Nature Eases My Pain
Flat Iron Arch (10T-656466-4872511, 3’x8’)
Just a few days after we returned to Tucson from Havasupai Falls, we left for a quick trip to the Pacific Northwest where we have lots of relatives and friends. I also needed to write and photograph for two blank pages in SPAN, the magazine of the Natural Arch and Bridge Society that I edit.
The Flatiron to Castle Trail Loop is a moderate 7.5 miles walk along an old two-track through the scablands east of Bend, OR. The hike, which is more of a stroll, passes through stands of western juniper and fields of sagebrush and brittlebush before reaching a breach in a lava ridge. If you scramble to the top of the ridge, you are rewarded with a panoramic vista from Mount Hood to Mount Bachelor.
Nature Eases My Pain
It’s been more than six months since I posted a gallery, so I thought I’d share some of my adventures, none of which have produced a prolific portfolio of photographs, but all of which were worth exploration. I’m still hunting arches as I was re-elected as President of the Natural Arch and Bridge Society, am still fascinated by long hikes to waterfalls, am still learning new techniques to photograph the night sky and am still hiking here and there, especially there.
Some people age gracefully and some do not. I retired in time to join those who do not. Details aside, when physically challenged, I try to respond defiantly in kind. The more I'm hurting, the longer and harder the hike. One of my gastroenterologists recently said to me: “At some point you are going to have to put your medical care before your passion.” And I responded, “Or not.”
As I inferred, there is no cohesive theme to this gallery, so I named it, “Nature Eases My Pain.” At the very least, it's a distraction.
I hope you enjoy it and don’t forget to read the captions. Often, they are more interesting than the photographs. Sad, but true.
