by grasses and reflecting the surrounding mountains.  He quickly radioed for me to join him.  It was totally worth the extra time and distance to experience this perfect gem of a lake and take pictures in the evening light.  After taking dozens of pictures we decided we better move on if we were to finish the hike before dark.  

We returned to the car after the sun had set and felt good about accepting today's challenges.  This called for pizza and beer at a nearby restaurant in the park.

To see more of my pictures from Glacier National Park, visit Glacier National Park Featured Gallery.  Signed fine art prints from many of my photographs are available for purchase on Fine Art America.  For special offers and to follow my photographic journey please Join My Email List​.​​

August 15, 2013 - Jeff was up very early today to photograph Wild Goose Island located in the middle of Saint Mary Lake.  The tiny island is composed of limestone that somehow avoided being compressed during the glacial age.  All the rock at the bottom of the lake and the mountains on either side are compressed limestone.  Due to its geological rarity and scenic beauty, this iconic scene is one of the most photographed in the park.

After Jeff returned, we enjoyed a nice breakfast at the restaurant, then drove to the visitor center to get help with hiking plans for the last two days in the park.  We decided to enjoy a boat tour of the lake combined with a 3 mile hike to Saint Mary Falls.  This was a good choice because a ranger naturalist accompanied us on the boat and was our hike leader.  With a degree in geology she had a lot of interesting information to share.  While we were safely in the boat we spotted a black bear walking along the shore.

As we walked up a short hill to view Baring Falls, a large black bear was spotted near the tour boat by some hikers.  They said he was heading up the trail to Saint Mary Falls, our main destination.  Our fearless leader took her bear spray in her hands and led us up the hill chanting and clapping hands all the way.  The only part of that bear we saw was his scat filled with berries, some not even digested.  Jeff was hoping to photograph a bear so he made up a jingle to sing while hiking.

Of course, singing the jingle would only scare the bear away so we never did see this particular bear.

After hiking for an hour and listening to more naturalist talk, we arrived at the falls.  Its rushing waters empty into Saint Mary Lake.  We were only able to spend 15 minutes at the falls because we had to meet the next boat at 5PM.  I could  have stayed so much longer to appreciate the beauty and grandeur and to lose myself in pondering the importance of water as it relates to the existence of this planet.

The hike back to the boat took in some grand views of Saint Mary Lake.  The lake has that beautiful emerald green color because of the glacial silt that flows into the lake and reflects the light.  Any glacial body of water will have that reflection of light that creates the emerald green color.

We learned a lot from our volunteer ranger during the return boat trip.  In 1910 there were 150 glaciers in this park. Today there are 25 and those could be gone in 15-20 years.  Not only the glaciers, but life that co-exists with them, Iike the insects and bugs . . . And life that depends on the insects and bugs . . . And all the way up the food chain.   We are all interconnected and depend on one another.

Tomorrow we are planning another hike into Glacier's high country to Iceberg Lake.  Icebergs in a lake . . . Really??

To see more of my pictures from Glacier National Park, visit Glacier National Park Featured Gallery.  Signed fine art prints from many of my photographs are available for purchase on Fine Art America.  For special offers and to follow my photographic journey please Join My Email List​.​

August 14, 2013 - We enjoyed our higher elevation hike to Hidden Lake so much that we planned another one from Logan Pass.  This time though, we packed up our gear early, and arrived at the visitor center around 9:20.  Even at that, there were only a few spots left in the parking lot.  Before hiking we had a "tailgate" breakfast of home made granola, our friend Phyllis' blueberries and the last two pieces of banana bread which my sister gave us for the trip.  Then we were off for a 6.6 mile hike.

The Highline Trail along the Garden Wall was constructed similarly to the GTTS (Going to the Sun) Highway.  It was literally blasted out of the rock wall face.  For a quarter mile of the trail, we hugged the wall of the cliff high above the highway.  A hose-covered-cable was secured into the rock wall for hikers to hold onto for safety and/or emotional support.  It was a good trail though! 

Then we entered the "garden" with flowers gracing both sides of the path and climbing high on the rocky cliffs above as well as hanging onto the cliff sides below.  So peaceful with time for personal thought and appreciation for the gifts that Nature provides.

The trail meanders through a couple of small forested areas only to reappear in the "garden"again.  The waterfalls cascaded from the peaks above, shedding the last vestiges of snow, and rushing to the road below.  The trail paralleled the road with steep and dangerous cliffs separating the two.  Dangerous only if one chooses to hike off trail.

Lots of hikers on the trail; most younger and faster than I.  Aware of that fact, I stopped and moved to the side so they could pass.  And every time the thought occurred to me that I used to be one of them.  And even more so as I was still hiking uphill and they passed me going down!

There wasn't much elevation gain, but it was hot and I tend to hike slowly now watching every placement of my feet to avoid tripping and/or falling.  Jeff of course was far ahead of me, but our 2-way radios keep us in close contact.

Staying so far ahead is not always beneficial for Jeff since I usually carry the food.  So when he arrived at the saddle below Haystack Mountain, he had to wait patiently for his lunch.  Lots of "seating" below the Haystack; not restaurant chairs like in Switzerland, but Nature-made ones.   Even with lots of hikers in the "saddle", there was plenty of room to spread out.

Since I was one of the last ones arriving, we lingered to give me time to rest before heading down.  Fortunate for that, since we were "treated" to a visit by three bighorn sheep, 2 rams and one ewe. This was such an exciting experience for both of us since the bighorns don't populate the areas we usually hike.  Of course we used a lot of digital film.  And then we really did need to head down the trail, in spite of the afternoon heat.

The meadows maintained their peaceful tranquility and beauty as we departed the "saddle" to return via the same trail to Logan Pass.  In the heat of the day, I anticipated the two biggest waterfalls, where I filled my hat with water and poured it over my head.  Dipping my hiking handkerchief in the cold water to wipe my face and arms seemed to revive me for the remainder of the hike.  Even Jeff relished the cold water on his face.  Many years ago we could even drink that cold flowing water and satisfy our thirst.  Drinking the warm water in our water bottles today maintained our hydration but was not satisfying like a  swig of cold mountain water.

Another day in the high country to renew ourselves and to be continually thankful and appreciative for this part of our world.  We have seen a great deal of wildlife on this trip.  Deer, antelope, and bison at the National Bison Range.  And in Glacier National Park, we had up-close experiences with mountain goats, bighorn sheep, marmots, ground squirrels and even bear poop on the trail.  Jeff spotted a bear on Tuesday at such a long distance, he didn't even attempt a picture.  So I guess the bear poop will have to count!

Tomorrow, Thursday, Jeff will be up at 6am to get pictures of Wild Goose Island which sits in the middle of Saint Mary Lake.  And I'd like an easier day of hiking.

To see more of my pictures from Glacier National Park, visit Glacier National Park Featured Gallery.  Signed fine art prints from many of my photographs are available for purchase on Fine Art America.  For special offers and to follow my photographic journey please Join My Email List​.​​

August 13, 2013 - Altars  of rock surrounded by grasses and flowers.  Meadows are lush and green and full of color.  It was like walking in God's Garden with wildflowers, rushing waterfalls and erratics strewn through the meadows left by the glacial flows.  And a pilgrimage of hikers walking up the mountain was an incredible scene to view.  And  there was never a lull.  As some returned on the trail others replaced them.  As I joined the "pilgrims", I pondered the many reasons for taking this pilgrimage into Nature's paradise. I was so thankful to be hiking after seeing a woman in a wheelchair at the end of the paved trail.  She could go no further, but her face told me that she was completely enjoying the beauty from her chair.  I was so thankful that I could hike and take in all the sights and sounds that she would miss.

In the higher meadows and rocky areas, I met a nanny goat and her baby walking towards me on the side of the trail.  Such a treat.  Neither feared me, but the baby picked up momemtum as it passed me trying to keep up with mom.  More goats as I arrived at the overlook above Hidden Lake.  All this time as I was slowly ambling up the trail, Jeff had been searching for and finding goats to photograph.  I settled on a rock outcropping with several others who were enjoying one another in the spaciousness of these grandeur peaks and the meadows dressed in  their vibrant colors.  

And now I'm all alone.  Jeff is searching for that perfect shot with colorful meadows against a backdrop of mountains shedding their rocky scree.  And Nature is my only companion.  If this could be my eternity, there is no doubt that I would stay. And while Jeff was focused on his meadow shot, a goat snuck up behind him to within 15 feet.  A bit of a surprise to turn around to greet a mountain goat bearing down on him .  According to Jeff it was more like a staring contest, with the goat retreating first.

On our trip down, we met a group of Mennonites awed with the beauty of the mountains and the lake below.  Apparently a little girl was taken with their dress and I overhead her mother's discussion with her about different ways and different cultures and everyone has gifts to offer.  And down further, a little boy started to dig in the meadow.  His mother immediately snatched him onto her lap to explain the reason we need to show care and respect to the flowers and meadows.  "They don't have much time to grow and bloom and share their beauty with us, so we need to protect them."  She used the word 'environment' several times so that little boy will grow to understand.

Many good moments of life today.  Tomorrow another hike at Logan Pass.

To see more of my pictures from Glacier National Park, visit Glacier National Park Featured Gallery. Signed fine art prints from many of my photographs are available for purchase on Fine Art America.  For special offers and to follow my photographic journey please Join My Email List​.​

Olympic National Park, located in the north-west corner of Washington State, is undoubtedly the most diverse national park in the United States. Because of this diversity and its incredible beauty, the United Nations designated Olympic National Park as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1981.

The central core of the park has high glaciated mountains and expansive alpine meadows.  Surrounding this central region are extensive old growth  and temperate rain forests. There are eleven major river systems that drain the Olympic mountains.  These riparian zones provide quality habitat for the region's anadromous fish species. As if this weren't enough, the park also protects over 70 miles of wilderness coastline, making it the longest undeveloped coast in the lower 48 states.

Over 90% of Olympic National Park is designated as wilderness.  You can access the outer edges of the park by road but the heart of the Olympics along with the coastline is primitive wilderness.  It is here that the visitor is required to travel on foot, living with Mother Nature on her terms.

Influenced by mountains, glaciers, rivers and sea, Olympic National Park has diverse climate conditions. About twelve feet of rain falls each year on the west side rain forests. The eastern side of the park lies in a rain shadow, barely receiving 25 inches of annual rainfall.

From tiny flowers in alpine meadows to the sea stars in coastal tide pools, many species populate Olympic National Park. Geology, climate, isolation, history and sheer size come together to protect the ecosystems of this nearly one million-acre park.  Olympic National Park is indeed a living laboratory and a home for flora and fauna of all sizes.

If you are interested in helping to protect and preserve the park, please consider joining Olympic Park Associates, a non-profit organization formed to promote the values and resources of this national treasure.

More pictures of Olympic National Park can be seen in my Olympic National Park Featured Gallery.  Signed fine art prints from many of my photographs are available for purchase on Fine Art America.  For special offers and to follow my photographic journey please Join My Email List​.​

Jeff and I have hiked and backpacked around the Spirit Lake area since 1973.  Of course it looks a lot different now than it did before the devastating eruption of Mount Saint Helens in 1980.

A friend recently recommended we hike to Norway Pass.  It was a hot day for a hike through the exposed Mount Saint Helens blast zone.  The hike is only 4.5 miles round trip, and a constant gradual incline.  According to the hike books, the trail only gains 300 feet of elevation.  However, my body believed it was double that.

The trail was lined with wildflowers for the first mile and a half.  You could see for miles around, except for the few areas of shade that were more than welcomed. The trail switch-backed above Meta Lake for over a mile while the fireweed, paintbrush and foxglove dotted the hillside.

Arriving at the seemingly insignificant Norway Pass, Jeff had a feeling that he had been here before.  On returning home, we found the pre-eruption Mount Saint Helens map and, tracing the trail that we had backpacked 36 years ago, we discovered that we had indeed left our footprints on this very pass.

In 1977 we couldn't see the mountains for the trees; whereas today all three volcanoes (Mount Rainier, Mount Adams, Mount Saint Helens) were splendidly in view and the trees were few and far between.

It was a sobering thought to return to an area that was totally changed by the ravages of Nature.  And it was likewise exciting to have been a part of the history of Mount Saint Helens' historical impact in Washington State.

For more information on the Norway Pass hike, go to the Washington Trails Association.  For more information on the National Monument, go to Mount Saint Helens National Monument.  Also, be sure to check out Jeff's Mount Saint Helens Gallery on Istockphoto.

Signed fine art prints from many of my photographs are available for purchase on Fine Art America.  ​For special offers and to follow my photographic journey please Join My Email List​.​

Some people's idea of an adventure would be to island hop in the San Juan Islands of Washington, stay in a bed and breakfast and enjoy fine dining.  This is what I thought my daughter Molly had in mind when she proposed a trip to the San Juans.   I had forgotten about that high range of mountains in Colorado also known as the San Juans  Little did I realize I would be carrying a 50 pound pack up a steep trail.  Oh, did I mention we would be hiking with Molly's dog Shuksan?  More about him later.

The San Juan Mountains is an area of incredible beauty with many mountain peaks reaching 14,000' and meadows and lakes at or above timberline around 11,000'.  Meadows are abundant with wildlife, small lakes, creeks and wildflowers.  Some of the hiking trails in the San Juan Mountains are not well marked or maintained so these areas don't experience many hikers.  This was alright with Molly and me.  We wanted to experience true wilderness.

Historically, much of the development in the San Juan region is based on mining.  It's disturbing to see the many abandoned mines and rundown buildings.  The small towns we drove through celebrated their rich mining heritage and an effort is underway to preserve this heritage while cleaning up the damaged environment. Today, the economic driver of the region is tourism with the natural beauty of the area drawing thousands of skiers, hikers, offroad vehicles and river rafters.

After flying into Durango on Sunday and meeting Molly, we drove to the sleepy former mining town of Silverton, the county seat of San Juan County. Silverton is at 9300', and coming from sea level, I could feel the effects of the thin air right away.  Many visitors come to Silverton via the historic Durango to Silverton Railroad.  We liked Silverton and its quiet laid back atmosphere; and as it turned out, Silverton would be our home base for the next 3 days.

Our original plan was to backpack to Upper Ice Lakes Basin at 12,300' and spend Monday and/or Tuesday night camping and exploring.  After talking to the Forest Service ranger in Silverton, we decided to camp in the lower basin at 11,300', then day-hike to the upper basin from there, which turned out to be a good choice.  Lower Ice Lakes Basin is an incredibly beautiful area of lush green meadows dotted with lakes and ponds, fed from above by many streams and waterfalls.  Marmots run amok in the meadows much to Shuksan's delight.  We set up camp in a beautiful meadow by a babbling creek.

After a tasty dinner of canned chicken and ramen noodles I explored the lower basin with my camera, taking advantage of the glowing evening light.  Shuksan spent his evening chasing marmots.  Molly spent hers chasing Shuksan and yelling "SHUKSAN NO!!". 

Tuesday's challenge was to climb from the lower basin to Ice Lake in the upper basin.  After a light breakfast we started hiking and crossed several creeks without incident.  With lighter packs we gained mileage and elevation quickly, arriving at Ice Lake by mid morning.  The upper basin was incredible with several still-frozen lakes, surrounded by 13,000' peaks.

A few of the early wildflowers were in bloom.  I can only imagine what this place looks like in late July and August when the wildflowers are in full bloom.  As beautiful as the upper basin was, I'm really glad we camped down lower.  The upper basin is above timberline, exposed to the weather and still soggy from recent snow melt.  After lunch at Ice Lake, we decided to head back down to the lower basin, break camp and spend the night in Silverton.  While in Silverton, Molly searched on her Iphone to find a hike for Wednesday.

According to reports on the internet, Columbine Lake is a 3.5 mile hike to 12,600' elevation on a "seldom used" trail.  The "seldom used" turned out to be the only correct part of the report.  Just finding the unmarked trailhead was a 1.5 hour ordeal.  And that was after fording a knee deep stream and walking close to a mile on an abandoned mining road.  Once we found the trailhead, we proceeded uphill through the trees.  Eventually we reached timberline where we could see a pass 700-800 feet above us.   Since the hike was supposed to be only 3.5 miles, I assumed the lake was just over the pass.  Not a good assumption!  When we reached the pass at 3:00PM, the trail almost disappeared.  

We spent the next hour and a half negotiating snowfields and talus slopes (loose rocks) until we reached Columbine Lake.  We allowed ourselves 30 minutes to enjoy the beauty of the lake and its surroundings before heading down at 5:00PM.  On the way down Molly leashed Shuksan so he couldn't chase marmots.  A wise decision indeed since we saw not only marmots but also a coyote and a young elk. We arrived back at the car at 8:00PM, not having seen another person all day.  We later found on the official National Forest Service web site that Columbine Lake is at 12,800' and the hike is 5 miles one way.  When you include the 3/4 mile walk on the road, we ended up hiking almost 12 miles that day.  All things considered it was a very challenging but rewarding hike.  The section from timberline to Columbine Lake has some of the most stunning high elevation scenery I have ever seen.  And, when you see more wildlife than hikers, it's a true wilderness experience.

After the tiring hike, I looked forward to pitching the tent, grabbing a bite to eat and crawling into my sleeping bag.  Wrong again!  The campground near Ouray where we planned to stay was full.  Molly again came to the rescue with her Iphone and found us the last hotel room in Ouray.  We arrived at the hotel at 9:30PM and checked in after asking about restaurants.  "Oh, everything closes at 9, but we have a microwave oven in the room", the manager said.  "Great", I replied "we can cook our camping food in that."  We checked into our room and Molly started dinner while I got ready for a badly needed shower.  Within minutes of putting the dinner in the oven, the hotel experienced a power failure.  After reassuring us several times that the power would soon be restored, 30 minutes later we finally finished cooking our dinner of chicken and couscous.  We collapsed into our beds around midnight.  It had been a really long day!

On Thursday morning we went out for breakfast and saw a little of the town. Ouray is a strange old mining town built on both sides of the Uncompahgre River canyon.  The town is completely surrounded by high  mountains.  The streets are not level, having to follow the contours of the steep canyon.  This is definitely not the place to be if you have claustrophobic tendencies.  After a short hike up the Uncompahgre Canyon, we were on the road again.

The remainder of the trip was fairly uneventful.  After visiting the bustling ski resort of Telluride we camped at the nearby Matterhorn Campground. Remembering the real Matterhorn in Switzerland from many years ago I failed to see the resemblance.

Heading back toward Durango on Friday, we stopped at Mesa Verde National Park.  The park has a rich history of native culture and many interesting and well preserved cliff dwellings but is not the wilderness experience I enjoy in many of our national parks.  We saw as much as we could while tolerating too many tourists and a temperature that exceeded 90 degrees.  It was time to continue to Durango.

Friday evening in Durango we visited Ska Brewing and sampled their beers; then dined on Serious Texas Barbecue.  The food was tasty, plentiful and very reasonable.  Saturday morning Molly and Shuksan enjoyed a much needed run on the Animas River Trail while I walked and photographed the picturesque scenery.  Later we picnicked in a pretty park on the Animas River and savored our adventure.  Too soon it was time to leave for the airport and my flight home.

My flight from Durango to Denver was delayed 3 hours by mechanical problems and I missed my connecting flight by only 10 minutes, forcing me to sleep on the floor in the Denver airport and arriving in Seattle 12 hours later than scheduled.

Despite the setbacks it was a great week.  Molly and Shuksan are always fun companions and I wouldn't have reached Columbine Lake without their support and persistence.  Shuksan has become quite the little hiker, carrying his own food as well as some of our water.  I definitely look forward to our next adventure together.  Maybe we'll go on a ferry boat ride to the San Juan Islands.

To see more of my trip pictures go to the San Juan Mountains Gallery on Istockphoto.  Signed fine art prints from many of my photographs are available for purchase on Fine Art America.  For special offers and to follow my photographic journey please Join My Email List​.​

The beautiful Cedar Waxwing gets its name from the red wax-like tip of its wings.  This medium sized (7 1/4") bird has a light brown head blending into gray on the wings and rump.  Other distinctive features are its brown head crest, pale yellow breast and black eye mask outlined in white.  Its short tail has a yellow tip.  The call of the Cedar Waxwing is a very high-pitched whistle or trill.

The Cedar Waxwing is a common breeding resident in the Puget Sound Region from May to November.  Winters are spent in the West Indies and Panama.  Its diet consists of mostly fruit and some insects.

Cedar Waxwings are social birds and you are likely to see them in flocks. They sit in fruiting trees, pick the berries and swallow them whole.  Sometimes they briefly hover near a bush and pluck the berries in mid-air. They also fly like swallows over the water looking for insects.

Cedar Waxwings can be seen in all kinds of woodlands especially at  farms, orchards, and gardens where there are fruiting trees or shrubs.  They are fond of wild fruits and berries such as Mountain Ash, Indian Plum and Wild Cherry.  Planting these and other native fruit bearing trees and shrubs can attract waxwings to your backyard.  Cedar Waxwings nest late in the season to take advantage of ripening fruit for their offspring.

More pictures of this beautiful bird can be seen in my Cedar Waxwing Gallery at Istockphoto.com.  Other bird species can be seen in my Joy of Birds Gallery.  Signed fine art prints from many of my photographs are available for purchase on Fine Art America.  ​For special offers and to follow my photographic journey please Join My Email List​.​

Contrary to popular belief, it doesn't rain all the time in Washington State.  Indeed, there are several rain forests in the state, some of which get over 100 inches of rain each year.  Seattle, as a point of reference gets an average 38 inches of annual precipitation.  Spokane, in the eastern part of the state gets less than 17 inches.

There is a vast central region in Washington that receives less than 10 inches of annual precipitation and has sagebrush, cactus, lizards and even rattlesnakes.  Average summer temperature is 84F but can easily top 100F.  Why the big difference between this and Western Washington?  The answer is in the the high Cascade range of mountains that divides the state and creates a rainshadow effect.  West of the Cascades is generally cooler and sometimes cloudy.  Summers east of the Cascades are generally dry and hot.

Does the arid climate really qualify Central Washington as a desert?  You won't find Sahara type sand dunes or Saguaro Cactus.  This is not the Mojave or Sonoran desert of the American Southwest.  Not even close!  Technically, Central Washington is a shrub steppe environment, dotted with sagebrush, layered with basalt from ancient volcanic flows and divided by dry coulees and grassland ridges.  Seasonal creeks and waterfalls are not uncommon.  It is cold in winter and hot in summer.  Winter snowfall is relatively light, inviting not only the occasional hiker but an abundance of wildlife seeking refuge from the snowbound high Cascades.

Lest I forget to mention the views, they are simply stunning.  In the Cascades one can hike miles uphill through dense forests to get to a viewpoint.  In the desert the view is limitless.  And if you work hard to reach a ridge-top, you can literally see forever.

Spring is a season of incomparable beauty in Central Washington.  The desert comes to life with all manner of plants and animals.  The temperatures are cool and comfortable, the aspen trees are leafing out and the hillsides are colorfully carpeted with Arrowleaf Balsamroot, Yellow Bell, Lupine, Yarrow and many other wildflowers.  In April and May the streams are running, marmots are waking up from hibernation and the melody of birds fills the air.

Much of the Central Washington desert is publicly owned land administered by federal or state agencies.  There are many maintained trails as well as off-trail hiking.  Most trailheads require some sort of parking permit.  State lands generally require a Discover Pass while some federal lands need a Golden Eagle or BLM Day Use Pass.  Be sure to check a guidebook or the appropriate agency for specific hikes and the permit required.

An excellent resource for hiking in Central Washington is the Mountaineers' book "Best Desert Hikes in Washington" by Alan L. Bauer and Dan A. Nelson.

More pictures of this amazing part of Washington can be seen in my Washington State Desert Gallery at Istockphoto.com.  Signed fine art prints from many of my photographs are available for purchase on Fine Art America.  For special offers and to follow my photographic journey please Join My Email List​.​

The official state bird of Washington, Iowa and New Jersey is the American Goldfinch.  This very colorful bird is fairly common throughout the Pacific Northwest but mostly in rural areas.  It likes to frequent weedy open fields and farms.  Deciduous trees provide excellent cover.  The goldfinch is migratory, spending winters in the southern U.S.A. and Mexico.  In the Pacific Northwest, the goldfinch is mostly seen from May to November.  The American Goldfinch is a yellow bird but depending on sex, season and age they may vary greatly in shade and intensity of color.  The breeding male goldfinch is a bright canary yellow with distinct black markings.  ​

The female is a dull yellow with some olive color mixed in.  The juveniles are a yellowish brown with buff wing markings.  All the variances sometimes make the goldfinch difficult to identify.

The goldfinch is a gregarious bird, gathering in small flocks and competing aggressively at bird feeders.  Their favorite food is thistle seed although they will eat other small seeds or nuts.

More pictures of this brightly colored bird can be seen in my American Goldfinch Gallery at Istockphoto.com.  Other bird species can be seen in my Joy of Birds Gallery.  Signed fine art prints from many of my photographs are available for purchase on Fine Art America.  ​For special offers and to follow my photographic journey please Join My Email List​.​