The Last Vestiges of Winter

The last vestiges of winter are still hanging on through mid-April, leading to plunging mercury lines and people searching for their winter-wear. It brought memories of the cold winter the city went through, as well as my own escapades into the snow-capped cascades.

One such trip was the climb up-to Huntoon point where I was witness to a spectacle of sun and snow like no other. Fresh snowfall from the prior night had coated the ragged peaks with a carpet of pure undisturbed white, while strong winds had created tree-shines on the south-facing slopes. It was surreal to experience the transition from verdant greenery to the refreshing white climbing up from the depths below.

Conditions like these come together perhaps a couple of times a year, and I was glad to experience one of them. Hopefully it will keep me engaged until the next winter.

North Cascades National Park
WA USA

Remnants of Summer memories

We don't remember days; we remember moments

As I made my way into a really scenic section of the Sierra Nevadas one early summer, the crisp sound of gurgling water, the fresh breeze carrying cool air from the mountains, and the beautiful vistas of snow-capped peaks under a picuresque sky awaited me. I may not remember my exact footsteps, but memories of the beautiful scenery, of dipping my hot feet in the cold waters of the creek, and of sitting by the shores of one of the innumerable lakes enjoying the afternoon sun, were preserved in a dream-like state.

Such is the draw of forming experiences hiking in the Sierras

Inyo National Forest
CA USA

Waterfall Season

It's waterfall season again. And that means walking up slippery mossy trails towards the sound of rushing water, getting sprayed on by the cool mist on a warm summer day, wiping camera and lenses furiously while waiting for the breeze to die down, and plunging feet-first into freezing cold water to wedge the tripod into awkward positions to get the perfect composition. And that also means contending with hundreds of tourists at popular spots trying to get their 5 seconds of selfie fame

Nevertheless, the allure of a waterfall is special, akin to a maiden with silky white hair tumbling down the mossy cliffs, constantly swaying and shifting gracefully, and breathing fresh air into the lush vegetation all around. Her sound can be heard from afar, a peaceful white noise growing in intensity as one gets closer, until you get a glimpse of her through the trees. It is no wonder that they take on feminine names: Elowah, Bridalveil, Fairy, Wahkeena and so on.

Here is to another waterfall season, and many more to come.

Multnomah Falls
OR USA

The Cap on Concepcion

It was a long and weary day. Just 12 hours prior, I was scrambling on all fours up the slippery steep scree of the Concepcion Volcano, wondering if I could even make it down alive. But I did. And stayed up awake long enough to capture the night as it came alive under moonlight and starlight.

Even as my eyes were refusing to stay open after the tiring hike, I pursued with the objective of capturing the night sky. The cool breeze and the clear skies were encouraging, and the rise of the waning moon turned the night sky into day. Perhaps what captivated me most was the sombrero that formed atop the volcano, adding a unique dimension to the scene.

It certainly was a test of perseverence, doing hard work after getting tired of doing the hard work I already did. But it was worth it.

Ometepe
Nicaragua

 

Walking the Plank

It was a cold and foggy morning when I awoke that morning in my hotel. My upset tummy hadn't subsided, and the effects of the high altitude were still there. I didn't want to get out of my bed, but I forced myself to and embarked on the 10mi loop of Laguna Quilotoa.

And I was glad I did, for the vistas I encountered were sublime, combining breath-taking scenery, high-alpine atmosphere, and the glistening lake in a volcanic crater. It was a visual treat to see this grand spectacle of geology stretching between the turquoise waters of the lake, the ragged walls of the crater, the tiny farms and fields on the outer slopes, dotted with distant Andean villages getting ready for the morning rituals just as the sun broke through the fog.

As I turn my sights once again towards the volcanic mountain ranges of Central and South America, I was reminded of this trek in Ecuador, and of the other dramatic volcanoes and the Andean range that forms the spine of the continent. And I can't wait to explore more of it.

Quilotoa
Cotopaxi Ecuador

A Bend in the River II

As I came across this bend in the river, ensconced in the vibrant coniferous greenery of the Canadian Rockies, I was reminded of another similar bend in the Colorado river near the town of Page, AZ. While the contrast couldn't be more different, there was common thread that connected these two natural wonders, ie, water.

It was water that carved away the deep gorge in the red sandstone layers of the desert Southwest, and it was water that carved away these layers of sedimentary rock of the geologically young Canadian Rockies. While one region was a waterless desert, this one had all the markings of a lush rainforest, signifying the over-abundance of water.

I enjoyed walking in this forest, even as I was getting soaked in the misty rain that was so typical of this breath-taking region of Canada

Banff National Park
AB Canada

Holy Light

I have been duly impressed by the awe-inspiring cathedrals of continental Europe, with their dazzling architecture inside and out, their intricate inlays, beautiful frescoes and colorful stained-glass windows, and had been hard-pressed to find something equivalent on the other side of the Atlantic. That held true until I visited the beautiful Notre Dame of Montreal.
Ornate documentation and vibrant colors add life to a rectangular floorplan lacking a nave and transept, while complex woodwork in the pulpit and the altar showcase the creative strengths the original designer. It was a memorable experience to wander around the peaceful cathedral, admiring the showmanship of its creators.

Montreal
QC, Canada

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Blue Hour at the Blue City

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To visit Morocco is like turning the pages of some illuminated Persian manuscript all embroidered with bright shapes and subtle lines

Edith Wharton

Search for Chefchaouen and you get dazzling imagery of vibrant blue alleys and embroidered doorways framing the everyday life of the local community which thrives there. I got very absorbed exploring the innumerable unnamed streets, staring at artwork in colorful cul-de-sacs, enjoying the local children playing games, eyeing the variety of carpets and spices on sale in the souvenir stores, and catching the odd glimpse of feline denizens who seem to have command of the town with a calm demeanor.

I decided to take a step back to see how it was actually laid out, and until I got to that vista point, I never realized the scale of that town. From high above, the medina was a smorgasbord of "blue"-washed concrete buildings smashed together high up in the up on the hillside, with orange street-lights highlighting the thoroughfares snaking up the hills and highlighting the mosques that acted as focal points for the medina.I tried to imagine how it would have been a few decades ago, a thriving community of traders nestled high in the mountains. And how now, we, as tourists, get the opportunity and resources to visit places like these....

The light of Dawn

Here is your country. Cherish these natural wonders, cherish the natural resources, cherish the history and romance as a sacred heritage, for your children and your children's children. Do not let selfish men or greedy interests skin your country of its beauty, its riches or its romance.

Theodore Roosevelt

One of the proudest legacy of the 26th President is the crown jewel of the American conservation era - the National Park system. And while I have been fortunate enough to visit 34 of these memorable places, very few have stuck to my mind and my heart, and one of them is the Canyonlands National Park. And nothing captures the essence of this rugged desert terrain like the view from Mesa Arch at sunrise, an arch suspended over a vertiginous cliff overlooking a vast canyonland.

One of the rituals as a photographer is to make the dawn trip to Mesa Arch, squeeze your tripod in between the two dozen others, and eek out a few shots just as the sun crests the horizon, and one more just as it disappears behind the arch. While it is photogenic place, it was the view that the location presented that I found the most endearing: cliff walls glowing yellow in the morning sun, stupas, stacks, and hoodoos silhouetting in the slanted light, twisted canyon disappearing into the vast expanse of the horizon. The sense of belonging and being humbled by nature is perhaps the primary reason why such regions must be preserved for posterity.

Canyonlands National Park
UT USA

 

Personally to you

"Have you watched the dance of the Northern Lights on a dark winter's night?
Or stood outside in the pure spring air, listening to the melodies of birds?

Have you let the plants be your seat, as you breathed in their scents and noted autumn colors?
Or looked at all the life in the grass, strolled on the shore, skipped stones, caught a trout or petted a soft eider ducking?

I know every inch of this land. I am aware of every elf mound and know where to find pretty lichens and sheltered birds' nests. I have sensed the sea's odour in the spring and lain in midnight fog waiting for the fox. Standing in the hayfield late in summer, when it gets dark early and the terns have flown south, I have felt both gratitude and sadness. There is no end to the signs of people living with the land, generation after generation.

Dear Reader: Please feel heartily welcome. Enjoy your stay here. We are sure you and yours will treat all the land of the Icelanders with consideration. We ask you to show fairness and respect when judging the activities of us residents. Certainly we hope for Strandir to touch you with its magic wand and lead you into the group of the privileged. At the end, have a nice trip home and come back soon."

Found on a remote roadside in the Strandir coast of Iceland

Strandr, Westfjords
Iceland