Lunar Eclipse Beauty

In hopes of capturing some interesting color with the red moon, the hills and view of the Columbia River from Coyote Wall seemed liked a good choice. The weather was ideal. A warm, gentile breeze blew over the dry grass. A few mountain bikers and hikers were in this open and spacious area.

There was quite a bit of haze at lower elevations, with the moon slowly revealed itself as it rose in the growing darkness.

Columbia River with Lyle, Washington in the distance

It was quite a lovely sight. The deepening blues of night with a few stars appearing. An appealing aspect of these eclipses is, because of the shading, the moon appear to be a nice round ball.  The lights of Lyle, Washington added a nice warm shade of lights.

Darker sky with deepening color

Later, as the shadow of the earth moved away from the moon, the light returned to one side, making a very interesting orb in sky with stars and and meteors.

Spring at Coyote Wall

The days right before a full moon is an ideal time to get out and take photographs. It's a good idea to keep track of the moon cycle for it's beauty and mystery. It's rare to find clearing skies in the spring here. Such was the case this day with drizzle, so, after checking the satellite images, I headed east to the dry side, only a little more than an hour away from Portland.

One of my favorite places, Coyote Wall,  is on the Washington side between Bingon and Lyle. It offers open landscapes, flowers, exposed basalt, waterfalls, a variety of trees, and lovely views of the Columbia River.

Bi-Colored Cluster Lily

It's necessary to be aware of some of the less attractive aspects of this area; mainly ticks and Poison Oak. There is a well written article about ticks in the NW here. A few precautions and procedures are needed to navigate this lovely area. Earlier in the year I saw the clear markings in mud of cougar paw prints. They were not old. It's very open here, so actually seeing a cougar would be a very rare and interesting experience. It's far more likely they are watching you.

The views really open up as you ascend the trail.  At the end of the day, there were very few folks left here. Only a few mountain bikers and runners crossed paths as the sun drew long shadows on the hills.

Here are two views. The second has Wild Cucumber in the foreground.

The moon's position on the horizon changes daily. Using The Photographer's Ephemeris, one is able to pinpoint the rising moon from various positions and elevations.

The haze created some very lovely pastel colors and a gorgeous blue during the blue hour during my decent.

Lovely Winter Oaks at Coyote Wall

After what seemed to be months confined in the city, a drive to a favorite place is always a welcome change, even for a few hours. In this mountain bike haven of Coyote Wall, this time of year one sees very few if any people here. While walking next to the great basalt wall, two men passed, staring in tandem at their cell phones. Later, one girl came by, walking down the trail, staring at her cell phone. Strange times.

Snow was lightly falling at times, and the creeks had some water in them, making for a nice atmosphere of tranquility. Wind can be fierce here, but today it was calm and serene. 

The trees are patiently waiting for spring, but their beauty is very fine in the depths of winter. As darkness approached, I soaked in the noble forms and scouted a few more prospects before the drive back.