Thursday, October 23, 2014

Mountains Galore!

A good friend from Wisconsin was in the Seattle area for work recently so of course I wanted to make the short three hour drive up to see her.  Even more predictable, I wanted to take advantage of the opportunity to sneak in some "naturey" things along the way.



Mount Saint Helens



Located about an hour North of Portland in Washington, my first stop was at the visitors center. While eagerly awaiting the informative film to start, I read through the timeline that covered the walls which detailed the events leading up the the eruption in 1980.  The film gave lots of good additional information and included commentary from people who were there when it happened.  It also commemorated a few that did not survive.  After the movie, I headed east on Highway 504 toward Mount Saint Helens, stopping at each viewpoint to take photos and enjoy the scenery.  I didn't have enough time to go all the way to the mountain but what I did have time to take in was pretty spectacular, especially after knowing more about what happened there.





Mount Rainier National Park



I'm fairly certain this may be the most beautiful place I've explored yet!  The area is full of waterfalls, creeks, trees as far as you can see and snow-topped mountain peaks in every direction.  Although rainy most of the day, it was still a beautiful experience, one that was unexpectedly emotional.  I am still struggling to find the right words to communicate the visit.  The John Muir quote in the picture above speaks volumes about this place.  I'm in the process of doing some more reading of Muir's reflections in hopes of finding inspiration to help describe my own feelings about these magnificent places in the Pacific Northwest.  If you are ever in this area, I would definitely add this park to your "must do" list. There are many trails that I did not have time to explore so I will be going back when I have more than a half-day of time so I can wander the mountaintops and truly breathe in the experience.




Oregon Wild Fundraiser


After spending a couple of days enjoying some of the most beautiful places here, it felt good to volunteer at Oregon Wild's Call of the Wild fundraiser helping with the silent auction tables.  Oregon Wild is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the preservation and protection of Oregon's wildlands, wildlife and waters.  At this fun event, a brand new, one-of-a-kind beer from Migration Brewing Company called "The Wilderness" was unveiled.  There was also a silent auction featuring all kinds of outdoor gear, rafting adventures, date packages and so much more - it was a nature junkie's paradise!  There was a live blues performance by Joe McMurrian, a trail mix bar, food from local caterers and a special video presentation highlighting the importance of preserving Oregon's wild places.  My favorite part of the night though was the announcement of the photo contest winners whose framed prints were available for bidding on in the silent auction.


The rainy season is beginning to get underway here in Portland and unlike most of the natives here, I am excited to say goodbye to the hot sunny days and welcome the cooler, wet weather.  That may all change after the sixth month of rain but only time will tell.  The fall colors are not as abundant as they are in Wisconsin but that's a small price to pay for all the lush greenery which smells heavenly here.  The rains were particularly heavy at times the past couple of days and there was even a little bit of thunder, a rarity I'm told here.  Also rare are tornadoes but Longview, Washington had one of those today too.  Ever since I arrived in June, the weather has been unusual and crazy. Rumor has it that they are predicting a warmer and dryer winter in the Pacific Northwest this year but even if it turns out to be a normal Pacific Northwest winter, it will still be warmer than all of the Wisconsin winters I've struggled through in the past and definitely will be less snowy.  That is something to look forward to!


To see more of my nature photos, please visit my Flickr page by clicking here.  

Tuesday, October 14, 2014

Bigfoot, Waterfalls and Psychonaut Art, Oh My!

You know you're in the Pacific Northwest when you find yourself at a Salmon, Mushroom & Bigfoot Festival.  In it's 21st year, this annual event held on October 4th & 5th this year, featured a Native American Salmon Bake, Scarecrow Contest, Scarecrow Fashion Show, Sasquatch Talks and Native American Flute Concert.  There were also local artists and crafters onsite selling crafts, snacks, lotions but to my knowledge, no Bigfoot.  It was on the small side for a festival but a beautiful drive on Highway 26, near the historic Village of Brightwood, Oregon.

Salmon, Mushroom & Bigfoot Festival

After grabbing a bite to eat and perusing the craft tables, we stopped nearby for a quick and short hike to Little Zig Zag Falls.  Considerably cooler, the fresh mountain air was a welcomed respite from the unusually warm weather we've been having.  The forest was filled with the usual green I know and love in this area.  The smell of the forest is my new favorite thing.

Little Zig Zag Falls

A little sooner than anticipated, I found my own apartment here in Portland.  I am excited to move in on November 10th although due to costs, my household items won't be making their way from Wisconsin for several more months.  The location is great, right by the Willamette River, near the Pearl District and Saturday Market and only a short 6 minute train ride to work.  The area is also great for walking Cole because a three mile looped trail runs along the Willamette between the complex and my work.  Also noteworthy are the community rooms and rooftop terraces free for  tenants to reserve for private events.

View from Courtyard at The Yards at Union Station

I finally made a trip to the Saturday Market.  Besides shopping and food, the market is known for street performers and musicians.  Much to my surprise and delight, I was met with a performance of an amped didgeridoo and drum machine which produced a sort of hypnotic, techno vibe. After a quick round of all the food options, I decided to go with the food of my people and stopped at the Polish food cart (which was delicious!).  After a bite to eat, I did a little shopping.  With my limited budget, I wasn't able to buy much but there were so many great photographs, art and blown glass items to choose from.  Three notable artists that I want to mention are:  Tobin Floom Fine Art Photography, Whatif Creations and J. Slattum, Pscychonaut Artist.  Check out their sites to see what I mean.  Portland has some seriously talented artists here!

Saturday Market (Skidmore Fountain section)


To view more of my nature photography, please click here.