Waiting to be fed

This image falls in the category of the abstract. It is very difficult to figure out exactly what is going on here unless you finally see the fish. I am not sure that this photo isn't almost too gross for public consumption, but here it is anyway. I do like the color and the overall texture of the photo, but not especially the subject matter.

The Alaska Pipeline

This is a shot of the Alaskan Pipeline near Fairbanks, Alaska. The pipe in the foreground is a section of the actual pipe used to show the construction. It is hard to get a concept of the size of the project when all you see is two pipes on towers marching across the tundra. See Wikipedia: Trans-Alaska Pipeline System for a more complete discussion.

Paddle Wheel

This is the paddle wheel on the Discovery II, an authentic reproduction of a stern paddle wheel river boat. This particular river boat departs from pier near Fairbanks, Alaska on the Chena River. I was surprised at the number of people the river boat could carry comfortably.

Early Fall Leaves in the Wasatch

As we traveled through the Wasatch Mountains, the leaves were just starting to turn to their Fall colors. We had to be at over 8000 feet before we saw many trees that had turned, but the one that had were in subtle pastels. The Fall leaves in the western mountains are not nearly so spectacular as in the far north or in New England, but they are more impressive in some ways because of the high mountain peaks.

Lone Peak

Lone Peak is in the Wasatch Mountains east of the Salt Lake Valley. It is the prominent peak that is part of the ridge the forms Point of the Mountain, famous for multi-vehicle accidents on the freeway. The mountain seems a lot less remote than it did 50 or so years ago when I used to climb it with my friends. Now, there are subdivisions right up to the edge of the National Forest. It is still a dramatic peak and one that I love looking at every time I am in the southern edge of the Salt Lake Valley.

Storm at Grosvenor Arch

We were racing against time. We started out drive down the slick clay roads to Grosvenor Arch when the clouds were threatening rain and we hoped that the rain would hold off long enough to get to the Arch and return without facing the almost impossible task to climbing mud-slick hills. We got to the Arch just as the storm was coming in and quickly took some photos and then drove back along the road. Fortunately 4-wheel drive and timing got us out the roads before they became treacherous.

3000 Feet Down

The North Rim of the Grand Canyon is much less visited than the South Rim. This is Toroweap at the end of a very difficult 62 mile dirt road. It is a very insecure place if you are afraid of heights. That is the Colorado River, 3000 feet or so down the cliffs. There are no guardrails or rangers here to warn you about keeping away from the edges, but the height does a good job of policing itself.