Chimney Rock National Historic Site
Chimney Rock in western Nebraska was an imprtant landmark along the historic Oregon Trail
Agriculture at Chimney Rock National Historic Site
Chimney Rock, Nebraska
Trading Post at Chimney Rock National Historic Site
Pioneer Crossing - Former Trading Post at Chimney Rock National Historic Site in Nebraska
Parts of a vintage windmill water pump at Chimney Rock in western Nebraska
Chimney Rock National Historic Site, Nebraska
When the settlers on the Oregon trail came this far, they knew: one third of the trip is over, now the hard part begins - the mountains. As if anything until then would have been easy...
Remnants of an old windmill water pump at Chimney Rock in western Nebraska
Pioneer Crossing - Settler's Trading Post at Chimney Rock National Historic Site in Nebraska with satellite dish and sponsored by Pepsi Cola
Antlers decorate the entarance of the Settler's Trading Post at Chimney Rock National Historic Site in Nebraska
Scotts Bluff National Monument
Saddle Rock in Scotts Bluff National Monument, Nebraska at dusk
Scotts Bluff National Monument, Nebraska
Dome Rock is one of the 5 major named rocks at Scotts Bluff National Monument. It raises 4,396 feet (1340 m) above sea level
Video: Somewhere on I-80 in Wyoming, between Cheyenne and Rock Springs
Salt River Range
The Star Valley and Salt River Range along U.S. Route 89 in western Wyoming at the border to Idaho near the village Freedom
Salt River Range along U.S. Route 89 in western Wyoming
Dancing Sandhill Crane
This guy gave quite a performance to impress his Dulcinea. I took an amazing video of the whole scene. Too bad I did not really press the record button :(
Wyoming to Idaho on U.S. Route 30
Crossing the Wyoming Idaho border on U.S. Route 30
Idaho Falls Idaho Temple
Idaho Falls Idaho Temple of the LDS church (The church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints) reflecting in the Snake River
Statue of the Angel Moroni on top of the Idaho Falls Idaho Temple of the LDS church (The church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints)
Idaho Falls Idaho Temple across the Snake River
Idaho Falls, Idaho
Panoramic view at the Idaho Falls of the Snake River with the Idaho Falls Idaho Temple in the background
Idaho Falls Diversion Dam on the Snake River
The falls drop about 20 feet and is about 1200 feet wide. It is a man-made diversion dam used for hydroelectric power.
Idaho Falls
Idaho Falls of the Snake River
Idaho Falls of the Snake River with the Idaho Falls Idaho Temple in the background
Dusk at Idaho Falls
Dusk over the Snake River at Idaho Falls with the falls to the left and the Idaho Falls Idaho Temple in the background
Big Southern Butte, Idaho
The southern butte, the tallest of the three buttes in Butte County, Idaho, towers 2,500 feet high with 2 overlapping rock domes and is also the youngest of the three at just about 300,000 years old.
Three Buttes, Idaho
Middle Butte (left) and Big Southern Butte (right) of the Three Volcanic Buttes that dominate the Idaho plains near Atomic City, the place of the first Nuclear Power Plant
Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve, Arco, Idaho
Lava field near the entrance of Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve, Arco, Idaho
Volcanic landscape along the North Crater Flow Trail at Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve, Arco, Idaho
Craters of the Moon National Monument & Preserve, Arco, Idaho
Looking up the slope of a volcano from the North Crater Flow Trail at Craters of the Moon National Monument & Preserve, Arco, Idaho, USA
A smooth lava flow now begins to break and crumble at Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve near Arco in Idaho
Pāhoehoe (Hawaiian) lava flow - basaltic lava that has a smooth, billowy, undulating, or ropy surface.It doesn't take much imaginiation to see how this lava stream moved and then just stopped while cooling down.
Brittle lava formations along the trail
The tiny red Desert Indian Paintbrush (Castilleja angustifolia) is one of the first plants that grows on the lava rocks at Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve near Arco, Idaho
Tiny Chipmunk in a lava field
Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve near Arco in Idaho
Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve
Wildflowers emerge from lava fields at Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve
The parasitic dwarf mistletoe causes mutations on limber pines called "witches fingers" and ultimately kills them
Lava - what appears to be only black, gray and boring at first, turns out to be quite colorful like here along the Devil's Orchard Trail
Hiking up Inferno Cone
Inferno cone is a mound created by drifting cinder from adjacent volcanic eruptions. Classified "as easy as they get" for mountain peaks, the half mile round trip to the top is well worth the effort. The lush vegetation including a huge tree on the top came as a total surprise for me. And the views are breathtaking.
Aerial view from ontop the Inferno Cone
View over the lava fields from the top of Inferno Cone at Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve, Arco, Idaho
On top of Inferno Cone
Lush vegetation on top of Inferno Cone in Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve, Arco, Idaho
Aerial view from atop the Inferno Cone over the lava fields at Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve, Arco, Idaho
Magnificent view over the lava fields of the Craters of the Moon area and surrounding snow capped mountains from the top of Inferno Cone
On top of Inferno Cone at Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve, Arco, Idaho