Awaiting Tulips

The warmer temperatures and long sunny days of the upcoming spring in the Pacific Northwest have re-awakened memories of exploring the colorful blossoms that dot the fertile Skagit Valley. I long to see the uniform rows of colorful tulips layered against the foothills of the North Cascades. Especially in the early morning hours when the low angle of light adds a beautiful rimlight to the kaleidoscopic blossoms. And if I am lucky, I would be greeted by a soft fog that descended to ground level the prior night, and adds an ethereal dimension to the scene. Here is to hoping that this happens once again.

Skagit Valley
WA USA

It's still winter

The PNW might finally be warming up for spring. Or not.

It has been an unusual winter so far: a warm dry January, followed by a normal February, and then a cold and wet 2 weeks in March. And then an abnormal heat wave. While the El Nino has had an impact on the winter weather of the PNW, the upcoming weekend is going to break all spring temperature records. Its not only the Seattlites who probably are going to be befuddled and get sunburnt by heading outdoors, even the spring blossoms are likely to get disoriented.

Regardless, hiking outdoors may not all be sunshine and rainbows. There is still snow on the higher elevations. And the higher temperatures may lead to higher avalanche risk as well. Watch out.

Mount Baker Snoqualmie National Forest
WA USA

Nestled in Nature

With a density of 181 / sq. km, Western Europe is quite densely populated (twice as high as California, and comparable to NY state). And yet, it is quite easy to find and meld into nature. Compact villages with a small footprint nestled in the countryside offered a more harmonious experience than the sprawling suburbs I was quite used to. And exploring the countryside on the narrow mountain roads made for a delightful few days.

Schwarzwald
Baden-Württemberg Germany

And vibrant cities

There is something unique about the urban life in many of the Western European cities. The activity and urban life I witnessed during my few brief jaunts to different cities left me longing for such a similar hub of activity. And I wondered what it was that created that feeling.

I realized that it really centered around exploring the old-towns in the country, replete with timber-frame housing dating back centuries, listening alternately to the harsh clanging of church bells and the melodious sounds of the choir, the vibrant street-music and colorful shops, and sipping on refreshing tipples in biergartens and wineries.

While not every place I visited had the entire gamut of experiences, most did. And Colmar, pictured here, came pretty close. And I was often torn between being a photographer documenting the scene, and enjoying the moment.

Colmar
Alsace, France

Of Distant Lands

The very first time I had seen photos of the Köln cathedral and the Hohenzollern bridge, I knew that I would want to see it in person. It took me a long time to get there, but the vision of the scene kept me focused.

This is true not only of photography, but other aspects of life as well. As long as the vision is concrete, and the path is clear, the objective can be achieved. The one thing to keep in mind is one has to enjoy the journey, or process, of getting there.

I truly enjoyed the contrast in culture and scenery I had experienced in my journey through Germany. For my young mind, it truly felt like I was in a land very distant from home.

Köln
North Rhine - Westphalia, Germany

Watered Down

I was quite surprised when I learnt that the state of Washington may have the largest number of waterfalls in the lower 48, including this icy falls near Snoqualmie Pass, but I reckon that the most beautiful falls in the Pacific Northwest reside in the state of Oregon. Between the multitude of falls that tumble down the walls of the Columbia Gorge, and those scattered across its state parks, Oregon has no dearth of falls. And thanks to the volcanic basalt rocks that frame many of the falls in this state, Oregon offers photographers a bounty of photogenic falls to capture.

Here are a couple from that state, which while similar to each other, are still unique in their own way.

Pacific Northwest

A Blissful State

I always build time into my hike for a moment of self reflections. Being so high in the mountains, where the air is thin, and views stretch for miles, offers one a wonderful opportunity for slowing down, and evaluating not only oneself, but the life around them. Whether it be spending the moment to take in the scenery and admire nature, or to introspect about your part in the wider community, the moment of zen is critical to appreciating the reason to get outdoors. Even if you are with friends, it pays to take time off to de-stress in nature

Here was a group doing this high in the Cascades.

North Cascades National Park
WA USA

Winterfell

A fresh bout of cold weather hit the Pacific Northwest after an unseasonably long warm winter. Temperatures dropped to freezing, and fresh snowfall added inches to the mountains. While I won't be able to enjoy the winter this year, I can always fall back on my archives of photos from past winters.

Here are a selected few from different Pacific Northwest locations. The reflections of trees in the first is my personal favorite of the three due to the abstract reflections on the wintry pond.

WA USA

Horizon Blues

The thick fog of the cold morning dispersed slowly into the valleys as the sun rose, highlighting the jagged ridges of innumerable ranges. The icy summit of Glacier peak stood alone in the distance, and yet so near I almost could touch it.

Scenes like these are the perks of being able to get here early in the morning. And they far outweigh the effort of waking up and driving in the lonely pitch black night. Here is to hoping I can make it out to these places once again this summer.

Mount Rainier National Park
WA USA