It's becoming a wonderful journey.

A few months ago I decided to turn a personal project into a book. A rather frightening idea for me. All my apprehensions of putting my knowledge, my talent, myself out for public display keep creeping into my internal dialogue.

What if I fail?

What if I do get it done and everyone hates it?

What if I succeed? Could I live up to the expectations?

My experiences while working on the book have, if not squashed these doubts, at least muted them.

First while driving through a state park on Whidbey Island one morning, I happened across a great horned owl sitting on a sign post next to the road. I stopped my car thinking it would fly away when I did. It didn't. I popped open my trunk and pulled out my camera. The owl was still there watching me. It continued to sit there while I rattled off about a dozen frames before it had had enough and flew away into a tree.

A remarkable experience made all the more significant to me by the fact that my mother loved owls. She has been gone from my life for more than a quarter of a century. But seeing this owl, I knew she would have been proud of me and my project. That her encouragement would have helped me through the tougher times. I was filled with a warmth and happiness as if she had been there to give me a hug. I knew I was doing what was right for me.

Now I am also one who is afraid to ask for help - afraid to be an inconvenience to others. So for most of my time researching parks I've been heading out alone. Driving to and from parks by myself or with my dog Zillah who makes an excellent road trip buddy. But it does get lonely.

My last couple of park trips, I've been on the road with friends and I asked rather hesitantly if we could possibly stop so I could grab a couple of photographs and walk around to get a feel of the place. My friends all replied with an enthusiastic YES - happy to help me achieve my goal.

The support I've received from friends has helped to spur me forward. When I began this journey and decided to devote more of my free time to the book over hiking, I kind of resented it. No I enthusiastically plan my weekends around the book and find hiking can get in the way of it. It may be a hard fought balance in the coming months, but this excitement can't be contained.

Fort Simcoe, Washington State Park

Windswept plains, cavalry officers riding into the fort midst Native Americans. Sounds much like the opening scenes of a Hollywood movie. But this little corner of Washington isn't near Hollywood and this isn't a movie. This was life at Fort Simcoe in the mid 1800's. 

Driving out to Fort Simcoe felt like I was driving back in time. No not to 1850 but back to my college days in Wyoming. For me, there was always an air of history no matter where I went in Wyoming from the days before western cultures came to the cavalry and homesteaders. I had those same feelings driving through the plains of eastern Washington to get to remote Fort Simcoe. 

Driving past ranches and rural towns, you finally come to the old fort and it seems just a bit out of place. Where normally you would see utilitarian ranch homes and barns, here you find peaked gables of the Gothic Revival architectural style on the officer's quarters - stark white against the blue sky.

Five of the buildings are original - four of the officer's homes and the blockhouse. The other buildings in the park are reproductions. And all are picturesque. Between April and September, the officers' quarters are open to the public and furnished with period items. During the off-season, the park is still accessible, however the interior of the buildings are not. During the touring season, interpretive programs and re-enactments are offered.

The fort was built near natural springs and cottonwood trees flourish here. You can find birds and small critters in the shrubs and trees near the springs. Flowers bloom in the spring - both native and introduced plants.

And when you're exhausted from all the photo opportunities, lie down on the exercise yard and watch the clouds drift by and maybe get carried back into another time in history.

From Yakima, Take I-82/US 97 south to Lateral A Rd and turn right onto Lateral A Rd. Travel about 10 miles to Fort Rd and take a right. After approximately 12 miles, turn left on Fort Rd Extn. Follow Fort Rd Extn for 2 miles then turn left onto Signal Peak Rd. In approximately 5 miles turn right onto Fort Simcoe Rd. The park is on the left and is well signed.  

Heidi's Hotspots: Mt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest: Artist's Point/Heather Meadows

I absolutely love going to the Mt Baker area. The south side of the mountain a great lake for boating and trails to explore. The north side has a premier ski area, great hiking and stunning views of Mt Baker and Mt Shuksan. This northern side of the mountain is the Heather Meadows/Artist Point area.

Follow State Highway 542 (Mt Baker Highway/Scenic Byway) from Bellingham through farming country and forest. There are several picturesque spots and detours along the way, but your true destination is nearer the end of the road.

In the winter, the road is closed at the ski area but if you are a skier, boarder or snowshoer that is far enough. Winters here are the best with thick snow, lots of slopes and fun ridges. The record snowfall for one season in North America was measured here during the 1998-1999 ski season at 1,140 inches of 95 feet. If snow is what you're looking for, here you will find it. Do take warning though that traveling in the backcountry during winter takes extra precautions on your part. There are many classes teaching you about snow safety and avalanche safety and I highly recommend taking them before venturing beyond the ski area.

Spring and summer comes slowly to Heather Meadows and even more slowly to Artist's Point beyond. There are years that the road to Artist's Point never melts out. But the years it does means there's a spectacle of close views of two extraordinary mountains. Called Koma Kulshan (White Mountain) by the Native Americans in the area, Mt Baker to the southwest is a volcano covered in snow and glaciers all years round. Mt Shuksan to the southeast can claim to be the most photographed peak in North America. And it's easy to see why with its craggy textures and glaciers.

Large groups of photographers gather at Picture Lake just below Heather Meadows to photograph Mt Shuksan in the evening light. You may need to elbow your way into a viewing area. But it's well worth the effort. Higher up on Artist's Point are the best vantage points for Mt Baker in the morning or evening light. Flowers sparkle in the meadows and along the trails. Wildlife can be shy around here, but keep on a lookout for ptarmigan as they frequents the area enough to have a ridge named after the birds.

Life seems to slow down a bit in the autumn on the mountain as the crowds disperse. However fall hiking here is often rewarded with an abundance of ripe blueberries and huckleberries. Some days I come off the trail with juice stained hands. The other benefit of berry bushes are the vibrant colors of the leaves as they begin to turn color. Deep oranges and reds line the meadows and trails for dramatic effect.

With all the fun photo and adventure opportunities near Heather Meadows and Artist's Point, it's easy to see how a person can spend a year here and never be bored.

Autumn, Tis the Season . . .

To look down.

Fresh crisp air with vibrant blue skies and colorful leaves all around. It's very hard to take your eyes off such beauty - you almost get to feeling like a kid again wanting to run through piles of leaves as they float to the ground.

We walk the trails and pathways looking up at the colors in the trees, maybe with a few sun rays streaking through the lingering morning mists. We almost forget to look down unless we stumble.

But the beauty above our heads only tell half the story of this special season.

Go ahead, look down. What do you see?

Ok, if you're at home you're probably looking at your feet and carpet, maybe some toys, power cords and dirty laundry. But get up, step outside. Now what do you see?

Look and you will see colors, shapes and textures - all the things we look for as photographers. You'll see small forests of mushrooms. There's a varied palette of of color in the fallen leaves. And of course leaves of all shapes and sizes.

It's the season to bend over, kneel down or just lie on your belly to capture the world at your feet.

So grab your macro lens - actually any lens will do and go play at your feet.

Washington State Parks: Bay View State Park

A few years ago I thought it might be a fun personal project to photograph Washington State Parks - the centennial was coming up and I thought it might be fun to travel the state and photograph the wonders of our state. It was a personal project. I had no real plans what I would do with the images, I just wanted to be able to find photo opportunities at each of the parks.

Then a friend suggested I write a book, which gave birth to the thought of a photographic guide to the parks. There are so many pretty places in Washington, but with some parks you can easily think of the photographic spots. Others however, photography just doesn't come to mind. Sad too because it leaves an impression that a lot of the parks aren't worth a photo trip.

I recently discovered that I still hold that prejudice. And I have been properly schooled.

I wanted to spend a weekend on Whidbey Island exploring the parks there a little more - there are 6, do you know them? (I'll cover those later.) But all of the campsites on the island were filled and why wouldn't they be as fabulous weather was forecast and everyone wanted one last trip. The closest park with open campsites was Bay View State Park on Padilla Bay across from the Tesoro refinery. Oh great. How photogenic could that be?

But it was a good place for base camp and I was able to explore the parks on Whidbey easily enough. for my schedule, I decided to reserve exploring Bay View until Sunday morning. In my opinion, Bay View was the cherry on top of the weekend.

I woke a little after sunrise having spent the evening before chatting with the couple next door and sharing their fire. Not every images needs to be taken at sunrise or sunset and I needed the extra rest. I set off from the campground to the beach.

The campground is on a small bluff over Padilla Bay - a few of the campsites and the rent-able cabins have a nice view of the bay . . . and the refinery. Below the bluff is a small day-use area, a man-made peninsula of sorts, with picnic tables, horseshoe pits and a volleyball net. And a small little beach to explore the mud flats of the bay. I meandered down to the beach and looked north to a tranquil view of calm waters, peninsulas and barnacle covered rocks. My eyes widened as did my smile. This was gorgeous! As I set about composing my images, I kept thinking how pretty it might have been at sunrise. And, OH! what about sunset?

The beach is small, but the mudflats there are what make Padilla Bay a wildlife refuge. The Breazeale Padilla Bay Interpretive Center is just north of the park and also worth a visit. Birds frequent the bay from the stately Great Blue Heron to the migrating Snow Geese. The beach area offers some nice vantage points for bird photography. Kayaks and other small water craft can be seen offshore.

Take your wide angle and macro lens to the beach. Wide angle for full views of the bay; the macro for the critters and details along the beach. Your longer telephoto for the birds will come in very handy. Set up near either end of the beach where the waters are calmer - most birds will like to rest and feed in the calmer waters. Bring a polarizer to cut down on the reflection off the water and the glare off the rocks.

As for the Tesoro pant across the bay? Well, a little night photography can make it look a bit prettier.