"L" is for Lassen Volcanic National Park

Kings Creek Falls, National Parks Service photo

Lassen Volcanic National Park sounds like a perfect place for the photographer to visit. If it has boiling mud pots, I will love it because I considered the mud pots the most scenic spots in Yellowstone. Waterfalls are wonderful for photos and paintings as well. The Kings Creek Falls is a beautiful example of the kind of scenes that draw visitors to National Parks.

Established in 1916, Lassen is one of our nation's oldest National Parks. Lassen Peak is still considered an active volcano although it has not erupted since 1917. Steam and ashes spewed from the volcano from 1914 to the early months of 1915. Then in May 1915, the top of the mountain exploded creating devastation a mile wide and three miles long. Lassen Peak has been quiet since 1921.

Is a visit to Lassen possible while visiting Crater Lake? Lassen in California is about 250 miles from Crater Lake National Park in Oregon and a four and 1/2 hour drive. We probably won't do it this summer, but Lassen is a National Park worth the visit. Mud pots, fumaroles, hot springs, and waterfalls make a photographer's dream.

"I" is for Interesting National Parks Photos

"Avalanche Creek on Trail of the Cedars in Glacier National Park" ©Mary Montague Sikes

Since Isle Royale National Park in Lake Superior is the only "I" park, I've chosen Interesting National Parks photos that I'd like to paint for today's post. Isle Royale is isolated, has harsh weather, and looks difficult to reach, so we probably will not get there. However, it was once the site of a resort community and copper mining.

During our park travels, which have been limited thus far, I have taken many photographs that I long to paint. The Trail of the Cedars in Glacier was especially picturesque. Other promising pictures are also from Glacier and from Yellowstone National Park. Here are a few I might consider for pastels or acrylics:

"On Lake McDonald" (Glacier) ©MMSikes

Yellowstone National Park ©Mary Montague Sikes

Yellowstone National Park ©Mary Montague Sikes

 

"H" is for Haleakala National Park

Haleakala National Park on Maui first began in 1916 as the Hawaii National Park which at the time included the volcanoes Mauna Loa and Kilauea located on the island of Hawaii. In 1961, the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park was created as a separate park for the big island. The Maui park today features the dormant Haleakala volcano that last erupted between1480 and 1600 AD. 

When we were in Maui several years ago, we accidentally stumbled upon Haleakala National Park when we sought a safer route back to the western side of the island following a trip to Hana on the far east. We crossed along the northern coast on a very dangerous road with multiple crosses (denoting deaths there, we later learned). We decided to go back along the southern coast and found ourselves on unpaved roads plying through the dust of volcanic sands.

The Haleakala Crater, almost seven miles across and about 2,600 feet deep, is the highlight of the park. There are two main trails for visitors to follow into the crater. The sunrise is said to be spectacular. To see the sunrise, hikers can reserve one of three cabins located in the crater.

The landscape at the park is surreal and almost other worldly, we discovered during our unplanned journey. I would like to return to Haleakala National Park to take lots of photographs. The ones I took that day are 35mm color slides that are not easily accessible to share now on my blog.

"G" is for Glacier National Park

"Flying into Glacier" ©Mary Montague Sikes

"Morning Haze on Lake McDonald" ©Mary Montague Sikes

Last summer, we spent a week at Glacier National Park and soon discovered seven days is not nearly enough time to explore this spacious portion of the state of Montana. We did not attempt to visit the entire park which features 700 miles of hiking trails, but instead focused on the southwestern portion and Lake McDonald. The pretty town of Kalispell and the historic Kalispell Grand Hotel, built in 1911, served as our base.

We learned that Glacier National Park was established in 1910 and contains approximately one million acres. We also discovered that Going-to-the-Sun Road is a spectacular road to follow across the park from Lake McDonald to St. Mary Lake. Completed in 1932, the road is considered an engineering marvel. Driving the narrow roadway over Logan Pass is not for the feint of heart, but the journey is breathtaking and offers numerous unforgettable photographic opportunities.

I hope for another chance to visit this National Park and explore the eastern side where St. Mary Lake is located. It would be fun to follow Highway 89 north toward Canada.

"On Lake McDonald" ©Mary Montague Sikes

"F" is for Flagstaff, Arizona, Gateway to the Grand Canyon National Park

"Dream Vision, the Grand Canyon" ©Mary Montague Sikes

The first time we visited the Grand Canyon National Park, I thought we were there when we reached Flagstaff.

We weren't.

Although I still think of Flagstaff as the Gateway to the Grand Canyon, it is actually 80 miles away. It is the largest city near the Canyon, and many tour buses leave from Flagstaff to carry tourists on a very special day trip.

Viewing the Grand Canyon is an experiences everyone should strive to have. It is almost mystical to gaze over the vast expanse of rock formations that at some point is 18 miles across. Looking down, one can see the winding Colorado River a mile below.

Someday, I would like to have the time to watch the changing light on the canyon facades and take photographs all day long. I am glad for Flagstaff as a point along the way with restaurants and information for those who are Grand Canyon bound.

                                                                                          

Glacier National Park - Memories from a Summer Visit

During our visit to Glacier National Park last summer, our family discovered that one week is not nearly enough time to explore all the possibilities that exist in this glorious and foreboding natural landscape. To investigate the west side of the park, we stayed in Kalispell, about 45 minutes away. From this location, we were able to visit Apgar, Lake McDonald, Logan's pass, the town of Whitefish, and much more. On a future trip, I would like to stay in a town on the east side of the park, near the Blackfeet Reservation and closer to the Canadian border. That way, we could not only explore the other side of Glacier, but we could cross over into Canada and travel around Waterton Lakes National Park.

Our first day of exploration at Glacier took us through the west entrance to Apgar, then on to Lake McDonald to visit the historic lodge that will celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2014. The lodge overlooks the lake and is located on the Going-to-the-Sun Road. Our goal was to drive over Logan Pass and along Going-to-the-Sun Road to the east entrance to the park. Along the way, the road was as treacherous and as beautiful as we expected.

"Boardwalk to Hidden Lake" ©Mary Montague Sikes

The following day, we took a ranger-led excursion along a nature trail at Apgar, then we headed back to the Lake McDonald Lodge where we boarded a cruise boat to see the lake with its crystal clear waters and dramatic mountain views. Later, we went to Avalanche Creek for the short trail walk through spectacular woods filled with ancient trees. A beautifully designed watercolor sign said these

"Boardwalk Through the Forest" ©Mary Montague Sikes

trees were there when Thomas Jefferson signed the Declaration of Independence. For the first time, we used the free Jammer shuttle.

We spent most of the next day in Whitefish, first going to the Whitefish Mountain Resort that features a variety of lifts. I was excited to discover many little art galleries in the town, including one featuring almost all encaustics by artist Karen Minton.

Our next excursion into Glacier National Park started at the Apgar Transit Center where we parked

"Jammer" ©Mary Montague Sikes

our car and boarded one of the free shuttles. We found we should have started out a little earlier because by mid-morning there was a considerable wait period to catch a shuttle. While it was convenient not to drive and park a car, killing time awaiting the arrival of shuttle required a great deal of patience.

The last day of our trip inside the park, we visited Discovery Cabin which was built in 1925. We returned to McDonald Lake via a Jammer, the driver of which passed around a journal book with an handcrafted stitchery cover for passengers to sign. Turned out that most of the shuttle drivers are also school bus drivers during the school year.

We flew home, glad for an unique journey into a major National Park and longing for a return visit. Our trip left us with many memories and lots of photographs that made us thankful for the digital age.

Mary Montague Sikes