AMA DABLAM BLUE

SUNSET ON EVEREST

Cracks in the Ice

The Queen: Ama Dablam

Thamserku

Namche Valley

Cho Oyu

The Talon and the Larches

Sunrise on the Ridge

Mount Assiniboine

Reflection

Bugaboo Spire

Waves

Cobalt Lake

Water and Ice

Purple Hour

Olympic Fog

Sunset Olympics

Star of the Show

Dragontail

The Trio

Dry Falls

Little Mashel Falls

So Close. So Far.

Sunrise Across the Valley

Mt. Washington

The Light Broke...

Shine the light

Power and persistence

The Olympics

Another Day Signs Off

Keep A Light On

Sunset at Sculpture Park

Rise above

Floating on Fire

EVERYTHING ELSE || LIMITED EDITION PRINT

First light on Mt. Si

Blue hour morning

34 SECONDS || LIMITED EDITION PRINT

BE THE RIVER || LIMITED EDITION PRINT

Calico Hills II

Sun rise on the ledge

UFO

Frozen on the Lake

Floating Bridge

Alone on the mountain

Stop and smell the roses

Guardians of the Valley

AMA DABLAM BLUESometimes the power is in what you don't see.

SUNSET ON EVEREST"I am watching the sun set on EVEREST." Shortly before taking this photo (on day 16 of our trek), we reached our highest point: the peak of Kala Patthar at 5,634m (18,474ft). Sitting there I was overcome with emotion and recorded a teary-eyed video for my wife in gratitude for her and for her amazing love and support. After more than a year of planning and preparation, and after all of the effort over the last 16 days, I had arrived at the top, at the goal, at the best viewpoint of Mt. Everest. It just all kind of hit me at once. Realizing the best angle is just below the summit, we made our way down the mountain a bit to be humbled and privileged to witness this scene. Going in, I wasn't focused on 'getting my Everest shot' as I'm not one particularly drawn to the iconic shots, but once there, once it was so clearly in view, once the sun started going down and gifted us this, it was a different story and I was once again awe struck and emotional. I was standing at 18,500ft watching the sun go down on the highest spot on this planet. It was surreal. I was watching the sun set on Mt. Everest. And I repeat (and repeated to myself) "I am watching the sun set on Mt. Everest". How lucky of me to be in this position. How grateful I was. It was pure magic and joy. (Footnote: this is where my very robust Gitzo GT3542 tripod - light for its class, but by no means a travel one ;) - earned its keep: this is a 45 second exposure which would not have been possible on anything lighter given the conditions. Well done, GT, you were worth the weight :)..Yours truly, U-Haul! )

Cracks in the IceI was fascinated by the cracks in the ice of the Khumbu Glacier which transitioned from the Khumbu icefall ‘just uphill’. There it moves at a rate of 1 meter per day, and doesn't really care if you're trying to get past it on your way up Mt. Everest. . The cracks are small, but that doesn't make them any less dangerous. At any point they can (and have - more so than any other spot on the Summit route for Everest) take a life or more by giving way and swallowing those above them. The small cracks cause the ultimate damage in the long run. And so I’ve found that little saying of “There are no small things” to ring equally true in this thing called life that’s filled with relationships.. Turns out the small things are the most important things to address, to discuss, to process - to feel - before they grow into those big cracks and swallow you. It can feel silly to even bring some of them up, because it’s just a small thing, right? Just happened once or twice, way easier to brush under the table, eh?! But if you don’t, if you let them rest, simmer and stew (and stew they will) they will grow, they will gain power, they will get you…eventually. . So here’s to having the courage to bring stuff up, the little stuff ( and hey, the big stuff, too!) realizing that no matter how small, it’s big.

The Queen: Ama DablamIf Everest is King, Ama Dablam is the undisputed Queen. Few mountains in this world are in the same league in terms of raw beauty and majesty. It's just a mountain's mountain, and the one I picture when hearing that word. I paid my dues to get this shot from Ama Dablam basecamp @ 4,600 m / 15,092 ft (we all did!) What was supposed to be a fairly easy day with plenty of time before sunset to get settled, turned into an epic and grueling adventure that took us up and down over no fewer than 3 (4? 5?) ridges, had us hopping across "you-better-not-miss-this-step-or-you're-hosed-rocks" as we crossed a glacier / moraine, arriving maybe 15 minutes prior to this light that lasted all of 2 minutes. But…of course…in the end…it was worth it. And that's not a statement regarding my evaluation of this image, it's my valuation of the journey and the battle to simply be able to be there to push that shutter button. Priceless. Hope you're all off to a great 2020, marching towards whatever mountain you have your sights on.

ThamserkuThere are a few things that I found constant when trekking across the Himalaya: dust, cold, non-fresh bakery (not that that stopped my sampling 😊), Nepali time (multiply by at least 2 😎 ), 'Nepali flat' (not!), good company.....and this guy...Thamserku.From the earliest days of the trek to nearly the highest points on the journey, Thamserku (6,608m / 21,680ft) seems always to be there for you, if not alone then with its ridge connected Kangtega (not pictured). Its distinct peaks served me as an anchor of consistency and comfort as we made our way from one village to the next, getting to know its varied faces while discovering more new territory with each earned step. And it made me wonder, at times, if we were actually progressing at all (how, on Earth, could it still be in view?!?) 😉 It feels like an old friend now. I make up we know each other. It's seen me make my way up and down. It knows what it took and gives me a little nod, while I humbly gaze up in utter awe of its presence and perseverance. And it knows that too, straightens up just a bit more than usual, and continues to just...be. Hats off, Thamserku. You da' mountain.

Namche ValleyThis shot certainly doesn't scream Himalayas, perhaps it even evokes thoughts of warmer tropical climates. That said, it is sunset from the hills above Namche Bazar, which is the last large village you walk through on your way to Gokyo or Everest Base Camp (or both, as was our case). For me, this image reminds me of the calm before the storm, the mystery of what was ahead, the mystery of the unknown. We knew that after leaving here it would get progressively harder, colder, longer, steeper, and fewer (oxygen!). I had that fear of 'What if I can't make it? What if I get sick?' in the back of my mind, hyper aware, anxious and looking for any 'not normal' signs I may have felt that could signal trouble ahead (and I'm pretty confident I wasn't alone in that). After all the research, training and preparation, the reality was that we just didn't know what truly lay ahead. There was no way we could. So, to me, this image is that last look back over the shoulder to the comforts of the known, before putting my head back down and marching forward on the adventure of a lifetime into a new and alien world…one step at a time. Curious if any thoughts, feelings or memories come to mind for you?

Cho OyuHow do you start to summarize, to represent, to narrate an event of a lifetime? How do you do justice to something you haven't fully processed yet yourself? Something that may take its own lifetime to digest? Something you're pretty sure you'll never fully honor in words or other expressions no matter how much time passes??? ...You got me, so I guess I'll just start. It took 8 days, ~40 Km (~25 miles) trekking with ~2,000 meters vertical gain (~6,500 ft) to take this shot from 4,790 meters (~15,700 ft) of the 6th highest mountain on this planet (Cho Oyu, 8,201 meters / 26,906 ft) at sunset. Like everything within those 8 days (and the 12 that followed) it was unforgettable, and I realize it isn't/wasn't/will never be about the photos, but about the adventure, the memories and bonds built with my trail mates tagged here a.k.a. Poison, Terabyte, Velvet, Bugs and Valley :) With love to all of them and the lands we crossed, U-Haul.

The Talon and the Larches

Sunrise on the Ridge

Mount Assiniboine

Reflection

Bugaboo Spire

Waves

Cobalt Lake

Water and Ice

Purple Hour

Olympic Fog

Sunset Olympics

Star of the Show

Dragontail

The Trio

Dry Falls

Little Mashel Falls[L7718] Lots of themes jump to mind on this one, but what stands out the most at this moment for me is all about what you don't see. What you don't see is the 125 foot waterfall drop that terminates immediately to the left of this frame, the edge of which is catching the two boudlers in the back. What you do see is probably not what most would describe to you upon their return from this great location in the PNW which can mean a couple of things: I totally missed the boat and I don't know what I'm doing, or I consciously decided to miss that boat, focused on what caught MY eye, focused on what I wanted to focus on, and perhaps….still don't know what I'm doing :) I'll lean to some variation of the second one as that's my choice to make..you make yours ;)

So Close. So Far.[L7842] his was taken at a small stream where everything but the top of that big rock (and the end of the tiny twig just left & up from it) was under water. I was struck by how this submerged log created these two very different worlds, two worlds so close - only inches apart! - but seemingly so far in terms of sharing any common characteristics. The green, the black and general chaos on the left, the smooth Mercury like flow of the water over the log, the more monotone and uncluttered blue/white water on the right. So different left to right. But the rock. The rock reminds that it's a rock on that side just like the smaller ones are on the other. And, of course, the water is water on the left, it's water on the right. It just may look a little different. What do I make out of all of this? It's often easy to miss the obvious which unites us, which can unite us, which could unite us, that which we could use as a bridge to connect.

Sunrise Across the ValleySome you painstakingly plan, quadruple checking conditions, weeks ahead of time, tracking updates each day. Sunrise/sunset times, cloud cover (low/medium/high???), 3D maps complete with anticipated sunlight patterns to figure out exactly where the sun will hit IF the conditions are right, hiking trail conditions, hike times, and on and on.. .And then there are others, like this one, that you just walk up on after having had only the loosest of plans. Moral of the story?? I don't know…Life is good. Enjoy it all :)

Mt. WashingtonThe last touch of light belonged to Mt. Washington

The Light Broke...

Shine the lightThe amount of light that shines on you is the exact amount that should be shining on you at that moment. That's been a hard one for me to learn but I'm making progress. Instead of wishing that moment was different, instead of just trying to escape it, I've learned to sit in it, feel it, linger in it, and process it. It's hard, but things become clearer and I learn a little bit about myself each time. I like how the light was shining on these rocks at this time. It was perfect. Here's to you having a perfect Monday, which is to say, of course, the exact Monday you had.

Power and persistenceIt just kinda looks like these rocks have been through a lot, doesn't it? Some large slabs with cracks and sheers, smaller blocks staircased upon each other, water forcing whatever way it wants down their sides. And the rocks are beautiful. Beautiful as themselves, beautiful for giving life to the few plants trying their best to make a living amongst them, beautiful for accommodating and guiding that water as best as they can. Hats off to ya', rocks.

The OlympicsL8948 | Sunset on the Olympics from on top of Mount Ellinor

Another Day Signs OffAmazing to think of all that happened on its stage. How many smiles, how many tears, how many lives come, and how many lives gone on to their next chapter. May you be present within all of it. R.I.P. Opa Jack. Thank you for all the love, laughter and joy you brought to those around you.

Keep A Light OnSun setting @ Discovery Park in Seattle, coloring all it touches. Keeping a light on to help others navigate. It's really easy to turn away, to write situations / people off, to not invest the energy and compassion to look deeper and see what's really at work. It can feel overwhelming to me to do so, and it's much more convenient to get on with my day, because hey - I got stuff to do. But I know that really just creates darkness, and I suffer in the end. Each time I do invest, when I look deeper and try to connect, I'm rewarded. The lighthouse is a good reminder to try and shine that light...onto others and onto myself.

Sunset at Sculpture ParkThe mountain. It's not screaming, it's not cowering. It's not basking in the light, it's comfortable in the shadows, not hiding in them. From sun to shade, day to night, it's neither smaller nor larger. Its presence is strong regardless. It's consistent. It's a mountain ;)

Rise aboveThe outlook is better. Taken from 9.3k feet up on Mt. Adams, the view at sunrise across to Mt. Hood with Mt. Rainier in the background. Peaceful and majestic, without a worry about the darkness below. A good reminder to rise above whenever possible, and not to worry about anything that's going on 'beneath' you.

Floating on FireLooks like that mountain (Mt. Hood @ 11,249 ft) is floating on the sunlit clouds on a cold winter day. Is this one of those, "Things aren't always as they seem" or "Don't judge a book by its cover", or "You should know better" types of posts? Maybe. It may also just be a "I think that looks kinda' cool" type of post. Everyone gets to decide for themselves ;)

EVERYTHING ELSE || LIMITED EDITION PRINT[L2221] CLICK TO BUY It can be a challenge to keep those spirits high day after day and not succumb to the Monday blues (regardless of what day it is). At times, it can seem that the smallest things can swing my mood from one end of the spectrum to the other, and when that happens, I know it's time to reflect and try to understand what's really going on. Usually I find that I'm too externally focused, not centered on what's really most important to me: my presence with myself, my relationship with my wife and my kids. That's what's important. Everything else just…doesn't…matter.

First light on Mt. Si[L0001] Magical moment catching this first light and its path on not just the peak, but the tree and the other rocks between them. I couldn’t imagine it any better and I feel humbled and lucky to have captured it. . I like the play between the size of the objects that the light touches. To me, it says no matter how small or big, there's enough for everyone and we don't have to compete to 'get ours'. A good lesson for life, love, generosity, joy…you name it.

Blue hour morningHope you all had a great year and are poised for the next one! For me, it was full of learning, appreciation, love, challenges and triumphs. I am eternally grateful for every day I get to spend here and value each of them more as time goes on. Being present is that ultimate challenge for me, and I'm proud of my track record on that over this past year as it was marked with improvement, far from perfection, but improvement ;)

34 SECONDS || LIMITED EDITION PRINT[L0567] CLICK TO BUY 1 of 3 in a series of long exposures in Mt. Rainier National Park

BE THE RIVER || LIMITED EDITION PRINT[L0587] CLICK TO BUY | Be the river…It's a lot smoother.

Calico Hills II(Dust off that old hat) It's Showtime!I make up that this is the forgotten one, the ridiculed one, the discarded stepchild. The least colorful of all of the surrounding mountains, destined to play second fiddle tucked behind its rich, lush, center-stage brethren for all of time. . . Except for now. Except for right in this moment where all eyes are on it as the sole recipient of the sinking sun. It is the star of the show, and it dusts off its hat, pulls those shoulders back and stands proud, acutely aware of the sudden rush of attention, embarrassed about it while at the same time thinking 'ya damn right!'. . . And people notice, and people notice it's deeper beauty, those features they hadn't bothered to acknowledge because they were too busy looking elsewhere. And people look at it differently now, even when the spotlight turns off, because they have seen it. . . Yeah, that's what I make up ;)… Have a great weekend, and keep those eyes open.

Sun rise on the ledge"You miss 100% of the shots you don't take" - Wayne Gretzky, by Michael Scott ;) This shot is the result of getting up at 5am, driving a short 40 minutes, navigating the lake and surrounding area for the first time in the dark with a headlamp while being blasted by wind non-stop as temps were below freezing. Even properly bundled up with some slick @vallerret gloves, anytime fingers were exposed they went numb quickly, and due to the sand whipping around, my graduated ND filter came home with a couple of scratches, too…never mind the lovely new tripod and ball head getting their first battle wounds afte toppling over not once but twice (without the camera on it, whew!) as I was (somewhat poorly) trying to manage the situation. In the end, there's nothing special in the above. There's nothing that's really unique to me. I'm proud of myself for making it happen, for not hitting snooze on the alarm, and I'm proud of the result, but anyone can do it. You just gotta' get out there and take the shot. Hope you took your shot today.

UFOIt was going to be an epic sunset and I had the location scouted out and composition framed with plenty of time to go until sunset. The clouds were high/medium and light, it was a beautiful winter evening in the mountains. All I had to do was wait. It was going to be great….until it wasn't :) As you can see, the army of dark clouds rushed in and stole the show, but I got that one cloud lit up nicely before it, too, was gone. Did the outcome make the journey any less enjoyable for me? Not in the least. As I responded to someone today elsewhere, I've heard that 'Life is a journey', but through my experiences, I've learned and come to believe that 'The journey is life'. Monday was great. It went according to plan. And if it hadn't, I like to think it still would've been great. How was your Monday?

Frozen on the LakeI was busy setting up a composition, trying to isolate the two large tree trunks with a simple background. As I was starting to get annoyed that this one damn root from a different trunk was in the way, I finally saw the details...the icicles, and the highlighting the setting sun was adding to them. I moved my tripod by about 10 feet, turned 45 degrees, and voila. A good reminder for me to be open, receptive and curious about the details.

Floating BridgeSide view of (most of) the 2nd longest floating bridge in the world (the 1st is just up the road).

Alone on the mountainCamping at 9,300 feet, with the mountain all to myself. Magical. Cold....but magical :)

Stop and smell the rosesI like to reflect on my photos. Sometimes it's very proactive (I have the plan before), sometimes it's reactive (I draw meaning out of the situation / composition / capture afterwards). This is one of the latter ones, and I'm reminded that it's not about the destination, but it's the journey (cliché's exist for a reason!), and that you should always take the opportunities when they present themselves. I was on my way to Mt. Adams for hiking, camping and photography when I passed this. How many times would I have just continued on and said, 'Yeah, nice, but I'm on my way to something better/grander…' How many times do I make similar decisions on any number of matters? Too many. Every time I DO stop instead I'm rewarded. Not by the result, but by the satisfaction that I've stopped to smell the roses (boom!). Here's to you stoppin' to smell your Monday.

Guardians of the ValleyA cloudy day on a mid-September day in Mt. Rainier National Park, specifically near the top of the Van Trump trail. I felt the line of trees, specifically the tall middle one, were on guard protecting the valley beyond from all. The sharpness of the trees, along with the drama in the sky had me hooked.

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