Living in the Pacific Northwest is something that I would've never imagined doing with where I grew up. I was born in Scottsdale, Arizona along with being raised around riding four-wheelers and the superb taste of dust. Placing myself now in the position that I was in then, the pacific northwest never came across my mind. Its funny to think though how much of a difference there with the southwest compared to the northwest. But in the end, i'm glad I get the privilege of living in what I think is the most beautiful part of the United States.
With the benefit of living in the state of Washington and being apart of the Pacific Northwest community, there are some perks that follow. Their's something that really stands out in this region that no other can replicate. With the early morning fog seeping into the evergreen valleys to the rushing rapids that flow though and make the landscape come to life, adventure awaits for us explorers to pack our cameras and go see whats out there. What's so important to this region is that with so many places to go and areas to explore, there is a never-ending exploration to venture on.
This last summer I realized that I was past overdue for a road trip and haven't done any lately. Scrolling through destinations to travel in the PNW (Pacific Northwest), I came upon Palouse Falls. Although I've traveled there before with one of my close friends, going alone would allow for me to take my time and possibly stop at other destinations along the way. That is when I also came upon the destination of Steptoe Butte. Reading through the destinations description what I got from it was that it was a mountain in the middle of all the rolling hills of the Palouse allowing for a view stretching miles and miles out over little towns and valleys. With all my camera gear and rations packed for the day I set off on my excursion. First stop, Steptoe Butte.
Driving along the Palouse Scenic Byway, there's nothing but the beautiful rolling hills and cute small towns to pass through. You may think this is boring, but not so much as you think. Whats exciting is coming upon the destination of Steptoe which you'd never expect to be placed there. When climbing to the top of the mountain I first set up my gear, took a couple pictures and sat on top of my car to embrace the view that faced me. It may have been hard to not fall over because of the strong wind but with the landscape being so captivating, I didn't mind it.
After enjoying Steptoe Butte, I figured it was time to head over to Palouse Falls. With just another hour of driving I parked my car near the falls and proceeded to grab my gear to set up once again. Climbing over the hill that was soon to reveal the roaring falls, I came upon the most beautiful canyon that spouted out a profound amount of water into its crevasses. With finishing the usual routine of snapping some pictures I always take time to enjoy the landscape instead of just through the view finder of my camera.
After heading a long day of shooting and enjoying the Palouse and its wonders, It was time to head home. Long story short, that was a trip that only took me about 7 hours round-trip with stopping at certain places along the way. It's amazing to think that these destinations are right in my backyard and that there only continues to be adventures made in the PNW. Go out and explore!
