Posts Tagged Montana
June 20, 2011 – Glacier National Park
Posted by Dave in Mountains, Picture of the Day, Winter/Snow on June 20, 2011
Glacier National Park
Monday, June 20, 2011
http://davefry.net/rate/index.php?viewimage=1407
Dang, dang, dang, dang. Dang. I’ve been meaning for more than a week now to toss up a picture or two from my northern-lights-chasing-adventure, but I keep forgetting to upload anything from my desktop machine at home. And now, it’s even worse, as I took some pictures of ladybugs this weekend that I was hoping to post, and I forgot to upload those too. Dang. Try again tonight, I guess.
In the meantime, here’s another shot from Whitefish Mountain Resort in Montana. This is a view over into Glacier National Park from the top of the ski hill, that’s why I labelled the post the way I did. Whitefish Mountain Resort (formerly known as Big Mountain), is, not surprisingly, just outside of Whitefish, Montana. It’s one of my favorite three ski hills in the world. Although, saying “in the world” is slightly misleading, as I certainly have not skied everywhere there is to ski. I *have* skied outside the US, so my opinion is at least an international one, but that was only just across the Canadian border in BC, so that’s hardly fair, even to the rest of Canada. But whatever, I still stand by my statement. This is one of my favorite three places to ski *IN THE ENTIRE WORLD*. Deal with it. Or, better idea, just go ski there. Perhaps it won’t become one of your three favorite places to ski, but you’re almost guaranteed to at least have a good time, and you’ll also get to try someplace new, which is also awesome. Unless you’ve been there before, in which case that particular incentive won’t apply.
Notes: Canon EOS Rebel T1i, Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8 lens. 1/500s, f/10.0, ISO 100. Focal length: 50mm.
Subscribe to the Picture of the Day via: December 27, 2010 – Whitefish Mountain Resort
Posted by Dave in Picture of the Day, Winter/Snow on December 27, 2010
Whitefish Mountain Resort
Monday, December 27, 2010
http://davefry.net/rate/index.php?viewimage=1277
I know, I know, I’ve been really light with the posts lately. But, it’s okay (really!) because I told you I would be. I’m setting expectations appropriately. So, in the interests of continuing to do so, I’m telling you now that this is almost certainly the only post you’ll see this week too, and then I may go back to a more normal schedule in January. Deal?
Today’s picture is another one of those that I seem to have a much higher opinion of than everyone else does. I love the textures in it, and the contrasting shades. But you think it’s boring. That’s okay though, we can still be friends. This one came from Whitefish Mountain Resort in Montana. I’m… running out of things to say about it.
Let’s see.. other stuff.. I guess I’ve got two things today, neither of which is any more exciting than anything we’ve covered thus far. FIRST! The annual Blogger’s Choice Awards popularity contest has rolled over, so I need votes. Go to http://bloggerschoiceawards, and vote for Picture of the Day in the Best Photography Blog category. I get a fair amount of traffic every day from them, so you’re definitely doing me a favor by voting me up (although not quite the favor you’d think – I don’t actually care if I win, I just want to be in the top three in the running so that I get clicks..) So, please take a moment to vote.
Now, in other news: I’m thinking about trying to sell some junk. I’m considering ordering some custom nightlights, among other worthless trinkets. (To be sold on Etsy, or maybe I’ll even go to some local shops and see if I can win them over.) Would any of you be interested in buying stuff like that? Is this just a terrible idea? If you let me know what you think (even if you say it’s an awful idea), then I’ll give you one for free or something if I do end up getting some made up. In the extraordinarily unlikely event that a whole bunch of you take me up on that, I may have to step back from the whole “free” thing and instead go for “really cheap”, but the spirit is still there. If the response to this offer is anything like that of when I sold calendars next year, well… then I’ll just be stuck with a box full of worthless night lights. But either way, let me know.
Notes: Canon EOS Rebel T1i, Quantaray 70-300mm lens. 1/800s, f/8.0, ISO 100. Focal length: 70mm.
November 9, 2010 – Family Skiing at Whitefish Mountain Resort
Posted by Dave in Picture of the Day, Winter/Snow on November 9, 2010
Family Skiing at Whitefish Mountain Resort
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
http://davefry.net/rate/index.php?viewimage=1386
So, after kind of hinting at it yesterday, I really had intended to post a picture from Yosemite today. And, failing that, I was going to put a shot from my East Coast trip and say something about how I had suggested yesterday that it had been awhile since I was there and I’ve still only posted the one. But, I also failed at that, which means I’m totally at a loss as to what to toss up here today.
So, here’s a random picture of some people. No, I don’t know these people. I honestly have no clue who they are, but gosh, they’re sure having a good time, and I like that. I was playing around at Whitefish Mountain Resort (formerly Big Mountain) in Whitefish, Montana, trying to get pictures of people on the chairlift with cool stuff behind them. I was trying out this vantage point, but obviously the “stuff behind” part is pretty lacking. Ideally, you could get the valley view behind them, or even better, the peaks in Glacier National Park. But, I was never able to find a vantage point for the latter, and the lighting never really worked out for the former. But, I thought this was a nice little moment, and I can’t wait till my own kid is old enough that I can experience a moment just like it with him.
Back to the East Coast thing for a moment. So, I was (obviously) really excited to go out there, in the fall no less. But, between mixed weather and not really getting to spend enough time actually walking around in the trees (where I would expect to find the nice settings I was looking for), I was a bit disappointed in the pics I got. I was hoping that I was just being ridiculous, that there would actually be some really nice ones, and I was setting them aside for awhile hoping that I could revisit them with a clear head and realize that they were actually pretty cool afterall. So, I spent a bit of time last night looking through some of them, and at least in the subset I flipped through, there wasn’t much. I mean, there were a couple that were *almost* really cool, but they each had a bit of fuzz on them that kept them from being the shot I wanted. I mean, it totally makes sense – you’ve got to be really lucky to go someplace for only a day and a half and happen to get the perfect conditions for the perfect shot (locals always have the advantage, because they have the flexibility to go when it’ll be great, and often they also have the knowledge to know when that will be), but I was still hoping. Next time, I guess, next time. In the meantime, here’s Montana!
Notes: Canon EOS Rebel T1i, Quantaray 70-300mm lens. 1/500s, f/5.0, ISO 200. Focal length: 218mm.
July 27, 2010 – Saint Mary Lake
Posted by Dave in Mountains, Picture of the Day on July 27, 2010
Saint Mary Lake, Glacier National Park
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
http://www.davefry.net/rate/index.php?viewimage=176
Wow, new posts on Monday AND Tuesday?? Wow, you guys must have done something right, for sure. Today’s picture is fairly old, from back in 2003. At that time I was only recently sworn off of my 35mm SLR, and I was rocking my second little pocket-sized point and shoot from Canon. (Film purists would argue with my logic, but I truly felt that I was getting better results (and much more convenient results) from my digicam than I was with my full-size 35mm beast.) I spent a fair bit of time laid off from work, so I had the opportunity to go on a few nice, long roadtrips that summer. I ended up in Montana a couple times, including the time when I got this shot in Glacier National Park.
You’re looking at Saint Mary Lake, which is on the east side of the park, right along the main road. (The “main road” being Going-To-The-Sun road.) I had driven through west-to-east, but unfortunately I was on my way somewhere (Colorado), so I didn’t have any time to hang around or hike or anything. (In fact, I originally wasn’t planning on swinging by Glacier at all – it was a split second decision when I saw a sign for it along I-90, which resulted in a 2 or 3 day detour. That’s the joy of not really having a tight schedule though, you can afford to just toss in a few days here or there of “other stuff”. I hate only having a couple weeks of vacation a year.)
As I hinted earlier, this was taken with a little pocket point and shoot. A 3.2 megapixel in fact. I’ve said it many times before, but it definitely bears repeating: just because you don’t have a big fancy camera, you can still get some nice shots. It’s definitely true that there are things you can do with a fancy camera that you can’t with a point and shoot, but there’s no reason you need to let that hold you back.
Notes: Canon PowerShot S230 (Point and Shoot). 1/800s.
July 19, 2010 – Flathead Valley and Whitefish, MT
Posted by Dave in Picture of the Day, Winter/Snow on July 19, 2010
Flathead Valley and Whitefish, MT
Monday, July 19, 2010
http://www.davefry.net/rate/index.php?viewimage=1420
It’s the middle of July. It’s perfectly sunny, hovering right around 70 degrees. Summer has finally arrived here in Seattle. And all I can think about is how badly I’m pining for winter. 6 months from now, I’ll be kicking myself.
Notes: Canon EOS Rebel T1i, Tamron 17-55mm lens. 1/200s, f/9.0, ISO 100. Focal length: 47mm.
June 26, 2010 – Fresh Snow
Posted by Dave in Picture of the Day, Winter/Snow on June 16, 2010
Fresh snow
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
http://davefry.net/rate/index.php?viewimage=1394
Ahhhhh crap, it’s almost been two whole days since I’ve put up a post. It was so tempting to miss today too. But, I got a post in just under the wire. Just some nice, fresh snow. I think that little bit of the tree next door on the left edge is a bit distracting, which is unfortunate. Oh well, too late to do anything about it now.
Notes: Canon EOS Rebel T1i, Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8 lens. 1/200s, f/7.1, ISO 100. Focal length: 45mm.
May 26, 2010 – Whitefish Mountain Resort
Posted by Dave in Picture of the Day, Winter/Snow on May 26, 2010
Whitefish Mountain Resort
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
http://davefry.net/rate/index.php?viewimage=1370
No, that’s not my kid.
I was fartin’ around on the mountain trying to get pictures of people skiing with the town in the background, when I saw her skiing by. I thought it was a really cute moment, so I went ahead and snapped it. This was taken at Whitefish Mountain Resort (formerly Big Mountain) if it wasn’t already obvious from, you know, the title of the post. And that means that the town in the background is Whitefish. I think the picture’s tilted. Damnit.
Notes: Canon EOS Rebel T1i, Quantaray 70-300mm lens. 1/1000s, f/6.3, ISO 200. Focal length: 70mm.
May 14, 2010 – Snow Ghosts
Posted by Dave in Picture of the Day, Winter/Snow on May 14, 2010
Snow Ghosts, Whitefish Mountain Resort
Friday, May 14, 2010
http://davefry.net/rate/index.php?viewimage=1397
Hey guys. Today’s post takes us back to Whitefish Mountain Resort (formerly Big Mountain) which is just outside Whitefish, Montana. I realize I’ve posted a few pictures like this already, but I just can’t help it, those snow ghosts are just irresistibly photogenic. When you toss them in front of a blue sky, magic just sort of happens. They seem to be pretty common in the high country at most inland ski resorts in the northwestern US and western Canada. (I’ve seen them in Montana, Idaho and BC mostly, but I’ve hardly been everywhere, so what do I know.)
I realize that it’s basically summer now, so winter and snow is the LAST thing on most of your minds (do I have any southern hemisphere readers?? Anyone??), but I’m not quite ready to let go yet. In fact, my original plan was to head up to Whistler this weekend for one last gasp, get in just a few more turns before the long hot summer. But sadly it didn’t work out, so alas I’ll be hanging out in and around Seattle this weekend. Sigh, oh well. Hope it’s nice wherever you’re at!
Notes: Canon EOS Rebel T1i, Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8 lens. 1/320s, f/10.0, ISO 200. Focal length: 47mm.
March 17, 2010 – Snow Ghosts
Posted by Dave in Picture of the Day, Winter/Snow on March 17, 2010
Snow Ghosts, Whitefish Mountain Resort
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
http://davefry.net/rate/index.php?viewimage=1373
Hello everyone, welcome to my Friday! That’s right, after today I’m gone, which makes this the last post you’ll be seeing this week. Wooooo! I imagine that’s quite a bit more exciting for me than it is for you. But that won’t stop me from celebrating.
These are snow ghosts. Well, okay, they’re trees. But that’s what they call them when they develop that nice thick crust of snow and ice. You see it a lot in Idaho and Montana and inland BC (and probably Alberta, but I haven’t been there to verify that). These actually look more tree-like than a “true” snow ghost, but it at least gives you the idea. (When I was at Big White Ski Resort a number of years ago, a lot of them were so encased in snow and ice that they were just weirdly shaped white lumpy things, kind of like that one in the front row here.) These in particular lived at Whitefish Mountain Resort (formerly Big Mountain) in Whitefish, Montana. Whitefish happens to be one of my three all-time favorite ski mountains (along with Mt. Bachelor in Oregon and Schweitzer in Idaho), so if you’re looking for a place to go this weekend, you should consider it. Personally, I’ll be in Chicago, and I’ve heard rumors that the skiing sucks there. Dang.
Be good this weekend everyone, don’t forget to pay the bills and feed the children. See you on Monday!
Notes: Canon EOS Rebel T1i, Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8 lens. 1/250s, f/14.0, ISO 200. Focal length: 17mm.
January 20, 2010 – Whitefish Mountain Resort
Posted by Dave in Picture of the Day, Winter/Snow on January 20, 2010
Whitefish Mountain Resort
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
http://www.davefry.net/rate/index.php?viewimage=1279
As promised, here’s a shot from Montana this weekend. I’ve only barely started going through them, so this is just the first one that I snagged that seemed post-worthy. (Actually, that’s not even true, it’s the third one, and the first two are more awesome, but I want to save them for later. This one was just barely far enough above the bar that I felt it would be perfect for a Wednesday.)
As a quick refresher, this is from Whitefish Mountain Resort, formerly known as Big Mountain, which is just outside the town of Whitefish, Montana. You get there via Amtrak, or you can fly into Kalispell which isn’t too far away. This was up near the top of the mounain, and those chairs are part of I believe Chair 5, which wasn’t running while we were there. (According to several locals, that chair very rarely runs, as it serves only terrain that’s already served by other chairs, so it’s only needed on super crowded days, which there are very few of in Montana, certainly not while we were there.)
Those ice-encrusted trees are pretty common at the top of the hill. They’re called snow ghosts, and I’ve only ever seen them in Montana, Idaho, and interior BC (which really are all basically the same place). That’s absolutely not a claim that they don’t exist anywhere else, that’s just the only places I’ve seen them. They make for fantastic pictures, because even when it hasn’t snowed in awhile you can still make a picture look like it’s a powder day. I played around with them a bunch this weekend, you’ll certainly see them again.
Notes: Canon EOS Rebel T1i, Tamron 17-50 f/2.8 lens. 1/400s, f/11.0, ISO 100. Focal length: 44mm.
January 12, 2010 – Whitefish Mountain Resort
Posted by Dave in Picture of the Day, Winter/Snow on January 12, 2010
Flathead Valley, seen from Whitefish Mountain Resort
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
http://www.davefry.net/rate/index.php?viewimage=333
This is a view looking out over the Flathead Valley from Whitefish Mountain Resort (formerly Big Mountain) in Whitefish, Montana, at something-like-sunset. This is where I’ll be in a couple of days. I am extremely happy about this. The weather isn’t looking like it’ll be perfect (it’ll be mostly cloudy with a chance of only a half inch of snow or so each day), but it will still be fantastic. Because I will be there, and I make everything fantastic. There’s a lesson in there for the rest of you.
Last time I was in Whitefish, I only had a point and shoot camera with me. Because at the time that’s all I owned. This time though, I’m bringing the big guns. Actually, I’m only bringing one big gun. I was originally intending to bring two big guns, intending to use my *old* SLR (the XT) just in case I fell on it. I didn’t want to risk the fancy new one. But, my buddy Dan is borrowing it, and I was too lazy to ask for it back. So I may just have an excuse to spend more money when I get home, we’ll see. But that’s the real reason why I have mixed feelings about the weather. I’m afraid of boring light. Oh well. I’m sure I’ll still have plenty of fun. Do you even realize how cheap the beer is out there?! Oh man, it’s heaven on earth, I swear.
I’m still planning on putting up another post tomorrow before I leave, but then that’ll be it until at least Tuesday of next week, so you’d better enjoy it!
Notes: Canon PowerShot S500 (Point and shoot). 1/250s, f/7.1.
November 16, 2009 – Whitefish Mountain Resort
Posted by Dave in Mountains, Picture of the Day, Winter/Snow on November 16, 2009
Glacier National Park and Whitefish Mountain Resort
Monday, November 16, 2009
http://www.davefry.net/rate/index.php?viewimage=327
We’re almost a week into ski season, and I still haven’t even SEEN snow. What’s up with that?! I don’t have an answer to that. What I DO have is a picture from Whitefish Mountain Resort in northern Montana. (Formerly known as Big Mountain resort – in fact, that’s what it was called when this picture was taken.)
Those peaks in the distance are inside the boundaries of Glacier National Park, if that helps out with your mental map. I’ve said it before, and I’ve said it again. Whitefish mountain is a FANTASTIC place to ski. It’s one of my all-time favorites, in fact. (Along with Schweitzer in Idaho, Sun Peaks in BC, and Mt. Bachelor in Oregon.) This picture, and a few others, were used by the hotel we stayed at last time we where there (the Kandahar lodge) in various ways (in brochures, at ski shows, in banner ads online, etc..) although at the time I was taking it I had no idea that it would be. Had I known that was a possibility, you can bet I would have brought along more than a point and shoot. In fact, the folks at the hotel have asked when I’m coming out next, I guess they’ve got some more pics they want for a new brochure. 
So as if there wasn’t enough reason to go back as it was, now there’s that too. So assuming the rapture doesn’t come before then or the Cubs don’t win the world series, I will MAKE IT OUT THERE again, THIS YEAR. Wanna come?
Notes: Canon PowerShot S500 (Point and Shoot). 1/250s, f/13.0.