Yellowstone: Road Trip 2016

Moonrise over West Yellowstone

Yellowstone Lake

Old Faithful

Large Elk herd

This was the fourth time I had been to Yellowstone, each experience has been different. Strangely, in my mind, I did not have big expectations for Yellowstone. This time, my parents and I managed to make an entire day out of it. I know, a day is barely skimming the surface the place. The park brochure says that if you drive all of the roads in the park, you are basically seeing 1% of the place. Still, I was blown away by Yellowstone this time. The sheer size of the place and the variety of landscapes really hit me this time around. The last time I had seen Yellowstone canyon was a cold dreary overcast day when I was 19. This time, I thought it may have been one of the most stunning sights I have ever seen. Perhaps due to the bright sun, the colors were outstanding. My photos are saturated for the most part, but they simply don't do justice to actually being there...

Eastern Oregon and Idaho: Road Trip 2016

John Day Fossil Beds

Rt. 20

Strawberry Peak and view into John day Valley in Eastern Oregon

View north towards the huge mountains in Sun Valley Idaho

Lava flows in Craters of the Moon National Monument

As a native east coaster, the highways, land formations, and wide open expanses of the west never get old. Too much to see, so little time. Here are a few random (and out of order) photos from the road. How will progress continue to change the land and towns in coming years? Only time will tell...

Crater Lake: Road Trip 2016

Looking towards the PCT and the Three Sister's in Bend, Oregon.

Clarke's Nutcracker

Mazama Village

20 years ago, when I was 19 and a freshman in college, my roommate and I took a month to hitchhike and camp in Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming. While hitchhiking near Dinosaur National Park in Wyoming, we were picked up by a man in a van who was once a seasonal park ranger in Crater Lake. He said Crater Lake was the most beautiful place he had ever been to, or had seen in his life. I remember him describing the surreal quality and color of the lake itself.

Fast forward 14 years, the first time I laid eyes on Crater Lake was while hiking the PCT with my friend Indie in 2010. The words of the seasonal ranger were ringing in my ears as Indie and I approached the rim around 6:00pm, however my thoughts were consumed by food more than anything at the time. Perhaps due to feeling famished, the cold, or "wilderness fatigue," the lake didn't strike me the way I had hoped. Actually, I don't think we were there at the right time of day.

A couple weeks ago, my parents and I reached Crater Lake around 2:00 or so in the afternoon. The parking area was buzzing with tourists. Miraculously, we scored a perfect parking spot with the trailer. When we approached the rim and saw the lake, all we could say was "Wow!" The blue color of the lake was absolutely stunning. I don't think I've ever seen a blue like that before...