Nature A year-end visit to the river.....

A year-end visit to the river..... · 08:54 AM

I ended 2011 by taking one of my daughters and a friend of hers for a hike in Interstate State Park on Saturday. The unseasonably warm weather (upper 30's F) and lack of snow made hiking the trails pretty easy.

The Interstate Park area was formed hundreds of millions of years ago by lava flows. These hardened lava formations have been measured to be as much as 4 miles thick in this area. Erosion by what is now the St. Croix River cut through this rock over millions of years to form what we now see today.

The day was dark and gray, so not the best light for picture taking - but that didn't stop me from taking some anyway!

#1

#2

#3

#4

The cliffs are a favorite rock climbing spot during warmer weather. Here's my daughter and her friend are trying a little "free climbing" at one of the spots frequented by "real" climbers in warmer weather....

#5

#6

I'll put up a few more in another post shortly.
Thanks for looking.....

Tim

Adam · 01-03-2012, 09:42 AM

Thanks for sharing! You might have some material for this month's "Rivers and Lakes" contest here!

UpNorth · 01-03-2012, 11:03 AM

Thanks Adam.
I was thinking of maybe using one of these - But went with a Lake Superior shot from summer instead.....

Tim

**Heinrich Lohmann** · 01-03-2012, 01:09 PM

Sure looks like you had a good hike and the pictures aren't bad either

Thanks for posting them.

**Bob Harris** · 01-03-2012, 01:23 PM

Tim, that sure is some beautiful country. I think the lighting you had on your hike gave the landscape/river a very nice feel to your photos. Is this near the area that has the frozen falls you photographed?

UpNorth · 01-03-2012, 03:56 PM

Originally posted by Heinrich Lohmann

Sure looks like you had a good hike and the pictures aren't bad either

Thanks for posting them.

Thanks for commenting Heinrich. Yes - It was a very pleasant day, and I got some "quality time" (I hate that phrase)

with one of my daughters and her friend.

Originally posted by Bob Harris

Tim, that sure is some beautiful country. I think the lighting you had on your hike gave the landscape/river a very nice feel to your photos. Is this near the area that has the frozen falls you photographed?

You're right Bob - Another "wonder of nature" - not unlike the sunsets you've been getting the last month or two! This park is on the Wisconsin border, about 50 miles from the St Paul. (Interesting fact - The areas you see across the river in my shots is actually Wisconsin, while I'm standing in Minnesota. That area on the other side of the river is also a state park, and also named Interstate State Park. I guess back in the late '20's - early '30's, Minnesota and Wisconsin joined together in forming those two parks at the same time - becoming the first two states to work together in creating "cooperative" state parks that has one large area crossing two borders.)
Thanks for remembering my frozen falls shots. Those were actually taken at Minnehaha Falls - which is just a few miles south of downtown Minneapolis, and about 55 miles from Interstate Park. Minnehaha Creek eventually dumps into the Mississippi about a mile or so downstream from the falls, and the St Croix River eventually meets up with the Mississippi in southeastern Minnesota, so water from both places ends up together eventually!

Thanks for looking,

Tim

**Sailor** · 01-04-2012, 08:58 AM

I like these Tim - especially 4 and 6. Shows that winter can yield some very nice stuff.

Jer

UpNorth · 01-04-2012, 11:22 AM

Originally posted by Sailor

I like these Tim - especially 4 and 6. Shows that winter can yield some very nice stuff.

Jer

Thanks Jer.
Yeah - If only I'd have had a little better light.
No, no, no - That's too much. Just a little less.
There - That's just about.......No, better bump it up a little.
Stop, stop. Right there. No, wait.....

Thanks for taking time to comment,

Tim

tessfully · 01-05-2012, 07:08 AM

It was really great seeing these. Thanks for sharing. I love the shot of your daughter and her friend climbing on the Rock face. That last shot with the ice jutting out into the river is very very nice!

UpNorth · 01-05-2012, 03:09 PM

Originally posted by tessfully

It was really great seeing these. Thanks for sharing. I love the shot of your daughter and her friend climbing on the Rock face. That last shot with the ice jutting out into the river is very very nice!

Thanks Tess. I left the girls in that rock face shot just to give some perspective.

Tim

charliezap · 01-05-2012, 03:26 PM

Real nice scenics. The only thing missing is blue sky and puffy white clouds.

--charliezap

UpNorth · 02-06-2012, 10:28 AM

Originally posted by charliezap

Real nice scenics. The only thing missing is blue sky and puffy white clouds.

--charliezap

Thanks Charlie.
Yeah - It would have been nice to have some sun, but with the temps that warm (upper 30's F in late December!) we were happy we could just get out.

Tim

slowpez · 02-06-2012, 02:24 PM

Really nice series Tim. 2 and 4 are my favorites. Lots of color for this time of year.

UpNorth · 02-06-2012, 02:34 PM

Originally posted by slowpez

Really nice series Tim. 2 and 4 are my favorites. Lots of color for this time of year.

Thanks Susan.

UpNorth
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01-05-2012, 03:26 PM	#11
charliezap Pentaxian Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: saugus ma Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 8,686	Real nice scenics. The only thing missing is blue sky and puffy white clouds.--charliezap

02-06-2012, 10:28 AM	#12
UpNorth Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Minnesota, U.S.A. Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 714 Original Poster	Originally posted by charliezap Real nice scenics. The only thing missing is blue sky and puffy white clouds.--charliezap Thanks Charlie. Yeah - It would have been nice to have some sun, but with the temps that warm (upper 30's F in late December!) we were happy we could just get out. Tim

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01-03-2012, 09:42 AM	#2
Adam Administrator Site Webmaster Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Arizona Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 51,597	Thanks for sharing! You might have some material for this month's "Rivers and Lakes" contest here! Adam PentaxForums.com Webmaster (Site Usage Guide \| Site Help \| My Photography) PentaxForums.com server and development costs are user-supported. You can help cover these costs by donating or purchasing one of our Pentax eBooks. Or, buy your photo gear from our affiliates, Adorama, B&H Photo, KEH, or Topaz Labs, and get FREE Marketplace access - click here to see how! Trusted Pentax retailers:

01-03-2012, 11:03 AM	#3
UpNorth Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Minnesota, U.S.A. Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 714 Original Poster	Thanks Adam. I was thinking of maybe using one of these - But went with a Lake Superior shot from summer instead..... Tim

01-03-2012, 01:09 PM	#4
Heinrich Lohmann Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Airdrie, Alberta Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,097	Sure looks like you had a good hike and the pictures aren't bad either Thanks for posting them.

01-03-2012, 01:23 PM	#5
Bob Harris Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Canon City, Colorado Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 18,477	Tim, that sure is some beautiful country. I think the lighting you had on your hike gave the landscape/river a very nice feel to your photos. Is this near the area that has the frozen falls you photographed?

01-03-2012, 03:56 PM	#6
UpNorth Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Minnesota, U.S.A. Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 714 Original Poster	Originally posted by Heinrich Lohmann Sure looks like you had a good hike and the pictures aren't bad either Thanks for posting them. Thanks for commenting Heinrich. Yes - It was a very pleasant day, and I got some "quality time" (I hate that phrase) with one of my daughters and her friend. Originally posted by Bob Harris Tim, that sure is some beautiful country. I think the lighting you had on your hike gave the landscape/river a very nice feel to your photos. Is this near the area that has the frozen falls you photographed? You're right Bob - Another "wonder of nature" - not unlike the sunsets you've been getting the last month or two! This park is on the Wisconsin border, about 50 miles from the St Paul. (Interesting fact - The areas you see across the river in my shots is actually Wisconsin, while I'm standing in Minnesota. That area on the other side of the river is also a state park, and also named Interstate State Park. I guess back in the late '20's - early '30's, Minnesota and Wisconsin joined together in forming those two parks at the same time - becoming the first two states to work together in creating "cooperative" state parks that has one large area crossing two borders.) Thanks for remembering my frozen falls shots. Those were actually taken at Minnehaha Falls - which is just a few miles south of downtown Minneapolis, and about 55 miles from Interstate Park. Minnehaha Creek eventually dumps into the Mississippi about a mile or so downstream from the falls, and the St Croix River eventually meets up with the Mississippi in southeastern Minnesota, so water from both places ends up together eventually! Thanks for looking, Tim

01-04-2012, 08:58 AM	#7
Sailor Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Coastal Texas Photos: Gallery Posts: 26,203	I like these Tim - especially 4 and 6. Shows that winter can yield some very nice stuff. Jer

01-04-2012, 11:22 AM	#8
UpNorth Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Minnesota, U.S.A. Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 714 Original Poster	Originally posted by Sailor I like these Tim - especially 4 and 6. Shows that winter can yield some very nice stuff. Jer Thanks Jer. Yeah - If only I'd have had a little better light. No, no, no - That's too much. Just a little less. There - That's just about.......No, better bump it up a little. Stop, stop. Right there. No, wait..... Thanks for taking time to comment, Tim

01-05-2012, 07:08 AM	#9
tessfully Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: S. Algonquin, Ontario Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 5,860	It was really great seeing these. Thanks for sharing. I love the shot of your daughter and her friend climbing on the Rock face. That last shot with the ice jutting out into the river is very very nice!

01-05-2012, 03:09 PM	#10
UpNorth Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Minnesota, U.S.A. Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 714 Original Poster	Originally posted by tessfully It was really great seeing these. Thanks for sharing. I love the shot of your daughter and her friend climbing on the Rock face. That last shot with the ice jutting out into the river is very very nice! Thanks Tess. I left the girls in that rock face shot just to give some perspective. Tim

02-06-2012, 02:24 PM	#13
slowpez Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: South Carolina, USA Photos: Gallery Posts: 18,461	Really nice series Tim. 2 and 4 are my favorites. Lots of color for this time of year.

02-06-2012, 02:34 PM	#14
UpNorth Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Minnesota, U.S.A. Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 714 Original Poster	Originally posted by slowpez Really nice series Tim. 2 and 4 are my favorites. Lots of color for this time of year. Thanks Susan.