Photography by Rick Rocheleau & Dale Melsness

2016

Image Central Oregon Road Trip October 2016 A multiday bird-watching road trip through central Oregon in our RV
Image Sloan Peak Glacier September 2016 A hike with Garrett, Bill and Brian in the Central Cascades
Image Chelan Summit To Stehikin September 2016 A 40-mile backpack with Steve, high above the eastern shore of Lake Chelan.
Image Protection Island August 2016 An Audubon-sponsored charter cruise to an important marine preserve. Highlights included a Tufted Puffin and transient Orcas.
Image Green Mountain August 2016 A hike with Garrett, Bill and Brian to this aptly named peak in the North Cascades
Image Owyhigh Lakes July 2016 A hike with Brian to lakes and meadows in Mount Rainier National Park
Image Silver Peak June 2016 A hike with Brian to one of my favorite easy peaks in Snoqualmie Pass
Image Newfoundland June 2016 A tour of spectacular Gros Morne National Park and the surrounding area with friends Steve and Brad, and hosts Sheldon and Gary
Image Nova Scotia June 2016 On my way to Newfoundland, I stopped in Halifax and the surrounding area for a few days.
Image Wenas Audubon Campout May 2016 Our first trip to this annual bird watching event in Central Washington
Image Death Valley Superbloom March 2016 A trip to Death Valley to see the superbloom, with visits to Tecopa Hot Springs, Red Rock Canyon, and Valley of Fire
Image Paradise To Nisqually Bridge February 2016 A ski trip up the Muir Snowfield and down the Nisqually Glacier valley. I've been wanting to do this trip for years\!
Image Washington Park Arboretum January 2016 Fragrant flowers and from the arboretum's winter garden, and more

2015

Image San Diego November 2015 Scenery and wildlife from a visit with my sister
Image Sages Ravine October 2015 Jim took me to his favorite hike in Connecticut, a stretch of the Appalachian trail near the border with Massachusetts and New York.
Image Mountain Loop Highway September 2015 Dale and I walked several of the short roadside trails on a wet, moody day
Image Chinook Pass September 2015 Early autumn color on an easy stretch of the Pacific Crest Trail near Mount Rainier.
Image Gold Creek Pond Birds August 2015 Our prize find on this one-mile path in Snoqualmie Pass was a Wilson's Snipe
Image Big Four Bird Watching August 2015 Big Four Ice Cave was closed by a recent tragedy. The surrounding trails were deserted except for some magnificent birds.
Image Snow Gem Wright July 2015 Beyond popular Snow Lake lie the less visited Gem Lake and Wright Peak, first-rate destinations less than an hour from Seattle.
Image Portland Roses May 2015 Perfection in Portland's legendary rose gardens. With Garrett and Don.
Image Lake Serene May 2015 A hike to this legendary lake near Index with Brian
Image San Francisco To Vancouver May 2015 A 2-day cruise from San Francisco to Vancouver with Dale
Image Whiskey Dick April 2015 Wildflowers, windmills, and petrified wood in the desert with Ted
Image Umtanum April 2015 Early season desert hiking with Brian, Garrett, and his brother Jim
Image Mark Hinton Garden April 2015 Our friend, a professional landscaper, has a back yard filled with unusual plants.
Image Carbon River Bike April 2015 A bike ride with Ted on a road-turned-trail in Mount Rainier National Park
Image Camp Long March 2015 A bit of wilderness in my own backyard. This was my first visit to a neighborhood park which even has cabins for camping.
Image Union Bay Natural Area February 2015 A few birds and other creatures spotted on a walk with Dale in this preserve on the University of Washington campus.
Image Rhododendron Botanical Garden February 2015 Even in Frebruary, there was plenty to see at this species garden in Federal Way
Image Muir Snowfield January 2015 The first of only 2 ski trip taken in this almost snowless winter.
Image Decompression On The Coast January 2015 A winter weekend at the southwest corner of Washington

2014 - Gibraltar, Spain, Morocco, and Portugal

Image Gibraltar April 2014 Dale and I began our 3 week tour in this tiny British colony on the Mediterranean.
Image Spain April 2014 We headed up to the Andalusian hill town of Ronda for Semana Santa (holy week).
Image Tangier, Morocco April 2014 From Spain, we took the ferry to Tangier Morocco.
Image Chefchaouen, Morocco April 2014 Next we headed to the Chefchaouen, in the Rif mountains.
Image Moulay Idriss and Volubilis, Morocco April 2014 A holy town and Roman ruins in the middle of Morocco.
Image Fes, Morocco April 2014 The ancient city of Fes, the largest carless urban area in the world.
Image The Atlas ranges and Sahara April 2014 We joined another couple for a 5-day tour of the Atlas ranges and Sahara.
Image Marrakech, Morocco April 2014 Our last stop in Morocco - souks and a spectacular public square.
Image Portugal May 2014 A few days in Lisbon and Sintra before heading home.

2014

Image Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge December 2014 Bird watching on a pictursque day with Dale.
Image Mazama Ridge, Mt Rainier, NP December 2014 An early-season ski with Bill, Brian, and Frank.
Image Grand Canyon November 2014 A backpack from the north rim to the river with Brian and Garrett.
Image Union Bay Natural Area October 2014 Bird watching in Seattle with Dale.
Image Ingalls Ridge October 2014 Golden larches with Brian and Ted.
Image West Cady Ridge August 2014 3 days of ridge-walking bliss in the Central Cascades with Bill, Brian and Steve.
Image Tubal Cain, Olympic NP July 2014 A solo fast-and-light backpack to the wildflowers and a bit of history.
Image Grand Park, Mt Rainier NP July 2014 A day hike with David, Eric and Brian, plus an overnight with Ted and Alexei.
Image Carbon River, Mt Rainier NP June 2014 A solo bike-hike daytrip to the snout of a glacier.
Image Nisqually Chutes January 2014 A tour of the Muir Snowfield and steep Nisqually Chutes in Mt. Rainier National Park, with Garrett, Brian, and Frank.

2013

Image Arizona December 2013 Ringing in the new year with cactus and birds in southern Arizona.
Image Lake 22 December 2013 A wet, icy day brought solitude to one of the most popular hiking destinations in Washington.
Image Deception Pass November 2013 A tour of Fidalgo and Whidebey Islands with Dale.
Image Crystal Lakes October 2013 A snowy hike to lakes in Mt Rainier National Park
Image Carne Mountain October 2013 A day hike amongst the larches and early season snow with Garrett and Whipple.
Image Ancient Lakes September 2013 A day hike among the coulees of central Washington with Brian and Ted.
Image Summit Chief August 2013 A 3-day backpack in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness with Steve, Garrett, Bill, and Brian.
Image Sunrise Visitor Center, Mt Rainier July 2013 A picnic lunch under blue skies with Garrett, Don, and Bill.
Image Around Snoqualmie Pass July 2013 Photos from a few solo day hikes near Franklin Falls and Lake Lillian.
Image Mt Adams - Southwest Chutes June 2013 Skiing the second highest peak in the state with Bill, Brian, Frank, and Garrett.
Image Silver Peak June 2013 An after-work ski of Silver Peak, south of Snoqualmie Pass, has become an annual tradition. With Garrett, Frank, and Bill.
Image Point 7760 and the Birthday Tour May 2013 Two sunny days of skiing in the North Cascades with Brian and Garrett.
Image Whiskey Dick April 2013 A desert ridge walk about 15 miles east of Ellensburg, with Bill and Brian.
Image Boulder Hut March 2013 My seventh ski week at this backcountry ski hut in the Purcell range.

Costa Rica

Image San Jose December 2012 Dale and I began our trip in the capital city, San Jose, on a quiet Christmas day.
Image Santa Elena December 2012 We drove west from San Jose, briefly touching the Pacific, then up to the mountain town of Santa Elena for bird, coffee and night tours.
Image Monteverde December 2012 Just up the road from Santa Elena, we toured the famous Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, plus a cafe visited by hundreds of dazzling hummingbirds.

2012

Image Surprise Lake and beyond September 2012 A 3-day backpacking trip in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness with 6 friends.
Image Snow and Gem Lakes September 2012 A solo hike to the deservedly popular Snow Lake, Gem Lake, and Wright Peak
Image Trapper Peak August 2012 A hike to a summit at the western edge of North Cascades NP with Mary and Bill
Image Melakwa Lake August 2012 A solo hike to a popular alpine lake just 45 minutes from Seattle
Image Carbon River by bike June 2012 A carless, overnight bike trip to Mt Rainier National Park
Image Iron Peak and Longs Pass May 2012 A spectacular ski through three passes near the North Fork Teanaway.
Image Mount Saint Helens April 2012 A ski to the crater rim with Garrett and Frank on a perfect April day.
Image Boulder Hut March 2012 My sixth trip to a backcountry ski hut in Britsh Columbia's Purcell Range.
Image Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge February 2012 Dale and I visited Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge, about an hour south of Seattle, for the first time.
Image Castle Peak circumnavigation February 2012 Garrett and I skied clockwise around Castle Peak, in Mount Rainier National Park's Tatoosh Range.
Image Mazama Ridge January 2012 On a warm, sunny day when most of Mt. Rainier was covered in boilerplate ice, Brian and I found pockets of powder in the trees of Mazama Ridge.

2011

Image Heather and Maple Passes October 2011 Blue skies, golden larches, and fresh snow above Rainy Pass in the North Cascades.
Image Owyhigh Lakes October 2011 A damp but nice hike with Bill and Brian in Mt Rainier National Park.
Image Carbon River and Glacier September 2011 An afternoon bike and hike to the snout of the the Carbon Glacier in Mt Rainier National Park.
Image Tinkham Peak and Mirror Lake August 2011 A day hike near Hyak with Bill and Brian. We had the entire mountain to ourselves on a beautiful day.
Image Bean and Beverly basins July 2011 An overnight trip in the Teanaway headwaters with Bill, Steve and Brian.
Image Lake Lillian July 7, 2011 Yet another hike to Lakes Laura and Lillian by the back door trail.
Image Connecicut July 2011 A few pictures from the state forests near Ashford, Connecticut.
Image Summerland June 2011 A big day with Garrett on the northeast side of Mount Rainier.
Image Iron Peak and Longs Pass May 2011 A ski through three 6000 foot passes in the Teanaway region.
Image Biking to Marin Headlands May 2011 A bike ride across the Golden Gate Bridge to Marin Headlands on a perfect day in May.
Image Rampart Ridge April 2011 A great ski with Bill, Brian, and Garrett on the ridge we can see out our cabin window in Snoqualmie Pass.
Image Winter March 2011 A few photos from Connecticut and KTD Monastery in NY

China, Vietnam, and Laos 2010

Image Yunnan November 2010 Dale and I began our month-long tour with a week in China's Yunnan province.
Image Vietnam November 2010 We spent week 2 touring northern Vietnam.
Image Laos November 2010 Week 3 was in Luang Prabang and Vientiane, in northern Laos.
Image Back to China November 2010 Back to Seattle via Kunming, Beijing, and the Great Wall, in 48 hours.
Image Blog November 2010 Read the blog that we wrote during our adventure.

2010

Image Lichtenberg Mountain February 2010 Lichtenberg is just east of Stevens Pass. Bluebird skies, a big mountain, no people, and a surprising powder stash made for a great day.
Image Thomas Mountain - Domerie Divide June 2010 Wildflowers, beautiful old-growth forest, and views outside Easton.
Image Silver Peak NW Bowl June 2010 Bill and I were able to ski right from the car at Windy Pass, wearing just shorts and a T-shirt.
Image Silver Peak again June 2010 Silver Peak was so nice that I returned a week later with Brian and Garrett.
Image Beverly-Bean backpack July 2010 A solo backpack in the headwaters of the Teanaway River.
Image McClellan Butte July 2010 My first hike to the top of this prominent peak on the south side of I-90
Image Whidbey Island and Olympic Peninsula by Bike July 2010 A train, 3 ferries, and 150 miles on a bike.
Image Lost Creek Ridge August 2010 A 3-day backpack in Glacier Peak Wilderness with Brian and Steve, with a guest appearance by Garrett.

Tanzania 2009-2010

Image Mount Kilimanjaro December 2009 An eight-day climb of Mount Kilimanjaro by the Lemosho Route.
Image Safari January 2010 Five days of wildlife viewing in Manyara, Serengeti, Ngorongoro, and Tarangire parks.
Image Zanzibar January 2010 From Moshi to Dar es Salaam to the island of Zanzibar.

2009

Image Boulder Hut February 2009 Another amazing birthday week skiing in the Purcells.
Image Chelan Lakeshore Trail April 2009 A ferry ride to Stehekin and solo backpack along Lake Chelan.
Image Muir Snowfield and Paradise Glacier May 2009 A ski on the Muir Snowfield and Paradise Glacier with Bill and Brian. We dubbed it the Beautiful Light Tour.
Image Mount Ruth May 2009 A ski summit of Mount Ruth, in Mount Rainier NP, with Bill.
Image Mount Washington May 2009 A hike just outside of North Bend with Brian and Brian.
Image Headlee Pass June 2009 A ski through Headlee Pass, toward Vesper Peak, with Brian, Garrett and Bill.
Image Stiletto Peak August 2009 Two nights at a nameless lake in the North Cascades with Steve, Garrett, and a few goats.
Image Wing Lake and Black Peak September 2009 Two nights at Wing Lake in the North Cascades with Ted, Garrett, and Bill.
Image Camp Muir November 2009 A nearly 5000 vertical foot ski of the Muir Snowfield with Garrett.

2008

Image Silver Peak January 13, 2008 A ski tour to Silver Peak, starting from the Silver Fir chair at Summit Central.
Image Boulder Hut February 2008 Rick's fourth trip to the Purcells.
Image Mt. Larrabee and Tomyhoi September 2008 A backpack in the North Cascades with Garrett, with a scramble of Mt. Larrabee.
Image Knapsack Pass September 2008 A hike in Mt. Rainier NP from Mowich Lake to Spray Park with Bill and Brian.
Image Muir Snowfield November 2008 The first ski of the seaon with Garrett.

2007

Image Boulder Hut February 2007 Rick's third trip to the Purcells.
Image Silver Star Mountain April 28, 2007 Skiing Silver Star Mountain in the North Cascades with Garrett.
Image Pilchuck May 12, 2007 Skiing Mount Pilchuck with Garrett and Brian.
Image Silver Peak July 4, 2007 Hiking Silver Peak with Tom, Craig, Brian, Garrett and Steve.
Image Lake Lillian July 7, 2007 A hike to Lakes Laura and Lillian with Brian and Brian.
Image Mount Baker July 14, 2007 A summit ski of Mount Baker with Garrett and Bill.
Image Copper Ridge August 3, 2007 Backpacking in the North Cascades with Ted, Garrett, Brian and Brian.
Image Muir Snowfield October 10, 2007 The first ski of the season with Bill.

2006

Image Hurd State Park January 2006 We had this state park along the Connecticut River all to ourselves on a cloudless January day.

2005

Image China K2 Trek May-June 2005 A month-long trek through the Karakoram range to the base of the second highest peak on the planet
Image Old Version: China K2 Trek May-June 2005 The original, incomplete web page for this trip
Image Third Beach September, 2005 A backpack with Denise on the wilderness coast of Olympic National Park.
Image Sperry Peak October, 2005 A scramble of Vesper Peak's less-visited companion, Sperry Peak, with Bill, Ted and Brian.
Copyright © 2005-2020 Rick Rocheleau. All rights reserved.