The skies cleared today and the mountains revealed themselves to show a new coat of snow.
Although it was still quite chilly outside, I decided to combine my lunch break walk with my photos. It was mid-afternoon before I was able to get out and as it moved toward the west, the sun was starting to wash out the mountains a bit. Some clouds had also started to appear over the mountain tops.
It was still an incredibly beautiful day for a walk up Pilot Butte. The sky was about as blue as I’ve ever seen it and I wasn’t even wearing polarizing sunglasses. There are two ways to walk up to the top of the Butte. One is along a dirt trail (a shorter but steeper route) and the other along a narrow paved road. Once the snow starts falling and the lower elevations, the road is closed for the duration of the winter, so the only way to the top is walking.
The total distance is approximately 1.7 miles round trip.
Maralee
Through My Lens 
As I sit here processing photos, snow is blowing outside. We had a mini-blizzard last night, ice all over this morning along with about 2-3 inches of snow. Expecting 4-6 more inches this evening and overnight.
I need to hurry up and finish processing my summer and fall photos . . . winter is upon us. And yes, I like seeing snow on the mountains . . . it seems right somehow, as it should be.
I guess its inevitable that winter will arrive. Our weather is changing and they’re expecting warmer temps and rain for the next week. There goes the snow. 🙂
So gorgeous!
Thank you, Susan.
Breath taking scenery… Lovely. 🙂
Thanks, Zelmare. Some days it literally takes my breath away.
Marvelous photos… that snow gives the mountains some perspective .. their size is now discernible…
We are on the southern end of the Cascade Mountain range. Our mountains aren’t quite as high as the northern Cascades up in Washington state, but I still think they’re beautiful. 🙂
Gorgeous landscapes!
Thank you, Madhu.
What a terrific place for a photographer to live, but then, maybe that didn’t happen by accident.
I’ve lived in a number of different places and they all had their own unique beauty. But when I’m driving to work in the morning with the mountains looming before me, it always makes me catch my breath a bit.
They had some snow … just above Stockholm … yesterday. Really early – we have very cold nights and looking at the sky this afternoon it looked like it was snow on its way.
Stunning view you have caught here. The last is my pick of the day.
We have gray skies and rain forecast for today. Its going to be a little warmer so anything we get will be in the form of rain for a little while.
Beautiful photos, Maralee! You are so fortunate to live where you do, but it’s obvious that you are aware of that. The dogs’ water bowl was frozen this morning, which means we have to plug it back in for the winter. (yes, they have a heated water bowl).
What lucky dogs they are to have you as their momma. 🙂 We have a lot of stray cats in our area and I put food out for them every day. In the winter I make a little shelter they can stay in if they want to. I think we have so many strays because we’re about .5 miles from the Humane Society and some people just dump their animals at the front door. I’m sure some are able to get away. Its sad.
Wow absolutely stunning!!!!
Thank you so much.