Mountains

Broken Sister

Sunsets in the Cascade Mountains of Oregon rarely dissapoint. On this warm July night, the sky lit up with dramatic pink hues and reflected in the waters of Lava Lake. In the distance South Sister Mountain (on the left) and Broken Top Mountain (on the right) peak above the forest.

Purple Haze

A blue-hour sunset in far Northern California appears purple in the haze over the Shasta Valley. Captured about 30 minutes after the sunset on the valley floor, the faint last light of the day illuminates the top of snow-covered Mount Shasta in Siskiyou County. In the far distance, the last glow of yellow backlights the Siskiyou and Trinity Mountains. The city lights from Weed, California can be seen at the foot of the Siskiyou Mountains. US Highway 97 stretches across in the distance, illuminated with the headlights of cars as they travel around the magnificent mountain. Throughout the valley, several homes and structures of various types can be seen. Location: Siskiyou County, California, USA.

An Evening with Shasta

This beautiful sunset was captured on a steep hillside on the north side of the Shasta Valley in Northern California, USA. In this composition, the viewer is looking southeast across the valley, over the jagged rocks of Sheep Rock, and into the snow-capped peak of majestic Mount Shasta. The greyish-purplish area on the mountain is the burn scar of the 2021 Lava Fire. Captured during January warm spell, I should have not had access to this location. I would normally be under several feet of snow. Sadly, the area is under severe drought that continues. Location: Siskiyou County, California, USA

Twilight Mountain

In far Northern California sits the majestic 14,000' peak of Mount Shasta. This beautiful volcano dominates the landscape for hundreds of miles. The twilight sunset seen here was captured on a crisp January evening with the Deer Mountain and Grass Lake to the left, jagged Sheep Rock in the middle, Mount Shasta and the Shasta Valley on the right. Location: Siskiyou County, California, USA.

Morning Adventure

While camped at the bottom of Mount Shasta in Northern California, I woke up early to capture sunrise on a cold spring morning. As the sun began to rise, a fresh cup of coffee was brewing on the stove. The sounds of songbirds and the distant whistle of a train horn filled the gentle morning breeze with a joyful serenade. I set up my camera in the middle of the dirt road where I camped nearby and waited for the perfect moment. Light began to illuminate the thin clouds over the mountain. In just moments, sunlight hit the highest peak as it crested the horizon. In what seemed like hours but only minutes, light began to fall on the glaciers, peaks, and valleys of the volcano. At this moment I was at peace. Unfortunately, later that year in a very hot and dry summer. A thunderstorm rolled over the mountain. Lightning struck a high-altitude pine tree just below the tree line and the Lava Fire was born. The wildfire raged on the mountain and burned for several weeks. Severe damage was done to the forest, wilderness, trails, and historic railroad architecture. The Lava Fire burned through this location eliminating the natural green beauty of the valley. Where just a few short weeks earlier, I stood in awe of the majesty of Mother Nature. Before she reminded us of who truly is in charge. Location: Mount Shasta - Klamath National Forest, California

Dawn of Shasta

Siskiyou County, California

Majesty

Shasta Valley, California

A Simple Fall

Bridalveil Falls plunges 620' into Yosemite Valley. When we were there the flow was not large and thunderous but rather the water was quiet and ebbed and flowed with the wind. Location: Yosemite National Park, California

Late Winter

Yosemite National Park, California

Sierra Cascade

Winter Wizard

Snowy Crags

Shasta Sunrise

Drifts

On the Trail

The Road Less Traveled

Summer Nights

Thunderstruck

Thor's Hammer

Revenge of Zeus

Electrified

Sinnott Aurora

Night Lights

Mothers Magic

Mothers Day Aurora