Longer days mean more time for walking around. Although I miss home, there is a lot to see in the Wenatchee and Ellensburg areas. The Wenatchee foothills full of Corvids and meadows, Blewett pass with its larches, and the grasslands between Ellensburg and Vantage with wind turbines, birds, and views of the state's stratovolcanoes had me spoiled for choice in after school activities. -Forrest A Northern Pacific Rattlesnake begrudgingly moving out of my way on a trail in the We

I am bouncing between Wenatchee and Ellensburg for the rest of the month, and I am missing home. Here's a few shots from the Wenatchee Foothills/Blewett Pass areas. -Forrest

Cinco De Mayo was spent wandering around between high bridge and Goode ridge, admiring the flowers, enjoying the sun, and trying a little too hard to see a bear. I should learn by now that if you set off looking for something, you probably won't see it. NOTE: The brush did not "physically beat me back" as others have said about the old wagon trail. -Forrest Blooming Trillium A cabin in the woods. A broody female rufous hummingbird Dead trees make for great bird spotting It's

It was a slow month for my hobby photography, and a busy month for work. A month-long class will have me out of the valley, so looking back on my photos of this month comes with some bittersweetness; I'll be happy to learn some new skills, but it will be hard to be away from such a peaceful place for so long. If i had to choose a theme for this month, it would be owls. Before April 7th, I had only seen an owl 3 times in my life. Since then, I've seen 5, so it's only fitt

Work took me east this last week, to the Kettle Falls area, an area I've never been before. The drive out was stunning; seeing the scenery transition from desert, to grassland, to foothill, to forested mountains unlike the ones I'm used to in the North Cascades was a treat. Camping in a campground along the shores of a pretty empty Lake Roosevelt, I was welcomed with some wonderful sunsets, and visits by wildlife. -Forrest A Violet Green Swallow A Violet Green Swallow Great

Dipping into the archive this week, as I've been busy with work and getting our pullets and cockerels set up in the coop. I went back to a few shots from January, February, and March for this series, showcasing some of my favorite aviation shots from this year, so far. -Forrest A Horizon ERJ-175 on short final for runway 12, at Pangborn Memorial airport in Wenatchee. Pangborn was the eventual destination for the first trans pacific flight in 1931. My grandfather, an engineer

Went out looking for wildflowers up the rainbow loop/boulder creek trail late this past week, trying to take advantage of the balmy weather and blue skies. All I can identify in the way of flowers are balsamroot and lupine, but I appreciate them all the same. I was fortunate enough to see a Great Horned Owl as well, however, growing up the legend was that if an owl crossed your path, bad luck is headed your way, and that certainly has rung true in my life so far. -Forrest Gr

Took a stroll with my wife up the Pacific Crest Trail to Howard Lake (Formerly coon lake), a serine glacially formed lake starting to wake up from a rather warm and wet winter. With plenty of sights and sounds, we spent some time admiring the waterfowl, watching toads hop around, and looking at the newly flowering plants as spring begins to creep into the North Cascades. -Forrest Click/tap each photo to expand! Looking for flowers below the lake. Howard Lake from the northwe

Click/tap to expand! Two Rams checking out the boat along the shore of Lake Chelan. It's not often I am treated to seeing Bighorn sheep, so seeing two with such massive horns was very special. Hoofed animals navigating the steep, rocky terrain of the north cascades is mesmerizing; Imaging myself in thier position is imagining my certain demise in most cases. Jumping from skinny ledge, to percarious rock, these animals make scaling a cliff look easy. There were many photos I