Tributary waterfalls at Great Falls National Park, Virginia

Went to Great Falls National Park on the Virginia side and started scoping out some of the tributaries that feed into the Potomac River. Found a few that had some 'action':

Zion National Park

Zion national Park in Utah is different from all the other National Parks in the area. The bulk of the sites have to be hiked in to and are not the drip up and just view places. Daily 5 miles hikes was typical of this trip with many worthwhile sites along the way.

The above is a view of Angels Landing (5785ft) in Zion National Park, Utah - looking upstream on the Virgin River in the area of the Grotto Picnic Area in Zion Canyon. Left to right: Cathedral Mountain (6930ft), Angels Landing (5790ft), The Organ, Observation Point (6507ft) and Weeping Rock (6100ft).

The above is The Watchman (6545ft) viewed from the Pa'rus Trail, Zion National Park, Utah.

Bryce Canyon - early spring with snow

We went to Bryce Canyon and Zion National Parks in Utah this spring. Bryce along with Zion are both very different from all the other National and State parks in Utah. Daily 5+ mile hikes which included more elevation change than distance hikes was typical of this park.



The above shot is at sunrise at Inspiration Point, Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah

Ponderosa Pine on Wall Street at Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah. This is part of the Queens Garden Trail beginning at Sunrise Point, descending 320 feet (98m), is considered the least difficult trail entering the canyon from the rim. Traveling this trail you will see many hoodoos, representative of garden like features.




Natural Bridge is one of several natural arches in Bryce Canyon and creates a beautiful scene at this viewpoint. This arch, sculpted from some of the reddest rock of the Claron Formation (rich in iron oxide minerals), poses a stark contrast to the dark green of the Ponderosa forest that peeks through the arch from the canyon below.

February 7, 2009

Great Falls National Park - Virginia

Slight snow and ice was still on the rocks at great falls when I got there very early on a cold morning well before the sun shown. Long exposure and early morning shots are great to go out and take. Many times you are the only one there and the serenity of the morning is all yours.

Wolves of Pennsylvania

February 1, 2009

I went to Pennsylvania in February and shot some wolves. It became obvious that you do not approach a wolf when they have food, are eating food or are chasing food. Here is a shot of a wolf indicating to others to stay away from his food:

Timber Wolves have patterns that many people can easily associate with a wolf. Again these are big animals that you want to keep at a good distance or atleast when they are well feed and not really interested in you.

Black wolves seem to be a mysterious kind of animal - the whole black color seems to change their personality or atleast the way you look at them.

More photos can be viewed at my site: http://www.imagesofwildlife.com/

National Christmas Tree on the Mall

December 29, 2008

We went down to the National Mall the evening of the 29th to see the National Christmas Tree, the Washington Monument and White House. The tree is located in front of the White House on the Ellipse. Since 1923, the United States has held a tradition of lighting a National Christmas Tree in Washington, DC. In 1978, a live 40-foot Colorado blue spruce was transplanted from York, Pennsylvania to its present site on the Ellipse, the grassy area south of the White House. In 1954, a "Pathway of Peace," 56 smaller, decorated trees representing all 50 states, five territories, and the District of Columbia were planted surrounding the National Christmas Tree. Each year sponsoring organizations from each state provide tree decorations that are encased in a protective plastic globe to shield it from the weather.

Christmas at Union Station

December 20, 2008

We went down into Washington to see what Christmas decorations were out. We went to Union Station which usually has some kind of decorations which includes a G-Guage train layout running inside on a 10x20 foot display.

In the main lobby was a 32-foot tall Christmas tree which had 8,000 cnadles and U.S. and Norwegian flags was presented on November 25th, 2008 by the Norwegian Embassy as gratitude for assistance received from the United States during and after World War II.