• Glacier National Park,  lake,  landscape,  National Parks

    We Are Nature

    January 18, 2016
    This image was taken in 2004 just afater the massive fires in Glacieer National Park. The haze of smoke is evident in the mountains and you could smell it.
    This image was taken in 2004 just after the massive fires in Glacier National Park.

    Back in 2004 I made a road trip on my motorcycle to the west coast. During the 3 week trip I road 4200 miles. I drove down the northwest coast of Washington into Oregon, ate seafood in Seattle and tried to cover as many National Parks as I could fit into the schedule. I camped along the road except for 4 four nights, setting up camp primarily in National Parks.

    I only scheduled one afternoon and night in Glacier National Park which is not near enough time to really see the park. I setup camp in one of the campgrounds near Lake McDonald but for the life of me can’t remember which one. The previous year was one of the worst seasons of fire in Glacier National Park. A 136,00 acres were burned that year. One of the largest fires was the Roberts Fire, which burned 57,570 acres, that is near the lake. I could see the barren and naked landscape across the lake. There was a fire burning nearby, causing a haze to settle into the lower valleys of the park.

    It’s cold outside this evening so I’m going through my archives and found this image that caused me to remember  the trip. I wrote about this trip before and have a color image or the lake, if you care to check it out. I converted this image to black and white with Silver Efex Pro using one of the presets then making a few simple adjustments in Lightroom 4.

    A final thought : I have in the past wished we had more respect for nature but I think I would rather we understood that “we are nature.”

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  • Glacier National Park,  sunsets

    Relaxing Before Bed

    July 12, 2013
    Lake McDonald
    Lake McDonald

    A few years ago I made a trip to the west coast and back in my car. I camped wherever I could to save on cost and be in nature. One of my favorite nights was at Lake McDonald in Glacier National Park. The water in this lake is crystal clear with the bottom of the lake strewn with colored rocks. It sits in a valley created by erosion and glacial activity.  This visit was made in June of 2004 just after the massive fires of 2003.  Approximately 136,000 acres burned within the park boundary. This came after 5 years of drought and the hottest summer temperatures ever recorded in the park. I had a nice campsite back among the trees and away from the lake. Because of the noise from campers and the chugging sound of RV generators I took a walk to the lake. I’m glad I did and just happen to have my camera with me. I think it’s a great way to relax before going to bed.

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  • landscape,  mountains

    Moved to Tears

    October 17, 2011
    Lake McDonald

    In 2004 I made a 3 week tour on my motorcycle from Colorado to the West Coast. I rode 4200 miles and camped along the road during those 3 weeks. I saw some beautiful country and loved the experience. I spent two days in Glacier National Park, which is not enough time, camping along the southern edge of Lake McDonald. After setting up camp I wandered down to the lake. The most striking memory of that lake was the crystal clear water. Standing on shore I could see the bottom of the lake as far as ten to fifteen feet.

    My visit was after the devastating fire in the summer of 2003. That was the most significant fire season in the history of Glacier National Park. After a normal winter snowpack, precipitation was below average from April through June (66% of normal), but more importantly, July, August, and early September brought almost no precipitation. This came on the heels of the 5th year of drought in northwest Montana. Approximately 136,000 acres burned within the park boundary, which was more than during the previous benchmark fire-year of 1910. Most of the forest on the opposite side of the above image were burned out. Yet, as the sun set, the majestic beauty of nature was offering a breath taking display. I really did not take that many images but sat there in a state of awe and wonder. I need to make another visit!

    Thankfully, around the turn of the century, people started to look at Glacier National Park differently. For some, this place held more than minerals to mine or land to farm…they began to recognize that the area had a unique scenic beauty all to its own. I personally call it a life of its own. By the late 1800s, influential leaders like George Bird Grinnell, pushed for the creation of a national park. Fifteen years later, Grinnell and others saw their efforts rewarded when President Taft signed the bill establishing Glacier as the country’s 10th national park. Because of their efforts I had the chance to sit on that shore and was moved to tears.

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