Hunt for the Auto

 The car.....the car.....where, oh where was that car?

Gorgeous flower fields

I'd rambled around the upper bluffs of the Dalles Mountain Ranch, and explored the old homestead with it's preserved barns and ancient farming equipment.  (If you missed that post read all about it here.)  But I'd still yet to find the ancient auto.

Peek a boo barn

Many online descriptions of the Dalles Mountain Ranch mentioned a decaying automobile long ago abandoned in a field of flowers.  It's rusting hulk in such a beautiful setting made for some scenic photos - a favorite subject of many area photographers.  After viewing several people's images online, I knew I had to find that car.

Yellow slopes

However, easier said than done.  The people who posted online reports didn't offer many concrete clues as to the car's location.  And the Dalles Mountain ranch covers a huge area.  About all I came up with was that it was located "near the buildings," and from glimpsing photographs, I determined it was close to a fence.  But there were a lot of fences out here.  Would I be searching for a needle in the haystack?

Balsamroot bloom

But I had to give it a shot, and crossed the main road opposite the old homestead and plunged into more flower-filled fields.  The amount of bloom was staggering.  Bright balsamroot flowers colored the rolling hills yellow, stretching for miles in all directions.  It was as if someone had taken a huge paintbrush to the fields.

Another scenic fence

The fields were lined with an incredible amount of fencing.  I know this area used to be a cattle ranch, and I'm sure the fences were left over from those days.  However, I didn't mind.  The old, wooden posts made fantastic subjects.

One more scenic fence

I followed well-worn user paths through the flower fields.  Although no car came into sight, I thoroughly enjoyed myself taking photos of the flowers and fences.  Along with the balsamroot, bright purple lupine added to the palette.  The hills, dressed in their neon spring green, ambled down as far as the eye could see, all the way to the Columbia River.

Lots of purple lupine here

After spending quite a bit of time in my photo endeavors, I looked across a draw to another large field.  I spotted a small group of people walking along a fenceline.  Watching the group for several minutes, they seemed to linger in one particular spot.  Could that be the place?

Found it!

I had to check it out.  Returning to my car, I drove closer to this field.  After squeezing through a gate, I trekked up a small hill.  The concentration of balsamroot and lupine was quite thick, overgrowing a very faint path through the flowers.  And then, topping the ridge, I looked down into another fenced field......and there was the car!

This car has seen better days

It was as scenic as the internet pictures depicted.  The car's orange, rusty hulk lay partially buried in a huge field of balsamroot.  The car, which I think was an old Studebaker, looked as though it had been there for some time.  All it's windows were broken out, the interior gutted, and the steel body slowly deteriorating.

Broken window

But, oh the photo ops!

Vivid purple lupine flowers

I spent quite awhile photographing the prize I'd sleuthed to find.  Not only this abandoned auto, but the flowers were especially thick and vibrant here.  Truly a magical place!
 

Yellow was everywhere

My trip to the Dalles Mountain Ranch was a resounding success.  Not only did I hit the bloom at prime time, I found a wealth of history in an old homestead, and successfully located the rusty car, a favorite subject of photographers throughout the PNW.

Lovely final resting place

There's still a few more photos to share from the day's trip.  After leaving the Dalles Mountain Ranch, I checked out some petroglyphs at nearby Horsethief Butte State Park, and then crossed to the Oregon side of the Gorge to take in more amazing sights on the Mosier Plateau.  Stay tuned!


Due to the large amount of fence shots in this post, I just have to share with Good Fences.

The Dalles Mountain Ranch

My travels in the Columbia River Gorge have taken me to many places.  I've hiked nearly all the trails on both sides of the Gorge.  Visited many a historic site, and even camped in a couple of the campgrounds.  But I'd yet to visit the Dalles Mountain Ranch.

That is, until now.

Early morning Gorge scene

Recently I'd read many great reports about this scenic, rolling grassland on the Gorge's eastern fringe.  Word was that spring wildflowers bloomed in great abundance on its slopes.  A local hiking website posted some great photographs of the area.  That was all the encouragement I needed.

The flowers are out!

The ranch was a bit of a drive from Portland.  Located on the Washington side of the Gorge, across from The Dalles, it's a good two-hour trip.  Wanting to catch the morning light, I left my home at o-dark-thirty.  But my early start was rewarded.  Pulling onto the ranch's access road, I was greeted with lovely, warm sunshine.

Yellow balsamroot carpets the hillside

The road to the ranch itself is not signed, so it took a few wrong turns before reaching my destination.  But the countryside was so open and lovely, I really didn't mind.

Balsamroot blooms

My first stop was the end of a rough, gravel road midway up the riverside bluffs.  From the parking area, wide grassland spread out before me.   Far below was the Columbia River.  To the west, a white topped Mt. Hood anchored the horizon.

Mt. Hood peeks over the horizon

Huge patches of yellow stood out amongst the green spring grass.  These were the balsamroot blossoms.  With cheerful yellow petals that resemble a sunflower, these flora are a common springtime sight in the eastern Gorge.

Spring has turned these hills green (and yellow)

The balsamroot bloom in such large numbers, they carpet the adjacent hillsides.  These huge spring floral displays are what the Dalles Mountain Ranch is famous for.

A blue sky day

Although the western end of the Columbia River Gorge is thickly forested with Douglas Fir, ferns, and moss, the Gorge's eastern end is barren and dry.  Located in the rainshadow of the Cascade Mountains, it's always amazing to me the stark differences in vegetation one encounters during the two-hour trip from Portland east.

Cool old fences were everywhere

Not only balsamroot, but bright purple stalks of lupine poked up and mixed with the yellow riot of flowers.  Although the balsamroot were about a week past their prime, the lupine were just reaching peak bloom.

The lupine was also blooming

The Dalles Mountain Ranch is located on the site of an 1869 homestead, the first in this county.  Another homestead, owned by the Crawford family, was settled in 1878.  The Crawford's ranched and farmed in the area, even operating a dairy for a short time.  Over the next century, the Crawford homestead and the adjacent hills continued as a working cattle ranch, until the Bleakney family deeded the property to the state of Washington in 1993.

View of the ranch from above

Part of this 9,000 acre property was set aside for protection of native plants.  Cattle-free for nearly 20 years, this land has once again reverted to it's natural condition.  It now boasts numerous native plants and shrubs, as well as populations of mule deer and wild turkeys.

Interesting wagon from a bygone era

Not only huge vistas of grassland flower gardens, the Dalles Mountain Ranch has also preserved many of the old ranch buildings.  Heading back down the gravel road, my next stop was a visit to old homestead.

Old iron wheels

A very interesting place indeed!  Not only did I find the old barns and farmhouse, in the nearby field was an extensive collection of rusty vintage farm equipment.

Flowers and old farming equipment

I had a blast walking amongst the wagons, threshers, plows, and other unidentifiable implements from a bygone era.  Bright wildflowers bloomed in large numbers between the displays, making great backdrops.

Small cemetery

Amongst the farm equipment, I discovered a tiny pioneer cemetery.  One of the two headstones was inscribed with a date of 1890.  So very interesting to discover a small bit of local history.  One can only imagine how difficult life must have been in this remote, harsh location.

Gravestone inscription

This area was finally declared an official state park in 2003, when it combined with nearby Horsethief Butte State Park.  Recently, the entire area has been renamed the Columbia Hills State Park, whose boundaries now stretch from Columbia River's banks to the top of Stacker Butte (which rises to an elevation of 3,200 feet).

Weathered ranch buildings

Because it's such a new park, there are no visitor facilities.  People are allowed the walk amongst the ranch buildings, but cannot go inside.  However I did observe construction nearby of what appeared to be a formal parking lot and restroom building.  So changes are in the works.  Which is a good thing, for this area is fast becoming a popular early spring destination.

Fence shadows

I wandered around the farm buildings, shooting whatever caught my eye.  Although I normally like to shoot landscapes, the weathered buildings and fences made great photo subjects.

Green hills towards the river

Across the road, beyond a shabby corral, I saw another rolling hillside carpeted with more yellow blossoms.  From reading a local hiking website's trip reports, I knew there was an old rusted car, left to decay, somewhere in those flower fields.

Fence posts make good photo subjects

So.....I set out across the grassy plains in search of this ancient auto.  Would I be successful in my quest?  Well, you'll have to come back and read my next post to find out!

(I promise there will be more fantastic wildflower shots.)


Sharing with:  Our World Tuesday.

Extremes of Spring Skiing

You thought skiing was over?

Oh no - not by a long shot.  There's plenty of snow on our mountains. 

Sunshine on the mountain!

Yes, although flowers and trees are blooming throughout the Willamette Valley, up in the Cascades it's still very much winter.  Here in the PNW, elevation determines whether precip falls as rain or snow.  The higher in elevation you climb, the more likely you'll see the white stuff.  Portland is near sea level, and influenced by the Pacific Ocean, has mild winters.  But Mt. Hood measures over 11,000 feet tall, and boasts year-round glaciers.   We tend to get our largest snowfalls in February and March.  And due to Oregon's cold, wet spring, snow tends to stick around - well into the summer.

So.....spring skiing is fabulous!

Katie models her sexy new boots

One sunny Friday in late April, my friend Katie and I decided to partake in some bluebird turns.  Katie had purchased some new ski boots and was dying to break them in.

Twin boots

Katie has good taste in ski boots, doesn't she?

Fog bank down below

The day highlighted everything I love about spring skiing.  The skies were sunny and blue, the air was warm, the snow soft as velvet.  So nice to be on the mountain, enjoying some turns, without freezing our butts off.

Happy to be skiin' in the sun

And the view couldn't be beat!

I never tire of this view

I saw something that day which was a first.  Katie and I were standing near the chairlift when we heard a bunch of loud laughter.  I turned around just in time to see a guy riding the lift drop his drawers, and moon the chair in front on him.  (Guess that's what happens on a warm spring day!)  I'm amazed the guy didn't fall off.

Interesting clouds

He's lucky I was too far away to get a good photo.  Had we been closer, I joked to Katie I would've taken copious shots and posted his naked behind all over Facebook (Do you recognize this crack?  Hee, hee!)

Another trip to the top

Another bonus of warm spring ski days......chairlift shadow selfies (but no mooning for us!)

Admiring my shadow from the lift

Yep, it was a lovely warm day for spring skiing.  Funny thing was, the weather did a complete 180 degree turn the following weekend.

Ski friends selfie

Mt. Hood had herself a raging spring blizzard!  Over a foot of snow dropped on the slopes.  And, yes, this was the last Sunday of April.  Crazy!

Yes - this is the end of April!

But boy, oh boy were conditions terrific.  It was the best snow of the entire season.  My friend Kim joined me for the day, and we hit all the steep runs.  I had a blast bombing through the pow.  I even got Kim to venture into the trees.

Kim showing her powder smile

Sadly, tree skiing was my undoing.  While enjoying a blissful run, zipping through a glade, I collided head-on with another skier (no one's fault - we were simply both in the wrong place at the wrong time).  Luckily, he wasn't injured, and was nice enough to summon the ski patrol.  I had the wind knocked out of me, and was afraid I'd broken something.  Although the (cute!) ski patrol guy who came to my aid gave me the "all clear," my chest hurt throughout the following week.  When I finally visited the doc, his diagnosis was a broken rib.

Happiness is.....a late April powder day

Sooo..... I'm on injured reserve for the next 4-6 weeks.  My ski season is over.  I'm sad it had to end this way.  Although I won't be able to ski, run, or work out, I can still walk, and I'm pretty sure I'll be able to hike (although probably with a fanny pack instead of a backpack).  And, no worries, I can still hold a camera!

At least ski season 2014 finished with an amazing powder day.  Guess you can't ask for anything more.


Sharing with:  Weekly Top Shot.

More Backyard Critters

Besides pesky squirrels, we've had other interesting critters visit our backyard this spring.  My hubby keeps a small koi pond, and every year a duck couple takes up residence for a few weeks.

Our ducky couple is back!

It probably helps that the hubby leaves out a small bit of grain to tempt our ducky friends.  These ducks are so used to Roger that they waddle up to the back door and start loudly quacking if the food supply runs dry.  When dear hubby emerges to fill the feeder, these ducks don't go far.  They follow close behind, and once the grain has been poured, eagerly rush in.

Bird feeder visitors

Roger also keeps a few bird feeders in the backyard.  They attract a wide variety of interesting birds.

Pretty bird

The feeder closest to our back window is the best one to watch.  The other day, this lovely colorful bird and his mate decided to stick around.

The female duck wants more food!

Of course, the female part of our ducky duo took notice.  ("Why are those birds getting all the good stuff?")

Another colorful visitor

The birds looked back as if to say: "Nyah, nyah.....you can't have any!"

Our favorite ducks

The ducks sometimes wander underneath our feeders hoping to scoop up any fallen seeds.

Whatcha lookin' at?

This little bird seems to say "Get away ducks - these feeders are OURS!"

Never a dull moment in our backyard!  :)


Sharing with:  Saturday's Critters and Our World Tuesday.