Salt Creek Falls, Oakridge OR

This is Salt Creek Falls, the 2nd highest waterfall in Oregon. You know the first-- guess? Yep, Multnomah Falls. This fall is located just outside Oakridge, in Southern Oregon. Nena, Jon and I visited on our way back from Crater Lake in May, 2006. It's early in the season, thus the waterfall is raging.

tippin' one back

So this is what happened AFTER the smooching...or before, hmmm. Can't remember.

Smoochie

So, this is what people do when there's a mega thunderstorm outside the tent and you're at least a few thousand feet up, oh, and you're next to a lake. What cha gonna do?

Hot Toddy and Super K at Walton Lake, Eastern Oregon. Ochocho National Forest.

follow the leader...

Todd, Kirstin, Jon and I hiking the trail at John Day Fossil Beds Unit. John Day, Eastern Oregon. Also refer to Jon's pic of John Day Painted Hills Unit.

black n white

I just thought this one looked cool in black and white. Jon stopping to read one of the interpretive signs along the John Day Fossil Beds unit trail.

John Day Fossil Beds National Monument Panorama

This photo was taken outside of the visitor's center at the Fossil Beds unit of John Day.

lookin' out

The view from atop Strawberry Mt.

He's got legs...

Check out that sexy dude. Yeah, the one front and center, silly.

I'm Queen of the World!!!

That's me standing at the summit. Strawberry Mt. Eastern Oregon.

the cute couple

Jon and I standing side by side after our trudge up Strawberry Mountain. We hiked this Mt. in our Tevas! We kick butt. Oh, and Jon was sicker than a dog too. He knew I wanted to summit that day; that's true wuv.

There she is

As you're coming up the Strawberry Mountain trail, you can see it looming ahead. Elevation of summit: approx. 9,300 ft.

Movies of Mt. St. Helens from Johnston Observatory

Check out these movies that I took with my camera up at Johnston Observatory, Mt. St. Helens, Washington. Beware-- you might have to crane your neck to the side. I forgot that *duh* when you turn the camera, it also means you change the movie screen. Since this version of Blogger doesn't allow downloads, you have to click on the links below. Just use you back button on your browser to get back to the blog. By the way, it takes a minute to download, so if nothing happens right away, don't worry. Go grab a snack, especially those of you with dial up.

http://www.sthomaslibrary.net/DSCN0562.mov


http://www.sthomaslibrary.net/DSCN0564.mov

Mt. St. Helens from Johnston Observatory

This is a slightly different view of Mt. St. Helens from the deck of Johnston Observatory in May.

Mt. St. Helens landscape

Nena and I, on the way to Johnston Observatory, May 2006. The landscape was breathtaking during this stretch. It is worth it to take 504 to go just to Johnston.

Strike a pose

Nena strikes a pose near a twisted tree remnant of the 1980 blast.

Inside the crater dome of Mt. St. Helens

Inside view of the dome of Mt. St. Helens in May, when it's still buried in snow.

Cannon Beach, Oregon

Nena and I at Cannon Beach, along HWY 101, Oregon coastline. Behind us is the famously photographed Haystack Rock. The rock and its tidepools serve as it's own bio-habitat for bird species. We have other pics of Haystack Rock on this blog from last summer. It's a popular summer destination, though you can tell that in May it's still a bit nippy. The Oregon coast is always windy, and you're more likely to enjoy flying a kite or going for a stroll than you would be to "lay out" and catch rays.

Wizard Island

Last summer, we took the tour boat around Crater Lake to this island. Wizard island is another cinder cone that has formed and risen from the caldera of ancient Mt. Mazama. It is the only cone that is tall enough to be visible from the surface, all other cones remain below. We hiked to the top of the island and Jon was even bold enough to take a freezing dip.

Right side of Crater Lake

The nice part about being at Crater Lake in May is that the tour boats aren't on the water yet. This makes for a pristine, crystal clear view of the perfect reflection. I challenge anyone to find a more pristine mountain lake in the US. Can't be done, folks.

ET Phone Home

If you look close, doesn't the Crater rim behind wizard island, look like the face of ET? You have to look close at the ledge part that sticks out. Maybe I'm just weird. :) If you don't believe me, just click on the image to blow it up-- sweet size.

Nena, Jon, and I at Crater Lake: May 2006

Nena and I standing in front of wizard island. You can see that the rim is still blocked in with snow. We were able to crawl up to this viewpoint to catch a glimpse of this awe-inspiring deep, blue, lake.

Triple Falls

The path to zen...

Weird tree formation (looks like a seahorse)

Greetings from the Columbia Gorge

This Postcard was taken courtesy of Mr. Jon (A.K.A. Ansel wannabe)

Ponytail Falls

Eagle Creek Hike

Don't look down!

Bridge before Triple Falls

Fairy Falls

Behind Multnomah Falls

Jon looking at Punchbowl Falls

Jon on his way to Horsetail Falls

Ponytail Falls

Hike to Horsetail Falls

Gazing into a chasm

Hike to Horsetail Falls

Hike to Horsetail Falls

This is a waterfall behind Multnomah Falls.

These are the old pictures...

These are the pics that were up on the blog already. I made them lighter so people can see them. Enjoy!

Way Fayer Resort, Multnomah Falls, Wakeena Falls

The pictures below are from our weekend getaway with Kirstin and Todd to The Way Fayer Resort on the McKenzie River. Also featured are Multnomah Falls and McKenzie Falls which we visited both during Jon's Mom's visit and last weekend.

Jon's Lillies

Just one of the beautiful Lillies (my favorite!) that Jon gave to me for Valentine's Day. He's such a sweetie!

Little Streams

More beautiful streams of water along the Wakeena Falls Trail.

Fairy Falls

Wakeena Falls Trail (Close to Multnomah Falls)

This is just one of the many little streams of water you see as you ascend the Wakeena Falls Trail. We were hiking to Fairy Falls. Next time we want to do the entire trail up to Larch Mountain and back down to Multnomah Falls.

Multnomah Falls

More mossy trees

Follow the leader

Jon says....follow me...I was once a boy scout!!

On the bridge along the McKenzie River Trail.

Mossy Branches

With so much water in the air, many of these photographs are full of mossy branches. It makes for cool pictures.

Frozen

Along the McKenzie river hike, small frozen ponds exist. Here you see a small river that is still full of ice in February.

New Pictures Added

To see the "new" February pictures added, click on the "February 2006" under the archives and scroll down past these "missed beauties" photos. Since they were all added recently they are under the same month. Just keep scrolling...the new pics begin with an uprooted Redwood tree.

missed beauties

After I finished adding new items to the blog (check out the February link under the "archives" section) I noticed that we were missing a few eclectic beauties from the blog. Normally the blog pics come from my digital camera but I forgot all about Jon's slides that we had made into electronic files. We would be remiss were we not to include these...random or not. Since they ARE an eclectic mix I will tell you where the heck they came from.

Enjoy!

look at me

Monkey Face at Smith Rock. This picture is cool because I hiked out to the rock just before it. Look closely in the lower left corner of the picture standing up on the leftmost rock-- there's me waving!! :) You might have to click on the picture to open it larger in a new browser window.