tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-56307671882305980132024-03-27T16:53:03.597-07:00Linda's LensLinda W.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00805197763483105000noreply@blogger.comBlogger1009125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5630767188230598013.post-41289525150063962892024-03-26T21:44:00.000-07:002024-03-26T21:44:21.704-07:00Crystal MountainThe third stop on this winter's "IKON pass ski tour" was Crystal Mountain Resort, in the neighboring state of Washington. After flying to our destinations the previous two ski junkets, I was happy this trip didn't require air travel - the resort was a relatively short four-hour drive from home.Enjoying adult beverages at the barIt was round three of the "Adventures of Kim and Linda." Linda W.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00805197763483105000noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5630767188230598013.post-20764198285028761312024-03-19T20:57:00.000-07:002024-03-19T20:57:50.321-07:00Blue Heron DayWarning - if you're squeamish about photos of birds eating things or of snakes, you may want to skip over the first three images.A couple of weeks ago, I decided to visit a nearby nature preserve called Fernhill Wetlands. Although this place is a wastewater facility for a nearby town, it has set aside several acres of wetlands for natural treatment. These ponds and swamps attract lotsLinda W.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00805197763483105000noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5630767188230598013.post-26669376690194375742024-03-06T19:31:00.000-08:002024-03-06T19:31:13.099-08:00Powder and Transportation Woes in SLCTime to use those IKON passes again!After a great trip to Steamboat, Kim and I planned to revisit another of our favorite places to ski - Salt Lake City, Utah. We'd traveled there 11 years ago and had lots of fun at Alta and Solitude resorts. It was high time for a return trip. So we chose some days in early February and booked hotel and airline tickets. Our IKON base Linda W.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00805197763483105000noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5630767188230598013.post-19013081016620565822024-02-29T21:24:00.000-08:002024-02-29T21:24:44.298-08:00Amblin' on the Wilson River TrailSki trips and some truly bad weather in mid-January put hiking on hold for a couple of weeks. When the rain and wind finally let up, I was itching to get my outdoor fix. With sunshine finally in the forecast, I texted my buddy Catherine and invited her to join me.Beautiful, mossy coastal forestWith higher gas prices, these days I'm all about visiting trails closer to home. For aLinda W.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00805197763483105000noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5630767188230598013.post-19410905494513756332024-02-25T18:07:00.000-08:002024-02-25T18:21:18.528-08:00A Day on the Oregon CoastAh the power of the internet! One morning in late January, while perusing Facebook, I came upon a photo of a stunning ocean seastack and beach. The caption said it was called "Short Beach" and was someplace along the Oregon coast. A quick Google search located this place near Cape Meares. That wasn't too far from home. I immediately schemed a plan to go find it.Mama Linda W.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00805197763483105000noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5630767188230598013.post-12643053468354520582024-02-17T21:46:00.000-08:002024-02-17T21:46:33.290-08:00Adventures in Steamboat 2024I didn't intend to go over two weeks between posts. But I've been busy.....traveling to different ski areas. My buddy Kim and I bought IKON passes this year. For those not into skiing, this pass gives users 5 days each at over 40 different ski resorts throughout the US and even internationally. After finalizing our pass purchases, Kim and I immediately began scheming what Linda W.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00805197763483105000noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5630767188230598013.post-49196728775015622982024-01-31T20:38:00.000-08:002024-01-31T20:38:56.171-08:00Wet Day at Stub StewartWell, I've been trying to get out hiking and skiing this month, but the weather has not cooperated. Snowstorms, ice storms, high winds, and torrential rain (I've lost count of all the "atmospheric rivers" we've had this month!) have conspired to keep me home more days than I'd like.However, the day before all the weather madness began I did manage to sneak in another quick hike at the Linda W.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00805197763483105000noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5630767188230598013.post-89393925774331123092024-01-19T21:27:00.000-08:002024-01-19T21:27:15.095-08:00First Hike of 2024I have two different New Year's Day Traditions. I either go skiing or go to the beach. With this winter lacking in the snow department thus far, skiing was out of the picture. So this January 1st, I pointed my car westward towards the Oregon coast.Cannon Beach is the closest coastal town from my home. A tad over an hour's drive gets me to its lovely, rugged beaches. Linda W.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00805197763483105000noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5630767188230598013.post-29287551869056693052024-01-09T20:19:00.000-08:002024-01-09T20:19:07.531-08:00Montana Winter SunriseIn late December, my hubby and I journeyed to Montana to visit our son for Christmas. The western U.S. had been having an unseasonably mild and dry winter thus far, so there was no snow to be found. I didn't even get to go skiing, since the ski areas that were open didn't have much snow. However, the clear skies made for some fantastic sunrises and sunsets. Color Linda W.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00805197763483105000noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5630767188230598013.post-88444768078515652612024-01-06T20:55:00.000-08:002024-01-06T20:55:44.327-08:00Where the Owls Hang OutMy neighbor Cheri is an amazing wildlife photographer. A few years ago, she took me under her wing and taught me the basics of photographing birds. Since then I've followed Cheri to several of her favorite spots.Last winter, Cheri discovered an area north of Vancouver, Washington where some short-eared owls had taken up residence. Her Facebook feed became full of stunning imagesLinda W.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00805197763483105000noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5630767188230598013.post-46166091204295649882023-12-31T10:38:00.000-08:002024-01-02T21:45:03.349-08:002023 in Photos2023 has drawn to a close. And that means it's time for my most favorite blog post - Linda's year-end review in photos. Can you believe its a tradition I've continued for 13 consecutive years? Doesn't seem that long ago it was 2011 and I was penning my very first annual recap! This year I managed to stay healthy enough to enjoy lots of hiking and skiing. Linda W.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00805197763483105000noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5630767188230598013.post-1323698710972274142023-12-23T21:31:00.000-08:002023-12-23T21:31:57.268-08:00Autumn Wonderland at Mt. RainierIn trying to catch up from a very busy photographic autumn, I thought I'd share another of my more memorable experiences. This post features a late September visit I made to Mt. Rainier National Park.Mt. Rainier rises above the Wonderland TrailThis park is beautiful in August, when wildflowers carpet the mountain's upper slopes. I try to get to the mountain annually for the flower Linda W.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00805197763483105000noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5630767188230598013.post-28078542168986970232023-12-18T09:11:00.000-08:002023-12-18T09:11:06.684-08:00Western Larches of Mt. HoodIn my quest to photograph the fall colors of NW Oregon, there's one tree species that always rises to the top of the list. Described as a unique coniferous variety, in autumn its needles turn a lovely hue of yellow and drop to the forest floor. Come early October, people in the Pacific NW become obsessed with seeing the stunning golden larch.My friends are all smiles!This "larch Linda W.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00805197763483105000noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5630767188230598013.post-664045468620491312023-12-11T22:21:00.000-08:002023-12-11T22:21:03.332-08:00Amazing Autumn Day in the GorgeFall colors usually don't peak in the Columbia River Gorge until early November. As many years as I've lived in NW Oregon you think I'd remember this. But without fail, every autumn I cruise through the Gorge in late October, lamenting the lack of changing leaves. 2023 was no different - I thought for sure it was another dud year.Upper Multnomah Falls surrounded by yellowSo Linda W.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00805197763483105000noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5630767188230598013.post-27622082381946187922023-11-30T21:25:00.000-08:002023-12-01T08:00:49.196-08:00Fall Finery at Hoyt ArboretumFrom late October until mid-November the trees around Portland and NW Oregon usually erupt in their finest fall colors. This year was no exception. Although for awhile the lack of turning leaves led me to believe we'd have a dud year, the first of November everything unexpectantly burst into their best and brightest hues. I think we ended up having the most vibrant autumn I've Linda W.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00805197763483105000noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5630767188230598013.post-90134147799062509832023-11-26T12:02:00.000-08:002023-11-26T13:36:34.081-08:00Craters of the Moon NMAfter spending two great, but jam-packed days at Yellowstone National Park, it was time for my buddy Kim and I to head back home to Oregon. From town of West Yellowstone, Montana we had a full day of driving across Idaho to get to Boise, our destination for the night. But I'd planned one more stop as we passed through the state. Although Idaho didn't have any national parks, it Linda W.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00805197763483105000noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5630767188230598013.post-37100179986269529982023-11-21T19:54:00.000-08:002023-11-21T19:54:29.727-08:00Yellowstone NP - Waterfalls, Hot Springs, and Bears, Oh My!After spending the better part of two days geyser-viewing, my buddy Kim and I were ready to add some variety to our Yellowstone adventure. So on our second afternoon in the park, we left the Old Faithful area to check out Mammoth Hot Springs. Well, I should say we tried to leave the Old Faithful area. I didn't even get a chance to exit the on-ramp to the main park road whenLinda W.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00805197763483105000noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5630767188230598013.post-44046847848827009052023-11-13T21:17:00.000-08:002023-11-13T21:17:01.942-08:00Yellowstone NP - Upper Geyser BasinOne goes to Yellowstone National Park to see many things - wildlife, unique landscapes, beautiful scenery. But most of all people visit for the geysers. Yellowstone is home to more than 10,000 hydrothermal features, 500 of which are geysers. That's about half of the world's geysers - the largest concentration of active geysers on earth.So yes, you're going to see more geysers inLinda W.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00805197763483105000noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5630767188230598013.post-58633094324198457452023-11-03T22:13:00.000-07:002023-11-03T22:13:59.992-07:00Yellowstone NP - Norris Geyser Basin and Old FaithfulAre you ready for some geyser photos? Like a whole bunch? I hope so, 'cause this post is full of them!Norris Geyser BasinContinuing from where I left off in my last post, after spending the morning at Yellowstone NP's Mud Volcano and then the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, my friend Kim and I headed to Canyon Village to find lunch. After refueling and buying some souvenirs Linda W.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00805197763483105000noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5630767188230598013.post-85787467770609745902023-10-27T21:28:00.000-07:002023-10-27T21:28:27.336-07:00Yellowstone National Park - Waterfalls and Mud VolcanosAfter showing my good friend Kim all around the Black Hills area, it was time to head home. But instead of traveling directly back to Oregon, I planned a detour to Yellowstone National Park. Kim had never been, and the last time I'd visited was back in the 90s. We made it!Reaching Yellowstone NP required a drive across the entire state of Wyoming. From the Black HillsLinda W.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00805197763483105000noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5630767188230598013.post-36358558415998375722023-10-20T21:18:00.000-07:002023-10-20T21:18:10.248-07:00Kim Visits South Dakota (Part 2)I didn't intend to go so long between posts. But ironically, another trip to visit family in South Dakota has kept me busy for the past (almost) two weeks. So...it's time to play catch up once again! And continue the recap from my May/June visit to South Dakota.See Mt. Rushmore through the tunnel?From the last post (if you all still remember), after showing my friend Kim Linda W.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00805197763483105000noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5630767188230598013.post-57024241016553455172023-10-04T19:41:00.001-07:002023-10-04T19:41:36.395-07:00Kim Visits South Dakota (Part 1)(These next few posts will recap a trip from last May-June when I took my buddy Kim with me to visit family in South Dakota.)Long time readers of my blog know I grew up in the Black Hills of South Dakota, and travel here annually to see family. My good friend Kim had never visited the Black Hills and she'd always wanted to see Mt. Rushmore. So when I asked Kim if she wanted to join meLinda W.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00805197763483105000noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5630767188230598013.post-44433311453892426752023-09-27T21:05:00.000-07:002023-09-27T21:05:33.198-07:00Close Encounters of the Kim and Linda Kind After journeying together to Ireland last April, Kim and I realized we made good travel buddies. So when planning my summer family visit to South Dakota, I asked her if she'd like to tag along. Kim had never been to many of the states in the midwest, and she'd always wanted to see Mt. Rushmore, so was all for it. To sweeten the deal, I proposed a detour to Yellowstone Linda W.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00805197763483105000noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5630767188230598013.post-61567507689896057112023-09-24T13:52:00.000-07:002023-09-24T13:52:22.340-07:00Summer ButterfliesBesides brightly colored wildflowers, the other thing I love about summer hikes is the abundance of butterflies. These critters love flowers, and when the temps start to rise you'll always see them flitting amongst the blooms.I already posted a bunch of butterfly pics in my Silver Star Mountain post but had a little collection of images from other various places I've hiked this summer.Linda W.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00805197763483105000noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5630767188230598013.post-26270634328095976992023-09-19T23:01:00.001-07:002023-09-20T09:02:04.700-07:00Holiday Weekend in Olympic National ParkI'm a self-professed "National Park junkie." Any opportunity to visit someplace holding this lofty designation, and I'm there! So last December, when my hubby suggested we camp at Olympic National Park for 4th of July weekend, I immediately got online and made reservations at Kalaloch Campground.I've visited Olympic NP twice before, once in 2010 and again in 2014. Our first Linda W.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00805197763483105000noreply@blogger.com9