January Adventure - 2018 Part 1

A couple of weekends ago Ann and I had our first adventure of 2018.  The trip was as odd as the week leading up to it.

Ann and I were itching to get out and do some photography, and not just a short day trip.  The question was where?  In the winter time, that question is often answered by the weather, and in this instance, the weather forecast kept changing on us during the week leading up to the trip.  At one point the weekend forecast for the entire state was for rain, snow, rain and snow, or rain/sleet/snow.  It wasn’t looking good.  We finally decided that regardless of the weather, we were going out and would have to make a call as to where on the day we leave.  

Even the day of departure changed for us.  We had an appointment on Friday afternoon, so we decided we’d get ready to take off early on Saturday morning and spend Saturday night who-knows-where.  But on Thursday afternoon the person we were supposed to meet called us and said she was sick, and asked if we could move our appointment.  Given that Ann and I both have had the sniffles since we were sick in November, changing the appointment sounded like a great idea.  Plus we could leave early!

So on Thursday night we checked the forecast - still very mixed for most of the state through Friday and Saturday and maybe ok in the central part of the state on Sunday.  Knowing that the weather was definitely going to hit the coast, we looked inland and Ann suggested the Metolius River area.  We went online and found out that most of the Forest Service campgrounds by the Metolius were still open (but with limited services), so that became our destination.  Hopefully, we’d get some snow and have a good opportunity to scout things out a bit in an area we hadn’t explored much before.

I got up early to put in a decent work day, and called it quits by lunch time.  Not long afterwards, we had packed up Beast and were on our way to Sisters to fill up, and head towards the Metolius River.  Driving along the McKenzie Highway, we came across some lovely snow areas as we cross the Santiam Pass.  We were getting excited about the prospect of shooting in the snow.  That excitement quickly dissipated as we descended into the Ponderosa Pine-scented eastern Cascades - there wasn’t much snow at the lower elevations on this side of the Cascades either.  But as expected, the campgrounds were pretty much empty and we found a spot as darkness descended.

The next morning we woke up to a couple of inches of fresh snow.  Actually, it was the thunk of snow falling off of tree branches onto Beast that woke us up, but still, there was a bit of snow.  After some coffee and breakfast, we loaded things up and hit the road to see what was around for the offering.  Not far down the road we stopped by a spot where a couple of small islands broke-up the Metolius River.

Even that early in the morning, you could tell that it was warming up and the snow was starting to melt.  Not quite the type of snow we were hoping for.  Still, we continued along the Metolius stopping here and there to check out one location or another.  There are some really nice camping areas along the river.  At one point, I pulled out my iPhone to make one of my bark compositions.  Sometimes I just can’t help myself.

We kept driving along the snow-covered Forest Service road, stopping periodically to check things out, until it was wiser for us to turn around.  At that point, our DEF (diesel emissions fluid) light came on.  We could have hung around for awhile even with the indicator light on, but since we hadn’t found any place in particular that struck our photographic fancy, we decided to head into Sisters to DEF up and reassess our opportunities.  

Once in Sisters (read: cell phone coverage) we found out that the weather forecast had changed and that the rain/snow wasn’t supposed to hit central Oregon at all.  Ann suggested that we continue down the road and check out Smith Rocks, so after a stop at Sister’s Coffee, we hit the road again.  

By the time we arrived at Smith Rock it was windy as could be and we were about two hours too late.  Ann saw an image she’d like to make, but it was the wrong time of day - the wall she was interested in was fully in shadow.  As we scouted around, doing a bit of hiking in the process, we discussed whether we wanted to stay in the area to photograph the next day, or to keep roaming about. 

We took the opportunity while there to see some parts of the park we hadn’t checked out before, using our iPhones to record locations, but we eventually decided that it didn’t seem like the place to be.  Roaming about seemed to be the theme!

Ann (she’s usually the one with the good ideas) then suggested we head to our traditional fall-back - the Painted Hills.  Driving through Prineville, we decided it was time for more coffee and to grab a bite to eat.  As we came out of Starbucks, Ann said, “Hey, that looks like your kind of tree!”  And it was:

As we passed through the Ococho Mountains on the way to the Painted Hills, we came across more snow.  While we decided not to stop, we did put it on our list of things to check out on the way back. 

Fortune was upon us because the light was simply incredible when we arrived at the Painted Hills.  While it was cloudy, it wasn’t a heavy overcast so there was this lovely glow from the grasses.  We decided to head down along the grassy hills to see what we could make of some of the less traditional views. 

We were glad to come here in a very different season and were again surprised just how colorful everything was.  Much like our trip late last year, the plant colors appear with the winter rains and the soil colors are much deeper.  I think we both agree that the grasses are much more interesting in winter than in the summer.  The contrast really seemed to bring out the forms in the land in a way that isn’t as apparent during the dry months.  And everything really lit up when the sun popped through the clouds.

As we wandered down the vegetated hillsides (we had a ranger tell us it was ok to walk on the grassy areas!) it offered us different perspectives of subjects we’ve photographed numerous times before, but from different vantage points.  

As we made our way back to Beast, we realized that the direction of the light was best for the main ridge of hills that form the iconic views of the Painted Hills. So we decided not to even try checking out other possible sites and kept walking past Beast to set up facing the ridge.  We spent the last part of the day pretty much in the same location.   

The light was simply lovely, with the setting sun breaking through the dark clouds as evening approached.  Ann commented how the hills had a sheen, much like silk stockings, that you don’t see when they’re dry.  She’s right.

In some ways, they didn’t even look real.  But they are. 

The light kept changing, from veiled, to overcast, to stark, and back again.

All we had to do was look in different directions, change camera lenses, and let the sky give us a light show.  It was almost too easy.  And it was certainly a lovely way to spend a late afternoon.

Eventually, the sun set, and yet again changed the mood of the Painted Hills.  So Ann and I walked a bit farther up the ridge line to get a slightly different final view.

And then we called it a day.

We drove through the back of the park and, as we expected (it was January for goodness sakes), no one was in our camping spot.  So we pulled Beast onto an area we know is level and set up for the night.  

If the east side of the Cascades fills you with the scent of Ponderosa Pine, the Painted Hills blesses you with Juniper.  I think I’ll always associate the smell of Juniper with this place.  Not a bad association to have!

And what a way to fall asleep!  The smell of Juniper, the not-so silence of the outdoors, and the knowledge that tomorrow was another day for photographing!