Landscapes

The Mightly Dolomiti

It was the last leg on the first day of hiking in the Dolomiti. A steep hill loomed in front, an ascent that seemed to get longer the more closer I got. The evening sun was shining brightly, and I prodded on, encouraged by the thoughts of a cool shower, delicious pasta and wine at the rifugio for the night.
I turned around, looking back at the way I had come. The Cinque Torri (5 Towers), which seemed mighty up close, was dwarfed by the towering Tofana di Rozes rising 3000ft across the valley. Clouds marched across the region in a brisk pace, and alternating light and shadows followed them across the rugged geology. The dramatic profile of the Tofana was in full view, along with the innumerable hiking trails and climbing routes that cris-crossed this jaw-dropping terrain.
Scenes like these were all over this beautiful region of Italy. I, for one, will never forget this incredible trip.

Rifugio Averau
Cortina Italy

An Unrivalled Vista

It was a beautiful sunrise - a speck of light peering through the distant mesas and buttes, lighting up the red underside rocks of the sandstone Mesa arch, hanging over a lip of one such steep mesa, with nothing but air between the arch and the floor a 1000ft below. And to capture this premier attraction, more than a dozen photographers had crowded around, jostling for the strategic position that get the perfect angle of light and shadow.

This image, however, is not your typical image from the Mesa Arch in Canyonlands National Park. I waited a while until the crowd cleared, and peered through the arch at the landscape that opened up in the light - an endless range of buttes and mesas rising up from the myriad formations on the floor 1500ft below. The play of shadow and light gave rise to strange silhouettes and bizarre vistas, a sight that was a delight to photograph. This is one such take on a unique vista in Canyonlands National Park

Canyonlands National Park
UT USA

Alone in the Rockies II

The meandering river led my gaze through the lush green forests carpeting the seemingly endless range of snow-capped peaks. Clouds passed by slowly, foreshadowing a thunderstorm for the future, but a dramatic sky for the present. The sounds of civilization were far away, and except for a few other hikers, I had seen nary a soul.

Such places hold a special attraction. And despite the challenges of ultra-long days of hiking under unpredictable weather conditions with little company, these few moments of grandeur more than make up for the hardship involved. And the Canadian Rockies, and the remote regions away from the Icefields parkway continue to be a draw for the magical landscapes they present.

Banff National Park
AB Canada

 

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Splash of Color

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It was mesmerizing to watch the waves barrage endlessly onto the rocks. The rush of water loudly marching towards the rocky outcrop, followed by the thunderous roar of the crash, an explosive burst through the fissures, followed by the salty spray, all in one beautiful poetic motion accompanied by the orchestra of water.

While the golden sands of this peaceful beach in Las Penitas in Nicaragua may seem inviting, the country is going through a period of rough political unrest, with no end in sight. What was once one of the safest Latin American countries to travel to is anything but. Here is to hoping that the situation changes for the better, for the people of Nicaragua, and for the travelers of the world. Meanwhile, the graceful act of the water, wind and gravity working together on this lazy evening in Nicaragua will continue on.

Las Penitas
Nicaragua

Happy Canada Day

Happy (belated) Canada Day Canada

In my mind, your country will always be symbolized by endless snow-capped mountain ranges separated by beautiful glacier-carved valleys, all drenched in copious amounts of conifers and maple syrup, and with bears, moose and the French living in perfect harmony.

Sure, there are dark spots in the country, just as it is in every country, and yet, the memories I have of this northern neighbor has been anything but. Here is an image of one of the more beautiful parts of the country in Jasper National Park in the heart of the Canadian Rockies.

Jasper National Park

AB Canada

The Gaping Hole

Several canyons of the American West are longer and some are deeper, but none combines the depth, sheerness, narrowness, darkness, and dread of the Black Canyon

- Duane Vandenbusche

Up until I visited the Black Canyon of the Gunnison, I thought that the canyons of the Canyonlands and of Zion were some of the most impressive examples of the impact of hydrological forces. That changed when I peered over the edge of the Black Canyon of the Gunnison River: a vertical dropoff of 1800ft below me, and a sheer cliff face rising equally high on the opposite side of the gorge barely a quarter mile away, all created by a sliver of river threading through this narrow gorge.

Seeing that gaping hole cut through miles of rocky terrain really put into perspective the sheer power of nature. The river, tamer now, must have been one of the most powerful forces to cut through such a geology, revealing patterns in the rock the likes of which I had never seen before. states:

The Black Canyon of the Gunnison was out there, but I am glad I explored this gem of a National Park.

Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park

CO USA

The Southwest Story

Nowhere else was the gnarled twisted earth presented as bare and as convoluted as possible. Red sandstone cliffs stretched towards the horizon, while hoodoos stood guard along the slopes next to me. A maze of slot canyons cut through the hard rock, evidence of the eroding power of water. And amidst it all lay the feat of geology, the grand waterpocket fold, exposing knots and folds of sandstone layers stretching back millenia.

This was Capitol Reef National Park, an explosion of colors (of the red hue) in the heart of Utah. Hiking through the various trails, and exploring the park's various hotspots gave me a true appreciation of the grand scale of this geological wonder. The park beckons visitors with its visual spectacle and lessons in geologic history, and with so many trails and hidden gems to explore, there is something for everybody.

Here is one such vista capturing a slice of the beauty of the park

Capitol Reef National Park
UT USA

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Rolling Hills and Red Barns

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I am back after a long hiatus. And while I haven't been posting, I most certainly have continued to shoot, traveling to some amazing National parks in the desert Southwest, as well as exploring the wonders of the Pacific Northwest, such as the Palouse.

The Palouse has always had a special place in my heart. Having first visited it over 5 years ago, the region of rolling green hills, picturesque barns, historic towns, and a charming rustic life, drew me in once again. And perhaps one of the best places to take in the essence of this unique place is witnessing the sunrise atop Steptoe Butte, a conical butte rising 1000ft above the rolling landscape.

From atop the butte, the lines of shadow and light provide an aerial perspective into the sinuous curves of the farmlands,  creek-beds that wind between the hills, red barns, farmsteads and silos that pepper the region, distant windmills capturing clean energy, and the vast agricultural heartland of Washington. The chaotic sleep schedules, the abundance of dust in the air, and the harsh sunny climate does not make it a destination for everybody, but the place certainly rewards the patient and the perseverent.

This was shot from atop the butte with a telephoto lens at F11, ISO 800 at 1/15s

Steptoe Butte State Park
WA USA

Into the Maw

From the distance, it was just like any other non-descript volcano in Nicaragua, a conical mound of dark ash with scarred slopes rising up from the undulating landscape. The smooth paved highway winding up to the top, however, was a dead giveaway that this was special.

Not often does one get to peer into the maw of the earth, through a gaping crater were the inner flames of the core find a  way up to the surface. Volcan Masaya is one such place. Looking down the rocky cliff a mere 100ft below was the active crater, belching sulphurous gases that glowed with the deep orange characteristic of the mantle.

Witnessing the lava flow inside the caldera was one thing, but enjoying the wild atmosphere outside was something else. The quick turnaround at the summit, the constant stream of tourists, the toxic gases, the blood-red sun in the evening sky all became part of the experience of witnessing this active crater.

And while the current conditions on the ground may be unstable, this volcano will continue to belch and smoke until its next cataclysmic eruption.

Volcan Masaya
Nicaragua

Remnants of a Fire

The rain beat a gentle tattoo on the roof of the house, reminding me that stranglehold of the winter storms hadn't truly melted away by the middle of spring. And with that, I was expecting a dreary hike in the mountains under gloomy grey skies, visibility marred by low-flying clouds and the characteristic misty drizzle of the Pacific North West. But that was not to be.

An atmospheric sky meandered high above, it's fast moving clouds dragging fleeting patches of shadow and light along the bright waters of the Columbia River. In the distance, crepuscular rays beamed down onto the rolling landscape, an endless series of mountain ranges stretching to the horizon. Tiny wildflowers were starting to embrace the warmth of the spring sun, braving freezing winds and occasional cloudy skies.

The bright and cheery scene was, however, marred by the blackened slopes on the southern side of the gorge, remnants of one of the most damaging wildfires in the Pacific Northwest - the Eagle creek Fire. It will take decades before the south side heals back its lush self.

It was a with a heavy heart I visited the Columbia River Gorge, and despite the giant scar, she was still beautiful.

Dog Mountain
WA USA