We lucked out on our drive to Utah. We experienced about the only two days of non-freezing, non-storming days of the past few weeks. It was very strange to go over Donner Summit at an elevation of almost 7,300 feet near the end of December and encounter lots of rain but no snow (even though there were several feet of snow on each side of the highway).

As soon as we arrived in Utah, though, the storms began again and the temperature dropped. When you aren’t driving in it, the snow can be rather beautiful. Today’s photograph is from the bottom of the dining room window. There is a black balcony that provides a nice contrast to the gnarly, snow-covered trees.

Posted on December 31st, 2008 under nature. Tags: snow, utah, winter. Comments: 2

Continuing on our trip begun in yesterday’s entry, we find ourselves once again in the Bonneville Salt Flats. Most people hate the salt flats, find them something to get through rather than experience. I’ve always found them to be enjoyable (except for the hot, summer night 20 years ago when I was driving a 30-year old car through them that overheated every 10 miles).

The Bonneville Salt Flats are unlike any other place on earth. While not usually aesthetically pleasing there are moments of beauty that can be found. On our way back from Utah the sun was rising, snow had freshly fallen and the clouds were most magnificent. I found it to be one of the most beautiful and different scenes I have ever encountered. Unfortunately, I was driving at the time so you will see no pictures of that view.

Today’s view is of the “Metaphor: The Tree of Utah” sculpture that Swedish artist Karl Momen created about 25 years ago in the middle of nowhere. The sculpture seems to need a fresh coat of paint. Maybe that is just a dirty windshield talking though. This sculpture is perhaps most famous for its appearance on “The Amazing Race.” A clue was placed at its base. One of the teams called it the “Tree of Hemorrhoids.”

Posted on December 30th, 2008 under places. Tags: utah. Comments: None

I just got back from almost 10 days on the road. We went from Ashland to Utah and back by car. For the next couple of weeks I’ll share photos from the trip.

Today’s photo is of the sunset in the salt flats between Wendover, Nevada and Salt Lake City, Utah. Sorry the picture isn’t that great. The view was great, but taking a photo through a dirty window of a car going 70+ MPH doesn’t usually result in a very good product. I did gets some pretty decent ones from the car on the way back, but you’ll have to wait a couple weeks for those.

Posted on December 29th, 2008 under places. Tags: night photography, sunset, utah. Comments: 1

All the tourists are long gone on an early, frozen morning at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. The lower duck pond in Lithia Park is completely frozen over and snow has fallen overnight.

Posted on December 28th, 2008 under lithia park, only in ashland. Tags: lithia park, oregon shakespeare festival, snow, winter. Comments: 3