This week’s Foto Friday Fun features images chosen by 13 readers including Grand Canyon and Joshua Tree national parks, and a few animals.
Cathy chose #1428. I’m sure she’s seen these bison-cattle hybrids destroying meadows on the Kaibab National Forest along SR67 or sometimes they are in Grand Canyon National Park. Fences don’t slow them down much.
Alan chose #6275. Surrounded by boulders while camping at White Tank in Joshua Tree National Park.
Cheryl Ann chose #2705. A place not far from her home, the Santa Rosa Mountains seen while camping in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, California.
Sue chose #2023, “for my possible next trip to somewhere in the deserts of Arizona, or at least the Mojave.” If she hasn’t visited Toroweap already I’d highly recommend that. Camp at Pipe Springs and drive the Tracker. Though you might not want to stay for a sunset like this shot as the road is long and rough. She gets a bonus shot as a soil scientist. I helped as a volunteer with soil studies at Oregon Caves National Monument during the fall of 2003.
Jo chose #7450. One of many Black-backed jackal seen at Addo Elephant National Park, South Africa.
Sallie and Bill chose #610. Buckskin Gulch slot canyon in the Vermilion Cliffs National Monument near the Utah/Arizona border my first hike May 14, 2009.
Jodee and Bill chose #9932. Looking down on House Rock Valley, Marble Canyon and clear to Navajo Mountain in the far distance from Marble View, one of my favorite camps on the Kaibab National Forest, Arizona.
Gypsy chose #1969, “a good year for memorable junior high music.” Totally agree, however I was in high school. Seems 2010 was a good year for visiting Toroweap overlook. This shot looking down 3000’ to the Colorado River was taken minutes before the sunset shot above.
Jennifer chose #6767. More Joshua Tree National Park boulders, two days after the above shot while camped in Jumbo Rocks.
Rita chose #0982. First light view from my RV with snow on 9-21-15. Bonus shot with the same number, a sunrise 9-21-15.
Sherry chose #2704. Same view as above with rain on 7-4-14.
Diane and Nigel chose #406. My first season working at the North Rim Grand Canyon I explored other nearby parks. Like Zion National Park seen here 9-21-08.
Liberal Warrior chose #119. A museum display of Ancestral Puebloan pottery at Mesa Verde National Park seen when working there the summer of 2005.
My choices from the summer of 1996. First is the view from my government house looking down on the Columbia River, and on a clear day Mt Hood could be seen in the distance. US Fish & Wildlife Service organized a kids fishing day at the Pierce National Wildlife Refuge at the base of Beacon Rock.
Thank you for playing along with Foto Friday Fun which allows me to share these photographs and memories. For more of the story just follow the links. Please join in next week by leaving a number between 0001 and 9999 in your comment.
Do you have a favorite this week?
Thanks for the memories
Oh wow, Gaelyn, black back jackal are one my favorite animals. Thanks for the many images and stories above. I would like 4128 for next week. Have a wonderful weekend. Jo
The jackal’s are adorable, and comparable to our coyotes. #4128 for next week.
Good morning Gaelyn, Very interesting photo’s here, as you say every picture tells a story. Such as, that lovely display of Puebloan pottery at the Mesa Verda Nat Park which in fact, is my fav for this week . No 779 for next week please. Enjoy your weekend.
Thanks. I knew you’d like that pottery. #779 for next week.
Did you climb Beacon Rock?
Beacon rock which lies in Washington State, has an interesting history. It was, for a time, going to be an Oregon State Park.
#1953 for next week The year Wallace Stegner published his important work on John Wesley Powell _ ‘Beyond the Hundredth Meridian’. and Powell’s prophetic call for protection from development of the Southwest’s unique lands, waters, and vistas. Today the desert west and the greener east divided by the 100th meridian has the desert moving east past the 100th meridian into the east. Today, east and west of the line, is far different then in Powell’s days, and his prophetic words ring too true.
I did not. If we’d only listened to Powell, no dams, reservoirs, or people. #1953 for next week.
Beacon Rock was acquired by a Washington contractor to be blasted and crushed for road and jetty building. News of this reached some civic and environmentally minded people in Oregon and a group was formed to save the rock. Funds were acquired to buy the rock from the owner and the group acquired the monumental monolith and it was saved from destruction.
The group presented it to the Oregon legislature to have it added to Oregon’s park system. I can’t recall if this was ever designated an Oregon park as Washington legislators got wind of the plan and acted on making it a protected Washington park and a transfer was arranged.
My parents had a place up the lane from The Rock. We could walk to it and take the trail to the top for the Full Moon(s). The Rock, as us(climbers) Oregonian’s called it is a major geological feature of the Gorge and also a Geological Preserve..
My mother took the trail to the top in her late 60’s.
I do remember that story about crushing Beacon Rock.
“How fortunate you lived nearby.” I didn’t. I lived in Portland. The Stevenson place was my parents B&B. They lived in Rowena. When it wasn’t in use we used it.
Stunningly beautiful area. I did have an small several acre piece of property near there on the river, but could never get a permit to build. The piece I had also had a big monolithic rock on it that dominated the property on the north line and road side of Hwy,-14. It went right up to the highway so there is no way you could not have seen it. It was only about 150′-Ft. high.
I know that rock. Is the property now part of the NWR?
Lots of great photos. Love the big rocks, deep canyons, distant views & some critters. The Herd is always enjoyed by company when visiting but then when you learn the history about them, why they are there and the damage to the terrain it’s sad. I know it’s an issue for the Park and hope they continue to find ways to manage the hybrid and the land they are insisting on calling home. Next week #3121
Thanks. Visitors do like to see the “buffalo” yet most don’t understand the problem. Five gov agencies trying to figure it out for decades and population keeps growing. 🙁 #3121 for next week.
I love all the photos. The three shots of the same scene with different weather is really interesting.
4301 for next week.
Thanks. I couldn’t believe the coincidence of those photos. #4301 for next week.
Enjoyed them all — “our” slot canyon (I think your pictures are the only way I’ll ever get to really see those), the interesting animal from your Africa adventure, the same beautiful NP view in all different times and weather, and especially all your memories from the Pacific Northwest (as I’m getting excited to be back there soon). (No number this week because I am not sure how much time or signal we will have on the trip. (I hope a lot of both, but we never know.)
Thanks. I’ll bet you’re excited about getting back to the PNW. Safe journey and look forward to hearing about your travels.
I enjoyed the comparable sites over seasons, as well! I cannot pick a favourite. You have a wonderful collection! #4545
Thanks. #4545 for next week.
Wow, impossible to choose a favourite here, we love them all. Every photo is a winner.
We must say we are getting to miss RSA more and more. COVID has a lot to answer for and now the cost of fuel is making travel even more difficult. We looked up flights to JHB just out of interest, and what we paid 3 years ago for the two of us, is the same price for one now!
1006 for next week please.
Have a good weekend and take care, hugs from us both. Diane and Nigel
Thanks. I’m afraid to look at airfare to anywhere, especially overseas. #1006 for next week.
I have for years flown ‘Spirit Airlines’. It is not for those who think they need first-class accommodations, though, they do have a first-class area. I’m so used to 3rd world travel in worn-out airplanes with excellent pilots*, Spirit seems like a luxury airline. I just fly with a carry-on, no checked baggage.
Until Covid, I typically flew from Portland to Dallas for under $80.00 round trip/RT. Puerto Rico for under $400.00 RT. Ft. Lauderdale for under $200.00. You have to be flexible with your schedule and fly on low traffic FLT’s(Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday/Saturday & overnight) and try to catch ‘Repositioning’ FLT’s those are usually on Wednesday.
Spirit still is pretty reasonable at last check.
*Third world pilots are real pilots with very high flight skill abilities and can do some amazing maneuvers to get you in and out of marginal airports, though, I won’t fly in bad weather. My closest calls with disaster have been with domestic FLT’s.
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I too have flown Spirit for good prices and am surprised the fares are so low right now.
Always lean toward your photos of The Canyon from Toroweap. But this week I’ll take Beacon Rock. I also climbed Beacon Rock, but did not know the history supplied by LIBERALWARRIOR … Thanks!
For next week I’d like 1935 the year Beacon Rock became a Washington Stat Park.
Thanks. I had forgotten about the Beacon Rock history. #1935 for next week.
Love the look on your face, the black backed jackal and of course the beautiful slot canyon. So many things, now including gas prices are conspiring to keep me from coming out west to see these sights in your pictures. I’ll try 6122 for next week.
Thanks. Somebody caught me by surprise. I hope you can travel anywhere right now with the high fuel prices. #6122 for this week.
Here is my promised comment. Day late and hopefully not a dollar short. I did love my photos. We haven’t been to Toroweap, and maybe someday we can manage to get there, although like you, if gas keeps doing what it is doing we might not go anywhere after we survive the cross country trip planned for late summer early fall. Loved especially you playing soil person at Oregon Caves. Thanks for that little extra treat to view. 617 for the day I hope to win another VFYW contest on Andrew Sullivan’s blog.
Monday isn’t late. Really need to see Toroweap, with the car. I’m going to buy a plane ticket for Chicago in September as it’s cheaper than fuel. #617 for this week.
Looking down on Columbia river photo looks like postcard perfect. And the last photo reminds a bit of Devil’s Tower, one of my favorite places. Sometimes I can’t believe the color, but I know it’s real, which I greatly prefer, and knowing actual colors.
Oh yea, that was sweet place to live, high above the River and looking at Mt Hood, sadly not visible in this shot. Beacon Rock is also basalt, just not a perfect columnar like Devil’s Tower. I really try not to over saturate colors when processing photos, nature is colorful enough.