The Mystery of the Photographer Statue

Interstate 90 is our main route whenever we take a trip back east.  Between travels to Montana and South Dakota, we've made many trips on this road since moving to Oregon 20+ years ago.  There is a very scenic stretch of I-90 that parallels Lake Coeur d'Alene in northern Idaho.  At the east end of the lake, there's a photographer statue placed on a scenic overlook.  This statue is clearly visible from I-90.

Every time we pass by the statue, I always wonder why it's there.  Is it to commemorate a famous photographer?  Did something historic happen here?  Is it placed in a very special scenic location?  There are no freeway exits immediately adjacent to this location - how does one get to the statue?  (I've seen people standing by this statue, so I know it is accessible.)

The mystery man

I've often remarked to Roger that I'd like to visit the statue someday.  Being interested in photography, I think it would be cool to have my photo taken next to it.  But it seems like every time we've driven by, we're in a hurry to make it to our destination.  Access from I-90 is not readily apparent, and we haven't had time to search for the route. So the photographer statue remained a mystery, my questions unanswered.

View of Lake Coeur d'Alene from the statue.

However, last February I found myself on I-90, driving back home from Roger's mom's funeral.  Having dropped Cody off in Missoula, it was just myself and the dog in the car.  Roger was still in Yankton, so there was no reason for me to hurry home.  As I approached Lake Coeur d'Alene, I thought to myself  "I've got time - I'm going to try and find the photographer."

So I took the exit before the statue.  That road took me away from the lake.  So I hopped back on I-90, and tried the exit after the photographer.  I wound around a road that took me back and forth across and under the freeway.  I ended up at a turnaround that dead-ended at a boat ramp.  Thinking this couldn't be it, I turned around and drove up another road that took me high above I-90 through a residential area.  After wasting about half an hour driving around, I was ready to give up and get back on the road.  But I remembered the road to the boat ramp seemed to take me close to where I thought the statue should be.  I decided to try that road one more time.

Say cheese!

I pulled into the boat ramp parking area.  I started looking around.  A paved bike path paralleled the road and continued beyond the parking lot.  I looked up the bike path and, lo and behold, there was my statue!

I put Bear on a leash, grabbed my camera, and went to check it out.  The statue was situated in an area that afforded nice views of the lake.  But there was nothing by the statue that gave any clue as to why it was there, or who it was supposed to commemorate.  The statue itself was weather-worn and dirty.  Kind of a disappointment!

Mr. Golden Guy and his wonderful view

Since I couldn't get Bear to work my camera (he's a smart dog, but not that smart!) I didn't get any photos of myself with the golden photographer.  But now that I know how to get to this place, I'll have to make Roger stop next time we're in the neighborhood.  Then I'll get my photo. 

At least I've solved part of the mystery of the photographer statue of Lake Coeur d'Alene!

Conquering The Cone

Mt. Bachelor ski area is located on a dormant volcano.  To the northwest side of the mountain is a large cinder cone, formed during a time when the mountain was more active.  This cone is not served by any lifts, but people like to hike "The Cone" to get fresh tracks.

The Cone rises up from the ski area below.

On powder days, I've always looked longinly at The Cone, wanting to hike up there any make some tracks of my own.  But I've never convinced anyone to climb up there with me.  Well - that is - until I made a spring break trip to Bend late last March. 

People climbing up the side of "The Cone."

The snow gods had  been good to us the night before, and graced Mt. Bachelor with six inches of fresh, fluffy powder.  My brother Dale and I had made a couple of runs, and delighted in the snowy goodness.  That's when I looked up at The Cone and mentioned to Dale that today would be a great day to ski its slopes.  Dale took a little bit of convincing, but finally decided he would join his crazy sister in her quest to conquer The Cone.

To access The Cone, you must ski down an adjacent ski run as fast as you can to try and get as much distance up the side of The Cone's slopes as possible.  When you run out of momentum, it's time to take the skis off and hike the rest of the way up.  Although it always looked daunting, I found the hike to take no more than 15 minutes.  Yes, it was a steep and strenuous climb, but not as bad as I thought I'd be.

Top of The Cone! Yahoo!

Once on top we took some time to admire the views.  On that day, I did not have my camera with me (can you believe it??) so Dale snapped a photo of me with his camera phone.  Proof of my historic climb!

Then we clicked into our skis, chose our lines, and had our best runs of the day down the knee-deep powder that graced the slopes of The Cone.  There was much whooping and woo-hooing as we carved through the fluffy stuff.  When we reached the treeline, we stopped to admire our tracks.

I was ready to climb up and do it again, but Dale was tuckered out.  Once was enough for him.  So we skiied to the lift, and went to check out the Northwest Express side of the mountain.

So now I'm an official "Cone-Head."  Next powder day I find myself at Bachelor, you can bet I'll be up there!

Another Great Day on Mt. Hood!

This year, January and February were a little bit light in the snowfall department up on Mt. Hood.  However, the side benefit of no snowstorms is that we got lots of sunny days.  (Spring skiing in the winter---gotta love it!)  And if you can't have fresh powder, sunshine is the next best thing! 

This blog post features photos from a really beautiful day in mid-February at Mt. Hood Meadows.

Queen of the mountain!

My ski-buddy Kim strikes a studly skier pose.

A bad day skiing is always better than a good day working!

Great views of Mt. Jefferson and low clouds over the Cascades from the top lift at Meadows.

Uh-oh!  Wipeout!!

Years ago, Kim gave me the nickname "Biff."  Now you know why!

I think this is a great shot of Kim. 

The remnants of an overnight ice storm can be seen on the trees.  I thought these ice formations were especially cool.  You can tell which way the wind was blowing.

The trees seem bent over from their weight of ice.

Kim's daughter joined us in the afternoon.  She's learning to snowboard, and is picking it up quickly.

Kim and her daughter a-comin' down the mountain.

There they go!

This blog post would not be complete without one more great shot of my favorite mountain.  Hood looks really good when it's covered in snow.   Sunshine, good turns, and great views.  Another perfect day on the mountain!

What a Great Photo of my Kids!

Here's a photo of my kids that I took back in February at Roger's mom's funeral.  Are these a couple of good-looking kids or what?  I think this is a great picture.

And they even gave me their best smiles (Denise says from all the photos I've taken of her, she's perfected her cheezy smile!)

What can I say?  I'm a proud mom.

Happy Birthday Denise!

In early March, my daughter Denise turned 20.  I can't believe my youngest child (my baby!) is no longer a teenager.  Denise came home from college for her birthday weekend.  So Roger and I got to spoil Denise on her B-day.

Denise got a cheesecake for her birthday cake.  What could be better?

Lighting twenty candles!

The candles are out - it's time to sample the cake!

Flowers for the birthday girl!

This is probably the last birthday we'll get to celebrate with Denise.  She's already informed us that she will not be celebrating next year's B-day with us!  (Gee, I wonder why??)

Happy Birthday Denise!  Your Dad and I are proud of the wonderful young lady you've become.

Spring Has Sprung!

Due to the mild winter we experienced this year, the trees started blooming in late February.  By mid-March the daffodils were out in full force.  Spring is here!

A group of daffodils in my front yard.

More lovely flowers.

Our pear tree is blooming nicely.  After several dreary winter months, it is great to see some color.

Bear wants me to put down the camera and play frisbee.

"C'mon, I'm too cute to resist!"

A Memorial to Delores

Roger's mom, Delores passed away suddenly two weeks ago.  It has been a great sadness to all who knew and loved her.  This is a woman who raised eight kids, half of them as a single parent, and worked many physically exhausting jobs in order to support her family.  She planted a large garden every year, and worked long hours in the kitchen canning and freezing the garden's bounty so her family would have food to eat.  There was nothing she couldn't do.

All were welcome in her kitchen.  Throughout the years she happily accepted her children's spouses, girlfriends, boyfriends, grandchildren, and their friends that came to visit.  She had many friends in her hometown and they knew they could stop by at any time for some food, advice, or a quick card game.

Delores loved nothing more than having her children and grandchildren visit.

Delores loved her children so much she would give the shirt off her back to help them.

Delores also loved to play cards.  Every visit to her home always included a rousing game of pinnochle or golf.  I think she's up in heaven right now, whuppin' God in a card game!

Delores was a wonderful, generous mother to all.  I will miss her greatly.