Smith Rock on a hot day

photos of Crater Lake

From one of the many photographic vantage points near the Rim Visitor Center.



Lingering snow + pesky mosquitoes = Picnic Hell.



A dead tree helpfully points to a cinder cone called Wizard Island.



Afternoon rain.



Hypnotic and meditative and multifaceted, there is no blue quite like the blue of Crater Lake.

Lava Butte

Lava Butte, part of the Newberry National Volcanic Monument, is accessible only with a special half-hour parking permit attained at the Lava Lands Visitor Center registration booth, where one is adjured to watch the 15-minute introductory video before departing for the butte. (Did you know that geology is an ongoing process? Crazy!)



The view from the top, looking down into the landscaping rock collection bowl.



Looking back from the trail, wistfully.



A foolish, foolish tree.

Fourth at the Fort

I spent this year's Fourth of July with some of my favorite people at one of my favorite places, Oregon's Fort Rock. From our campsite at La Pine State Park, in two cars, eight family members rode roughly fifty miles in late morning sunshine, ready for a hike in the heat at the geological oddity that rises out of the desert like a... fort. As you can see.



While I was scouting a route up the right side--and not finding one amenable to the less daring / foolish members of the group--others hiked around the base.



A pocket gopher makes a rare appearance atop the formation.



The lizard asked if I was going to blog the photo, and I said not if he didn't want to, and he shrugged and said no biggie.



Triumph.



If you're into the easy way, when you start up the trail to the interior, head left toward the path you can see snaking up the side. If you're into the hard way, good on you. You're gonna love Fort Rock.

back to the blog we go

I just spent five days camping in Oregon, casting aside the blog and email and Twitter, embracing nature and family and hours of driving. Beside photos, which will arrive soon, I have memories, a farmer's tan, and assorted mosquito bites.

I came back to civilization to learn that the Mariners traded (trod?) water, Sarah Palin resigned (?!), and Steve McNair and Karl Malden passed on. And that, mostly, the world without me is still the world.

all quiet on the blogging front

Shh. Taking a little break. Back soon.

(Not sure what to do? Look right. Archives. Links. So much time to waste, and so many ways to waste it.)