This week’s Foto Friday Fun features images chosen by nine readers from my travels in four western states, Mexico, and South Africa, plus a lot of firsts.
Lisa chose #381. Desert View Watchtower offers my favorite views from the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park looking both up and down the Colorado River plus distant view like this across the Navajo reservation with Cedar Mountain in the foreground.
I chose #81 from the above number. A scanned image taken during the summer of 1992 of the eastern flank of Mount Saint Helens from my first season working at the monument and hiked into the crater with staff.
Jo chose #1602. Autumn at the North Rim is a time of gold for the ferns and aspens.
My choice from Jo’s number is 02. Denali, the smartest dog I’ve ever had was half German Shepard and half Saint Bernard. This shot was taken in my Tonasket, Washington living room during the mid-1980s.
Jennifer chose #9888. A sunrise (yes I see them occasionally) reflection seen on an early morning safari drive in Pilanesberg Game Reserve, South Africa.
I took the #88 from above. On the same St. Helens crater crawl as above, this shot is the southern shore of Spirit Lake seen from the Truman Trail named after Harry Truman who was buried under 600 feet of hot pumice when the volcano blew May 18, 1980.
Rita chose #5075, one of seven shots in a panorama of sunset over the Weaver Mountains when I lived in Kirkland, Arizona the winter of 2013.
Diane and Nigel chose #2202. Taken from the north rim of Grand Canyon at the Tuweep overlook my first visit in 2010 but instead of the straight down 3000 feet iconic view this is a small side canyon on the opposite rim.
I chose another #02. The 22 foot yellow Tanzer sailboat my husband and I bought and lived in the summer of 1988 on Lake Union in Seattle, Washington. Yet another first.
Yogi chose #1949. This is the iconic view upstream from the Tuweep overlook mentioned above.
I chose #49 taken in January 2005 during a trip into Baja, Mexico. While driving along the coast to Puerto Cito this was our pitstop option In Campo del Bano. After looking in the outhouse through the open top of the Dutch door we decided to hold it. In case you can’t tell that’s sand.
Liberal Warrior chose #1907, one of four in a panorama. Nice view from the suspension bridge at Storms River mouth in Tsitsikamma National Park, South Africa.
Jeff chose #7570, “the score Mission Hills HS received in this weekends Drumline competition.” Sunset is always a score from the North Rim Grand Canyon National Park.
I chose #70 from above. What’s left of an Ancestral Puebloan structure, once called an Anasazi ruin, at Mesa Verde National Park where I worked the summer of 2005.
Sallie and Bill chose #173. The Virgin River seen from South campground in Zion National Park. I would be walking upstream for the first time the next day.
I took the #73. My first view of Grand Canyon on the first day working at the North Rim on April 27, 2008. Note the snow on Oza Butte and there was also snow on the North Rim.
My special choice, after Arizona’s two days of ‘snowmageddon’ and about 18 inches of snow when the sun finally showed and I managed to walk the 150 feet of driveway to the finally plowed road. More on that later.
Thank you for playing along with Foto Friday Fun which allows me to share these photographs and memories. Please join in next week by leaving a number between 1 and 9999 in your comment below.
Do you have a favorite this week?
hi Gaelyn, my favorite is Denali, of course!! I love all your other images too. My number for next week is 2015. Hugs jo
Thanks. Mine too because out of all my pets, Denali was the best. #2015 for next week.
1854 for next week. The birth year of Oscar Fingal O’Flahertie Wills Wilde. Irish poet/playwright.
I designed and built the first interpretive kiosk at Mt. St. Helens.
I also made two hikes from the Ape Caves up the south side of the mountain to the rim overlooking the crater and dome.
I often flew over the mountain in my old Cessna 150 on clear days just cuzz I could.
On my return flight from Hawaii in 1990, the pilot of the American Airlines plane flew three circles around the mountain at a steep bank giving a direct view into the crater.
I was about 15-miles south east of the mountain at Trout Lake when it blew, we heard it, but couldn’t see it as it was overcast.
At the time of the eruption and for months after I was building a very expensive home high on a hill above Lake Oswego. We often got St. Helens ash on the project and it prematurely turned the yellow cedar decks gray, so I stained the house a darker gray to coordinate the colors.
Was your involvement with St Helens at the first visitor center almost on I5? I believe that one isn’t operated by the Forest Service any more. I too hiked the mountain from the south side years after the crater hike. Trout Lake is close to the mountain. I’m surprised it hadn’t been evacuated. A visitor from Yakima told about her house being painted during the eruption and her house basically became stucco. Thank you for sharing these great stories.
#1854 for next week.
That is just unbelievable to see the amount of snow you had recently. Although you live in higher altitude, just hard for me to imagine you getting that much snow. Great photos this week, as usually. I’ll pick #9217 for next week. No reason for the number.
Yarnell is at almost 5000 feet but this was an unusual amount of snow for us. It is melting rapidly. I’ll share more pics of it next week. #9217 for next week.
It’s hard to pick a favorite this week! I love the sunsets, and the stories with the older pictures are so interesting it’s nearly impossible to pick a favorite. Number 121 for me next week.
I’m glad you enjoyed it. #121 for next week.
Lots of stories in all these amazing photos. I will choose 1319 for next week please.
Thank you George. #1319 for next week.
As ever all great photos and of course we love the RSA ones, our favourite though this week is our own photo taken from the North Rim of a spot I don’t think we got to see, we certainly have no photos of that anyway.
The sunset is great and Dunali looks a fabulous dog, obviously quite big 🐕
Have a great weekend, Diane and Nigel.
103 for next week please.
Thanks. We didn’t have time to take you to Toroweap with that iconic view of the canyon. Because it’s so far off the beaten path it’s best to camp there. #103 for next week.
Staring up at that crater from the visitor center in 2017, I can only imagine what a magical experience it must’ve been to hike into it.
My number for this week is 1701, the year my sixth great grandfather, Dr. Henri Lamarre Levasseur dit Belisle set foot alongside Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac on the land that would become Detroit.
The Crater Crawl was amazing and a little scary too. It was the original small dome that was still warm to the touch. Every time a rock fall occurred along the crater walls we all gave a little jump. #1701 for next week. You are really getting your monies worth from the DNA tests.
That sailboat looks pretty darn small to be living in but you know you do what you gotta do. Same with the Mexican outhouse.
I love all the Canyon photos.
2019 is my number this week.
That sailboat was small. The only place you could stand up in the cabin was over the toilet if the hatch was open. Otherwise, if sitting there you could cook dinner, set the table, and do dishes without moving. 😉
#2019 for next week.
Mt St Helens… I love your & Tredeuce’s stories about the early days after the eruption. i was living in Bellevue, Wa at the time. I made a camping visit to Mt St Helens in 2009 — almost 30 years later! Lets’ have #2009 for next week.
I’ll bet you saw St Helens spew from Bellevue. #2009 for next week.
I like the older pictures too, because you really have had an interesting life! I choose 1932, the year of my mother’s birth. Thanks!
Thank you. It just seems like a normal life to me. We all have unique stories. Feel free to share something about yourself. #1932 for next week.
Good morning Gaelyn, that is if it is morning with you I never know the time differences. Of course I love all the Grand Canyon photo’s but my favourite this week is of Denali, such a beautiful dog and it is always sad when we lose them but they are never forgotton. Love the photo of the Puebloen structure, The Mesa Verde is one place I would really like to visit. No 8791 for next week please. Enjoy your week ahead hoping the snow has all gone.
As it turns out, it is morning right now. I think you could be about 9 hours different. Denali really was the best dog ever and will forever be in my heart. I’ll bet you’d very much enjoy Mesa Verde. After I worked there Machu Pichu went way up on my list. #8791 for next week.
You know, I don’t have a favourite! I think of it, then scroll down, read the comments, and go back up and think, “OOH that one is great, too!” I think the one with you in it my true fave. I know you were shocked with the snow!
I’ll go with #62 next week! I don’t know why I choose 4-digit ones all the time!
Thanks for the fun!
Well of course, they are all my favorites. I actually enjoyed this last snow storm because I was ready for it and didn’t have to go out.
#62 for next week.
We have to get back to Desert Tower – the view was snowed out on our first try a couple years ago. I’m loving your extra personal choices mixed in. More fun and beauty to enjoy!
#6501 for next week please
Desert View Watchtower isn’t usually as crowded as the South Rim Village area and has huge parking. Plus only an hour away the Cameron campground is cheap and the Inn has the best Navajo taco around.
I’m glad folks are enjoying the even older photos and stories.
#6501 for next week.
We love Zion Park so much, so that was a great for our special picture! I think the two views from Tuweep might have been my favs of all the current (modern day?) photos though. The view across the canyon in first one has a heart-shaped crater… so neat! Lots of memories for us of places we’ve loved and I also loved sharing your past adventures! That sailboat…bet there’s a lot of stories from that year. Thanks for the fun! 2490 for next time?
Zion is special, just too crowded anymore. Glad you saw the heart shape at Tuweep. Two people living in 22 feet where you can’t stand up in the cutty for four months was interesting. We spent a lot of time in the cockpit. Plus helped a man who owned a 1942 tugboat Bunk N Breakfast just down the dock. #2490 for next week.