Big Valley, Big Clouds

 The Grande Ronde Valley seems even larger when covered in snow; the cloud formations on a snowy day in the southern end of the valley were amazing. 

Winter ...maybe the only one this year

 Once I decided to continue my photo blog, I believed I should post at least once a month.  I was counting on some great winter images, but winter didn't really arrive---maybe February will be the month. 

The nearby Blue Mountains have between 5-6 feet of snow, and the scenes are beautiful. 

One Little Creek with Many Faces

 Exactly one mile from my back door is the bridge that crosses Clark's Creek.  The little creek has originated in the mountains some miles to the southeast and it's moving just about 1/4 of a mile west to the Grande Ronde River.  I can't count the number of times I have stood on the bridge to take a photograph, in every season.  The creek has never run dry, which is unusual in our dry country, especially at the end of summer.  It might freeze over, but it doesn't dry up. These are my favorite images of Clark's Creek. 

Hoar Frost Beauty

 We aren't really having winter...although we had a brief appearance a couple of weeks ago.  It's just cold now.  And in the Wallowa Canyon last week, each shaded corner for more than 10 miles was covered in hoar frost.  It was strange to drive in sunshine and then turn a corner into a  silvery-white Jack Frost landscape.  

Winter in Wallowa County

 I love photographing winter, but we haven't really had any yet where I live.  The neighboring county of Wallowa, however, had some serious snow a couple of weeks ago.  (Only recently, high winds and rain took most of the snow.)  

Beginning the descent into the Minam/Wallowa Canyon for 20 miles. 

From the Middle Valley of the Wallowa, impressive cloud formations are visible over the Wallowas.

This is a two-part photo:  When I photographed this, I wanted to capture the snow blowing at the top. 

A telephoto lens captures that blowing snow. 

This is a different view of the Wallowa Mountains, so impressive when it snows. 

The "foot" of Wallowa Lake 

 

This view is from the foot of the lake looking to the west. 

The drive to the head of the lake took us through dreamy areas of snow blowing from trees. 

One of the picnic areas of Wallowa Lake State Park, located at the south end of Wallowa Lake. 

Fall in the Columbia Gorge

Fall came and went very quickly in this corner of Oregon.  Just when the trees were developing color, the cold nights arrived and bi-colored leaves froze on the trees.  The fall color was gone.   Not so in the western part of the state and in the Columbia Gorge.  

The sun was to our backs as we headed west and into the Columbia River Gorge.

Generally, Mount Hood would be visible in the distance at this point, but heavy clouds hung low. 

Across the Columbia River on the Washington side, brilliant rust-colored shrubbery dotted the bare landscape.   The geology of the gorge is evident. 

The rain began near the west end of the Gorge and continued on west to Hillsboro. This is Highway 26.

Four days later, the rain had stopped, so colorful fall foliage was on display at Multnomah Falls. Scars from the Eagle Creek Fire are still evident. 

The Historic Columbia River Highway can be accessed  at Mosier, providing a beautiful drive over the mountain to The Dalles.  The curves are frequent and the original guard rails are striking against the fall colors. 

Orchards are plentiful in the Gorge and above it, and this pear orchard is one.

In spring and summer, the grass and shrubbery are a beautiful green. 

Instead of showing the Rowena Crest "loop" view, I chose this view of the road leading down from Rowena Crest towards The Dalles.