trees – Michael Rappa

California Trip, 2014: Redwoods in Yosemite

August 9, 2021 Michael Rappa

On my way out of Yosemite National Park I stopped for a hike through the Mariposa grove of giant sequoias (aka redwoods). They don’t grow as tall as the coastal redwoods, but they grow wider–some are so massive that their branches actually look like trees themselves. It’s impossible for any photo to do these behemoths justice, but the people in some of the shots below, and the fact that many of the large surrounding trees look like sticks next to the redwoods, help to provide a sense of scale.

Click on any photo to open a gallery.

Yosemite National Park – October, 2014

I thought this was a redwood pine cone because of how enormous it is, but redwoods apparently have small cones, so I’m not sure what type of tree this belongs to.

Yosemite National Park – October, 2014

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Union Transportation Trail – October, 2020

January 5, 2021 Michael Rappa

Back in late October my wife and I decided to check out the relatively new (opened in 2010) Union Transportation Trail in Upper Freehold, a nine-mile rail trail not far from where we live. I was itching to get out and about after being mostly homebound for seven months (outside of a week in Cape May in September and dog walks around the neighborhood, I had barely left the house since the pandemic began), and it seemed like a good opportunity to see some fall foliage.

We got a late start, so we only had time to do the short leg of the trail traveling north from the Sharon Station Road parking area to 539–this section of the trail had opened to the public in 2017. It’s a pleasant little trail that also has a detour through trees that opens up into a large field of wild grass. I’m looking forward to returning to explore the southern portion of the trail, as well as the new section being planned that will extend the trail all the way to our home town.

Here are a few photos from our short hike:

Union Transportation Trail

Glacier National Park, 2019: Trail of Cedars

June 11, 2020 Michael Rappa

These photos are from my hike of the Trail of Cedars, an easy stroll through the woods that hooks up with the highly-recommended Avalanche Lake Trail around the halfway point.

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Trail of Cedars

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American Northwest Trip, 2017: Grand Teton National Park

June 27, 2018January 9, 2019 Michael Rappa

When I was planning my trip out west last year, I wasn’t sure whether a day trip to Grand Teton National Park was worth spending one fewer day in Yellowstone, so I inquired with a couple of friends, who told me that I should definitely see it. I decided to go for it, and I’m glad that I did. Grand Teton is a park filled with majestic mountain peaks and beautiful lakes. The photos below feature shots taken at Jenny Lake, Jackson Lake, and Snake River (site of one of Ansel Adams’ most famous photographs), as well as miscellaneous photos taken from around the park. My next post will highlight Grand Teton’s historic buildings, such as those located on Mormon Row.

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Jackson Lake

View from the top of Signal Mountain.

Grand Teton National Park - August, 2017

Jenny Lake

Snake River. This is almost the exact same spot from where Ansel Adams took his famous photo.

Snake River

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Photo of the Day: Misty Mountain

May 4, 2017February 18, 2018 Michael RappaLeave a comment

I thought it might be a neat exercise to hone my black-and-white conversion skills on some of my favorite older color photos that haven’t aged well (due to being shot with low-quality digital cameras). This is my first attempt, a photo taken during my foggy hike up to the top of Clingmans Dome in the North Carolina Smoky Mountains back in 2004.

Date: 7/4/2004
Camera: Fuji FinePix2650
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You can view more featured photos at my Photo of the Day Collection.

Photo of the Day: Cabot Trail Lookout

January 27, 2017February 18, 2018 Michael RappaLeave a comment

This was taken along the Cabot Trail in Cape Breton, Canada, not too far from the cabin where we stayed this past September. In the distance to the left of the shack, if you squint you can make out the Atlantic Ocean.

Even though it wasn’t technically a lookout and there was no convenient place to park, we knew we had to stop when we drove past this picturesque scene. You can see why Cape Breton draws so many comparisons to Scotland–the landscape is simply breathtaking. I’m ready to move there.

Date: 9/3/2016
Camera: Nikon D5100
Click for larger view

You can view more featured photos at my Photo of the Day Collection.

Photo of the Day: Yosemite Reflection

January 24, 2017February 18, 2018 Michael Rappa2 Comments

I recently came across this photo from my 2014 hike through Yosemite Valley and thought it was worth sharing.

Date: 10/18/2014
Camera: Nikon D5100
Click for larger view

You can view more featured photos at my Photo of the Day Collection.

Photo of the Day: Yosemite Tunnel View

August 12, 2015February 18, 2018 Michael Rappa4 Comments

I took this photo at the Tunnel View lookout on my way down to Yosemite Valley. The scene looks so pristine you’d never know that, as I snapped this photo, I was drowning in a sea of selfie stick-wielding people who seemed more interested in taking photos of themselves than of the gorgeous view in front of them.

You can view more featured photos at my Photo of the Day Collection.

Photo of the Day: Yosemite Valley

July 27, 2015February 18, 2018 Michael Rappa2 Comments

This was taken during my hike through Yosemite Valley last year. I think I was on the Cook’s Meadow loop (at least that’s the trail I had been looking for when I started, though I had trouble finding it and just sort of made my way toward the open area). It was a beautiful October day and I had the trail mostly to myself for large stretches.

One thing I like about this photo is how the tiny people in the distance provide a sense of scale to the enormity of the tall tree and surrounding mountains.

You can view more featured photos at my Photo of the Day Collection.