I was able to get over to Fort Worden soon after the snowstorm at the end of December. The broken clouds and the views to the southeast and south were spectacular. A real treat after being stuck indoors for a couple days.
I tried this in black and white, since the colors weren’t a big part of the image. But I ended up liking it better in color. I think it had to do mostly with the separation in the sky. The blue in the sky created more separation than it did when converted to a gray tone. But maybe I was just too lazy to keep working at it.
The only easily accessible place for winter sports on the Olympic Peninsula is Hurricane Ridge in the Olympic National Park, south of Port Angeles. For downhill, there isn’t any chair lift, but there is a bunny hill and some challenging routes for those willing and skilled enough to venture out of the official ski area. But there are some good cross-country routes and snowshoe routes. When the weather is clear, it’s spectacular.
Western Red Cedar to be specific. It is the native cedar along the Pacific Coast, until you get into Alaska where it tends to be replaced with some Yellow Cedar. Yellow cedar is a favorite of carvers. The name Incense Cedar is apt and the smell of the wood is wonderful. You can find it in Washington in the high country right on the edge of tree line.
I like Pacific Madrone a lot for their colors. (they aren’t so much a favorite if they are growing in my yard: they are quite messy all year round) But with a dusting of snow, the color really stands out.