The Camping Queen

Joshua Tree National Park, California

2012-02-14T11:46:00.001-08:00

Sunday afternoon I drove out to Joshua Tree National Park and spent several days enjoying the peace and quiet. Woke up to this beautiful sunrise just opposite my campsite and jumped out in my PJ's to take pictures!
My campsite in Hidden Valley Campground was perfect; not too crowded and hundreds of places within walking distance to explore. I spent the morning and evenings wandering through the desert, delighting in the plants, rocks, trees and unusual rock formations.
That would be me after I set up my camera and ran back to get in the shot!

The first morning was clear, very cold and beautiful. Around 11am the wind picked up and gusted something fierce, making it nearly impossible to endure.

It got so cold and windy that I drove into a little coffee shop in town to hide. On my way back into the park, the wind settled down and I snapped this shot of the mountains, clouds and sun setting.

The rocks have all kinds of weird shapes. This one seems to look like a face grinning!

Joshua Trees grow throughout the park; quirky, strange trees that have spiky leaves, fragrant blossoms in the spring and are shaped by the weather, damage and new growth.

This one stands alone, reflecting his character through the shadow on the rock.

The lighting this morning was outstanding; lots of clouds but occasional bursts of sunshine that illuminated the rocks. All was quiet and peaceful as I surveyed my surroundings and drank hot tea.

While exploring out in the desert, I came upon this dead tree. Death in the desert is just as gorgeous as life.

My humble campsite; met some great folks...Andy the rock climber who had already been out on the road climbing for 3 months. We spent the morning sharing about our travels and places we love...Julie the nurse, who nearly blew away with her tent in the windstorm. We talked all evening in front of the fire, swapping stories and laughing.

Two crows; the blessing of friendship....two are better than one!

Torrey Pines State Beach Preserve, California

2012-01-06T18:08:00.000-08:00

Introducing Eva Georgette Little, the littlest Little! Her mom Lindsay and my son David are very proud of their little bundle of joy! Proud grandma holding little Eva! Never thought I'd see the day we would have a baby girl in the family!
My two grandsons Ethan and Wyatt had a blast surfing with Uncle David and Uncle Isaac. It makes me happy to see them so happy.It is such a strange feeling to watch my grandsons doing the same thing my sons did; surfing the pier. However two on a longboard is definitely a first.
The day after New Years we all took a hike at the Torrey Pines State Beach Reserve; 2000 acres of unspoiled land filled with rugged chaparral, a museum and visitor center, rare Torrey pine trees, trails that lead down to perfect beaches and a lagoon that is vital to migrating seabirds.
View from the Torrey Pines Visitor Center of billowing fog resting on the ocean.
Wyatt stumbled upon this little cave and was convinced he had found Indian writing; David and I followed him down the trail and found the sandstone cliffs etched with all kinds of graffiti!
Ethan and Wyatt hamming it up for the camera!
Me, David and Lindsay and kids with Lindsay's sister, Samantha.
A short trail leads you through miles of chaparral and a beautiful sandstone canyon until coming upon this overlook of the ocean. It always amazes me to see dolphins swimming in the water and pelicans soaring in chevron flight.
Down on the shore we all enjoyed the water, sand and surf; especially little Eva.
A natural cove formed by the incoming tide washing against the rocks.
Ethan contemplating life.
Wyatt enjoying life.
Both boys playing in the freezing cold water!

Big Bear Lake, California

2011-12-18T10:27:00.001-08:00

On my way up to Big Bear Lake I stopped at Mill Creek to rest. Rushing water always calms my nerves, colorful rocks ignite my passion and the ice cold water relieves my headaches. Such a wonderful place to replenish.
At one point I stopped and hiked off the road through forests of pine trees and snow covered mountains. I happened to arrive in-between snow storms and experienced clear blue skies with some snow on the ground. I went up to Big Bear Lake to spend time with my dear friends the Melvins. Fortunately Jeff and Laura like the same things I do and we spent the afternoon poking through antique shops, drinking coffee in town and eating ice cream.
Signs of Christmas are everywhere from the twinkling white lights on the trees to gaily wrapped packages in the old antique wagon.
Rustic art; simple, real, honest and alive.
“Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most importantly, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.” Steve Jobs
“When one door closes, another opens; but we often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door that we do not see the one which has opened for us.” Alexander Graham Bell Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!
Icicle lights intermingling with real icicles; strange yet beautiful.
My dear friend Jeff and his daughter Laura in front of Big Bear Lake.
"Life is good," said the duck and then waddled off content and happy to be a duck.

Zion National Park in the Fall

2011-11-25T15:09:00.001-08:00

My first and last night of my nine day trip were spent in the Walmart parking lot at Mesquite, Nevada! My first morning I woke up to rain, but my last morning, I woke up to this beautiful sunrise. A great way to begin the day before the long drive home.
Even Walmart can be beautiful. It really isn't too bad if you ignore the glaring lights, constant truckers pulling in and out, and the guy who drives around the parking lot in the middle of the night street sweeping. Not all the stores allow you to spend the night, but this one does and is also open 24 hours!
My final night looking up at the Watchman from my campsite in Zion National Park. Except for the leaves falling from the trees, everything was quiet as nearly all the people were gone. Good-bye to the Watchman and thank you for watching over me!
The day before leaving, I took another dunk in the ice cold river then drove out to the East Side and climbed around the slick rock checking out the petroglyphs.
Every time I look at this petroglyph, I think of our Blue Grass group singing, "And I'm on my long journey home!"
Petroglyphs are etchings in stone and these could be up to 7000 years old. The Ancestral Puebloans and the Southern Paiute occupied Zion before the European and white settlers so aggresively took over.
The East Side was very quiet. Only one other small group who left as soon as I arrived. Miles of glorious wilderness to myself with only the croaking of the raven to break the silence. I brought my lunch of ham, cheese, lime flavored Doritos and homemade salsa and sat on the rocks near these trees and munched away.
The sandstone cliffs are filled with signs of weathering; some like these holes look like a work of art.
The potholes were filled with water from the recent rainstorm.
View looking up into the backcountry. I climbed up the slickrock and ventured way back to the end of the canyon. In one desert wash, animal tracks were visible in the sand; deer, probably ringtail cat, and some larger cat-like ones that could have been a bobcat or cougar. Very fun.

Zion National Park is all about discovery; at times you have to get off the beaten path to find the pot of gold. Today, huge groups of people were on the same river trail I was, all enjoying the spectacular weather and gorgeous scenery. To escape the crowds, I jumped off the trail and found luminescent colors shining in the river; my sweet surprise after a busy day.

To me, every part of Zion National Park is beautiful, rain or shine. One afternoon I walked up the Virgin River and found complete solitude amidst the clouds, rocks, pools and falling leaves.
Red rocks, rust colored leaves and burnt orange sand contrast perfectly with reflections in the river.
In the past I have always camped at the South Campground, but since it is closed for the winter, I camped at the Watchman Campground next to the Zion Canyon Visitor Center. It was especially nice with extraordinary views, nice people and clean bathrooms!
It was raining when I arrived in the Park; cold wet and dreary, but after the rain comes the warmth of the sun and the beauty of raindrops pooled on wet leaves.
This particular spot is my favorite place in Zion; yes it is a secret! The still water captures a perfect picture of the mountains above it. A great place to swim in the summer but a bit cold right now.
That would be me, smiling for my friend Tom who is a wonderful photographer. We took a hike up to Hidden Canyon and on the way back stopped at an unbelievable slot canyon that held untold treasures and secrets.
Whenever I am able to get out into the wild places, I take time to reflect. The Lord always speaks to me and reveals truth in the deepest part of my soul. I face the ugly parts of my life and release the pain associated with them. I think about those whom I love and the pleasant memories associated with them. By the time I go home, my heart is washed clean and I am a better person.
Today I stopped at the river to eat my lunch. All around me the leaves were falling like rain, fluttering, spinning, twisting and rolling through the air like golden butterflies on drugs. This black raven stopped to talk with me and surprised me with his incredible ability to mimic different sounds.
This is what I love about Zion; warmth, tranquility, beauty, color and mystery.
The epitome of patience; the Great Blue Heron waiting for a fish.
On the way up to Hidden Canyon you have to hike out some pretty slippery slopes and use the chains hooked into the wall to avoid falling. Hand carved stone stairs lead up into the canyon.
View from the trail up to Hidden Canyon and Observation Point. Amazing red rock cliffs overshadow Weeping Rock; an alcove dripping with ancient water that creates a lush hanging garden filled with moss, fern and seasonal flowers.
Down by the river I was surprised by a small herd of deer browsing in the grass. I stopped and stood very still to watch them. This buck was watching over the females and fawns and making sure nobody got to close. Other people were standing up on the trail and to my surprise everyone was quiet and still.
The deer passed by us, attentively nibbling on the grass, ignoring the folks standing around. One by one they stepped into the river and crossed over. The crowd didn't say a word, as if we were all witnessing a sacred moment.
The buck stepped into the river along with one of the fawns and slowly but surely they all passed through the water and disappeared in the trees on the other side. As soon as they were hidden in the foliage, we all collectively breathed a sigh of relief and wonder, turning to each other and marveling at the moment.

Even though the nights have been cold..28 to 30 degrees, the days have been warm....although cloudy at times. When it gets too cold I go down to the coffee shops in Springdale and drink hot Lattes and work on my computer.
The trees are losing their leaves; a beautiful dying; an ancient rite of passage into a new season.
Incredible reflection in the river that was captured by my friend, Tom Harkins. He has an eye for detail, shape and form that far surpasses mine. Thank you Tom for sharing your insight!
Quintessential beauty in Zion National Park; one of my favorite places here on earth.

Oahu, Hawaii

2011-11-03T20:29:00.001-07:00

Aloha from Hawaii! This is the last day of my vacation in Oahu, an extravagant birthday gift from Georgette. The two of us spent a wonderful week at a luxury resort right on the Nai'a Lagoon.

Me and Georgette, in the lobby of the Ko Olina Beach Resort. Thank you, Mom for a wonderful vacation!

One night we spent the evening at the Moana Surfrider relaxing on the patio under the Banyan Tree. The sun cast a rosy glow on the buildings as it sank into the ocean. A group of two musicians serenaded us with Hawaiian music and a gorgeous young Hawaiian girl danced the hula; a hypnotic, graceful dance that left us spellbound.
After a trip to the North Shore, we stopped at the Dole Plantation and ate soft serve Pineapple Ice Cream with all the Asian tourists. At the plantation I bought the best pineapple; sweet, juicy and very flavorful.
One day we spent up at the tip of the North Shore in Turtle Bay. Wyland, one of my favorite artists, left his mark on the front of the hotel; a simple line drawing of sea turtles swimming.
After eating lunch overlooking this gorgeous vista, I put on my swim suit and went for a walk up the coast. I loved investigating all the interesting things on shore; tide pools, volcanic rocks, pieces of coral, sticks and unusual shells.

It started pouring shortly after this picture was shot, and I was dripping wet, even though I never got in the ocean. Back at the restaurant Georgette looked at me and said, "Your swimsuit is on backwards!" I looked and sure enough it was, looking very strange indeed. Can't take me anywhere.
Fiery torches lighting the night; you can almost hear the waves lapping upon the shore.

Nearly every morning before the sun came up, I took a walk along the coast. After wandering off the walkway and crawling over sharp rocks and volcanic boulders, I found this secluded cove that satisfied my need for quiet.

The Hawaiian wind swaying through the palm trees.
Our resort overlooked the Nai'a Lagoon; awesome for swimming at any time of the day.

Windy, warm day on the North Shore; turquoise waters, sandy beaches but small waves.
Pure Hawaii.....enjoyed every moment.
One morning I walked over to the new Disney resort; typical Disney, loud, garish, and filled with Asian families.
Feeding frenzy at the Koi Pond. The man himself, or is it the mouse?

On my birthday, we ate dinner at a nice restaurant overlooking the ocean. We dined on fresh salmon and exotic vegetables while watching this amazing sunset. Got soaked in the rain one morning while walking, but did catch this yellow hibiscus, sparkling with raindrops.

Each morning I woke up to this gorgeous view from the patio outside our room.

The Nai'a Lagoon at sunset.

Hawaii is filled with the most amazing plants, trees and flowers. These seed pods fascinated me and I dearly wanted to bring them home. Of course that was impossible due to Customs regulations, so instead of breaking the law and ending up in hot water, I took them to the shore and created this picture.

The Nai'a Lagoon in the early morning hours.

Fun, friendly guy working on the palm trees.

Double rainbow during a morning rain.

Christmas colors in the leaves; beautiful Hawaii!
Red Ginger flower growing at the resort.

"Aloha ke Ahua... God is Love." Daniel "Kaniela" Akaka, Jr.

I think I love the swaying palm trees the best. I could sit for hours watching the gentle movement and listen to the birds chattering and the waves breaking upon the shore.

"Somehow, the love of the islands, like the love of a woman, just happens. One cannot determine in advance to love a particular woman, nor can one so determine to love Hawaii." Jack London

Autumn in Oak Glen, California

2011-10-23T19:30:00.001-07:00

Today I drove up to Oak Glen to visit my son Jon; I don't get to see him that often so every time I do it makes me very happy! After our visit I stopped in the little apple town which was right in the middle of an Apple Festival. Nearly all the ranches were open and had vendors selling everything from original jewelry and artwork to tiny donuts dusted in sugar and BBQ Pulled Pork sandwiches.
Pumpkins were piled up in old carriages, people were eating buttered corn on the cob fresh off the grill, several Blue Grass bands were entertaining the crowds and little kids were jumping in Bounce Houses and riding ponies.
Every time I see Indian Corn I think of the gorgeous display I had arranged on my front porch complete with Indian Corn, gourds, a scarecrow and baskets. In the morning when I walked out the front door, the Indian Corn had been stripped clean by nocturnal rats!

This kind of candy is more fun to look at then eat; give me a piece of good chocolate any day of the week and I am a happy camper.
Small gift stores were loaded to the brim with produce, baked goods, holiday knick-knacks and even 1-gallon potted apple trees to bring home and grow in your own garden.
Bright orange pumpkin, still on the vine, patiently waiting to be picked!
I found a great organic fruit and vegetable store that sold fresh produce, pumpkins, gourds and candy. One table was piled high with loaves of homemade bread; apple, whole wheat and Garlic Sourdough. Couldn't pass that by and ending buying a huge loaf of Sourdough Bread and eating several pieces in the car.

Sweet corn, still on the stalk; my kids always make fun of me when I get excited about seeing how fruit and vegetables look while they are growing. To me its incredible to see real corn growing on a stalk. This one is for you David!

Freshly made caramel apples; doesn't get much better than this!
Nearly all the apples have been harvested so there were no "pick your own" apple orchards open. But this orchard had boxes of fruit and several juicers for people to make their own apple juice.
After washing the apples, they picked the ones they wanted and placed them in a basket.
Then folks loaded the apples into this juicer and slowly turned the handle until the juice filled up a clean gallon container. It tasted like nectar from heaven; so sweet, fresh and tangy all at the same time.
Good night to all; sleep well. Know that God is watching over you and that He loves you. Keep the faith. Susan Little

Carlsbad State Beach, California

2011-10-15T19:52:00.000-07:00

In October I spent a week at my timeshare in Carlsbad State Beach in north county San Diego. My sister and her husband Tom came down to visit me. It was so much fun!

We spent one afternoon browsing through Old Town, an old restored Mexican town in San Diego. Many of the original buildings are still intact, plus the streets are lined with restaurantes, quaint shops and booths.

My father was pure Mexican and my mother was white, so I do have a bit of salsa in my veins. I love the garish colors, costumes, huge paper flowers and mariachi music displayed in the Mexican culture.

Colorful blankets to keep you warm at night. Tom bought a blanket to bring home and surpised me with a hand painted metal butterfly!

That would be me, smiling for the camera!

My dear sister Judy and her husband Tom; wonderful friends, family and confidants.

The Day of the Dead is a strange Mexican celebration that actually celebrates the life of their ancestors, but is filled with strange skeletons doing all sorts of unusual things.

That would be me and Tom smiling for Judy.

Early one morning I woke up early enough to catch the sunrise at the beach. A glorious experience, each time it happens.

To me, surfing is a lot like fishing; a lot of time waiting around for something to happen.

It was so nice to have my family come down and join me here at the beach. This is my son Isaac and his girlfriend Ashley on the patio overlooking the ocean. At night we kept the patio door open and listened to the waves crashing on the shore. Several nights we were able to stand on the deck and watch the luminescent red tide glowing in the water, each time the waves broke.
A group of funny looking Least Terns roamed the shores and had no trouble mixing in with the seagulls and sandpipers. Sandpipers come in all shapes and sizes; this one has a long beak and very long legs; the one below was a smaller version, that skittered about in the tide on those long legs of his.

Jagged lines of Pelicans skim the water looking for fish. They fly in an awkward V shape, at times with over 40-50 birds in one formation.
Beautiful Bird of Paradise; a royal flower, elegant in color, shape and form.
One night the sunset was so incredibly gorgeous. My brother Tom called out to me and told me to come and see it. I grabbed my camera and raced out to the patio; unfortunately in my hurry I did not open the screen door, but crashed right through it, knocking it completely off the track and nearly over the deck railing. I was completely stunned and sat down, but managed to snap this photo.
Seagulls in all shapes, size and color.

My two grandsons, Ethan and Wyatt, running up and down the beach, full of joy and energy. Oh to be so young!

“High in the sunlight they hover above the surging sea ... The whirling, screaming, light-winged birds ... alternately climb the air and plunge like plummets straight down into the waves – rising again and again, fluttering, poising, screaming, striking ... shooting down into the angry waves. They played with gale and sea. Rising, they shook the brine from their feathers, and towering high, hovered a moment, breasting the gale; then setting their wings like long, barbed spearheads, plunged again and yet again.” Edward Forbush

An early October morning at Carlsbad State Beach; quiet, peaceful, sublime beauty.
My sister Judy and her husband Tom with my two grandkids; we had a blast hanging out together, cooking meals, playing music, going out to dinner, watching the waves and drinking coffee; however we are still teaching Tommy how to make a strong cup of coffee!
The Ghost Flower, "Sacred Datura;" seductive, fragile and deadly poisonous. The flowers bloom prolifically on the sandy hillsides overlooking the beach and last only a few hours in the early morning or late evening.
Hope your days are full of joy, peace and rest; look for life and you will find it.

Eastern Sierra Nevada Fall Colors

2011-10-05T16:24:00.001-07:00

Last weekend I took a trip up to the Eastern Sierras to search out the Fall Colors. It was cold, warm, windy, rainy, cloudy, even hailed, and I still saw some blue sky. This picture is of South Lake in Bishop Creek, a lonesome beauty that still echoes in my soul.
The Aspen trees were turning glorious shades of yellow, gold, orange and red.
That would be me, enjoying my self immensely as I explored the creeks, canyons, waterfalls, mountains and lakes.
On the trail into North Lake in Bishop Creek, this stream crossing brings you over to the lake. I sat down on the rock in the middle of the stream, amazed by the sights and loving the sound of the creek flowing past me.

Sunlight sparkling upon the water in North Lake, Bishop Creek.
North Lake is such a pretty lake and apparently a great place to fish. People were catching great big trout, one right after the other.

One brave fisherman standing in the creek, pulling in the fish.

Sabrina Lake lies at the end of the road up Bishop Creek. I have seen the lake completely frozen over in the spring, blue and radiant in the summer and now, adorned in colorful fall foliage.

Blue sky, rugged gray mountains, dark green pines, red and yellow Aspen; does it get any better than this?

The trail around Sabrina Lake was filled with golden Aspen.

On my way out to South Lake I passed this mountainside filled with glorious color; the only problem was it was raining. I stopped the car and just as I was about to get out, it started hailing; little ice bee-bees pounding my car. After a few minutes it stopped and I jumped out of the car, umbrella in one hand and camera in the other.

As I stood there in the cold, the clouds parted and sunshine burst through the gray sky. Patches of blue emerged and it stopped raining. The air smelled so fresh from the recent rainfall. So very grateful to the Lord for this respite from the storm, I quickly started taking pictures until the clouds covered the sun again.

The whole mountain was ablaze in color and will probably get even brighter as the days go on.

Bishop Creek, a rippling stream of cold water flowing down the mountain.

"I gave my heart to the mountains the minute I stood beside this river with its spray in my face and watched it thunder into foam." Wallace Stegner

I spent the days hiking up the creeks into the mountains and found numerous animal tracks, interesting rocks, red and orange trees, and amazing blue Crested Jays.

On the way up to Sabrina Lake, I stopped at this beautiful little spot along Bishop Creek. Talked to some nice folks, rested, then moved on.

"Autumn burned brightly, a running flame through the mountains, a torch flung to the trees." Faith Baldwin

My campsite in Bishop Creek, quiet, right on the creek, nice neigbors, several a little too friendly, warm fires, good food.

"If it weren't for the rocks in its bed, the stream would have no song." Carl Perkins

Golden yellow and emerald green leaves, boldly standing out against vague shadows. Happy camper...loving life in the quiet places! Seeking solitude, I left Bishop Creek and drove down to Big Pine Creek, just south of Bishop where I found a secluded, quiet site right on the Big Pine Creek.

Early in the morning, I crossed the bridge over the creek and started hiking up the trail. The sun was just rising and reflecting radiant color on the mountain.

It only lasted a few moments, but still cast a beautiful glow. I was the only person on the trail until I got up to the Glacier Lodge.

At the Lodge, I started up the Big Pine Creek trail into the wilderness. First Waterfall, aptly named, flowed over the rocks in a roar.

I met a few folks on the trail, enjoyed talking with them, but realized at 8000 feet, I was a little out of breath.

Huge pine trees dominate the landscape.

"All I knew was that it was pure delight to be where the land lifted in peaks and plunged into canyons, and to sniff air thin, spray cooled, full of pine and spruce smells, and to be so close-seeming to the improbable indigo sky." Wallace Stegner

At Second Falls, I decided to turn around. If you continue further up the trail, you pass by a stone cabin built by Lon Chaney and encounter several aquamarine glacier fed lakes.

Heading back to my campsite, I passed through the Lodge again, delighted to see the mountains reflected in the pool of water.

Back at my campsite; a bit tired, cold and hungry. I quickly cooked up a Reuben Sandwich and grabbed an Ice Tea. The fitting end to a wonderful trip.

Newport Beach, California

2011-09-25T20:13:00.001-07:00

This camping queen did not go camping, but spent the week at a luxury hotel with my kids grandmother, Georgette, my son Isaac and his beautiful girlfriend Ashley, and my two grandsons.
Ethan, 10 years old, soaking it up in the hot tub.
Wyatt, eight years old, swimming like a fish in the pool.
Ethan and Wyatt, brothers, best of friends, beloved grandsons.

God makes the most beautiful plants; sensuous forms, brilliant colors, fluid lines.
"In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks." John Muir
The old man of the sea; wouldn't want to meet him in a dark alley.

Fabulous fountain outside the hotel.

Colorful Koi; ornamental varieties of the domesticated common carp. The oldest known Koi lived to be 226 years old!

Beautiful, white water lily.

Our hotel looked out over the ocean and had various pools, tennis courts, game rooms, fountains and this beautiful Koi pond.

"It is not the language of painters but the language of nature which one should listen to, the feeling for the things themselves, for reality is more important than the feeling for pictures." Vincent Van Gogh

It is always the simple things in life that bring me such joy.

Good night to all; enjoy your life wherever you may be. There will always be good times and bad times, plenty and lean, joy and sorrow. Keep looking up. Hold on to what you believe in. Susan Little

Bishop Creek, California

2011-07-16T16:31:00.001-07:00

The road up to Bishop Creek is unbelievably beautiful. Whenever I catch a glimpse of these mountains, I have to stop and take a picture to remember the moment.
Sometimes I just need to get away and think, so for the last few days I have been camping up in Bishop Creek. Wildflowers are profusely blooming throughout the basin.
I camped right on this segment of the creek that was lined with Aspen, all fresh with green leaves. Whenever the wind whispered, each leaf shook independently, as if they were talking to me.
Wild roses are in bloom; this one is still fresh in the bud.
While sitting down at the creek thinking and reading my Bible,I looked up and saw the sun reflecting on this wild rose branch.

The campfire not only warms my body but cheers my heart; a good place to sit and relax.

My faithful Subaru parked in my campsite. I sleep in the back and it is very comfortable; two foam pads, a sleeping bag and three down quilts might have something to do with it.
This huge Jeffrey Pine stood in the back of my campsite; just imagine all the things he has seen.
Sitting down at the creek, watching the water ripple and the sun dappled shadows appear and disappear.
Towards the back of the campground is a beautiful walk with a large green meadow, deer feeding in the evening, two fresh water springs, and endless trees, flowers and mountains.
The stunning view of the mountains right outside the campground; wild, wonderful wilderness.

Sabrina Lake, California

2011-07-16T16:06:00.001-07:00

Today I took a drive up to Sabrina Lake, hoping to find a hot cup of coffee. The road to the lake passed by this rushing stream; definitely a Kodak moment. Everywhere I looked, wildflowers were blooming.
Scarlet Paintbrush and purple Lupin side by side, best of friends. Both come in a variety of colors, shapes and sizes; kind of like people.
Fragile beauty in the rugged wilderness.
Here she stands in bridesmaid pink, ready to walk down the aisle.

After my coffee, I decided to hike the Sabrina Basin Trail which takes you up into the mountains with views of the lake all along the trail.

The trail passes into the John Muir Wilderness.

This stream flowed over the trail, forming a waterfall which flowed down the mountain into the lake.
"Flowers are those little colorful beacons of the sun from which we get sunshine when dark, somber skies blanket our thoughts." Dodinsky

That would be me enjoying the beautiful day and the wonderful hike. This photo of frozen Sabrina Lake was taken in May of this year, just a few months ago. The whole place was deserted except for one elderly couple. The ice was cracking and breaking up, like it was Antarctica!

Same shot as the frozen lake above, just now it is summer. What a difference. The lake is filled with fishermen, fisherwomen, fisherchildren and even fisherdogs.

View of the lake from the trail. If you look super close, you can see the fisherpeople standing on the ledge, fishing over the railing.

Sequoia National Park, California

2011-07-03T19:31:00.000-07:00

First trip to Sequoia National Park for my grandsons, Wyatt and Ethan. We had a great time in spite of the snow!
The boys were very impressed to make it to the top of Morro Rock!
Ethan and Wyatt climbing up the staircase to the top of the mountain.
Lodgepole campground had areas that were still covered in snow; fortunately our campsite was comfortable and dry.A beautiful, clear river runs through the campground, a perfect place for young boys to play!One afternoon a bear ran right through our campground. Ethan and Wyatt were in the car shouting, "Bear," and it startled me so much that I almost forgot to run and get my camera!

Indian graffiti at Hospital Rock; some things never change.

The Sentinel Tree in front of the Giant Forest Museum is 257 feet tall! One big dude!

Ethan, looking just like his daddy, Jon.

Wyatt, standing in the trunk of a giant Sequoia.

Every afternoon, several deer walked through our campground in Lodgepole. Kind of a strange feeling to see them so close.
Me and the boys lovin' life in Crescent Meadow.

Me, Stan and the boys took a hike around Crescent Meadow. Three bear foraging in the meadow scared the living daylights out of me!

The boys in the shadow of the giants.

Tharp's Log; a weird house built into a huge log, with a fireplace, kitchen and bed. The boys wanted to live there. They were certain it was Tharp who had set the fires that burned so many of the trees.

My friend Stan and the boys measuring the trunk of the tree.

Climbing this tree was quite an experience!

We saw three more bears in the meadow on the trail in the Giant Forest. By the end of the trip, I was so done with bears.

Close enough to give me a heart attack!
Colorful rocks in the waterfall at Buckeye Flat.

Me dunking Wyatt in the ice cold water at Buckeye.

We had no idea that this waterfall would be at the end of our trail. What a surprise!

Boys testing the water....as usual.

Wyatt sliding down a natural rock slide.

The water was so cold we couldn't just jump in, so I held onto the boys feet and slowly let them slide down into the water!

Ethan crashed his bike in the Buckeye Flat Campground. He was racing down the hill and lost control and smashed into a rock, flew off of his bike and slid into a tree. Thank God he had his helmet on and walked away, alive and well; a real life miracle. New friends the boys made at the campground.

Ethan at Hospital Rock wanting me to hurry up and take the picture so he could run off exploring! Takes after me, I suppose. Hiding under a cave where the Native Americans used to roam.End of a perfect week at the Sequoias!

Jenkinsen Lake, Sly Park, Pollock Pines, CA

2011-05-09T18:04:00.000-07:00

My last night out under the stars was spent at Jenkinsen Lake, just outside of Pollock Pines. When I left Convict Lake I drove through wind, snow, rain and finally sunshine before arriving at the lake.
I made a pot of coffee, built a fire and watched the geese wander through the campground. The inquisitive little goslings never strayed far from their parents. They say if it snows on the Dogwood flowers that it will be the last snow of winter. While I was up in Pollock, I was fortunate to witness not only snow, but rain and hail falling on the Dogwoods. It rained during the night and early the following morning but by the time I was up and about, the rain had cleared and the lake looked so pretty. There is so much beauty in the simple things in life. Raindrops sparkling on a spiders web; a wonderful miracle of nature.On the way up Highway 395, I passed through the little town of Walker and spotted this memorial set up by the Forest Service to honor the firefighters who gave their lives in 2002 to save the community. To honor and remember their fallen comrades, the local firefighters tied their T-shirts to the fence that faced the memorial. The scenery along 395 and 89 was outstanding; windswept grasses, barren Aspen trees, pine trees, snow covered mountains and rushing rivers. The Carson River flows along the highway and makes for a very picturesque scene. Definitely better than the rest stop I slept in on my way back home! Cheers to you!

Mono Lake, Mono County, California

2011-05-07T15:56:00.001-07:00

Mono Lake was formed over 700,000 years ago as a terminal lake in a basin that has no outlet to the ocean. The lack of an outlet makes the lake very alkaline and salty, allowing only brine shrimp and alkaline flies to live in its waters. It is an incredible place that is a huge wildlife sanctuary for thousands of birds. At times the lake takes on this weird green color, which is actually kind of pretty. The morning I took this picture, it was 7:00 in the morning and the wind was blowing so fiercely that I nearly blew down.

One of the little islands out in the lake has become a seagull rookery. Thousands of seagulls migrate to the lake to nest and raise their young.

Strange rock towers known as tufa rise up out of the lake and line the shore giving the lake an otherworldly atmosphere. The towers reveal where streams once flowed below Mono Lake. As the lake receded, the towers were exposed and the streams eventually dried up.In 1991, Mono Lake was declared a reserve for the nearly 2 million birds made up of 100 different species, that stop here during migration. In 1994, the California State Water Resource Board set a target lake level of 6392 feet, which decreased the amount of water Los Angeles County can divert from the streams that feed the lake. The goal is to restore habitat for migratory birds and protect the lake from further damage. It was an interesting day at the lake, especially because it involved conserving habitat for birds. I love birds; they are one of my favorite animals. But I also love hamburgers and ice cream and had to stop at the world famous Mono Cone for an Ortega Chile burger and chocolate swirl ice cream cone; the very best! It is supposed to snow tomorrow, so I need to do some serious thinking and find a place to stay.

Convict Lake, Sierra Nevada Mountains, California

2011-05-07T15:19:00.001-07:00

I spent the weekend camping at Convict Lake in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, right outside of Mammoth. I was delighted to find this little site right on the stream with such a great view of the mountains. I was extremely tired and cold the night before and went straight to bed without lighting my fire. In the morning the wind had stopped so I was able to enjoy the morning with a warm campfire.
My tiny little coffee pot lovin' life in the Sierras! Just big enough to make 2 medium sized cups of fresh hot Joe to start the morning with.
It was such a pretty morning that I made two pots of coffee and sat by the fire, watching the morning come to life. Birds were singing, the stream was gurgling, seagulls screeched above me, and one by one, the guys at the end of my cul-de-sac made their way up to the bathrooms. This was my first time I was able to wear a normal pair of shoes, my Ugh boots! My foot hardly hurt at all.
The view from my campsite; a small stream flowed in front of me, barren trees with tiny spring buds lined the water and the snow covered mountains in the distance.
In the late afternoon I went to the lodge to drink coffee and take a shower. First shower in over a week; that felt good. After my shower, I took the trail around the lake and soaked my foot in the ice cold water when it started hurting. The lake is a fisherman's paradise with guys lining the shore and some out on the lake in small boats. Whenever I passed someone they always asked, "Catch any fish?" I always said no, that I wasn't fishing. They were shocked and couldn't understand why I didn't like smelly old fish and blood and guts, and squirmy worms.

The trail normally goes all the way around the lake, but snow on the other side blocks the trail beyond the boardwalk. The boardwalk traverses several small streams that flow down the mountain into the lake. My first time on this trail was in June, 2005 and all the Aspen trees you see near the boardwalk were bursting with fresh green leaves, each one moving independently in the wind while the streams flowing down the mountain were covered in ice.

Bishop Creek Canyon in the Spring

2011-05-05T15:28:00.000-07:00

Bishop Creek Canyon is in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, 14 miles west of Bishop. Yesterday, I stumbled upon this perfect campsite overlooking the creek and snow covered mountains. All afternoon I brewed coffee in my tiny little coffee pot that Stan gave me and listened to the river. As soon as the sun dropped over the mountains, it immediately got very cold. Within minutes the fire was blazing and I was drinking another cup of coffee. In the morning after more coffee and toasted Squaw Bread, I drove up the mountain in search of Sabrina Lake. The views were outstanding. Sabrina Lake was frozen over, with huge cracks in the surface of the ice. Every day they release a foot of water to provide irrigation for the valley which causes the surface ice to crack in the most artistic way. I met the nicest elderly couple while walking around the lake. We talked of everything and by the time we parted, felt like they were old friends. Bishop Creek is still surrounded by snow, but that didn't stop me from trudging through the snow with my new hiking pole, to view the creek. It was exquisite."In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks." John Muir

Mt. Whitney Portal, California

2011-05-04T08:10:00.000-07:00

I woke up early enough to catch the spectacular morning sunrise over Grays Meadow in Independence. One thing I learned from the photographers campout I attended is that you have to be there to get the shot; in other words, get out of bed, girlfriend. Grays Meadow, where I camped, is one of the prettiest places on earth; endless meadow, rugged mountains, dark green pines. This shot was taken just after sunrise, while the morning was still fresh and brimming with sweet anticipation. My fellow campers getting ready for a bike ride up to Onion Valley; Bill and Teresa, Brad and Cindy. We all gathered at Ricks the night before to sit in front of a smoky fire and tell stories; anything from getting run off the road on the bikes to grizzly bears tearing your face off. Cindy had the most amazing story of encountering a herd of buffalo heading directly towards them while she and Brad were out on the bike; that girl has guts!Bill and Brad in front of their toy hauler; a fun group who even sang Knocking on Heavens Door with me at the bonfire. Now I was just drinking coffee, but I did see a few shots going down and more than one brewsky! Rick, the antler man. This guy is a retired police officer who spent each and every day hiking for up to 20 miles watching for wildlife and rattlesnakes while searching for antler sheds. He had some great stories to tell and is a wealth of information for the surrounding area. Thank you, Rick!
Springtime in the Sierras proved to be a memorable experience. On my way up to the Whitney Portal, I stumbled upon this native plant garden next to the Independence museum. A quiet, peaceful place filled with native plants and a gorgeous view of the Sierras. The road up to the Whitney Portal is long and winding, all uphill, but absolutely stunning. That would be Mt. Whitney, 14,495 feet, give or take a few. The Portal is the starting point for the Mt. Whitney trail, a very popular trail that takes hikers to the summit of Mt. Whitney. Once I reached the portal, my broken foot kept me from hiking, but I didn't have any trouble hobbling over to this sparkling, cascading waterfall. I was pleased to find something so beautiful and felt blessed with God's graciousness. That would be me in my "boot" standing near the waterfall. It is so cold at night that the water freezes into icicles, covering the branches that overhang the stream, sparkling like precious jewels in the sunlight. A place to sit and contemplate the wonder of God's creation. "How great is our God!" Frozen branches hanging over the water, each one reflecting light.
Reflections in water always fascinate me.

Eastern Sierra Nevada Mountains in the Spring

2011-05-01T12:25:00.001-07:00

I am on the road again, traveling in my Subaru through California's Eastern Sierra Nevada Mountains. Springtime in the Sierras can be very cold and windy, like today, but it is beautiful, spectacular, exciting and fun. One of my favorite spots to camp is Grays Meadow Campground, right outside of Independence on the road to Onion Valley. It was 26 degrees when I photographed the morning sunrise and yes, I was freezing.
My poor foot is recovering from a recent surgery where my doctor broke my foot in order to align it properly. Kind of a pain, but I am slowly recovering. I do hobble around and will not be hiking any big trails on this trip.
My ride, reflecting the stunning view from my campsite.
My campsite overlooked the best fishing hole in the place and had a fantastic view of the creek as well as the mountains. One night, the couple next door invited me and several other campers over for dinner. We feasted on thick BBQ steaks, grilled lamb sausage, fresh trout, rice pilaf, spinach salad and lots of cheese, olives, crackers and smoked salmon. After dinner we sat around a huge campfire and talked until my fingers started to freeze. Very fun.
The view from my site is spectacular; hard to appreciate the fullness of beauty unless you are standing there with the cold wind whipping through your hair and the sound of the creek rushing behind you.
In the summer I soak in the creek but in the springtime, forget it. I did soak my swollen foot in the icy water and it helped tremendously. I could only hold it under the water for 5 seconds max, and then pulled it out until I was brave enough to do it again.
Overnight, icicles formed on the branches, completely encasing the branch in a frozen ice shell. A few of the icicles dripped down like pointed daggers, almost touching the creek.
Sometimes I need to sit by the river and be still. “We need to find God and He cannot be found in noise and restlessness. God is the friend of silence. See how nature - trees, flowers, grass - grows in silence; see the stars, the moon and the sun, how they move in silence... We need silence to be able to touch souls.” Mother Teresa
Frozen splendor......
The first day I arrived was the opening day for fishing in the Sierras. By evening the campground was full of guys ready to fish the creek that this industrious fellow had stocked with huge farm trout.
The guy in the red flannel was fishing directly below my campsite and I watched him as he pulled in this fish. He looked perplexed and it turns out that he snagged the fish on the tail rather than hooked it in the mouth. He finally got the hook out and released the fish, looking up at me with a big grin on his face. He said that he had to let him go, that it wasn't a fair fight. My kind of man....

Joshua Tree NP Photographers Gathering....

2011-03-08T15:24:00.000-08:00

This last weekend I joined a photographers group up in Joshua Tree National Park, led by Ralph Nordstrom. A group of about 20 of us camped in the Cottonwood Springs Campground near the southern entrance to the Park.
Cottonwood Springs lies within the Colorado desert which has too low of an elevation to host Joshua trees, but there are plenty of Creosote bush, Ocotillo and Cholla cactus to get poked with. The evening I arrived, I took a hike behind the campground with several of the other photographers. It was a fun group of people who loved to take pictures even more than I do. Our fearless leader himself, Ralph Nordstrom!
On Saturday morning Ralph got everybody up at 4:30 am to go out on a sunrise shoot. I must admit in my groggy state, I almost stayed in my sleeping bag. The reward for getting up was well worth missing a few hours sleep!

The Cholla Gardens are uniquely beautiful in their own way; prickly, twisted cactus with a bite; sort of like a few people I know.
Late Saturday afternoon, Paul led us on a hike out past the Wall Street Mill into the Wonderland of Rocks. The old cars are slowly returning back to the earth, but look so poetic rusting away in the sand.

After scrambling over massive boulders, around spiny cactus, deep ravines and sandy trails we arrived at the top of this massive rock mountain to watch the sun set.
Alan and Mongo adjusting their cameras in the fading light. At times I felt like a little Chiwawa with my baby point and shoot camera, out there with all the big dogs and their fancy SLR cameras. But even little dogs can take pictures.

Everyone scrambled around the rocks, hauling their heavy tripods around, taking photos of the landscape and talking shop. Unfortunately, I left my tripod in my office and had to use the boulders as a makeshift tripod. But I did remember my toothbrush!

After sunset we started back down the trail, which really wasn't a trail at all but a giant slab of rock. It was such a beautiful place but unfortunately I probably won't be able to find it again.

Lone Juniper standing strong.
Chuck taking picture of lone Juniper standing strong.
Evening color in the rocks. The desert seems to glow at sunrise and sunset.

Early morning sunrise shot; Alan was sweet enough to loan me his tripod....thank you Alan!Me staring at the camera as Mongo takes my picture in one of my favorite places in California; Joshua Tree National Park.

Palomar Mountain, California

2011-02-22T16:30:00.000-08:00

First taste of snow! Me and my friend Stan took the boys up to Palomar Mountain where we met Mr. Snowman.

Overnight, the mountain was covered in snow; very cold, very beautiful. When we arrived at the State Park, it was 27 degrees, with a biting wind.
My grandson, Ethan, nearly froze when he stepped into the snow in his blue jeans, but after a few runs down the hill, he had a blast.
There is something so pretty about frozen trees.
My grandsons, Ethan and Wyatt, coming down the hill together.
Wyatt figured out how to snowboard on this little tiny board, and was soon racing down the hill, completely frozen but having the time of his life.

Wyatt with his red board; he owned that thing.

Ethan and Wyatt, frozen stiff, but having the time of their lives. As soon as we got in the car to come home, Wyatt asked, "When can we come back again?"

Joshua Tree National Park in February

2011-02-05T13:55:00.001-08:00

Joshua Tree is the place I go to be still and think. The mornings are the most beautiful time of day, when the rising sun casts a rosy glow over the desert.
I woke up early enough to catch the sunrise; yes I was in my PJ's, but no one else was up!
Joshua Trees are quirky trees that aren't really trees at all but giant yuccas. In the spring they produce huge, waxy white blooms.
Joshua Trees are like people; they come in all shapes and sizes! Pinon pine trees intermix with the Joshua and oak trees.
Crazy art in the form of a plant.
The best part about Joshua tree is the rocks; huge boulders, rock slabs, rock mountains all composed of this incredible granite that is perfect for climbing. I don't use ropes, just scramble over the rocks for fun.
Even in death there is beauty.

Joshua Tree is a wilderness Park, which means there are no amenities like stores or food stands; just trees, rocks, sky and sand. That is what I love about it; truly a place to sit and be still.

Oceanside, California

2011-02-05T13:22:00.001-08:00

Oceanside is my home town; beautiful beaches, warm sunny days, winter storms, warm friendly people. I am happy here.
One of my favorite places to walk is down at the harbor where there is a great coffee shop, romantic scenery and wide open beaches.
Stormy day down at the harbor; one of her many moods.
Rainbow at sea off of Oceanside Beach.

A couple Osprey live down at the harbor and at times I find them fishing, sitting on a high perch and tearing the fish to pieces or flying in and out of the boats.

That is me down on the jetty!

Bird with big feet; he doesn't seem to mind.

Blessings to you and yours from Susan Little!

Joshua Tree National Park, CA

2010-12-15T10:45:00.000-08:00

One of my favorite places in Joshua Tree is the Keys Desert Queen Ranch, located in the Northwest section of the Park, just outside of Hidden Valley. The old historic ranch is protected by the NPS and can only be visited with a Ranger led tour.
I have been on several tours and especially love the old trucks Keys collected. This Mack truck sits outside the ranch house, along with an abundance of rusting machinery, old tools and mining equipment. Bill Keys was quite an inventor and turned this broken down Fordson tractor into a table saw. Fordson eventually became the Ford Motor Company.

There is beauty in the broken things; colorful pieces of old glass, pottery and even our lives, humble though they be.

Bill Keys was the ultimate recycler and spent time roaming the desert, sifting through abandoned homesteads for anything he could use for the ranch. He even turned one old truck into a chicken coup, to keep the chickens safe from coyotes.

I love old cans, wood, and bottles; quite a collection here.
I love the way things just fall into place and create the most beautiful scenes; I know I am kind of strange.
The Desert Queen Ranch was built by Bill Keys in 1918, but he continued to add to the ranch until he died in 1969.

Throughout the years, wells were dug, and windmills, pumps and irrigation systems were installed. The wash was dammed behind the house to create a lake which was stocked with bass, bluegill and catfish.

Frances Keys was an amazing woman who loved desert life. She raised her kids and looked after the garden and orchard, selling any excess canned goods, fruit and produce to visitors.

Chickens, rabbits, cows and horses were all part of ranch life. The children did their share and continually helped with the ranch chores.

In 1943 a fight over water rights and roads broke out between Bill and his neighbor Worth Bagley. A gunfight resulted in Bagley's death. Bill turned himself in and despite his claim of self defense, spent 5 years in San Quentin before receiving a full pardon.

It must have been very challenging for Frances to run the ranch by herself, something I have learned from experience. In spite of the hardships, women are strong and we overcome, even in the most difficult of circumstances.

That would be me at the Ranch, appreciating my freedom, health and independence; gifts from my heavenly Father for which I continually give thanks.

Joshua Tree National Park

2010-11-06T16:12:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I drove up to Joshua Tree National Park and camped at Jumbo Rock. I woke up before sunrise to the yipping and howling of coyote resonating through the campground. After a few moments, the noise suddenly stopped. Up in the sky the stars faded into the gray light of early dawn. As the sun rose, a rosy pink glow reflected upon the sandstone, sky and clouds. This gorgeous canyon was directly behind my campsite. It was shear heaven walking by myself along the sandy floor as the canyon slowly came to life.
As I looked back towards the sunrise, the mountains in black silhouette sharply contrasted against the burning orange, red and yellow clouds.

At one point, layers of pink blanketed the dark hills. It was one of those moments in time that is forever etched into my memory; a moment of serene, natural beauty.

Erosion has contorted the rocky sandstone into a variety of shapes and sizes, some perfectly round, others square and angular.

This little desert fairy stopped to rest on a branch just long enough for me to take her picture.

Gambel's Quail run about the rocks, bobbing their funny little heads and chattering like prissy little girls.

Some things never change.

In back of my campsite there was a huge open area to wander about among the rocks, mountains and Joshua Trees. I found this one area where everybody and his brother left their mark with rock art. The rock tower above was actually very sturdy; who knows how long it has been there.
The Hopi believe that the spiral symbolizes the path we take in life's journey and the adversities we face along the way. We each have to walk our own path. Some days are very difficult; some days are fun and exciting; some days are just plain old days. Whatever we face, I believe it is important to live each day to the fullest, trusting God in the trials and enjoying each moment that comes our way. It can be done, trust me.

Valley of Fire State Park, Nevada

2010-10-26T20:45:00.001-07:00

On my way home from Zion National Park, I stopped at the Valley of Fire, in Nevada; a really cool state Park similar to Arches National Park. It is filled with weird rock formations, natural arches, canyons and Native American petroglyphs.

This formation is called the Seven Sisters, and is set apart from all the other formations. The powerful forces of wind and rain have eroded the sandstone into dinosaur shaped rocks, filled with strange little holes and tunnels.
This natural sandstone arch is slowly weathering away and may one day disappear all together. The campground I stayed at is just behind the arch and had some great campsites tucked away into the rocks.
The Petroglyph Canyon trail takes you back into a canyon filled with unusual formations, acacia trees, Native American rock carvings and Mouses Tank; a stream worn basin hidden in the rocks that trapped and held water.
Apparently a renegade Southern Paiute Indian used this canyon as his hideout, and after causing trouble, would escape into the canyon to hide in the secret caves where there was plenty of water to sustain him.
The sandstone is shaped in the strangest shapes, patterns, colors and textures. At first I couldn't even see the petroglyphs, but then I noticed them high up on the walls, carved into the dark parts of the rocks. They were everywhere. Sort of made me feel like I was standing on holy ground.

Zion National Park; a day in the rain.....

2010-10-22T19:53:00.000-07:00

My stay here in Zion National Park has been wonderful. Today my friend Dale and I spent the day exploring the park in the rain.
We hopped off the shuttle and took the Pairus trail along the river to photograph the Watchman. Clouds and rain created a mysterious atmosphere during the entire day.
At the Court of the Patriarchs, we followed the short trail to the viewpoint, then started climbing up the wet mountainside, far beyond all the tourists. We sat for quite some time taking pictures and watching the clouds move in and out of the mountains.
A pinyon pine cone; the pine nuts were a staple of the early Native Americans and have become my favorite addition to green salads and Jenny's homemade granola.

My dear friend Dale who stopped in to visit me at Zion; an excellent photographer, wonderful manager and great teacher!

It has been raining on and off all week, but today was the first day I saw the waterspouts. After we had coffee at the Zion Lodge, we hiked up the Emerald Pool trail, where Dale spotted the first waterfall.

From that point on, we spotted several more cascading off the cliffs; an unbelievably spectacular sight.

At one point we walked underneath the falls, guarding our cameras from the soaking spray.

Indescribable sublime beauty splashing down all around me; a perfect day even if I was soaking wet.

Zion National Park, Kolob Canyon

2010-10-22T17:41:00.000-07:00

Several days ago I went hiking up in Kolob Canyon with Tom, my camping neighbor. The entire landscape was filled with a rush of color, texture and life; truly magical.
As I turned a corner and came upon this scene, a deep sense of contentment washed over me; an intense childlike joy that rose up like a bubble and burst into happiness. You can not improve on the Master Artist's colorful handiwork; I just take the picture and sigh.
Many people never see Kolob Canyon when they visit Zion. It is a 60 minute drive from the Zion Canyon Visitor Center, but well worth the effort.

Color this deep and rich makes me feel very wealthy.
Here is Tom, the master at detail, a wonderful photographer and fellow hiker. Thankfully he was there to pick me up and save my camera when I tumbled and fell into the creek.

The hike to Double Arch Alcove follows Taylor Creek up into the Alcove. We must have crossed the creek 30 times, back and forth during the five mile hike.
“The National Parks represent the wildness inside us. they’re the place where we can be lonely where we can experience solitude; they’re a place we go to as refuge as sanctuary. It’s the place we go out to, to come back in. It’s the only place perhaps left in many people’s lives where that’s possible.” Gretel Ehrlich The canyon was alive with color; crimson red, yellow ocher, lime green, rust orange, burnt sienna and jet black.
I am in heaven, soaking up the essence of nature in this spectacular place.
Double Arch Alcove; a stunning alcove with desert varnish stained cliffs, lush vegetation and water seeping down the sides.

Taylor Creek and the hike out to the Alcove has become one of my favorite places.

Shortly after we arrived in the Alcove it started to rain. We huddled up with four other hikers and shared our food, swapped travel stories and watched the rain.

"Earth and sky, woods and fields, lakes and rivers, the mountain and the sea, are excellent schoolmasters, and teach some of us more than we can ever learn from books." John Lubbock

Zion National Park

2010-10-19T10:18:00.001-07:00

Zion National Park; truly a haven of safety and peace. As I was coming back from town one evening, I caught the moon rising over the mountains.
One morning I was eating breakfast and looked up and saw clouds hovering in the mountains. I jumped in my car and drove outside the campground and snapped this photo.

October is the perfect month to visit Zion; the leaves are starting to change, the air is crisp and cool and occasional downpours wash the earth clean.

During my stay, rain, thunder and lightening continually fill the sky. Wispy clouds play games with the mountains and keep me spellbound with their frail beauty. This view of the Towers of the Virgin is taken from behind the Human History Museum in Zion National Park.

Clear skies interchange with dark thunderclouds, wind and rain. This was taken on a clear day while out and about on the trails.
Erosion looks so good on trees and rocks; enough said.
My favorite swimming hole in Zion; it appears to be getting smaller as a huge deposit of sand has accumulated near the edges.

Up a little further from the waterhole is a second waterhole with a small waterfall pouring into it. This is where I went swimming today; nobody else was there, just me and the dragonflies which occasionally came over to kiss me.

The Watchman stands guard day and night, beautifully framed in a field of yellow.

While sorting through my emotional issues, I took a hike up to Hidden Canyon. The Great White Throne is the white mountain in the background, reminding me that God is here, watching over me and keeping me safe.
On my way up to Hidden Canyon, I had to bypass this tarantula, but grab on to the chain at the same time; quite a feat.
The Towers of the Virgin as viewed from the Pairus trail. Each day I hike this trail through the Zion wilderness; a time to absorb the beauty and spend time in quiet contemplation.
The Virgin River; I found this special spot away from the crowds and sat down to enjoy. I dipped my feet in the mountain stream and certainly was baptized in its foam!
One of the arches in Zion, way at the back of Hidden Canyon. Many people pass by the arch without even seeing it; a good lesson to keep your eyes open and observe your surroundings.
Maple leaves were falling all over the place; this one landed on the side of the cliff.
In order to reach the back of Hidden Canyon, you have to climb over this boulder, which I did, walk along the sandy bottom, climb over tree trunks, scale rocks and generally have an all around good time.

Mt. Whitney, Lone Pine, California

2010-09-09T14:58:00.000-07:00

Over the weekend I camped up in Lone Pine, California. It was an incredible experience, full of rugged wild scenery, high lonesome nights and hot desert days. Mt. Whitney is the star in the Sierra Nevada Mountain range, and tons of people climb it each year; I am not one of those people. I prefer to look up at the jagged mountain peaks and hike short beautiful trails and scramble over the weird boulder fields known as the Alabama Hills. Pretty in pink, this little Columbine flower caught my eye.
The last morning of my stay, I wanted to catch the mountain in the early morning light, so I bypassed my coffee stop and drove up the Whitney Portal Road. At the Alabama Hills I scrambled around the boulders, eager to get some nice shots. Just me and my camera, along with the rocks and trees and mountains and deep blue sky. When I was quite done, I treated myself to an extra hot, non fat, triple Latte.
The first few days of my stay, I camped at Lower Grays Meadow in Independence, halfway up the road to Onion Valley. Sunrise was spectacular and found me roaming about the campground in my red flannel jammies shooting photos. My eyes feasted on gorgeous layered color, which changed every few minutes.
The sun hit the top of the mountains first and slowly worked its way down into the valley. At last the whole mountainside turned a glorious shade of pink.
My humble campsite in Lower Grays Meadow in the early morning light. The first night, the campground was nearly filled. The second night, I was all alone except for one couple in an RV at the very end. They couldn't hear or see me and I couldn't hear or see them. Kind of spooky when the lights went out. The good part was lots of sparkling stars, the Milky Way, a few shooting stars, the sound of the creek and the wind blowing through the trees.
Independence Creek runs right through the campground and people were catching fish like you cannot believe!
After two nights in Grays, I drove up to Onion Valley to camp in the high country. Fragile poppies bloomed along the road, somehow surviving this incredibly harsh environment.
My campsite in Onion Valley was spectacular. This is the view from my table as I sat looking up into the clouds.
This is the view in the other direction; an outstanding view of the Kearsage Pass saddle. There is a different feel when you are up over 9000 feet. Even the wind whistling through the pine and aspen trees sounds different; more lonesome, more wistful. "Keep close to Nature's heart... and break clear away, once in awhile, and climb a mountain or spend a week in the woods. Wash your spirit clean." John Muir
The morning I got to Onion Valley, I took a hike up the Kearsage Pass trail. It is a bit steep with quite a few rocky switchbacks, but well worth the views. I passed by a rushing stream cascading over the rocks, twisted, gnarled trees, a small mountain lake and amazing views of the valley. Never saw any onions, but stir fried a nice big red onion with some chicken, cherry tomatoes and zucchini for dinner. The lake was so still, no one around but the trees, mountains and a large, gray and black Clark's nuthatch, calling out like a crow. I sat down on a rock and ate my lunch looking all about me at the brilliant, yellow daisies lining the water, waterfalls flowing down the mountain and bright pink flowers flanking a small stream that flowed into the pond. Never saw another soul.
I wanted to swim, but the wind was so cold that it made me nervous to be soaking wet in this wild place. Several years ago I was not so careful and nearly got hypothermia.
My faithful Subaru parked in my campsite at Onion Valley. I sleep in the back, unless the weather is real nice and I want to listen to a creek or feel the wind in my hair. Then I set up my tent without the rain fly and sleep under the stars; it only works if its not raining. Down in Grays Meadow I slept out under the trees and listened to the night noises; terribly good fun.

Kings Canyon National Park

2010-07-25T19:42:00.001-07:00

Kings Canyon National Park was my final stop on my 51 day trip throughout the western United States and Canada. Wow am I tired! After 6,210 miles, eight American National Parks, two Canadian National Parks, and lots of places in between, I am finally home!
Zumwalt Meadows, in Kings Canyon, is a gorgeous green meadow surrounded by rugged mountains and the Kings River.
This little guy would not stop staring at me. He sat there perfectly still, probably wondering who the heck I was and what was I doing taking his picture.
Roaring River Falls in Kings Canyon National Park is one of the most spectacular places in the canyon. It is an incredibly forceful waterfall that rushes through a narrow granite chute and crashes down into a pool of water. Quite a sight. I have probably been to Kings Canyon at least a dozen times, and each time I go, I stop at Zumwalt Meadows. From the Zumwalt Meadow boardwalk, North Dome can be clearly seen, rising so proud and tall above the valley floor. Thunderclouds are a common sight in the canyon and often bring with them a quick cloud burst of rain. In early summer, the Kings River is usually raging full and absolutely beautiful as it rushes through the canyon. One of my favorite pastimes in the canyon is to jump in the river and swim. At Roads End, there is a huge rock known as the John Muir Rock, where Muir actually stood and preached to the crowds. Today people of all ages, including myself, stand on the edge of the rock and jump in the water, then float down the river a bit before crawling out over the rocks to the shore.Of all the times I have visited Kings Canyon, this was my first time to see Grizzly Falls!
Giant Sequoias in Grant Grove, at the upper end of the Canyon. Sort of puts your life in perspective when you stand at the base of the trees and look up.

Lassen Volcanic National Park, California

2010-07-14T12:32:00.001-07:00

After leaving Mt. Rainier National Park, I had the bright idea to drive down the Oregon coast and camp along the way. My first stop was the quaint town of Florence. The one drawback was that everything was covered in fog. I patiently sat in this lovely coffee shop, drinking Latte's and working on my pictures while waiting for the fog to clear.
Old pilings line the riverbank; the remains of the original ferry landing. The fog is resting so beautifully upon the bridge, trees, coastline and unfortunately upon all my plans.
Small bird boxes rest in the pilings of the old ferry, inhabited by many inquisitive little birds!
After a while, I got in my car and started driving past miles and miles of sand dunes covered with ATV's and dirt bikes, hoping the fog would lift off the Oregon coast; but alas it was still hiding in the mist. I abruptly changed course and started driving to Lassen Volcanic National Park and on the way found this awesome spot to swim at Bear Creek. Very cool, very relaxing!
At last I made it to Lassen; a beautiful park filled with frozen lakes, smoking fumaroles, volcanic mountains, rivers, lakes and snow covered Lassen Peak. The peak in this picture is actually called Brokeoff Mountain!
My first campsite at Manzanita Lake was crowded but also near the lake. Early in the morning I went down to the Lake and watched Osprey, Ravens, a Bald Eagle, wild geese and songbirds flying and squawking and singing all at the same time.
Parts of Lassen Volcanic National Park were completely snow covered, with just bits of ground exposed by the snowmelt showing through.
Lake Helen in Lassen Volcanic National Park was just beginning to melt, exposing the beautiful light blue color in the snow.

The trail out to Mill Creek Falls was filled with green meadows, forests of pine trees and blankets of yellow daisies.

Hiking up to Crags Lake was a bear, but worth the end result. People were swimming in the lake, but I forgot my swim suit and had to sit out and just watch. I did get to swim in Manzanita and Butte Lakes!
Forest fires have devastated parts of Lassen. It was delightful to see wildflowers and new growth underneath the burned out trees.
Giant dandelions were blooming everywhere in the burned out areas. Make a wish!
Frail wildflowers blooming in the midst of burned trees; life in the midst of death; hope in the midst of darkness; faith in the midst of unfortunate circumstances. Believe.
Early one morning I was out poking around and found this little bird nesting in an old hole in the tree, most likely made by a woodpecker.
Lassen Peak in all of its snow covered glory!
After leaving the Manzanita area, I drove over and camped at Butte Lake. That would be me enjoying the twilight and warm fire. It was wonderfully peaceful there; a moment in time I will always remember.
Cinder Cone is a cinder cone volcano that is just waiting to be climbed. The trail began right across from my campsite, so after I set up my camp, I walked over to the trail. It was downright ominous standing at the base. Lucky for me Dr. Eugene arrived at the base the same time I did. We encouraged each other that we could make it to the top, so off we went, with Dr. Eugene in the lead.The trail is difficult to say the least; made up of loose scoria which is kind of like ground up gravel; easier to walk on then sand, but not much easier. It is an abrupt 700 ft elevation gain as you walk up to the top, but as you can see I made it!
It felt like I was standing at the top of the world as I looked down into the crater of the volcano. You can actually walk down into it, but that also means you have to walk back up; I was so done with that.

Some of the loose lava rocks at the top; so pretty!

Looking down into the crater; kind of spooky. The view at the top was outrageous. In the background you can just see Lassen Peak, to the sides are the Lava Beds and Painted Dunes. Incredible feeling.

Down in the Warner Valley, there is quite a bit of volcanic activity. Boiling Springs Lake has steam rising from the surface, as well as hot springs, mudpots, and fumaroles along the western shore. I half way expected to see a dinosaur emerge from the shadows.

On the way out to Devil's Kitchen in Lassen Volcanic National Park, I found this handmade waterwheel turning round and round in the little stream.

The trail takes you through nearly a mile of lush green meadows. I was alone crossing the meadow and it sort of felt like the Sound of Music; but no singing. Devil's Kitchen is filled with the stench of sulphur, smoking fumaroles, steam vents, bubbling mud pits and milky white hot streams of water. You can safely walk through the area on established trails and boardwalks and look down at the red and yellow cracked ground, feel the heat from the steam vents and hear the weird sounds of bubbling, plopping and belching filling the air; a perfect heaven for boys.

Mt Rainier National Park, Washington

2010-07-09T09:12:00.001-07:00

Celebrating the 4th of July with Cindy at a good old hometown Enumclaw Parade, complete with marching bands, a children's bike group, trucks, handsome men, animals and little ponies all decorated in red, white and blue! Terribly good fun. The parade was free from rain, but that night, down it came!
Two beautiful women and one little pony dressed to the nines.....
One very proud motorcycle rider who stopped and posed for me so I could get his picture!
Boys and their toys; men just love a good truck!
Mount Rainier National Park in Washington; one of my favorite places on earth.
Finally I have found sunshine after nearly 4 weeks of rain, it was wonderful. Mt Rainier is in the background, covered in snow and ice.
On the way to Paradise, I stopped at Nickel Creek, climbed down the mountain and crawled through brush and trees to get this photo of Nickel Creek. Worth every bit of effort it took to get there.
Everywhere I turned there was a creek, river or waterfall filled to overflowing from the abundant winter snowfall melting. This is Falls Creek, on the way to Paradise.
Even after such an intense winter, spring flowers continue to bloom. Sort of a lesson for me; "Weeping may last for a night, but joy comes in the morning." Psalm 30:5
Parts of the park were completely covered in snow and others were filled with lush greenery.
The Ohanapecosh River at the southern end of the Park. A clear, freezing cold river where I attempted to wash off some of my grime. I found a quiet spot and waded in up to my waist and nearly died from the cold. Then I stuck my head in and tried to wash my hair, splashed some water on my arms and waded out. By then I was nearly numb from the cold, but it was 80 degrees sitting on the rocks, so I dried pretty quickly all the while flicking huge ants off my towel.
Silver Falls; very incredible place right near the Ohanapecosh campground. I am completely astounded by its beauty.
One day Cindy and I got lost and ended up at Tipsoo Lake on the Chinook Pass. To take the picture I climbed around the lake and fell in the snow a couple times, saved the camera, and was able to get this shot of Mt Rainier reflected in Tipsoo Lake. Sunrise Visitor Center sits at 6400 feet and was covered in snow. All the trails I usually take had turned into cross country skiing, and me and Cindy only had our hiking boots. So we just climbed around in the snow, took some pictures and headed down the hill.
Mt. Rainier playing hide and seek in the clouds.
This is me at the White River getting ready to cross this little skinny log bridge to stand above the river and try not to panic.
One morning I woke up from a very bad dream. I was nearly in tears and it was only 5:30 am, but I got up anyway to shake off the pain. Through the trees, I glimpsed the pink mountain and raced up to the bridge to get some pictures. The memories of the bad dream faded away in the awesome beauty of Mt Rainier all dressed up in pink.
The picture above and the picture below are from the same viewpoint; sitting on the bridge in middle of the river with the spray of water splashing up in my face. The picture above is early morning, the picture below, middle of the day.

The bridge over the White River; a great place to sit and watch and think.

From the White River Campground, this view shows the grass covered moraine and the huge path below where the glaciers passed. The White River flows down the path, originating from the Emmons Glacier on Mt Rainier.

The big trees down at the Grove of the Patriarchs; some of these trees are a thousand years old. Imagine the stories they could tell.

Me and Cindy; my faithful friend and sister in Christ. She always has an open heart, a meal to share, a story to tell and a sincere love for others.

Early one morning I came across a herd of Roosevelt Elk crossing the road directly in front of me. I stopped the car and managed to photograph this female, hiding in the bushes. Me at my campground on the White River; you can see my tent in the background. Sometimes I sleep in my car, but if the weather is nice, I prefer my little orange tent; so comfy. At times it scares me when creatures roam about in the night and I hear them scratching and sniffing and looking around; kind of creepy.

Believe it or not, this little waterfall is in one of the campsites at the White River Campground! I didn't choose this site because of the pool of standing water that would soon become mosquito heaven; something this camping queen avoids like the plague.

Olympic National Park, Washington

2010-07-08T12:16:00.000-07:00

Right after dropping Jenny off in Port Angeles, I spent a week in Olympic National Park, on the Olympic Peninsula in Washington. I was totally exhausted by the time I reached the Altaire campground in the Elwha Valley and was blessed to find a site right on the Elwha River and a sunset over the valley all in the same day.

Little creatures fascinate me, except when they are rummaging around my tent in the middle of the night. Then they freak me out.
While taking a walk up by Lake Mills in the Elwha River Valley area, I came across this beautiful arrangement of natural color designed by the Master Artist, the Lord God Most High.
This is the last dam summer before the Glines Canyon Dam you see behind me along with the Elwha Dam are removed and the Elwha River is restored to its natural state. This is the largest dam removal in U.S. history and will free five species of Pacific salmon to return to more than 70 miles of river and stream. Pretty exciting if you ask me. Whenever I am camping in the National Parks, I always make it a point to stop in at the Lodges and enjoy the surroundings. Lake Crescent Lodge is situated right on the lake, and has a warm sun room to view the lake and drink coffee; very good coffee I must say.

The Olympic Peninsula is a rain forest just waiting to happen; and believe me it happened. It rained every day I was there.

Sol Duc Falls, a must to see if you are in the area. It is actually one river that sections off into four waterfalls. If you look closely you can see a bit of a rainbow in the water.

Living color; alive and sparkling; full of life.

Rialto Beach is my favorite spot in Olympic National Park; rugged beaches, sea stacks, tide pools, cliffs and forest. Being a Southern California beach girl, it was amazing to see deer tracks right on the sand. Definitely a first.
"Every time we walk along a beach some ancient urge disturbs us so that we find ourselves shedding shoes and garments or scavenging among seaweed and whitened timbers like the homesick refugees of a long war." Loren Eiseley

Whenever I find driftwood I go crazy and climb up and down the fallen logs, search through the piles of twisted pieces and look for interesting shapes and sizes. Rialto Beach was heaven for me; it not only had huge amounts of driftwood, but tide pools filled with little crabs, starfish, sea anemones and other gushy things.
Pounding surf at Rialto Beach.
Camping along the Hoh River gave me opportunity to see the clouds come in and hug the forest and drift in and out among the trees.

Walking down the trails in the Hoh rain forest made you feel like a hobbit or troll would pop out at any moment and say hello.

Copious amounts of moss, lichen and ferns cover all the downed logs.

The Hoh River, crystal clear and flowing freely.

The Hall of Mosses is a bit like a haunted forest, don't you think?

That would be me in front of my little fire in the Hoh Rain forest Campground. The only people I met were both hearing impaired, so even though they were very nice, we couldn't talk. In spite of our differences, we knew we were in the middle of a very special place.

Clouds and rain in the rain forest; were you expecting anything else? I was hoping for more, and occasionally had some sun, but more often than not it was rain, rain, rain.

Kalaloch Beach in a moment of sunshine! What a place and just look at all that driftwood, enough to keep me happy for hours on end.

At the end of my Olympic week I planned on staying at Lake Quinalt, but as you can see it was getting ready to rain again. I found a great place that served Grilled hamburgers and by the time I came out it was raining. I holed up in the Lodge, sitting in front of a huge fire, drinking coffee and working on my computer. Not bad for a rainy day.
Falls Creek in Lake Quinalt; a good place to restore peace in your soul. After my short stay in Quinalt, I hit the road and headed for Seattle; steaming hot chowder, open air markets, big city landscape and Costco. Time to replace the camera I broke along the way!

Victoria, British Columbia

2010-06-27T12:20:00.000-07:00

Me and Jenny, best of friends; so sad she is leaving today to join her friends in Washington. Thank you Jenny for your friendship, guidance, chocolate, patience and care for me during our short time together!
In Vancouver we boarded the ferry for Vancouver Island; a fun 90 minute journey across the Juan de Fuca Strait.
It was awesome to be on the open ocean and come into beautiful Vancouver Island. The scenery was outrageous!

We camped at China Beach, a wonderful forest campground right on the beach. In the morning I took the walk down the trail to the beach and had the early morning beach all to myself. If you look closely you can see my boots in the bottom of the picture. It has rained nearly every day in Canada and I wore these darn boots every single day!

So spacious, wild and rugged; my kind of place.

The bones of the sea; ancient driftwood lay strewn all over the beach, like a huge dinosaur graveyard.
The campground was like a rain forest; luscious fern, banana slugs, moss covered trees and spongy ground from years of compost.

Trail leading down to the beach; this is way too much fun!
The beach was filled with all my favorite things; sticks, feathers, shells, logs, driftwood and bits of flotsam and jetsam; whatever that may be. It was like a huge treasure house. In Victoria there is a wharf with entertainers, wood carvers, artisans and people of every shape, size and nationality. This fellow we called the white man, would stand there perfectly still until someone dropped money in his bucket. Then he would perform a mime act that was pretty darn amazing.

The city is filled with wonderful things like this horse and carriage ride. However it was $50.00 for 15 minutes, so we decided to walk, and walk we did. For hours and hours we roamed the city, drinking coffee, window shopping, talking to the street people and eating delicious salmon chowder and salad at an Irish Pub.

How can a city be this pretty? A lot of the buildings are huge and centuries old made out of brick and covered in ivy.

The famous One Man Band; he did it all. I saw him when I was in Victoria five years ago, and he is still here, doing the same songs, playing the guitar, bass, Dobro, harmonica and drums all at the same time. A little strange, but hey you gotta make a living somehow.

Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada

2010-06-21T12:37:00.000-07:00

For the last week or so, me and my friend Jenny have been wandering around Banff and Jasper National Parks in Alberta Canada, camping in the rain, hiking on the trails and building huge fires in the campgrounds. Peyto Lake was one of the most beautiful lakes I have ever seen; so crystal blue.

“I gave my heart to the mountains the minute I stood beside this river with its spray in my face and watched it thunder into foam.” Walace Stegner

One misty morning in Banff I drove out to this meadow and took this picture.

Moul Falls is a gorgeous waterfall in Wells Gray Provincial Park. We hiked down to the base and stood in the mist; an exhilarating experience to say the least.
Wild, wonderful freedom.....
Standing in the mist I experienced intense joy that bubbled up from deep down inside and burst out in a whoop and a shout that could be heard throughout the canyon!
My dear friend Jenny; a wonderful woman married to a wonderful man. Jenny and Sully currently live in Hawaii but are in transition; uncomfortable but challenging.
Sweet smelling Canada Rose.

My favorite lake, Moraine Lake is a glacially-fed lake in Banff National Park that is not far from Lake Louise. It was exquisite walking to the end of the lake, exploring the lake shore and rock art along the way. You were right John, this is the prettiest lake!
The glacial lakes are such a pretty color of blue from the "glacier flour" which is ground up bits of rock and silt that enter the water and reflect the beautiful blue-green color.
That would be me at Peyto Lake, an absolutely gorgeous blue lake fed by glaciers. When I first saw the lake, I thought it was fake, but then the deep blue water, snow covered mountains and cloudy sky were all too real. There is no trail down to the lake, just forests; that didn't stop Jenny who was soon scrambling down the hill only to come upon a huge bear print. Needless to say she scrambled right back up!
One evening in Jasper National Park, we were desperate for a campground and while searching we passed the Snaring River. Reflections always fascinate me, so I stopped and took a few pictures. We arrived in Whistlers Campground, on National Aboriginal Day. The local aboriginal Mountain Cree were holding a celebration in the campground that I attended. This handsome young man is the main speaker at the event. It was so beautiful to watch the women in their colorful costumes swirl and twirl to the beat of drums.
Two of the male dancers, totally engrossed in the dance.

This woman reminded me of what Pocahontas would have looked like; pure beauty and grace.

On the way into Jasper I saw this black bear on the side of the road. Yes, we did stay in the car!

In Banff we took a hike up to Johnston Canyon Falls, a rushing, wild waterfall.

Beautiful spring flowers blooming in Jasper.

Crow Foot Glacier in the Columbia Icefields on the way to Jasper. Cold, crisp and exciting.
Beautiful ice cold lake on the way to the Icefields.
The views in the Icefields are so intense you cannot even comprehend what you are seeing.
" O Canada! Our home and native land! With glowing hearts we see thee rise, the True North strong and free! From far and wide, O Canada, we stand on guard for thee. God keep our land glorious and free! O Canada, we stand on guard for thee."

Lake Louise, an unbelievable beauty nestled in the mountains. Very crowded, very breathtaking, very impressive

Wildlife corridors are built over the highways to allow the animals safe passage. I had heard about them, but to see them was such a blessing. It is so exciting to see Canada value the natural resources and take care to protect them.
Right next to the Wildlife Corridor, I spotted two grizzly on the other side of the fence. The fence is built to keep the animals off the freeway after they cross over!
Self Portrait in Banff National Park! I am having fun with my tripod!

Glacier National Park, Montana

2010-06-11T11:19:00.000-07:00

For the last week I have been camping at Glacier National Park; an outrageously beautiful place in Montana near the border of Alberta, Canada.
One afternoon I took the hike out to St. Mary Falls and found it to be one of the most breathtaking waterfalls I have ever seen.

Wildflowers were blooming, snow was in the mountains, Iceberg Lake was slushy and it rained for five days straight. I still got out and hiked but it was cold, wet and gray.
That would be me sitting in front of my campfire and trying out my new tripod and self timer! The campground at Many Glacier is awesome; filled with aspen, pine, rugged mountains and sits right on the river.
The last day, the weather cleared and I was able to snap this photo of the river right in front of my campsite.
One evening this baby moose and his mama walked right through the campground! Evenings tended to stretch on forever as it didn't get dark until almost 11:00 pm!
Signs are posted everywhere warning of the dangers of wild and crazy animals. I encountered quite a few of them during my stay.
While out on a hike up to Iceberg Lake, I came across two grizzlies foraging in the meadow below me. I did my bear prayers, snapped a couple pictures and hightailed it down the mountain.
These bad boys are big and dangerous; but at the same time terribly exciting. Why are we so attracted to the wild side?
Bighorn Sheep can be seen on the mountainside and occasionally walking through the parking lot at the Lodge!
The Many Glacier Hotel is a historic old building overlooking Swiftcurrent Lake. It was built between 1910 and 1915, and for a cougar, still looks good!
When it got too cold and wet outside, I stopped in at the Hotel and drank Lattes in front of the massive fireplace.
View of the Many Glacier Hotel from the hillside.

Meadows that stretched on forever and seemed to eventually blend in with the sky.

Deer were on nearly every trail I took as well as roaming through the campgrounds each evening.

On Saturday the rain finally stopped and blue sky appeared!

The Going to the Sun Road runs from East Glacier to West Glacier and has some incredible hiking trails and views. Wild Goose Island in the middle of the lake looked so serene in the midst of steel gray sky and clouds, rugged mountains and dark green pines.

One evening the rain cleared and I caught this translucent rainbow shining in the clouds.

Incredibly peaceful view in front of my campsite at Many Glacier Campground.

While hiking up to Red Rock Falls, I looked to the side and was surprised by this young male moose looking at me!

It is hard to describe the exhilarating feeling you get out on the trails in such a beautiful place.

Sometimes the little things can be even more powerful than the larger than life experiences!

One morning I was standing under a tree waiting for the rain to clear and trying to decide whether or not to get out on the trail. An older couple came by and stopped and looked at me. Immediately they encouraged me to join them. Needless to say, I did and enjoyed their company all the way to Redrock Falls.

When I first arrived at Glacier I stayed at Two Medicine Campground; surrounded by the Blackfeet Nation, enormous mountains, rivers, lakes, trees, wildlife and unfortunately ticks! I picked two off my neck and had to have the very cute, young Ranger look at my neck to see if they broke the surface. That was a little weird.

While out on a hike around the lake, I sat down to eat my apple. When I looked up, this mama moose was staring at me.

The stream beds, rivers and land are filled with these gorgeous colorful rocks.

View from my campsite at Two Medicine.For all the birdwatchers in the world......

Zion, Bryce and the Grand Canyon.......

2010-06-07T06:24:00.000-07:00

Me and my dear friend Dale, who I went to visit at the Grand Canyon. He loves the outdoors as much as I do, and loves taking pictures, exploring the desert, finding new, out of the way places and living and working in the National Parks. I miss you already, Dale!

Zion National Park is one of my favorite places. My first night out I stayed at the South Campground in the last available campsite for the evening. It was a walk in site, but well worth the walk as you can see. The Watchman is that cool mountain jutting up in the middle; I always feel safe when I camp underneath it.
The landscape in Zion is huge, overwhelming, magnificent. It makes me feel very small as I stand at the bottom of the canyon and look up into the red rock cliffs.
The Riverside Walk takes you through the canyon and along the Virgin River; very refreshing, very healing. After leaving Zion, I drove over to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon to visit my friend Dale. On either side of the road out to the Rim, beautiful green meadows, pools of water from the snow melt and forests of white aspen and dark green pine flourish. Deer frequent the meadow, along with the occasional buffalo, hawks, ravens and other wildlife. The first glow of sunset pink over the Grand.

Dale and I drove out to Lees Ferry, where most people take off to raft down the canyon. We ate lunch overlooking the Colorado River, then explored an old fort, orchard, ranch house and pioneer graveyard.

"Find peace, health, wholeness, connection, and completion in the small miracles." Mohawk/Onondaga

That would be me loving life at the Rim.

Navajo Bridge overlooking the Colorado River. Incredible feeling walking over the bridge and looking down into the blue green water so very far below.
Dale took me out to Cape Royal to watch the sun set over Wotan's Throne. It was magnificent. Much to my delight, he also gave me a photography lesson! Here's hoping for better pictures!

That would be me, sitting on the rock overlooking the canyon.

The end of a perfect day.

After leaving the Grand, I drove through Red Canyon located on the way to Bryce Canyon National Park in Utah.

Bryce Canyon is filled with dark green pine trees, crazy red rock hoodoos, spires, fins and arches.

An incredible place to just look and think.

"If the desert is holy, it is because it is a forgotten place that allows us to be sacred. Perhaps that is why every pilgrimage to the desert is a pilgrimage to the self. There is no place to hide and so we are found." Terry Tempest Williams Bryce is not just about red rocks, but has beautiful meadows, pine forests, open vistas and lots of fresh air.
On my way to Glacier National Park, I tried to make it to Butte, Montana, but crashed and burned in this beautiful campground. A huge pile of driftwood was sitting by the fire pit, so I built me a fire, played my guitar and fell asleep in my warm little car just as it started to rain.Good night to you; sweet dreams and may God watch over you and bless you. “I will both lie down in peace, and sleep; for you alone O Lord, make me dwell in safety. Psalm 4:8

A night in the country at New Melones Lake.

2010-05-02T10:47:00.000-07:00

After visiting with Tom and Judy, I started driving down to Jamestown to visit my son Jon who is in prison there. This old barn caught my eye.
I don't think anyone could possibly mistake this for a public restroom, but apparently the owner had to put a sign up to reassure himself that we completely understood.
I camped at New Melones Lake and sat in the peace and quiet, watching these wild turkeys strut about.
This one male was doing everything possible to attract the females, but they simply were not interested!

I took a hike through the grasslands which reminded me of Teddy Roosevelt National Park.

The trail led through numerous oak trees and undulating rivers of tall grass swaying in the breeze.

The New Melones Lake, peaceful, quiet and blue....

Wild lupine growing in the fields.

View from my campsite.....very cool. All evening I drank hot tea and listened to the geese honk, the coyote howl, the turkeys gobble and the crickets chirp.

My humble campsite....

A good place to prepare my heart before venturing into the depths of darkness to visit my son. "As for me, I will call upon God and the Lord shall save me. Evening and morning and at noon I will pray, and cry aloud, and He shall hear my voice." Psalm 55:16-17

Spring snow....

2010-04-30T09:00:00.001-07:00

This week I came up to Pollock Pines to visit my sister Judy and her husband Tom. It started snowing like crazy from the very first day.
They live in an awesome cabin surrounded by pine trees. In this photo you can see the snow falling through the trees.
Early one morning, we took a hike around Jenkinson Lake, not far from their home.
The lake sits so quietly as if it is contemplating life; something I often do.
My sister Judy; my best friend and wonderful counselor. She is able to see diamonds in the snow, the good in every person, and lives her life giving to others.
Snow laced branches against the piercing blue sky.

Looks like Christmas time, but it is actually the end of April!

The miracle of ice, barren trees and sky.

May you find beauty and peace in the days ahead.

Cedar Creek Falls, Southern California

2010-03-16T11:27:00.000-07:00

Cedar Creek Falls, our destination in Julian.

Last Saturday I took a hike with a group from church. Orville took us to one of the most beautiful places in southern California that I have ever seen; Cedar Creek Falls just outside of Julian.
Wildflowers were blooming profusely throughout the mountains.
Cedar Creek; wonderfully wild, rugged and beautiful.
Lush mountain greenery....view from the top as we were hiking down into the valley.

It isn't that bad hiking down to the falls as it is all downhill; you should have seen me hiking back up.....definitely a bit of huffing and puffing going on, but it was worth it!

I sat at the base of the falls and enjoyed my sandwich, the scenery, the rushing water and new found friends.

Unbelievable heart wrenching beauty......

Joshua Tree National Park

2010-03-08T20:42:00.000-08:00

Picture perfect, round rocks, weird and wonderful......

Last weekend, before the rain hit, I spent several days up in Joshua Tree; one of my favorite places. This was my first time out at Barker Dam and I was delighted to find so much water filling the dam.
"When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, I the Lord will hear them; I will open rivers in desolate heights, and fountains in the midst of the valleys; I will make the wilderness a pool of water and the dry land springs of water." Isaiah 41:17-18

Beautiful reflections in the pool of water.

On my last morning in the Park, I woke up to perfect lighting, so I raced out in my jammies and started snapping pictures of Hidden Valley where I was camping. This is my favorite picture so far!

Rugged rocks on the Hidden Valley Nature Loop Trail.

Behind the campground, there are all kinds of places to wander and explore....this being one of them.

Back to nature...that's where I wanna be.

Death Valley National Park

2010-02-16T06:18:00.001-08:00

Over the weekend, I took a trip to Death Valley National Park to enjoy the silence and walk in beauty.
After a rain, the mud dries into puzzles, creating unique shapes and patterns.
Scotty's Castle lies in the northern part of the park and is a masterpiece of design, color and Spanish style furnishings.
Yes, there is water in the desert but it is at the golf course in Furnace Creek. I stood on the viewing deck above the pond to watch the waterfowl and caught this coot enjoying his swim.
Zabriskie Point, a gorgeous viewing area off the 190.
Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes; miles and miles of open area with dunes, mountains and valleys. I walked up and down the dunes with a wonderful, 80 year old woman named Dorothy. Off the road a bit, I walked up these hills to get this view. That dark line in the middle is the highway and my Subaru is smack dab in the middle for those of you with good eyes!
At Furnace Creek there is a ranch with a Desert Museum. All the old wagons and mining equipment are on display; definitely takes you back a few years.

One afternoon I took a hike up Mosaic Canyon and walked below towering marble cliffs with interesting shapes and colors.

The walls were covered with this kind of amazing marble, a real treasure in the midst of the desert.

Another hike I took was through Golden Canyon. I was so surprised to find all these incredible canyons, similar to the ones in Utah. Golden Canyon is a feast for the eyes; beautifully eroded cliffs with layered bands of rust, copper, and golden colored rock.

You can barely see the people on the ridge of the Sand Dunes in Mesquite Flat. Miles and miles of dunes to run and play in. Badwater Basin, the lowest elevation in the US at 282 feet below sea level. The basin smells like a stale lagoon which made me feel like a dead fish out of water. The white stuff all over the ground is a combination of borates and salt; kind of like walking on crunchy snow... one heck of a strange place.

Snow at Palomar Mountain, California

2010-01-25T13:13:00.000-08:00

Magic in the ice at Palomar Mountain in Southern California!

The boys....Ethan and Wyatt Little....tearing up the hill just like their daddy would have.

Coming down the hill!
Winter wonderland in Southern California...who would have thought!
Frost in the trees...The Lookout....

A walk in the park.....

2009-12-25T12:19:00.000-08:00

All the leaves are brown and the sky is blue; but then again, its nearly always blue here in Southern California. I went for a walk on a winters day; found lots of beautiful golden brown Eucalyptus trees in the middle of vast open spaces.

It had just rained the day before and the ground was still moist and damp. I heard the noisy call of the ravens and the sweet sound of songbirds, found plenty of interesting animal tracks and walked beneath the golden halo of winter leaves.

Life abounds in the great outdoors; vibrant living beauty in every shape, color and texture.

It is a good thing to venture into the wild places to rest and renew your spirit, soul and body. In the coming year, may you find the time to explore the great outdoors and experience a positive renewal that will refresh and restore you. Blessings to you and yours.....

Oceanside, California

2009-11-26T08:57:00.001-08:00

It was late in the afternoon and the clouds were starting to gather. I raced down to the Oceanside Pier to watch the sunset and had so much fun watching the colors light up the sky and fill the earth with its magnificent glory. It was spectacular.