2013-01-31 Eastern Point-8998-971-972
The Elephants Perch is the unusual name given to a 1200-foot wall of pink granite in the Sawtooth Mountains of Idaho. It is a magnificent backpacking destination, and the quality rock climbing on the Perch is hard to beat in Idaho. 

We had just set up our tent on the rocky shores of the lake when a summer storm descended on the tiny valley. These mammatus clouds formed as the sun was setting, boiling under a heavy black cloud that hung over the mountain walls. Cloud formations like these typically precede a midwest tornado and are quite rare in these mountains. They lasted for only two or three minutes before turning into a draining sweep of hail and rain that threatened to destroy the tents. Thunder and lightning ripped the air and shook the trees – and the sun shone on through it all.

Thirty minutes later, the sky was clear and the sun set , casting the mountains in their pink and orange light – just as nothing had ever happened.

Nikon D2x, 12-24mm, f 6.3, 1/250, ISO 100
Mountains and Clouds near Sparks Marina Park, Sparks, NV
Mountains and Clouds near Sparks Marina Park, Sparks, NV
IMG_0294
Pink petal
the perfect storm
The railroad trestle at Madras, Oregon standing in front of a gorgeous sunset. Historic site of when the railroad came to Central Oregon.
Napo River: Rainstorm
the perfect storm
the perfect storm
the perfect storm
See photo in original gallery.