Sand dunes along the Oregon Coast

This is near Florence, Oregon.

Crater Lake National Park

Pic 1: This is the deepest lake in the U.S. at 1900 feet. It was created about 8,000 years ago following the eruption of Mt. Mazama. The lake’s vivid blue color is due to the refraction of light in water combined with Crater Lake’s depth and water purity.

Pic 2: : On top of Garfield Peak at 8,000 feet. We hiked up 1,000 feet and are standing about 2,000 feet above the lake surface. We were alone at the top when we took this picture. Madeleine set the camera on a pile of rocks and used the automatic timer.

In Redwood Country

Pic 1: Richard Nixon lives! Most Redwoods don’t look like this.

Pic 2: Fishing in the Klamath River – how’s that for being connected?

Pic 3: At the fair and rodeo in Eureka

Yosemite National Park

First pic: Half Dome

Next two pics: Rock climbing. Pick out the amateur and the pro. The rope doesn't help pull you up; it is there only to prevent you from falling.

Outward Bound

End-of-training celebration for new leaders, at the OB base camp outside of Yosemite.

Sequoia National Park

Sequoias are the biggest trees in the world and while not the oldest, can exceed 2,000 years. Typically, death will come from being uprooted in strong winds, or by quite-common lightning strikes. They are incredibly resistant to diseases and to the ravages of fire. In fact, more recent research has confirmed that periodic forest fires actually help the Sequoias to propagate by creating openings in the forest for new saplings to grow. And the Senate has never looked so august.