Day Two Dolly Sods - Happy Trails

Big thanks to Gene and to Joanna, to Dave and Jeff for driving, Dave's wife for sharing her comfy car, Jim, John, Jody, Jay, Lou, Steve, Karen, Beth, Maryan, Chad, Giles, Mac, Roger, Lynn, Tammy, Liz, Abdul, and who I forgot though loved being in the woods with.

Day One Hike Two - Seneca Rocks

Even the tourist trail left me lagging, though still able to reach the top of the rock I'd only driven by.

Long time No Blog - Day One, North Mtn.

 

 Staging a small house to picture perfection for a H + G tour and 1260 visitors after a 3 year restoration, changed hike, shoot and blog time to a spring of house mania I'm still coming out of. When West Virginia called, Gene's invitation to join 25 happy hikers for two days was answered without hesitation, just denial that a certain slack level of conditioning could go so much farther south so fast.

Despite harsh lighting the lure of photography offered cover after being dusted by said hikers just about the time we reached mountain laurel height with full bloom coming on and lichens frilling.

Sun shone to the 80's, pine needled shade smelled sweet, and wading cold Red Creek on day 2 refreshed. A good time was truly had by all and few, if any, discouraging words were heard. 25 hikers, a few dogs, a mellow leader running a tight ship, an alert sweep, funky accommodations WV style, up and down trails - what more could you ask.

For Leslie Kiefer, Sean O'Hagen and Robert Adams

Life's twists lead on. Leslie sent me links to her winter beeches, a motif I've obsessed over, and to Sean O'Hagen's Guardian piece about long-time favorite Robert Adams, pushing a button unknowingly. Her rhythmical trunks and pale, twisted leaves, and Adams' B&W ways of conveying connections to place connected with me, Nehalem Bay State Park, from This Day, 2009 especially. I revisited recent images made after another unexpected turn.

Expecting to hike in Shenandoah NPA two weeks ago, I pulled into the shopping center meeting place by 8:00 - and found no hikers. Wondering what happened and what to do, I returned to this fallen beech. This accident, the grey winter woods, the tatooed beech body, the silvered day, Leslie Kiefer, Sean O'Hagen and Robert Adams all conspired unwittingly to cause a color photographer go grey.

Series have become my method.

Thorofare Mtn. Bushwhack

Thoroughfare not

 Nearing Pinnacle Peak (according to Richard's map)

Pinnacle

Reticulated ice momentarily moves my mind from bushwhacking fatigue.

Mt. St. Alban - Indoors on a Wet Winter Day

Starting below ground and ascending above Washington's highest height, the Nat Cat and surrounding  Olmsted-designed gardens and grounds create a restorative haunt. Inside and out, sumptuous design and craftsmanship blend elements of light and flora in Gothic motifs and tracery. Forbidden recesses and soaring spaces express hierarchies in darkness and light, low and high.  I find the place as provocative as it is evocative. Ever photo-friendly after all these years, tripods are still permitted.