Shi Shi Sunset | 2014 Highlights

The coast was clear. The coast was clear and the inland was cloudy. This was taken on Martin Luther King Day, my husband was thankfully willing to accompany me on this crazy adventure. I wanted to drive out to Shi Shi, hike the muddy and sandy trail, watch the winter sunset, and then walk back in the dark, catch the last ferry, and go to work the next day. He is so amazing to do these things with me.

I had never been to this beach before. We used the northern access through the Makah Reservation, and their trail was beautifully maintained right up to the Olympic National Park boundary, where there are rope lines and a steep descent down to the beach.

We started hiking back just after the sun dropped over the horizon, and made it to work on time the next day.

Staring into Time | 2014 Highlights

The world looks different above 8,000 feet.

As the Easton Route up Mount Baker climbs toward its 10,781' summit, subalpine meadows teeming with wildflowers give way to ancient glaciers and barren slopes.

Life that does climb above tree line faces new obstacles. Rather than thick forest or rocky meadows, it is met with wild weather, frigid snowy winters, and deep holes in the glaciers. This is one such hole. I was the middle member of our rope team, which allowed me some safety to stop on this snow bridge to stare into this crevasse. My husband Darin was in front and my father-in-law Phil in the back, with their ice axes ready to arrest in case the bridge gave.

I find crevasses fascinating. They display recent years, potentially centuries of snow and deposits that contributed to the formation a glacier. As I stare into them I feel like I'm staring back in time. In this image the layers of ice are visible, almost like a tree ring.

That is Colfax Peak in the distance, and up and to the right is Mount Baker's summit, where we arrived a few hours later.

MESA ARCH | 2014 HIGHLIGHTS

First in a series of my favorite images of 2014, this is a late April sunrise at Mesa Arch in Utah's Canyonlands National Park. 

This shot was particularly rewarding to me, not because it was a hard hike or took lots of effort or is a rare shot, as it's none of these things, but rewarding because of the unexpected obstacles I encountered after arriving.

It was a dramatic morning, and I'm talking not only about the view, gorgeous though it was. Mesa Arch is a scene that beautifully and practically composes itself, attracting photographers both professional and amateur from all over the world. The drama of the arch, the layers of canyon, and the distant La Sal Mountains make for a landscape that could be imagined right out of a science fiction novel. I couldn't pass up the chance to see it at sunrise while we were staying in Moab. On a Tuesday morning I expected, though I don't know how I got to this assumption, to find maybe a dozen other photographers at most. After driving for a few hours from our hotel, our sleepy selves instead found a large van in the parking lot with a photography company's name on it. I started to get worried I wouldn't find a spot to set up. After the short walk to the arch, we found the class of about twenty people, and a few other photographers as well. I found the best spot I could, certainly not the spot I would have chosen had I had the view to myself, but I thought it would suffice.

I set up my equipment, and was relatively happy with the spot. The arch, and the view behind the arch, is absolutely jaw dropping from many angles. The class was crowded around the "ideal" spot, but this was the best I was going to get, so I decided to compose the best I could and get ready for the sun. Sometimes a different angle of a subject is fresh and welcome.

Around fifteen minutes before sunrise, more people started to trickle in, then a few more, then droves more. There must have been a hundred by the time the sun came up. They began to crowd around me, even holding their iPads in front of my lens. Not only was I frustrated that I had set up here, arriving an hour beforehand, but I was holding on to my tripod for dear life.

Despite it all, the result was this beautiful scene, an experience I hadn't had before, and a challenge I haven't had since.

Bagley Lakes

The trail along the Bagley Lakes is easy, accessible, and perfect for families or those seeking a leisurely stroll by the side of a few alpine lovely lakes. Even in the wet weather, this short hike was a wonderful way to enjoy the rain.

Table Mountain in the distance

Fall blueberry

A hike at Heather Meadows paired perfectly with a girls weekend stay on Silver Lake. This year we decided on this short hike, basing our decision on the ominous rainclouds, Marie's hiking boots being on their last legs (after sixteen years finally losing their soles) and the new snow at Artist Point. There was evidence of recent snowfall along the side of the trail, but we didn't hit any patches on the trail itself. The trail was, however, very wet and muddy in many places. Fall hikes tend to be.

Marie's boots are sixteen years old, and just now falling apart.

Sucia Island Paddle

My husband and I had the opportunity to do a kayak trip with our friends Beau and Kelsey this summer to Sucia Island in the San Juans. Both Darin and Beau were raving about how incredible the island was, and when we pulled up and found an idyllic campsite, Kelsey and I agreed.

Our kayak on the beach

Sucia Island is only accessible by private boat, and is a favorite among Washington boaters. We put in on Orcas Island and made the crossing to Sucia, with all our camping gear stuffed into our two double kayaks. Another family on the island who came by sailboat commented on how surprisingly roomy the kayaks must be, to be able to hold all our gear.

River otter

The waters around Sucia Island are teeming with wildlife. We saw many birds, seals, even otters and porpoises. While circling the island, we came across a seal colony, being sure to leave them distance but still gawking at how adorable the harbor seals were basking on the rocks in the sunlight with their pups.

Harbor Seals

Moonrise

Our campsite on a bluff. We could not have asked for better weather.