Use the archive on the right to view older posts.

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Winter Northwest Trek - East

 We had planned to drive WA 20 along the Skagit River over the Cascades but it was closed due to avalanche danger. Instead we took US 2 over Stevens Pass where we spotted this unfortunate cabin.
We spent the night in Wenatchee, WA.
 The next morning visited A's RV for some propane service.
 We headed south and after a good breakfast in Quincy crossed the Columbia River on the Blue Bridge (Pioneer Memorial Bridge).
Continuing south into Oregon we turned onto the Blue Mountain Road looking for a location to set up camp.
 Dawn at our Blue Mountain Camp.
The next morning we encountered a rafter of turkeys.
 The deepest snow we saw while in Oregon.
 Continuing south on US 395 headed for Burns.
 In Burns, OR we turned east on Oregon 178 and after 65 miles drove south on the Alvord/Fields Road paralleling the Steen Mountains on our right.
 Sunset colors the sky over the Steens.
 Our camp near Alvord Hot Springs, Steen Mountains in background.
 Alvord Hot Springs. The soaking pools are about 100 yards away from the source.
 Driving south towards Fields, OR.
 Fields Station is an old stagecoach stop and the only sure place to purchase gasoline in the area. The station in Denio, Nevada is only 30+ miles away but has a sporadic history.
 We stopped by the two room school in Fields and the gracious teachers gave us a tour of their remote facility.
 We investigated some dirt roads while driving to Winnemucca, Nevada.
 Santa Rosa Mountains ahead as we approach the junction of Nevada 140 and US 95. We stopped to have a flat tire repaired in Winnemucca and then continued southwest to California.
 Our camp near the CA/NV line.
Looking back at the our route into California.
 We turn south on US 395.
 Pogonip Fog covering Mono Lake Valley.
 Hot Springs Road near Mammoth, CA.
 Hot Springs Road and McGee Mountain, on the left, the site of the first permanent rope tow in the Eastern Sierra.
Headed for home.

Monday, January 10, 2011

Winter Northwest Trek - West

We drove north to Oregon, encountering snow near Siskiyou Summit.
 Dawn at our Siskiyou camp. From here we drove north to Washington.
Cape Disappointment State Park
We set up camp at the same location as in July. A small herd of deer bedded down near our camp.
Dawn at Waikiki Beach.
Photographed near the beach.
A cold frozen walk to the restrooms in the morning.
 We moved on to Ocean Shores, Washington where it is legal to drive on the beach.
 Ate dinner at a local restaurant and checked into a motel.
 Later that evening we drove down to the beach and observed the New Year's fireworks.
 Driving along Ocean Shores beach New Year's Day. 1/1/11
 Plovers and surf.
 Olympic Mountains from Ocean Shores.
Further north on Ocean Shores beach.
 Merriman Falls near Quinault Lake
 The Hoh River, near where we camped in July.
Forks, Washington on a frosty January morning.
 Sunset at Crescent Lake.
Heart O' the Hills camp, Olympic NP.
The parking lot at Hurricane Ridge.
Jan, the Olympic Range and the Hurricane Ridge Visitors Lodge
Same location in July
 Frosted trees illuminated in the night.
 Early morning near Mount Baker.
While searching for a spot to park the night before I drove into a section of deep soft snow. We were so engaged winching the truck back onto a solid surface that I neglected to take a photo.
Mount Shuksan and FWC.
Mount Shuksan and FWC in July.
Jan at Picture Lake.
FWC at the entrance to the Artist's Point Road.
Jan exiting a snow cave.

Driving through a frosty forest.