View from Grizzly Peak during minimal snow winter

I have yet to break out my snow shoes this winter. Last weekend we hiked to the top of Grizzly Peak where I took this photo from. Last year at this time this was the scene miles below the location of today’s photo.

This year we were able to drive all the way to the parking lot which is pretty much unheard of in January or February. From there the trail usually has several feet of snow on it in winter as it is in the shade and doesn’t melt until May or so. Not this year.

Posted on February 1st, 2014 under nature, only in ashland, places. Tags: grizzly peak, hike, mountains, Nikon 24-120mm f/4G ED AF-S VR, Nikon D600, winter. Comments Off on Strange winter scene on Grizzly Peak

Mount McLoughlin with lava rocks in foreground

Yesterday was the first warm day we have had in months, and it almost felt like the day when I took this photo (my random, desktop photo of the day) back in the summer of 2011. I went on a bike ride and saw just a touch of snow on Mt. Ashland, extremely rare for this time of year. I’m guessing there isn’t much on Mount McLoughlin either given the nearly snowless winter we are experiencing.

Posted on January 24th, 2014 under nature, outside of ashland. Tags: mount mcloughlin, Mt. McLaughlin, nikon d7000, Tamron AF 17-50mm F/2.8 Zoom Lens. Comments Off on View of Mount McLoughlin from High Lakes Trail

Pacific Crest Trail near Brown Mountain in Southern Oregon

The Pacific Crest Trail is poised to become super famous thanks to the Reese Witherspoon movie (Wild) coming out this year. Today’s photo is a little piece of the Southern Oregon portion from a few summers ago.

Posted on January 18th, 2014 under nature, outside of ashland. Tags: hike, nikon d7000, Tamron 10-24mm lens. Comments Off on PCT near Brown Mountain

Posted on January 9th, 2014 under nature, only in ashland. Tags: Nikkor 70-300mm VR, Nikon D600, wildlife. Comments Off on Squirrel!

Posted on January 7th, 2014 under nature, only in ashland. Tags: deer, Nikkor 70-300mm VR, Nikon D600, wildlife. Comments: 2

Cold Blue Mountain
Ashland, Oregon

Cold Blue Mountain, a band from Chico, California, is scheduled to play at Club 66 next Friday night (1/17/14). Today’s photo is of Ashland’s own cold blue mountains from last month’s snow storm.

Posted on January 5th, 2014 under nature, only in ashland. Tags: club 66, cold blue mountain, mountains, Nikon 24-120mm f/4G ED AF-S VR, Nikon D600, snow, winter. Comments Off on Cold Blue Mountain

woodpecker

This bird (a Northern Red-shafted Flicker) has been waking us up recently with pecking (sounds more like drilling) on the side of our house.

Posted on January 4th, 2014 under nature, only in ashland. Tags: Nikkor 70-300mm VR, Nikon D600, wildlife. Comments Off on New alarm clock

snowy backyard in Ashland, Oregon

I’m sure it’s a white Christmas somewhere, maybe even in Ashland, but in Santa Barbara, no one even considers the thought. Today’s photo comes from the snow storm that hit Ashland almost three weeks ago. It still hadn’t fully melted when we left for California on December 21.

Posted on December 25th, 2013 under nature, only in ashland. Tags: christmas, Nikon 14-24mm f/2.8G ED AF-S Nikkor Wide Angle Zoom Lens, Nikon D600, snow, winter. Comments Off on White Christmas

snowy Ashland sunrise

Today’s photo comes from this past Tuesday morning.

Posted on December 16th, 2013 under nature, only in ashland, places. Tags: Nikon 24-120mm f/4G ED AF-S VR, Nikon D600, snow, sunrise, winter. Comments Off on Sunrise over snowy Ashland