Due to light pollution, it’s hard to find a place where a person can see the Milky Way. According to Dark Sky International, “light pollution is the human-made alteration of outdoor light levels from those occurring naturally. Light pollution disrupts wildlife, impacts human health, wastes money and energy, contributes to climate change, and blocks our view of the universe.”
I am lucky. I don’t have to travel far to see the Milky Way. Here are a few images from the past week.
We got up early the other day to try to beat others to this popular trailhead. It wasn’t too crowded nor too hot. Sky can’t go far in the heat so we try to take it easy for her sake. Willow goes and goes, probably twice as far as me and Sky! It wasn’t that long ago that Sky could go and go. This is the trail where Sky had her first hike and drank out of her first creek. She may have been carried for part of that hike. She was still a little pup.
We had some hot weather this past week with temperatures going to 100 three days in a row. Needless to say, the dogs and I did not get outside much during the days. That brown dog was pretty bored. On one of the evenings we drove to a place where we could get to the river and it was so nice. The girls were busy checking the pee mail all along the trail. So much news to catch up on. Once we got to the river, we found some sticks and the real fun got started. Willow has learned to appreciate big sticks like Sky but Sky had to assert herself and let Willow know that she is still the chief branch manager. Back at home, we were treated to an amazing sunset.
This group of Columbian ground squirrels seemed to be posing for family photos. First there was one, then there were three and then there were four, although the fourth one was a little camera shy. And then there was one.
I don’t know what they were watching. Maybe my car, parked to the left and behind? The dogs were in it. And then to the right. Did they sense something I did not? They were pretty cute.
The girls and I spent another week in the mountains and most of our walks were in the meadows. Other trails are exposed and too hot for Sky and there is no water. But the meadows are lush, green, damp and there are some ponds and a stream for them to cool their feet. Lots of trails through the meadows too. They didn’t mind my slow movements as I photographed the flowers. Sky picked and ate huckleberries while Willow found sticks and tossed them in the water.
My Everyday Photos 