12 Days of Winter Wonder Photo Challenge - Day 1: Frost 📷
Heavy fog had condensed into these extravagant ice crystals at the side of the road as I hiked between trailheads.
This is Lower Island Lake, because, yes, that tree is on an island (which at the moment is surrounded by ice). And yes, there is an Upper Island Lake right nearby.
“Perseverance”
I have a photo of this exact same tree (along the Fuji Mountain Trail) from two years ago. It hasn’t grown much, but I’m pleased to see that it’s still hanging on just fine.
“I Want to Grow Up Just Like You”
A patch of sun where an old tree went down has enabled this new tree to start up.
“Above and Below”
Weather was lovely yesterday, but the ice on the ponds says winter is really here.
“Spider House”
This little gal worked hard to make a home under a mushroom. Only the fog and sun made all that work visible.
“Song Dog”
This coyote was hanging out right next to the trail at Mount Pisgah, and barely moved even when people and dogs came down the trail. At the closest I was only a dozen feet away. I suspect it’s been acclimated to people by being fed.
It was a dreary foggy day when I started hiking, but halfway up Mount Pisgah I broke out of the fog layer into a lovely day. It was clear enough to see Middle and South Sister (on the horizon to the left), which is rare in this location.
“Washed Out”
Believe it or not, this is a color photo. I love most everything about it: the way the fog softened and desaturated everything in view, the shape of the tree and weeds, even the ghostly telephone poles in the back. Photos like this make me think I’m getting better at the craft.
“Alien Landing Pad”
Or maybe not. I don’t know who flagged this plot on Mount Pisgah or why, but they clearly wanted the boundaries to be very evident.
