Photography, Lift Off

In the distance the Beartooths Mountains can be seen.  Have been quite busy lately and the blog's pace will be slowing down a tad! I've also included a cool video I found.  Enjoy:)

Lift Off - February 2012 - Near Billings, Montana

Photography, Walk The Line

Yesterday I went out and did some serious hiking for a few hours.  I decided to try something a little different with my photography.  I used my shoes as a subject for a few of my pictures.  Now situating the shoes while trying not to leave any footprints in the snow was quite a challenge.  Especially considering the snow on the ground and the temperature, but the outcome was satisfactory, so it was worth the half hour of freezing feet!  I really like the way one of them turned out, and after a little editing I believe it's time to share it!

The hiking took place at Zimmerman Park, which I have posted about before.  It is in West Billings up on the rims and is accessible from Zimmerman Trail.  I'm also going to include a video that I found quite entertaining! Enjoy:)

The Beartooth Mountains are off in the distance.

Travel, Lolo National Forest

I found out quite the interesting fact the other day.  In Lolo National Forest (West of Missoula, Montana) there is a lake called Rainy Lake.  This lake has been around for awhile, but it won't be along for very much longer.  The lake is actually named Rainy Lake because it is in a Northern-Arid climate zone, where it doesn't rain.  The lake is estimated to dry up by the year 2014.  I suggest you go and see it before this treasure disappears!  Now one asks themselves how does a lake form if there is no rain?  The answer: melting glacier.

Luckily this lake is one of many treasures within Lolo National Forest.  It is home to several species of beautiful animals such as bighorn sheep and mountain goats.  It is also home to black bear and grizzly bear along with wolves and elk.  It is a truly beautiful forest and is over 2 million acres.  These 2 million acres also include 4 built in wilderness areas.  It is truly a wonderful place to get in touch with nature.

To conclude I will include some pictures of this beautiful forest! Enjoy:)

Lolo National Forest

Meadow in Lolo National Forest

River bend in Lolo National Forest

Travel, Winter in Yellowstone

Well, thinking I was going to drive to Yellowstone today wasn't the brightest idea I've had.  Luckily a friend told me that you can't just drive in, even in this "half-winter" we've been having.  You are required to utilize rubber and steel track snowmobiles, or snow-coaches.  Therefore, my Prius was not going to be able to make it...unfortunately.

I'm going to share some pictures of Yellowstone in winter, and a video as a way to supplement my urge to visit.  Enjoy:)

Yellowstone Lake in the Winter

Beautiful Winter shot in Yellowstone

Travel, Bryce Canyon National Park

One of many National Parks in the beautiful state of Utah, Bryce Canyon has always held a certain affinity in my eyes as one of the most underrated National Parks in the United States.  It has many treasures and a plethora of photography opportunities.

It is located just west of Tropic, Utah and is pretty much in between Canyonlands National Park and Zion National Park.  According to Kevin on a Google Maps review, "Bryce canyon is a smaller park but is beautiful nonetheless. There are magnificent rock formations and pastel colors throughout the park. The north part of camp is available by reservation 2 days in advance only, but the south part of the camp is first come first serve. We highly recommend the navajo loop trail in combination with others if you'd want a longer hike or the fairyland loop trail. Sunset view is a must. If you are debating whether or not to come to bryce canyon on your road trip do it because we like this park even better than the grand canyon and others."

So as you can see it has hiking opportunities, rock formations, beautiful colors, camping spaces and a lot of exploration opportunities.  I typically enjoy forested parks much better, but this one grabs me because of the sheer beauty within.  Planet Earth is so beautiful, we should all treat it with a bit more care.

I've included a picture and video below, but I cannot wait to visit Bryce Canyon National Park soon!  Enjoy:) 

Bryce Canyon National Park in December 2011

 

Photography, Fiddler Creek Road, Montana

This weekend I went went on a little adventure down near the Rosebud area on Fiddler Creek Road in South/Central Montana in the Beartooth Mountains.  I took a few pictures and think they're worth sharing.  Hope everyone has a wonderful Monday!  Enjoy:)

Horse spotted with the Beartooths in the background near Fiddler Creek Road

Beartooths in the mirror

I love the set-up of this picture.  Some deer spotted up West Rosebud Road

Beartooth Mountains down the road

View of the Beartooths from hill

Travel, Smithers, British Columbia, Canada

Last night I saw the movie "The Grey" and was taken aback by the beauty of the location at which they filmed.  I won't give away anything about the movie, but I will tell you a little bit about where the majority of the movie takes place.

The majority of the scenes include beautiful backgrounds of trees, mountains, rivers, etc, all creating a beautiful setting for the movie.

Smithers, British Columbia, is where the movie was filmed.  I had to look it up as the beauty kept me intrigued throughout the whole movie.  There isn't much to say about Smithers except that it is home to several Hockey players, and has a population of 5000+.  This being said, the real beauty is not inside the actually city, but the areas surrounding it.  Just take a look at some of the pictures below, and a trailer to "The Grey."  Enjoy:)

Welcome to Smithers in Winter!

River near Smithers, BC

Welcome to Smithers in Summer!

Travel, Redwood National Park

Today has been a great day so far.  First my classes were cancelled for reasons I do not care to know! And then I came home and got almost all of my homework finished.  Now I have the whole Friday to enjoy.  Should continue to be a great day! Hope all is well for you as well!

To add on to my series last week about lesser-known places I think more people should visit, I am going to outline the Redwood National Park and the reasons why it should be on the top of your list of places to visit.  I toured the Park in August of 2010 and it is by far one of my favorite places to explore.  The sheer magnitude of the trees around you is breathtaking, and when you look up at the canopy and witness what seems to be miles and miles of vegetation there are simply no words to describe it.  It is a euphoric and delightful experience that you all need to experience.

Me climbing a large Redwood

Looking up toward the canopy!

Beautiful forest view

Me and my car driving through a Redwood!

The following video is a very funny video about being "Hooked on Humboldt" which is the county home to Redwood National Park.  I certainly had a few laughs from it, I hope you do to! Enjoy :)

Travel, Big Timber Falls

My latest post ellaborated on the Crazy Mountains and the small town/city of Big Timber.  This one will focus on the Big Timber Falls near that area.

I would love to go see them, but considering the time of year, and the weather, that might not be possible.  The falls are part of the Big Timber Creek system.  Just hiking along the creek would provide a plethora of photography opportunities. There may be a nice day to slip in and I'll jump on the opportunity, but until then I'm just left dreaming.

Map of the Big Timber Falls location

The Big Timber Falls

 Below is a video of the falls.  Enjoy :)

 

Animals, Dalmatians and Cats!

Today I am going to be a little off topic, but I figured it was for an important reason.

The car door slams shut and once again Chance was off with his owners on hopefully another adventure.  Chance, a ten year old Dalmatian, wagged his tail proudly as the car crawled along the road.  A few minutes later the car stopped and his owner opened the door and Chance hopped out.  It had been some time since they went out to the woods to play.  He loved the way the wind felt on his face when he had nothing but woods to run through, and the smells of the forest intrigued him like none other.  After a few moments his owner commanded Chance to sit, and surprisingly got back into the vehicle.  This was a new kind of game Chance thought.  But he wagged and sat down patiently to see what the game was all about.  Soon the car drove off and Chance felt a little lost.  Was he supposed to follow?  But he'd been told to sit. 

The truth is, the owners of Chance abandoned him, leaving him in a forest to fend for himself.  As Chance had aged he had accumulated a few medical conditions, and the family no longer wanted to put their financial efforts into a ten year old dog.  As sad as it is, this happens to dogs all of the country daily.  Fortunately there are places out there to help.  I know from experience how loyal, smart and caring Dalmatians are, and I can't even imagine leaving my little Rojo in the forest because I didn't want to deal with the financial burden of poor health.  In my opinion, when you adopt an animal, you are making a commitment not only to the pet, but to yourself.

The Dalmatian Rescue of Puget Sound has been doing great things for Dalmatians in the Pacific Northwest as of late.  They have housing and loving homes available until the dogs can be adopted.  They also receive medical care, and if the dogs are elderly, they can stay there for the long term.  I urge you to check out their website, and even voting for them on the Animal Rescue site where they are competed for grants in the Shelter Challenge.  You can vote for them by searching Dalmatian in the state of WA :)

For those of you who don't have a spot in your heart for dalmatians, or dogs in general, I have been a volunteer at Crash's Landing Cat Rescue and Placement and they could use help as well. You can also vote for Crash's Landing on the Animal Rescue web page by searching Crash's Landing in the state of MI. 

I've included some pictures of dalmatians and cats! Enjoy :)

Ford! Is available for adoption at the Dalmatian Rescue of Puget Sound

Radar! Is available for adoption at Crash's Landing

Travel, Wood Buffalo National Park

One place I really want to visit is the Wood Buffalo National Park in Canada.  I am not a Canadian, born and raised in Michigan, but it has always had a certain allure.  It seems like its a bit more wild and free than some of the National Parks here in the United States.

The Wood Buffalo National Park is larger than many European Nations, it is home to three distinctly different ecosystems, and of course Wood Buffalo.  I have included a video that has inspired me to really make an effort to visit this wondrous place.  I hope it inspires you to do the same, or at least get out there and find something beautiful.  Enjoy:)

Pine Lake, Wood Buffalo National Park in the Northwest Territories of Canada

Travel, Porcupine Mountains of Michigan's Upper Peninsula

I am going to start a series once a week about lesser-known travel areas and tourist spots for you to adventure and explore.  These locations will be full of hiking trails, photography opportunities and wildlife.  The first place I am going to elaborate on is the Porcupine Mountains of Michigan's Upper Peninsula. 

The Porcupine Mountains or the "Porkies" are located towards the western border of Michigan's Upper Peninsula.  Inside of Ontanagon and Gogebic counties there is a wondrous and mostly untouched paradise of hardwood forests.  There is an abundance of maples, birch and hemlock trees that create a stunning portfolio of green in the summer months, and a kaleidoscopic scenery of color in the autumn months.

Wildlife:  The aptly named Porkies are home to a variety of animal species, one of which is the, yep you guessed it, porcupine.  In my experience I have seen two porcupines in the wild, both of which were in Montana.  One thing that surprised me when I was reading up on porcupines is that they often are found in trees, now in my mind I had a preconceived notion that porcupines never got off of the ground.  In fact, they are very sophisticated climbers, and have been spotted near the canopies of many of the trees found here in the Porkies.

In addition to the ambitious porcupine, the Porkies are home to animals such as moose, which can be found near swampy areas and near rivers.  Moose are excellent swimmers and have a hunkering for aquatic plants.  They also take little dips in order to keep flies off of them.

This leads me to another point, the Porkies may have an extreme amount of black flies depending on when you visit.  Bug spray is advised.

There are several other animals that can be found in the Porkies.  The following are all found in this area: deer, fox, wolves, coyote, lynx, bobcat, black bear, beaver, and others.

Pictures: Although my words may entice you to visit, it would be nonsensical not to include some beautiful photography of the Porkies.  I love the contrast in the following two pictures that shows the differences from summer to fall. Enjoy:)

Lake of the Clouds in the Summer

Lake of the Clouds in the Fall

A beautiful shot of the Big Carp River

Travel, Australia

For as long as I can remember I have always dreamed of going to Australia.  This dream may become a reality in the near future for me, so I've been thinking of what the trip would involve.  Obviously my camera and photography equipment would make the trip along to Australia.  The trip would include a variety of activities.

First on my list of things to do in Australia is to fly into Perth, which is on the west coast of Australia.  Once in Perth I would get a feel for the city, and rent a 4x4 truck in order to get wherever I wanted to go.  I would probably go on a few photography runs trying to find the most beautiful scenes near the city.

Perth, Austrlia at night

Next, I would embark on a journey of epic proportions.  With my rental 4x4 I would drive to the very middle of the continent and have a look at Ayers Rock, also known as Uluru.  This is a large structure with significant meaning to the aborigines in the area.  Many tourists rudely climb on it, and in doing so disrespect the beliefs and feelings of the aborigines.

Ayers Rock or Uluru in the Northern Territory, Australia

Finally the last major thing I would plan on is seeing a wombat.  I have a strange obsession with these marsupials.  They just strike a chord within me that I cannot quite explain.

Wombat in South/Central Australia

Obviously the trip would have a lot more to it, I would plan on being there for at least 3 weeks.  The majority of my activities would be unplanned and spontaneous, I find in journeys that is where the most exciting and memorable things occur.  I have included a video showcasing some of Australia's beauty and wonder.  Enjoy:)

Geocaching, Without a GPS

Sometimes people may want a little more exploration when they embark on a geocaching adventure.  For theses folks the best advice I can give is go out there in the great outdoors without a GPS device.  Use topographical maps, or satellite maps in order to orient the map with the ground. Basically so you keep the map pointing north, and use the types of trees to identify which part of the map you are currently on.  This eliminates the need for a GPS, and creates a more visceral experience where you can focus on natures beautiful features, rather than your GPS screen.

Here is a video that elaborates on this idea.  Enjoy :)

Travel, Thoughts on the Long Drive (Wyoming, MI to Billings, MT)

Well I made it back to Montana safe and sound.  From Wyoming, Michigan to Billings, Montana it is about 1500 miles.  The drive takes 24+ hours, and I did it without stopping to rest.  I wouldn't recommend doing such long drives without a break, but I know from experience that I can handle it.  Last year at this time I drove from Michigan to Denver and back without stopping, 30+ hours, so it is an acquired skill.

I took a few pictures of the Mississippi River crossing on the Illinois / Iowa border and my Prius there, but nothing else really except the sunset in Central/Western South Dakota was beautiful.  I've included the pictures below.  I would've taken some more but I was crunched for time!

Mississippi River at Dawn - Illinois/Iowa Border

My Prius at a scenic overlook on Illinois/Iowa Border

South Dakota on I-90 near Wall, SD

Now is not the best time to enjoy the beauty of the US, considering it is winter and everything looks dead.  Well, grey and dead to be honest, except the amazing abundance of pine trees near Rapid City and Spearfish in South Dakota.  I will always love pine trees, they just smell wonderful and are beautiful all year round.

Travel, The Long Drive Home

Tomorrow night after the Sugar Bowl (Michigan vs. Virginia Tech, I am a huge Michigan fan) I will be taking off and heading back to Montana for school.  There are a few different routes I can take, and I still haven't quite decided.  The weather isn't being very cooperative, as the lake effect snow machine from the Great Lakes has been turned on.  Driving from Grand Rapids, Michigan I can easily head south and cut around the bottom of Lake Michigan and head up through Chicago and take I-90 all the way across Wisconsin, Minnesota, South Dakota, and so on.  But I find that route very tedious and boring.  Considering the drive takes a little over 24 hours no matter which route I take, I really prefer a more adventurous route.
For those of you who are not familiar with Michigan's Upper Peninsula, it is a long drive up to the UP from where I am located, as you can see on the map below.



View Larger Map

I have been up there a few times, but never really when I was old enough to appreciate it.  Last year I went with a friend and saw the Mackinac Bridge again, but other than that I haven't spent a lot of time exploring the vast amount of forests and lakes in the Upper Peninsula.
Anyways, it seems to me that heading up to the UP and cutting over would be the most enjoyable route, if only so for the first 10 hours or so until I get to Minnesota, and hopping on I-94 and taking that the rest of the way to Billings, Montana.  I plan on pacing myself a bit and hope to get some interesting pictures on the way.  It is January, so snow may be my main subject. 
It should be an exciting drive, and if I pull off what I did on my drive back here a few weeks ago, I won't have to stop at all, I drove 25 hours straight on the I-90/I-80 route and only took about a half an hour break.  Also, I did it all without any caffeine! I've included a video of a windy crossing of the Mackinac Bridge that connects the Upper and Lower Peninsulas.  Enjoy :)

Travel, Where to Explore 2012

Well the new year is upon us and the opportunities are endless.  We all start fresh with 365 days to do whatever we wish with them.  We can sit at home and explore a virtual world on the latest video game, we can write a novel, start a business, go to work 80% of the days, the options are infinite.  Being a college student, I am blessed with ample free time to explore, adventure and photograph whatever I want.  So, with today being the first day of 2012 I thought I would prepare a list of places I would like to visit this year, and hopefully this inspires you to consider them as viable options for your travel's.

1. Glacier National Park


View Larger Map


I have always wanted to visit Glacier.  Mainly to see Flathead Lake, and hike until my heart is content.  I have heard there is an abundance of Big Horn Sheep and Mountain Goats along with the sprinklings of Grizzly Bears and Wolves.  I've had the pleasure of being within a few dozen feet of a Grizzly Bear, and let me tell you, it is not for the faint of heart.

2. Joshua Tree National Park


View Larger Map


A couple summers ago a friend and I drove through California, but I had little knowledge of Joshua Tree National Park, so therefore we didn't stop and see it.  I regret that so much! The garden of desert flora, of beautiful rock formations and the rock climbing opportunities are brilliant!

3. Moab, Utah



View Larger Map
 

For three long years now I have attempted to visit Moab to see the beautiful national parks in the area.  Arches National Park, Canyonlands National Park are near, just to name a couple.  The beautiful rock formations and red rocks are breathtaking, as I've seen in pictures.

I hope these ideas have inspired you to consider a hike in one of these locations, or somewhere similar.  I've added a video that shows the beauty of the areas surrounding Moab.  Happy New Year!! Enjoy :)

Geocaching, an Exploration Initiator

Sometimes, it seems to me that people don't go out and explore the world around them because they simply don't know how.  And if they do know how, they don't know where to explore.  One of my favorite things to do creates an answer to this question.  I present to you, geocaching.  Some of you may have heard of it.  Geocaching is basically a treasure hunting game where you are given coordinates and your objective is to locate the "cache" at those coordinates.  In my experience the caches located in a wooded setting are the most challenging, yet the most exciting.
My explanation is a bit vague, so I have included this video that will help introduce the idea to you from the official geocaching website.
I hope this video sparks some interest, and inspires you to get out and enjoy nature and the outdoors.  Some of the geocaches require hiking equipment, boats or climbing gear, but for the most part you can go with just tennis shoes and bug spray!  Next time I will introduce the idea of travel bugs, which is a concept that resides within geocaching.  Enjoy :)