Colorful Skies- Stormy north California coast

California Coast is always cold. The vast Pacific ocean brings unexpected fog, strong winds and wind chill. I was there at Redwood National Park last September and the weather was so bad. Rain, wind and fog, all together. I hiked a part of California Coastal Trail in the park. 

Great Hikes- Zion Subway

Zion Subway, not as insanely popular as Angels Landing but, is another popular attraction among the adventure seekers in Zion National Park. This is a magnificent destination as well as a wonderfully beautiful and pleasant hike. This hike actually defined the word 'solo' for me. For the whole of the 9 long miles I didn't see another human being. It was just me and the canyon. The whisper of the wind, music of the water, singing birds, the sound of my own footsteps and smell of the wet mud were my companions. It was like reconnecting with the Earth!

Colorful Skies- Mt Hood and the blue sky

When I visited Columbia River Gorge, I drove a lot on I-84 along the Columbia River. And Was curious to see Mt. Hood. I went driving on Mt Hood Hwy and Mt Hood is one imposing mountain arising high above the surrounding landscape. Awe inspiring scene!

Close up with Nature- Wild Mushrooms

I have found mushrooms to be very interesting subjects to shoot. What attracts me is their irregular shape and delicate structure!

I took this picture at Redwood National Park, California on the Fern Canyon trail. Reaching the Fern Canyon was a tricky drive on rough unpaved road crossing the stream at three places. Really amazing place!
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Great Hikes- Zion Angels Landing

Zion National Park is a peaceful sanctuary and home for very interesting cliffs and canyons. It also offers few most terrific hikes which excite the visitors beyond imagination. All NPS employees talk about it ... Every visitor wonders about it ... many want to hike it ... few complete it ... and the name is Angels Landing (5,790ft) or earlier known as Temple of Aeolus! At a height 1,488ft above the canyon floor the cliff provides spectacular views of Zion Canyon. Insanely popular, most terrific, most gratifying and most scenic hike I have ever completed. Here is  my story of hiking to the top of knife-edge cliff and back ...

Colorful Skies- Clouds over Zion cliffs

Zion National Park in Utah is one of the best in USA. It offers great hikes leading to incredible views. Even a  drive across the park on Zion Park Blvd (Route-9) is fun! With few hairpin bends and looooong tunnels the drive is interesting. The high standing cliffs on either sides and the blue sky with white scattered clouds, the total scene is a delight to the visitor's eyes.

Birds- Wood Stork

Wood Stork is a large American wading bird and is the only stork that breeds in North America. Their dark brown bald head, a dark face and woody looking neck give them the name Wood Stork. Right now it is in the endangered list, there are plans to upgrade it to the threatened. With wingspan of more than six feet they are normally above three feet high.

National Monuments- Wupatki Ruins and Sunset Crater Volcano

Wupatki National Monument has scattered settlement sites of ancient Pueblo tribes. Wupatki means Tall House in Hopi (a Native American tribe) language, is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. It seems the first  inhabitants migrated to this place after the nearby Sunset Crater volcano erupted. The volcanic ash made this place fertile for agriculture and the volcanic rocks helped in the soil's ability to retain water. The settlements were abandoned completely within 100 years. The ruins in the monument belong to different tribes. The Lomaki and Nalahiku ruins seem to be little smaller and the ruins are reduced to only mud mounds and debris. Only the Wupatki Pueblo is the largest and whatever remains are well preserved. Wupatki ruins have entrance fee of $5.

Colorful Skies- Passage at Bryce National Park

One of the places in USA which made me speechless with its stunning beauty was Bryce Canyon National Park in Utah. The strange towering hoodoos, the passages, the color red, the clear blue skies and beautiful sunsets and sunrises. There is no part of the day one feels bored here.

Scenic Routes- US Route 89A and a stalker!

I have gone on road-trips to Arizona, not much, a little in the northern parts. My journey so far has been part of I-40, on highways 64, 89 and that US-Route-89A from Bitter Springs to Kanab, UT also known as Fredonia-Vermillion Cliffs Scenic Route. It passes the Marble Canyon National Monument, crosses Navajo Bridge, passes Old Cliff Dwellers Lodge, intersects Grand Canyon North Rim Route 67 and it is scenic!