About 60 miles East of Portland, several trails leave a trailhead on the Washington side of the Columbia River on Old Hwy 14 between Bingen and Lyle, and head down into peaceful canyons, and up onto high plateaus and sweeping meadows, dotted with exposed basalt. There are stunning views of the Columbia River, especially looking East toward The Dalles. On a clear day Mt. Hood looms large on the Oregon side.
In October, what really stood out to me was the Autumnal colors. There were oak leaves turning and golden grasses waving in the wind, parched from the heat of the previous Summer. Burnt umber and gold were the starring colors, complimented by an ever changing tempestuous, but always partly blue sky.
Here are a few pictures from my first trip out there (taken with the great little Olympus point and shoot I was given a couple of years ago):
After such a stunning visit in October, I was curious to know more about Catherine Creek, so I went online. There I found that Catherine Creek is a mecca for wildflowers in Spring, and quite the destination for photographers and other flower lovers. I have been waiting ever since for Spring to come so I could go back to lovely Catherine Creek and see her in her fresh Spring garb. My sweetheart and I both needed a getaway this past weekend, so this was my chance!
I probably shouldn’t have been surprised by how green everything was, but I sure was. I marveled at the complete change of color temperature from the previous Fall. Green moss and green lichen, not yet even considering the respective orange and silver of their later season, grew vibrantly on rocks and old wood. Green grass thrived, and fresh green leaves and buds sprouted from the oak trees.
The supporting cast of fresh colors was pretty impressive, too. The meadows were dotted with spots of yellow, pink and different shades of blue and purple from the many wildflowers growing there. We saw Shooting Stars, Balsam Root, Blue Camas, Cluster Lilies and others. Birdsong filled the air. Everything was so new and pretty!
I’ve included some of my favorite shots of the day:
Shooting Stars
Yellow Eyed Grass
Cute little fern-like plants growing from beneath basalt rocks
Shooting Stars beneath a lovely Oak and the beautiful sky! Picnic anyone?
Mt. Hood
In new life and old death, the place was dramatic.
A “river” of Yellow Eyed Grass!
Catherine Creek
Pine Cone
Spot of sun highlighting some Yellow Eyed Grass
scott enjoying himself amongst some tufts of Desert Parsley.
Fresh, new leaves on the oak trees…
…and fresh, bright green grass beneath!
Bee and Balsam Root
Balsam Root and moss covered basalt
More Balsam Root
Desert Parsley – very pungent!
Pines and green grass in the meadow, dappled blue sky overhead.
My sweetheart scoping out his next shot, armed with a pretty cool filter and lots of know-how.
Some kids on top of the arch in the basalt. I took this to show the scale. See the light shining through the opening?
Little “baby” oak leaves coming out to see the sun!
Cluster Lilies, before they have truly “clustered”
A gorgeous day!!
