I’m going to the well again for this week’s photo….The Tom McCall Preserve well. As the flowers are just starting to bloom in that area of the Gorge, the balsamroot and lupine should be in full throat in about another three weeks. Click photo for larger view.
On a recent press trip to Western Montana’s Glacier Country, we were treated to a full day of snowmobiling by Swan Mountain Outfitters. During the course of the 50-plus mile day of snowmobiling we encountered moose, exhilarating scenery, and at the summit of Big Mountain….snow ghosts! Snow ghosts are trees that are coated in rime ice; which is caused by a frosty stew of environmental factors including low temperatures, high winds, and freezing fog. The fact that we arrived near sunset produced a surreal feeling as the clouds morphed with dark but vibrant colors, passing over the giant trees aching to uphold their icy burden. Click on photo for larger view.
On A press tour of the Seaside/Astoria area of the Oregon Coast last week we stopped at the Seaside Aquarium. The former salt water natatorium is the oldest privately owned aquarium on the west coast. And home to amazing sea life like this anemone. Click on pic for larger view.
It’s not just a dessert; it’s a restaurant in Astoria, Oregon. The Baked Alaska Restaurant & Lounge is a front-runner in the burgeoning Astoria culinary scene. And their version of the Baked Alaska dessert is a show stopper!
I spent the last week in Western Montana”s Glacier Country, on assignment for Northwest Travel Magazine. During that time I reveled in new experiences, marveled at stunning landscapes, and made new friends and countless memories. And took a metric ton of photos. Seriously, look forward to many Pictures of the Week coming from this recent trip. This shot is from a dog sledding excursion we took with Base Camp Big Fork LLC on a frozen Swan Lake. The blend of Montana Big Sky scenery and a truly unique activity made for an experience that will stick with me for quite sometime.
I love soup. Chef Adam Sappington at the Country Cat Dinner House & Bar in Portland, Oregon is very good at making soup, among other things (remember the smoked Steelhead Benedict?) A wonderful, symbiotic relationship is born. From the article:
“It’s easy to get excited about the culinary scene in this part of the country. Things like local, seasonal, organic, Farm to Table, slow food – and that’s just the quick rundown. Another approach to cooking that is garnering a lot of attention in our little corner of the world is whole animal cooking. If you haven’t heard of whole animal cooking before, it’s pretty much exactly what it sounds like. Chefs are receiving entire animals, butchering and preparing them onsite, and utilizing as much as possible, the entire animal. Scared? You shouldn’t be. This is the art of cooking incarnate. The way it was done for many, many years. And the benefits of this approach are many: reduced waste, deeper, more complex flavors, as well as creative dishes that open the door to a whole new world of experimentation and exploration. It is the next step in a progression that solidifies the fact that chefs in the Northwest are looking backward to take their cuisine forward.” Read the whole thing here.
In the March issue of Northwest Travel Magazine I write about the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument. Within the Monument, the Painted Hills Unit is easily one of the most photogenic spots in the state of Oregon. Click here for an online appetizer.
For the first time in the history of this website, the picture of the week was not taken by yours truly. But it was taken by my girlfriend, with my camera, and I’m in it. So it’s close. This is from last week’s hike along the Clackamas River Trail up to Pup Creek Falls. The trip served a few purposes: Get the GPS tracks of this hike for the Hiking Waterfalls in Oregon guidebook, and get photos of KEEN’s brand new line of CNX shoes and sandals for the company’s upcoming ad campaign. This was my first venture into the world of male modeling and I think I did well. I took direction like a champ and I kept my face out of the frame. Photo courtesy of Stephanie Paris.
My first feature story for a magazine hit newsstands today. Click here for the online version. Here’s a taste:
“The Pacific Northwest attracts explorers. It always has. From native tribes, to foreign ships, to frontiersmen and woman, the allure of the region has always proven strong. Today, locals as well as tourists are keeping that spirit of exploration alive. The quest continues for new places to find solitude, adventure, beauty, relaxation and inspiration. In this part of the world there is always a new discovery around the next bend: a hidden gem of a trail, waterfall or wilderness.”
Because the Portland Aquarium is new, and Moon Jellyfish are awesome.
Adam Sawyer 