Goblin Valley
My blog post about my adventure at Goblin Valley is long overdue. After years of ogling epic yurt photos on Instagram, I finally decided to check for availability—and to my surprise, there were two weekend nights open. Without hesitation, I booked, and let me tell you, it was worth every moment. Nestled in a quiet corner of the park, the yurts provided the perfect base for our exploration. Evenings were spent mesmerized by the stars, a sight unparalleled in its beauty. Goblin Valley itself is a marvel; stepping into its otherworldly landscape feels like stepping onto another planet. What sets this park apart is the absence of formal trails, inviting visitors to roam and discover at their own pace. Needless to say, my family and I were enchanted by the experience. [Taken with a Canon 5D Mark II]
Moraine Lake
When I first saw pictures of Moraine Lake I was drawn to its striking blue waters, I felt an undeniable pull to experience it in person. In 2021 my dreams came to fruition when we embarked on a lengthy road trip from SLC to Banff. We arrived in the park in a moment near the end of COVID where only US citizens could enter Canada, giving us a peaceful visit without the usual crowds. As I captured the lake on film, its vibrant blue color exceeded my expectations. Arriving just before sunset, we hastily embarked on a hike to catch the fading light, reaching viewpoints that offered stunning panoramas of the surrounding landscape. Moraine Lake, bathed in the warm glow of twilight, revealed its natural beauty in a truly unforgettable moment. [Shot on Portra 400 taken with a Mamiya 645 + with a Canon 5D Mark II]
Icefields Parkway
As a photographer, there are moments when the world seems to unfold its beauty just for your lens to capture. For me, one of those moments was the magical journey along the Icefields Parkway in the heart of the Canadian Rockies. The sheer majesty of the towering peaks, pristine glaciers, and turquoise lakes was like stepping into another world. Each bend in the road revealed a new scene that captivated my attention.
My poor husband had to put up with my frequent requests to pull over so I could pop my head out of the sunroof to photograph yet another breathtaking vista. At times, it must have seemed like we were on a perpetual stop-and-go adventure, but to me, each pause was a chance to freeze a moment of awe-inspiring beauty. The way the sun painted the peaks with a golden hue or how the clouds danced around the edges of the glaciers – these were the moments that made every stop worth it. The Icefields Parkway isn't just a scenic drive; it's a canvas of nature's finest artwork, and I did my best to capture every stroke of its brilliance. [Shot on Portra 400 taken with a Mamiya 645]
Emerald Lake
Have you ever been to a place that instantly felt familiar? That’s how Emerald Lake felt to me. Like I’d been there a million times despite the fact that I had only learned of its existence two days before we traveled there. Nestled in the heart of Yoho National Park, Emerald Lake exudes a timeless charm that captivates the soul from the moment you set eyes on its tranquil waters. Surrounded by towering peaks adorned with evergreen forests, the lake's ethereal beauty seems almost surreal, it’s such a visually stunning place. I loved photographing the stillness of this place - the tranquility that it provided to me. I only hope that one day I can go back and spend more time in that beautiful place. [Shot on Portra 400 taken with a Mamiya 645 + with a Canon 5D Mark II]
The Windows
If you know me at all, you know how much I love Arches National Park. I have visited a countless number of times since I moved to Utah in 2013. It is a place that has a great importance in my life. Arches is not only beautiful and unique but to me it is more than that. The red rock feels like home to me. The arches feel like a gateway of possibility to me. I always feel inspired and recharged while I am in Moab. This trip was especially significant to me because this was the first place I was able to visit as COVID restrictions began to be lifted. With all the stress and anxiety that has come with this pandemic it was such a relief to be in a place that felt so wide open and alive.
[Taken with a Canon 5D Mark II]
Johnston Canyon
Johnston Canyon may be the most popular hike in Banff National Park, at least, according to Alltrails.com. That being said, I can say I am quite sure this is the busiest trail I have ever hiked. The trail to the lower falls is probably the most trafficked, due to the iron catwalks that you walk along (they just aren’t that wide). However, with COVID-19 still at large most people were very respectful of space and many hikers were wearing masks. As you continue on to the upper falls the trail becomes mostly paved and allows for much more room. All in all, the whole trail was a solid 3.2 miles which was just a little more than enough for our toddler who was able to hike the whole thing. During the middle of the hike (while we were at the lower falls) the rain started coming down fairly consistently. It was a slight drizzle but enough to scare plenty of hikers away which we weren’t mad about. Being from the Pacific Northwest I was more than happy to see a little bit of rain while we hiked. I would almost always prefer to photograph in the rain over sunshine :) All in all this hike was definitely worth it - you get to see amazing scenery with not too much effort. I would highly recommend it. [Taken with a Canon 5D Mark II]
Avenue Twin Peaks
Avenue Twin Peaks is one of my favorite hikes in the Salt Lake City area. It’s a quick hike at just 3.6 miles but gives an epic view of the mountains and the city. It’s a fairly popular trail where you will run into plenty of other hikers and mountain bikers. It feels like this hike is straight up with the nearly 1,000 foot elevation gain alas, the epic view makes it totally worth it. I love doing this hike in the spring while the mountains are still green - but I hear the wild flowers are quite lovely in late summer. [Shot on Portra 400 taken with a Mamiya 645]
Capitol Reef National Park
I always joke that Capitol Reef is the forgotten National Park of Utah. It seems like Zions and Arches always get all the limelight. Capitol Reef has always been on the list but it just never seemed to happen. Alas, last spring we finally decided to explore the park with some of our dearest friends. We stayed at the cutest little A-frame cabin just outside a few minutes drive outside the park. With four adults and three kids in tow we figured it would be better for everyone if we didn’t over plan this trip - it ended up being a wonderful trip. We did a little hike covering a bit of the Grand Wash Trail, splashing around in the Sulphur Creek, and even conquering the Hickman Bridge Trail. All in all we definitely enjoyed exploring the park and will be exploring it more in the future. [Taken with a Canon 5D Mark II]
Cliffs of Moher
“Mawwiage. Mawwiage is wat bwings us togeder today. Mawwiage, that bwessed awwangement, that dweam wifin a dream…”
If you haven’t ever heard this quote then stop reading immediately and go watch the late 80’s classic The Princess Bride. I, like many other children born in the early 90's, grew up watching this movie over and over. The Princess Bride was an integral part of my childhood and somehow, even today, I could probably quote most of the movie to you. With that context in mind, it shouldn’t be hard to believe that I was pretty stoked to see the Cliffs of Insanity in real life. Little did I know that the actual “Cliffs of Insanity” are just a small part of a 5 mile range of cliffs that fall into the Atlantic Ocean. We were able to see the cliffs from two different locations - both absolutely stunning. While we traversed along the path on the top of the cliffs we experienced wind, hail, and rain all in the short span of a few hours. The whole experience was just equally terrifying and thrilling and I would happily do it again. [Shot on Portra 400 + TriX 400 taken with a Canon EOS-3]
Dublin
Our trip to Ireland was pretty spur of the moment. Keaton had work related business in Dublin and last minute we decided that I would join in the fun! However, right before I was supposed to leave for the trip my son and I both caught the stomach flu. The day before my flight I finally started to feel better and did a quick doctor’s visit just to make sure I wasn’t contagious. When I was given the okay to fly I still didn’t check in for my flight, I just wasn’t sure if I could really make the trip. Alas, by some miracle I was able to get on the plane and make the long trek to Dublin. Due to my weakened state I spent those first few days in Dublin still recovering and adjusting to the time change.
When I did finally feel well enough to venture out I was surprised how much I enjoyed Dublin, it had such a homey vibe to me. That may have been due to my Pacific Northwest heart, rain and overcast weather always feel friendly to me. Dublin has so many interesting things to see in the city. Everything has a history to it, it felt like there was a story everywhere. Due to the wonder of AirBnB we were able to meet plenty of locals, all of whom loved to comment on the fact that their homes were older than our country. Ha! One of my favorite memories of this trip was finding refuge more than once in an old pub. The service was always slow, the kitchen always seemed to be closed, but there was always a roaring fire in the middle of the pub and what always seemed like an unlimited amount of Guinness on tap.
Looking back on this trip I realize what a miracle it was that we were able to travel internationally this year. COVID-19 has been tough on 2020 but I am filled with gratitude when I think about the experiences we were able to have on this trip!
[Shot on TriX 400 taken with a Canon EOS-3]
Slieve League
When we decided to visit Ireland in the middle of February I didn’t have super high expectations about the weather. I figured the whole trip would be mostly dreary and cold. With my standard of expectation set so low I was always over the moon when the sun came out to greet us. It felt like Ireland was giving just us a special treat.
We arrived in Slieve League in our absolutely tiny rental car. It was so small that my 6’2” husband Keaton looked like a giant squeezed into a clown sized car. One of the consequences of having such a small car was that it didn’t weigh very much. This fact, in combination with the fact that we were traveling quite light, meant that when the wind came it felt like the car (and us inside it) might just blow away. This issue became even more apparent when we pulled into the parking lot at Slieve League. It was so windy that I was legitimately worried that the car might blow over.
Luckily, in true Ireland hospitality we decided to embrace the wind and go see the grandeur of the place for ourselves. After twenty minutes or so in the unwavering wind the sun peaked out and the entire place just shimmered. [Shot on Portra 400 taken with a Canon EOS-3]
