Willow and I got away for a few days to the mountains of northwest Washington to escape the never-ending days filled with choking wildfire smoke in our little valley. It was a little smoky over there but nothing like here. We were overjoyed to hike in the mountains again and Willow spent lots of time in clear cool water. It was past the peak of wildflower season but still some of the fireweed, asters and monkeyflowers were putting on a good show. Sometimes a person needs a change of scenery.
I was camped next to a glacier-fed river last week and one morning got to watch an American Dipper (formerly known as a Water Ouzel) forage in the clear cold water.
Oh gosh, it’s never ending. Scenes from a smoky week at home when I had planned to be camping next to a mountain lake. Many birds have left. The dogs seem to have a pretty good attitude but the smoke is bad for them too.
Fire season is hitting us hard this year. There are large fires in all directions around us. The Ptarmigan fire is threatening my favorite hiking spots to the north. The Sinlahekin is bearing down on my favorite hiking spots to the northeast. All the fires dump smoke high in the air and then it settles into the valleys as the wind dies down. Our air has been unhealthy for days. I had hoped to go camping this past week but the air was bad everywhere I looked. All over Washington and Oregon too. I want to see the Milky Way and meteor showers. Willow is bored and so am I. The forecast shows some relief coming but also increased fire activity. These fires will not stop til the snow falls.
Finding photo subjects is nearly impossible. The smoke colors the light in strange ways. I made some photos and tried to adjust the color to what I think it would be under ‘normal’ circumstances. Others, I left as is or made black and white. Summer in the west.
I spent a little time with two pikas last week. They were wary, watching me and also Willow on the trail below them. They are about the cutest little creatures around. Those ears! The whiskers and eyelashes!
My Everyday Photos 