The Peregrine Fund

On my drive back from Denver I stopped at the Peregrine Fund, and World Center for Birds of Prey, in Boise, Idaho. Chukars greeted me in the parking lot, and I had fun exploring the Falconry Archives, and educational center. A fun stop to stretch my legs!

Alaska this weekend...

I'm sitting here watching the weather for St. George Island, a small island (about 35 square miles) with a population of 152. It's raining, with lows in the upper 30's expected for tonight. The weather is having no effect on my spirits, which are high. I've dreamt about going out onto this island since I first saw photos from a friend about five years ago. Since then, the sea birds, seal teeth, and caribou have captured my imagination. This weekend, it will all come to life...

Beijing!

After traveling to Beijing, I am really at a loss for words... It is such an amazing place, and my visit there lasted about 24 hours, so it really all was a whirlwind. For the sake of time, I will post some photos, and maybe return to the post and update it with an account of what all went on. You can check the group's blog  to read other's accounts of our travels.

Mongolia Abroad Blog

 So, enjoy a few photos from Beijing!

LAX to Beijing

Currently I am sitting in the International Terminal of the LAX airport, waiting for Air China to begin boarding our flight! Today has flown by… I woke up in the Bat Cave (dad’s place) and made sure all of my bags were packed and in order, then finished up some to-do’s and visited with Aunt Jennifer, who stopped by to say hi, and brought some delicious snacks for my trip, along with a sweet early-birthday Patagonia pullover! I’ll be wearing that in Mongolia for sure! After our visit, Yum and I took a walk down to the park and enjoyed the sun as we stretched our legs before I began my long adventure of sitting on planes, trains, and buses. The international terminal is very interesting; it feels more like a foreign country more than any other place I’ve been in the United States before. The people-watching is quite exciting, and airport announcements are broadcasted in other languages, and I think I’ve heard at least ten different languages being spoken so far. For dinner I ordered a bacon and potato burrito at a Mexican place, which was delicious! It took about ten minutes for them to make it, but it was sure worth the wait! I don’t think I’ve had a burrito that good EVER in St. Louis. Out of all the food places in the terminal, McDonalds had the longest line, which was very diverse! (More so than their Dollar Menu!) Well, I just heard the announcement for my flight! I'll fly overnight, lose a day, land in China, and climb the Great Wall! Can't wait...

Yellowstone National Park: A Photo Essay

Driving into Jackson Hole, WY

Old Faithful   Yellowstone NP

Riverside Geyser

Thermal Hot Spring

Bull Elk in Velvet

Black Bear

Black Bear

River-side Grass

Free and Easy Down the Road I Go

With Dierks Bentley's "Free and Easy" (Down the Road I Go) blasting through the speakers, I rolled along the newly-paved blacktop of Missouri Highway 70, headed west. With my memories of Missouri and living in the Midwest in my rearview mirror, I could picture the mountains of Denver waiting to embrace me, as I headed west towards unknown adventures. I knew this was going to be an amazing summer! 

It took me about 14 hours to cruise across Missouri, Kansas, and eastern Colorado into Denver. Judging by the appearance of my windshield, the bugs were out in force, but the police on the other hand...
I stopped at Eisenhower Memorial Park (in Kansas, I think?) to stretch my legs, after seeing an F-14 Tomcat parked alongside the highway. Pretty cool to see up close!

I was greeted outside of Denver by a beautiful sunset and a rainstorm, which occurred simultaneously. It was pretty neat to see lightning over the plains on one side of the sky, and this view on the other:

The Next Adventure Begins...

I think I just heard a gunshot. Ok, maybe it was a car door slamming shut, but I wouldn't be too surprised if it actually was a gun.

I am currently reclined on my oriental-patterned bedspread in a hotel room in Riverton, Wyoming. Driving into town this afternoon, I stopped at the Day's Inn to use their wireless to check my email, and told the receptionist where I was staying, to which she replied, "Do you have a switchblade?" After the awkward laughter she informed me I was welcome to come enjoy their continental breakfast!

So I'm enjoying the small-town Wyoming atmosphere of Riverton from my hotel room, as I drive out to Seattle from St. Louis. It's been a harmonious drive so far, and I'm especially looking forward to exploring Yellowstone National Park tomorrow. Because I don't want to spend any longer than I have to here, I think I'll leave EARLY (4:00am) tomorrow, so I can be in the mountains at sunrise.  Photos to come!

Summer '09: The Last Frontier (A day in Alaska)

I have a sticker on my laptop that says 'Alaska is my happy place'. When other travel plans didn't work out, Dad and I jumped on a flight and went up to Sitka for a day. We walked around the island, spotted a giant sea lion, saw rivers full of salmon, visited the raptor center, and enjoyed not knowing what we'd see around the next bend


Totem Poles have been preserved or re-carved by Alaska Natives and displayed in Totem Pole park, which also is a popular hangout for Bald Eagles and Ravens


I found neat patterns in driftwood from ancient spruce and cedar trees



The salmon runs support everything- putting nutrients back into the ecosystem




Bald Eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) took full advantage of the salmon run





Gulls enjoyed eating the spawned-out salmon also. Having eaten his share, this gull needs a nap





A gorgeous Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus) at the Sitka Raptor Center


A neat little boat in the harbor

Summer '09: The Evergreen State

After a few days home from Colorado, I flew out to Washington to spend time with family and friends and explore the area. I found some pretty neat things: (click on any photo to view it larger)



Sunset from the beach at Papa and Nana's cabin


The serenity of the Hoh Rainforest is awe-inspiring


A female Spruce grouse (Falcipennis canadensis) poses for the camera


I enjoyed watching the surf at Ruby Beach before enjoying a bowl of clam chowder at a local restaurant.

Summer '09: The Centennial State

This past summer has been my 12th summer attending the Adventure Unlimited Ranches in Buena Vista, Colorado. I had the opportunity to grow both as a young man and as a photographer. Enjoy some of my favorites from Colorado:


Adventure Unlimited Ranches


View while climbing LaPlata


What a monster Mule Deer!


Another summer with bear cubs!


Lance Armstrong rode in the Leadville 100, a 100-mile mountain bike race through the mountains- he won easily.


Old Man of the Mountain