So, what should we do when the sun is out, there's no wind and the temperature soars to 5 degrees f? Why go for a nice walk on the Palmer Hay Flats to see Reflection Lake of course.
Because the mountains are so high and at this time of the year, the sun doesn't climb too far up, parts of this area don't see direct sunlight for three to four months of the year. O.K. you can see the sunlight way up there but it doesn't actually reach all the way down to parts of the flats.
I thought that the hoar frost on all the trees was stunning but was told that this was just moderate frost. That when it's really thick the tiniest ray of light causes everything to glitter.
You can tell that it's still quite warm out because on the lake there's a small spot over there on the left that isn't completely frozen yet. I bet that the reflections that give this lake its name are probably better when it's not frozen and covered with snow. Just a guess.
Frost Flowers
Thanks for taking us along, that was a very picturesque walk!
ReplyDeleteIt's always a pleasure to have you along!
DeleteBeautiful! I wish we got conditions like that once in a while...so many great photo opportunities! Hey, and it would give me a chance to break out my pea coat I brought with me from Nebraska (hope it still fits)!
ReplyDeleteIt is pretty but that would mean that we couldn't grow a lot of cool plants. Love the way pea coats look. Maybe in a few years, you'll acclimate more and actually find Portland winters cold enough to wear yours.
DeleteStunning! The frost flowers are really great. I hope you had a warm jacket. I was considering the thermal underwear in our 50f just yesterday. It took three shirts a wool sweater and two jackets to get me outside :P
ReplyDeleteWell, I carry around a great deal of personal insulation at all times but I did have a coat, gloves and a hat as well.
DeleteAbsolutely gorgeous! Love that frost.
ReplyDeleteIt's lovely to visit!
DeleteWonderland! How beautiful! What a wonderful part of the world!
ReplyDeleteIt was a thrill to be back in Alaska for a while.
DeleteYou've taken fine pictures! For some reason I still prefer your sunny flower pictures...Can you quess, why? ;O) ( A:I live in the middle of snow and coldness.)
ReplyDeleteI could still take pictures of flowers but we've entered our wet time of the year and sun is fairly rare now. Never fear, spring is near.
DeleteYour shots of the mountains are fabulous, so cold and forbidding. I love it when the sunlight turns the frost to diamonds :)
ReplyDeleteI wish I could take credit but the scenery was so beautiful that all one has to do is point the camera in any direction and push the button.
DeleteBest tour of Alaska since the movie Never Cry Wolf.
ReplyDeleteFunny you should mention that. Never Cry Wolf was filmed a few miles up the road from my home town!
DeleteAmazing mountains. Something we miss out here in the flatlands.
ReplyDeleteThe praries have their own beauty. One is more likely to have a house fall on him/her in yor area, though.
DeleteBeautiful Pics! I love your mountains!
ReplyDeleteThanks. Alaska is a place of rugged beauty!
DeleteI just love a heavy frost. I know, you say that is moderate but it sure is pretty. Where are you gardening? Zone 8 is a lucky zone!
ReplyDeleteMy garden is in western Washington State in Tacoma. I was born in Vermont, raised in Alaska and moved to Washington about 25 years ago. Having gardened in a zone 3-4 area, I am still amazed at the wide range of plants that survive here.
DeleteBut it was a dry cold so it felt different from our Pacific Northwest wet cold. The news guy says we'll be having highs in the upper 30's in a couple of days. YIKES, that's cold!
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