Lions Club Train Ride 10-16-11

What fun! If you are looking for something new to do in the Pacific Northwest - I recommend this trip! Plan on a whole day, and enjoy what the area has to offer adventure seekers!

The tour is from the town of Ione, Wa to Metaline, Wa. It is approximately 45 minutes one way, and then the engine hooks up to the caboose and pulls the cars backwards for the return trip. After reserving my tickets in advance (recommended) at http://www.lionstrainrides.com/, I picked up my friend and off we went! Sunday turned out to be an extremely gorgeous fall day in the Northwest! The sun was shining, the temp was about 55 degrees, and we had no where to be but in the communities of Ione, Metaline, and Metaline Falls.

We arrived 30 minutes in advance, and were lucky to find "standing" room only in the last open car available. There are 3 closed cars, 3 open cars, and a caboose. The Pend Oreille Lions Club members were very helpful, and very knowledeble about the area. We viewed the only remaining piece of the old town of "Cement", and then found ourselves stopped along a trestle overlooking Box Canyon and the Box Canyon Dam.

From here, we went through a tunnel over 800 ft long, and then found ourselves overlooking the Pend Oreille River. At one point, you get an incredible view of the town of Metaline from across the river. Near the end, Ma Cutter and the Gang robbed us! All proceeds "robbed" go to support the Pend Oreille Arts Counsel in the community.

After our train ride was over, we headed down towards Metaline, Wa. We stopped at the Box Canyon Dam overlook, and then found ourselves in the City park at Metaline. The trees were beautiful with their fall colors exploding in shades of red, orange, and yellow. The park sits right on the Pend Oreille, so it allows a very pleasant stopping place for lunch.

If you continue down the road to Metaline Falls, Wa - and then up towards the Canadian Border, you will find Boundary Dam and Crawford State Park, which is home to Gardner Cave. For more information on these - visit my website.

Make sure to make the stop at Sweet Creek Rest Stop. There are picnic sites, restroom facilities, and a waterfall approximately 150 yards from the parking lot. You can hike right up to the upper waterfall, and will find a cave in the hillside right off the trail!

One last stop we made, which was an unexpected surprise, was Sullivan Lake. We saw the name of the road, and decided to turn and see what Sullivan Lake was all about.

All in all, it was a great day, with great company, and the perfect way to spend a Fall Day!

Gold HIll Hike 9-11-11

Before I started my business, I began compiling a list of area adventures I wanted to photograph. Everything from scenic drives, barns, historic building, hikes, viewpoints, etc. I have a 17 page spreadsheet of all the places and things I want to shoot - and the Gold Hill Hike was just one of the many on my list.

 

  

I was pleased to take advantage of this hike (and viewpoint) after a friend of mine inquired about a scenic shot of Sandpoint, Idaho. I knew that my best opportunity to get the shot she wanted was from Gold Hill.

 

Although I had wanted to hike the entire 4+ mile hike up to the viewpoint, I had an unexpected change in plans and ended up driving up to the trailhead, and hiking down about 1/2 mile for a sunset shot. There was smoke in the air due to some area wildfires, so I wasn't sure I was going to get a good shot or not. Fortunately, the smoke enhanced the color of the sunset, offering an incredible shot!

My husband tried warning me, that if we didn't leave sooner than later, that we would be hiking out after dark. Well, my husband was right. Although the hill was nice and bright, as soon as the sun went down, and we started back into the trees - the light diminished quickly, and it was a good thing we brought a flashlight at the last minute - because we needed it.



Barnwood Framing

Since starting my business in January of this year, I am constantly looking at different ways to expand what I already offer. There are so many products that I can incorporate my photography into, but for me - framing is key.

Being that most of my photography is scenic, outdoor photography; it only makes sense that the frame highlights this kind of work. We have made custom oak, mahogany, and pine frames... but these species of wood can be expensive, especially after you include the time and materials it takes to finish the piece.

Recently, my husband and I acquired some barnwood from a local guy here in Bonner County, Idaho. We were able to get several hundred feet, and have begun making some frames to add to my existing inventory. I am very excited at the opportunity to offer custom barnwood frames along with my new upcoming images from my adventures of 2011.  

Frames can be purchased through my Etsy account @ http://www.etsy.com/people/tporath

To view my images, check out my photo gallery @ http://www.nwphotographicadventures.com/

Cabinet Mountain Ride 9-5-11

Northwest Photographic Adventures had it's most successful show yet at Schweitzer Mountain's Fall Festival over Labor Day Weekend! To celebrate the successful weekend, Chris and I decided to go on a ride with our ATV's. He had wanted to take me up to this spot he found a couple years ago, and I wanted to go on a new ride that I hadn't been on before.

We loaded up the quads, and headed to Hope, Idaho to ride up the Strong Creek Trail. Chris said he was sure I would like it, since it climbs straight up the mountain! And he was almost right... minus the part where it is super rocky, and my quad kept bottoming out - meaning I had to drive ON all the great big, sharp rocks, instead of hitting them with the bottom of my machine. About 5 miles up the trail, we came across our first piece of interest - the opening to a mine shaft overlooking Lake Pend Oreille!

Although gated off now, you can still peer into the mine shaft and feel the cool air escaping the dark unknown. From some quick research - it looks to be the Auxor Mine. I'm not convinced, however, and need to go to the historical society and do some real research! (You just cannot believe everything you read online!)

From here we continued on our ride, and found ourselves at the top of Wellington Road. We followed the trail and viewed the great vista's overlooking the basin and valleys below. We pulled off to eat lunch on a trail that nobody seemed to have ridden yet this year, and Chris was drawn to a rocky area just beyond a group of bushes and trees. It turned out to be another mine and you could easily tell it had been excavated. Being that I studied Geology in College - I was immediately drawn to the rocks along the ground. From the rock specimens I picked up and admired, to the large boulders that I needed to walk over to climb into this ravene - I can theorize that this mine was used for Galena and/or Lead products. There are no markings on the mine, and nothing noting what the mine is - let alone any information online... Bummer!

We ate lunch, and decided to go back and walk into the ravene and see what we could find... The anticipation and excitement about our new finding was too much for either of us! I, of course (being the rock-collector that I am) kept picking up rocks... and ended up keeping probably 8 of them! Chris' excitement interrupted my search, and I was surprised when he said he found the opening! I quickly scrambled over the rocks to peer into the black unknown! The opening, about the size of a computer desk, was the only indication of the large cavity lying just beyond it. The cavity, from what I could see, was approximately 8' x 30' - and seemed to go straight back into the mountainside. If I wasn't so scared that it may be the new home of a Mountain Lion - I may have checked it out a little more... but I don't play with big kitties!

We walked back up to the four-wheelers, and were surprised to see another 4-wheeler on the other side of all the fallen trees on the trail we were on... We assumed he was one of the elk hunters who belonged to one of the several elk camps we passed, cutting firewood for the night. We turned around, and continued down the trail... just to come across yet another mine!

This one was perfectly preserved! The opening was almost completely intact - and there was water streaming out of the entrace! There were wild-flowers growing along the edges of the water, and it looked so beautiful! About 15 feet inside the wooden entry were the metal bars blocking the mine shaft. But the tunnel went as far back as you could see! There are old metal rails lying all around the opening, which adds to the overall experience of this mine! This mine, just as the others, had no markings or signs indicating what mine it was - and again, nothing found online...

All-in-all, it was an incredible day to be out riding, and I'm constantly surprised by all of the history that our surrounding forests hold! It just intrigues me to go out again and again, in search of new hidden treasures!

Roman Nose Lakes, August 28, 2011

After several years of talking about going up and hiking the Roman Nose Lakes trails... we finally did it! Although, it almost didn't happen even though we had planned to go up and hike it. I woke up with a severe cold, and decided that we would at least go up to the first lake (Since you can drive right up to it). I purchased a whole bunch of cold medicine, and figured that if I felt like I could handle the 1.5 mile hike, then we would do it. Luckily, I was feeling up to the challenge. About 1/2 mile in, however, I felt like turning around, but I wanted to hike into the lake sooo badly - that I pushed on regardless of how bad I felt.

The parking lot was full, and we knew we had found our destination! The 19 miles up bumpy, gravel roads was soo worth it! We started our day by witnessing a whole colony of white butterflies fluttering, and flying carelessly from tree to tree. It was so peaceful to watch such a inspiring scene! We hiked up through the rock boulder fields, and came to a lookout that takes your breath away! We were standing on a granite rock, literally the size of a house! And just peered over the ledge out over the Selkirks Mountains and down into a very lush valley below. From here, we hiked down to the Lower Lake, stopping along the way to take photo's of the beautiful wild-flowers that were in full bloom!

The fish were jumping, which was a great sign for my husband - and the whole purpose for him hiking back to the lake. For me - It was the opportunity to witness one of the many alpine lakes we have here in the Selkirk range. With snow still packed into the North facing crevaces, and ice cold runoff draining into the lake - it was only fitting that we sit along the creeks edge for lunch.

After spending about 2 hours at the lower lake, and this cold I had kicking into high gear - we decided we would hike out and go check out the larger lake by the parking lot. There was no surprise that this lake is a local favorite! We saw a family who was out for the day... dogs barking, kids swimming, and what had to be their Grandpa - sleeping in a lounge chair in the shade... We like to enjoy these places privately - and from the Eastern shores of the lake - decided to trek around to the boulder field at the far end of the lake. Not only does this give us the privacy we enjoy- but it also keeps unsuspecting people from getting hooked by my fly rod in my efforts to fly fish!

All in all, it was a great day - cold or no cold! We decided to save the hike to the upper lake for another day - possibly a cooler day - and a day when I was feeling much better! I would recommend this trail - being a high-use, well marked trail - to anyone wanting to enjoy some of what the Wild Selkirks have to offer!

Steptoe Butte - August, 27th, 2011

Steptoe Butte, located just outside of Colfax, Washington, is one of my favorite places to visit! My Aunts live in Whitman County, and I always make it a point to visit Steptoe Butte when I am visiting them! I have been to the butte probably 7-8 times in my lifetime, all at different time of the year. This year while visiting the Butte, I was pleased to experience the harvest from atop the butte!

My first trip to the Palouse was when I was just a kid, visiting my Aunt with my dad. We spent a couple days there, and witnessed the most amazing harvest moon I had ever seen in my life! There is something intriguing about the lifestyle of a farmer, and photographing this helps inspire me to do my best as a scenic photographer.

The rich farming communities that surround the Butte, help to make it as interesting as it is. The culture, the history, and the scenic beauty transforms Steptoe Butte into something special for me.

About Me, and why I do the things I Love to do!

I have officially done it! I have a blog! Although slightly intimidating - I have faith that I can do this... Now, where to begin...

For those of you who don't know me, I'm a recreational addict! If it means getting dirty in the Great Outdoors - I'm in! I started fishing at a very young age, began hunting as a teenager, and starting doing everything recreation that I could as a young adult. My addiction for recreation blended perfectly with my love for photography - and Northwest Photographic Adventures was born!

http://www.nwphotographicadventures.com/

From that point - I have started a small business selling my photography as prints, framed pieces of Art, and photo gifts. I am on the Arts and Crafts scene throughout North Idaho, and when I'm not selling I'm shooting new images from my recreational trips.