tag J. Dobbins Photography

Misery Ridge Trail - Belki's View from the Top

Our route to ‘Belki’s View from the Top’ here was via the aptly named Misery Ridge Trail coming soon to another page on this website. Stay tuned for more…

Morning Glory - Arrowleaf Balsam Root Sunrise

Smith Rock State Park_, host to several great hiking trails and the meandering Crooked River is alive with water fowl, hawks and eagles, as well as many rock and landscape hungry human species. Cougar, coyote, beaver, bear, and several other more hospitable animals are often sighted in the area also.

Return of the Wooley Mammoth

A visit to Fossil and especially a few nights stay at Bridge Creek Flora Inn is highly recommended. The food and the accommodations are simply wonderful and down to earth. So are the patrons.

On The Road - Crater Lake

Belki and Snoopy survey the still snow laden landscape near the rim of Crater Lake’s northwestern edge.

Crooked River Bridge - May 15, 2007

Human deviants can often be seen hanging or perching precariously from ropes and fingertips on the sheer sunbaked rock walls that are the defining landmarks of this unique and interesting river canyon.

Backside of Smith Rock - Central Oregon

The hikers’ descent is trecherous, particularly without a crutch of some sort. The combination of hard-pan trail bed and a worn and rounded layer of fine gravel gives a good test to the off-season sliding skills. The tripod and monopod combination came in handy. At times, I was wishing I had purchased my boots a size larger…toe-jam test.
June 5, 2007 / 21:32:15

Painted Hills - Overlook

The area is kept under national monument protection and is preserved for it’s higher purpose. We explore here from a distance, only with camera.

Along the Crooked River - Smith Rock State Park

Oregon’s high desert, near the town of Terrebonne, sheer cliffs attract world class sport climbers and nature photographers alike.

Hiking out along the Crooked River this beautiful spring evening at sunset our small band of shooters were each drawn off in different directions, me settling in along the water’s edge...

Fence Boundary - Smith Rocks State Park

This split juniper boundary fence corraling the primary access path, leads the way across the river and on up the Misery Ridge Trail or downriver and around the back to Monkey Face and many other popular taking off points.

Smith Rock State Park - Explosive Beginnings

In addition to the world-famous rock climbing, Smith Rock State Park is host to many miles of hiking trails, the meandering Crooked River and views of the volcanic peaks…

The Painted Hills - The Cove Nature Trail

A short covered trail winds around a crimson bentonite hill, permitting a close view of the popcorn-textured claystones that distinguish the Painted Hills. Strangely enough, very few if any plant life grows in these deposits.

Misery Ridge Trail - Views of the high desert

Smith Rock State Park_, host to several great hiking trails like the Misery Ridge Trail, is alive with hikers, songbirds, water fowl, hawks and eagles, as well as many rock and landscape hungry humans…Misery Ridge Trail climbs approximately 1500 feet in 1/4 mile to the top of Smith Rock.