Photographer Jim Loc: Rio Vista, CA

The best way to photograph the Palouse is to spend time driving the miles and miles of dirt and gravel farm roads that criss-cross the area. Tough in an RV, but if you are pulling another vehicle ... Not sure when you are planning to travel, but the place changes dramatically with the seasons. Spring is all greens and bright yellows (canola), while summer is nearing wheat harvest and dominated by golds, browns and blacks. It's worth at least a few days to a week if you can do it, but even a pass through can be a treat.

jstauf

I will be in just my car by that time - husband will have already returned with the truck and RV. I will be in that area in early September, so yes, it will be nearing wheat harvest time. Thanks Jim. I'll have to stick to roads that are on the GPS - I have a "disability" when you turn me in a circle and since I'll be driving alone by that time, I have to be extremely careful or I'll end up either in Spokane, or back in the San Juan Islands!

vinnya Loc: connecticut

was in Glacier this past summer, there are some great views on the going to the sun road. Also into the many glacier area on the east side. Need to get off the road and do some hiking to get great views of scenic areas not seen from the road. don't know if you will be pulling a car in Glacier or what size RV you have but there are restrictions on the going to sun road for length thinks its 21 feet and also width and height.

richosob Loc: Lambertville, MI

Allen, I checked out your photos from crater lake. They are wonderful pictures. Thank you for posting the link.

Rich

Mr. B Loc: eastern Connecticut

I'll offer one tip in regards to Glacier NP. If the Road to the Sun is not fully open when you are there make sure you travel east and access the road from the eastern part of the park. The scenery is much nicer on that end of the park.

carney2

Glacier N.P. is spectacular. Photo ops are everywhere. Unfortunately, glaciers aren't, and you almost have to be a hiker - and maybe even a camper - to get to one. My best day of shooting was the morning I left the Going-To-The Sun Road via the east exit and re-entered at Many Glaciers. The clouds were low around the mountains. Wow! Took a boat ride or two with a mild hike included.

YoungEsqr Loc: Minnesota

I agree 100% about the Canadian Rockies, Lake Louise, Banff, and Jasper.

Rick-ws Loc: Seattle or North Idaho

I'd recommend trying to hit the top of Steptoe Butte at sunrise and take pictures panning from south to north. the early morning shadows on the rolling hills are spectacular.

Just so you know, most of the Palouse wheat is harvested by week two of August. Those farmers that don't practice no/low till farming are already turning over their fields in September and there is an amazing patchwork of earthtone colors for as far as the eye can see.

If you are driving up I-5, don't miss a chance to veer off to Mt. St.Helens and Mt Ranier.

Rick (U of Idaho graduate)

jstauf

Rick - you obviously don't know our personal history :D We watched the several early pressure releases on Mt. St. Helens before it blew - and then the "big one" right outside of our living room window. And . . . I was a teacher there, and one of my former students who took the photograph of the explosion that was published on the cover of Time Magazine.

oldgeezer3 Loc: SoCal

By September the wheat has already been harvested and you will see large expanses of stubble. Find Palouse Falls, though. Good photo stop, but be prepared for a hike.

redrocktom Loc: Sedona

Great resource Jim. Thank you, I plan to subscribe.

texaseve Loc: TX, NC and NH

Mountain Man I love the trees! May I ask did you use one lens or stitch couple pics together? And which lens? I'm going soon for redwoods. thanks

SonnyE Loc: Communist California, USA

Ahh, The California Redwoods!
In the 1980's I lived near them in Northern California.
In 2002, I took Boop to Oregon on the Harley. I made a special effort to take her through the Redwoods and the Avenue of the Giants.
I wanted her to experiance the wonder and beauty of the forest.
It was surreal. Even for me who had been there many times.
The Dyerville Giant had fallen that Spring in a windstorm. We got to see it in a pristine state. They had only begun to make paths along the fallen ancient tree.
When the giant fell, it crushed other trees in it's path. And some which were laying on the forest floor were smashed into kindling and firewood under it's incredible mass.
As we made our way up the Avenue of the Giants, we stopped at the groves along the way. Often we walked into the forest to see what we might find. Coming back from a path that had taken us down to the Eel River, we were back into the grove.
There was a sound, more like a gunshot than anything else. And following it was more strange sounds as we were the only ones there at the time. kind of a wind sound, then some crashing and breaking sounds. And finally the sound of something hitting the soft wet forest floor barely a hundred feet distance from us.
A limb had broken free high up from one of the massive trees, that was the crack like a gunshot. As the limb fell, it turned and came down like an arrow or missile. And when it hit the soft dirt and compost of the forest floor, it embedded itself enough to remain staunchly upright. If anything had been under it, no doubt it would have perished.
We walked over and examined it. It was probably 6-8 inches in diameter, roughly 30 feet jutting into the air, and quite immoveable. But beside it fell a chip from above.
Boop held it in the 3rd picture below for me to get a picture.
Don't miss stopping often, and walking quietly through the groves along the Avenue.
And do watch where you step, the dennison's of the forest can really give you the willies. Millipedes and centipedes bigger than are found most anywhere else. And if you were to step on any of the ~6 inch long banana slugs, well, you'd spend a while trying to clean your shoe.
Enjoy that part of your adventure. It is like traveling back into Primordial Times.
And if you take the highway Northeast from Eureka into Oregon, there are ferns taller than many men are.
You'd expect to see a dinosaur at the next turn.

http://www.redwoods.info/showrecord.asp?id=4583

Do enjoy your travels. ;)

Boop by the trunk of the Dyerville Giant


Boop at the fallen branch.


Boop with a chip from a 30' branch.


The uprooted base of the Dyerville Giant


My bonifides...

jstauf

No, we do NOT plan to visit Yellowstone - we've done that twice in the last 5 or 6 years. But we are going to Lake Coure d Alene (spelling?) on our way. Some friends have a place on the lake, so we're going to stop there for a few days. Then off to Crater Lake, where we'll be meeting up with two other couples.

Thanks so much for your suggestions, though! I will definitely be hitting these "high spots."

jstauf

We will most definitely be walking into the forrest - and avoiding the banana slugs - I am a Pacific Northwest native and am very familiar with slug slime! Nothing grosses me out more than a slug!

I have to say, it's pretty sad when one of these huge trees fall, but of course, that is part of the life cycle. But . . . it is just one less specimine of the few remaining giants that is lost. IF it were to be removed, just one tree could built many houses, I'm sure! We will be taking the Avenue of the Giants walk - thanks so much for the suggestion. And since the Redwoods will be with two other couples that we have been friends with for more than 50 years - you know we're going to be having a wonderful time!