Days 17-23

We started this week on a 180. How the previous week or so had us melting in the desert, this week began with the cold and damp northwest. As this begins as a cooling reprieve, can soon turn into the other side of the same coin that contained Death Valley. Too much of one end of a spectrum is just that. Too much.

We spent a couple days between Oregon and Washington, stopping shortly in Lebanon, OR to see an old friend. RLTW. Up into the hills where we set up camp, we saw the usual wildlife, to include a black bear cub. Mama bear was nowhere in sight, though. Not the most settling feeling when you’re looking to spend the night.

Gifford Pinchot National Forest, Washington.

Bonneville Dam Fish Hatchery, OR.

Photographically, however, the northwest can sometimes add its own moodiness, like it occasionally does to the psyche of a resident who has overstayed their welcome. Parts of me misses this region, though. Mountains meeting ocean and rivers, friends.. But for now it’s just a passing through. And for me, for now, that’ll do just fine.

Paradise, MT.

Strawberry Reservoir, UT.

It’s become clear to me, though, that after the homestretch of our journey moves us back east, through scenic Idaho, and glorious Montana, that Colorado was last for a reason. This place feels like home.

Canyonlands National Park, UT.

The last near month on the road, has unfortunately caused me to go scenery blind. Exposing myself to some of the most incredible vistas continuously for this long has caused me to be unintentionally and involuntarily unappreciative of what nature has laid out before us. I’ve had to consciously put the car in park, get out, and stretch my legs, just to breathe in all that surrounds me. That was the point of this whole thing, anyway, right?

Even as I write this, my back faces the outside world. I guess that’s the irony of it.

Time to turn my chair around.

Days 12-16

From Stanley Cup Champions to having to jump the Jeep twice, the last few days have been a lot.

What we had thought at first was the triple digit Las Vegas heat, turned out to be a loose ground wire affecting our car battery. Twice, in the wilderness, we attempted to start off for the day from our camp site when the car wouldn’t start. Unbelievably, both times, we flagged down a passerby and it was no more an issue than it started.

Death Valley, CA.

After Vegas we started our journey north, by way of Death Valley. This place is as hot as it is below sea level and otherworldly looking, but beside that, just a seemingly long drive filled with more tourists. Going from 280 feet below sea level to above 4000 in a matter of about an hour or so is interesting though.

But that’s the kind of things you find yourself entertained with during hours of driving. Not everything on a road trip is as incredible as the thought of taking a “road trip!” makes it sound, but that’s the reality of it, and I’m okay with it. As a matter of fact, finding the slightly above ordinary in a sea of mundane is what makes the kind of photography I enjoy so challenging and thusly so rewarding.

Mammoth Lakes, CA.

Moving north from there, the climate began to come back to normal, starting with camp in Mammoth Lakes, California (where we honed our hatchet throwing skills), and then a little spot called Snag Lake, until finally driving our way out of the top of California and into Oregon, where I really started to notice my appreciation for cooler weather.

Snag Lake, CA.

The part of me that had romanticized about living anywhere south of the 38th parallel has died on this trip. Rest in peace..

P.S.- If you find yourself near Lake Tahoe, skip past all the touristy stuff and slide into Tahoe Mountain Brewing Company. Cheers.

Days 9-11

Hot, hot, hot..

As I’m writing this, in Las Vegas, NV, it’s in the triple digits. Anywhere below about 5500-6500 feet in the southwest is a scorcher.

Over the last few days, our location has been mostly Arizona. Tonto National Forest near Flagstaff, as well as one of my favorite National Parks, Grand Canyon. This one is an attraction for a reason. I’ve been there 4 or 5 times in my lifetime, and each visit is as impressive as the one before. The canyon is obviously big, but until you see it, you don’t realize how absolutely MASSIVE it is. We started at the south rim of the canyon Monday morning, and didn’t reach our camp site on the north rim until later that evening. It’s amazingly deep, too. I’ve always said, if I was a bird, this is where I’d want to live. Dive through the air all day and glide on the warm updrafts back to the start. Sit and soar, whatever.

South Rim. Grand Canyon, AZ.

Yesterday, we drove what had to be the longest continuously off-pavement route made in our lifetimes. A little over 120 miles. It wasn’t polite gravel either. Potholes and whoops (if you know anything about dirt bike racing, you’ll understand) littered a majority of the way. We were attempting to see a certain point of the Grand Canyon. It didn’t end up happening; we got there just before sundown and this area was day-use only. You win some, you lose some. While it was a disappointment that we didn’t make it in time, however, I managed to find some great photographic subject matter along the way. Not to mention one of the southwest’s signature sunrises.

Mt. Trumbull, AZ.

Arizona sunset.

I think one of my favorite aspects of the southwest, besides the sights, is that the desert portions are littered with sage. On a any night, above 6500 feet, a cool breeze will carry one of the most wonderfully fragrant naturally occurring aromas around. It’s something to experience, and one of the reasons I’ll always come back to the southwest.

Days 5-8

The past few days have been a trek through the last bit of New Mexico and the start of Arizona.

Cactus Forest, AZ.

As much as I love New Mexico, it was nice to begin a new state. Each one that we’ve traveled through seems to offer its own mix of geological originalities. One thing that we’ve experienced through Arizona, is its desert oases.

The first one was Seven Falls; this lies just outside of Tucson. This spot is a 4 mile hike each way (though with all the twists and turns, comes closer to between 11 and 12 miles total). At altitude and a temperature in the high 90s, this journey can catch you off guard if not properly outfitted with enough water to make it back. After finally arriving, the cool waters were a welcome relief to the baking sun.

The next day, we had a go at “The Crack”. A swimming and cliff jumping spot at Wet Beaver Creek about an hour drive southeast of Sedona. Another roughly 7-mile round trip (8 and change, realistically), this hike seemed a bit easier, and was a lot more rewarding with a couple hours jumping off their roughly 12 foot pitches (and nearly 40 feet if you’ve had a few and really feel like flying).

The next few days will include driving through Sedona, watching game 6 in Flagstaff, and camping on the north rim of the Grand Canyon. Can’t wait.

Day 3&4

Day 3:

The third day of the trip finds us in Santa Fe.

Earlier that morning we had to leave our mosquito infested haven in Texas at about 12:30 in the morning. Strong winds and an approaching storm gave us the motivation to continue our movement west a little ahead of schedule. It also helped that we had chosen to make camp in a flood basin. I hear those don’t mix well with heavy rain.

By daybreak we’re about an hour east of Santa Fe, fueling up and getting a change of clothes. The high elevation and dry climate here is a welcome change from the hot, humid one of the previous two states. Even on hot days, one can find cool relief in the shade. We arrive in Santa Fe at about 7 and after a bite at a local diner, we hit the Plaza. This early in the morning a lot of businesses are closed, but getting to witness and enjoy the architecture again is something I’ve missed, and something Jerry hasn’t seen before.

Santa Fe, NM.

That evening, after backtracking to Las Vegas, NM (about an hour back east from Santa Fe), we find a place to catch game 4 of the Stanley Cup Finals, and eventually our camp for the night. A spot off the road, in the mountains, at about 9300 feet. Glorious.

Day 4:

The fourth day is a slow one. Not bad slow, but a day we can finally drop the pace a bit. We spend it traveling through Carson National Forest. Named after yours truly. Not a big deal. The views are as to be expected and the pace is a welcome relief to the normal rush. At about 10 that morning, after driving up a local forest road, we find a spot to take a break, enjoy a little coffee and relax. For about 10 minutes.

Not long into our relax session, we find ourselves asked for assistance in a tow. Nothing too crazy, just a couple local kids putting their light pickup through its paces. After two tows from the mud’s clutches (they insisted on going through again), we all split ways.

That night, looking for camp and passing up on locations that cost, we find a clearing, and an incredible spot. All free of charge.

Day 4 camp.

Day 1&2

Day 1:

Jeremiah and I set off, making our way SE to Tulsa to view a favorite photographer’s opening day exhibit. We arrive in town just in time to see the exhibit before the museum closes, with just 30 minutes to spare. Solid. Except we aren’t at the right museum location. There’s another one downtown. 10 minutes if you hurry. 15 minutes later, after some missed turns and finding parking, we’re there. Time for a light jog through the exhibit. Get a move on. We make our way through, taking in the pieces. The work as a whole is great, but individually, leaves me wanting more.  But that’s the point of art and an outside, objective point of view. No use in liking something just for the sake of liking it. 

We leave the museum as it closes, making our way to check out our campsite. We find a suitable place for the night. The mosquitos aren’t that bad; it’ll do. 

Shot from O’Keene, OK.

Day 2:

The next morning we leave out, with an intent on making it to somewhere in the middle of north Texas. Shouldn’t be an issue, we’re only looking at 5 hours worth of travel time. It’s a sunny day out, and the landscape is aplenty with photographic subject matter. 

We push our way through Oklahoma, taking our time and pictures along the way. We get to outside Amarillo, and explore the Lake Meredith region for a place to stay for the night. Not long into our exploration around the lake do we drive up on its residents. Rattlesnakes. Even an albino one. Beautiful pale yellow that didn’t make the warm road his home for long. Smart. 

We finally find a spot to camp for the night, and soon find out that these mosquitoes will make up for the lack in the previous night’s assault. 

We. Get. Massacred.