"Lake Crescent"

 

While living in the Pacific Northwest, I often bemoaned the cloudy skies and overall dreary atmosphere that persists for much of the fall, winter and spring.  Now that I live in the (normally) arid climate of Utah, I occasionally miss the thick cotton-balls one would see the sky over the Willamette valley or western Washington.  Not only does the persistent moisture support growth of immense forests, these rolling clouds often provide interesting lighting for photos.  This picture was taken at a small campground next to Lake Crescent in northern part of the the Olympic Peninsula.  Indy and I had awoken very early, quite a bit wet and eager to break camp and just move on.  But, when we arrived here at the lake, I couldn't help pulling off the road for a better view.  Everything around me seemed solid and heavy: the damp earth, the thick trees, the massive hills plummeting into the vast lake, and especially the dense clouds which threatened to dump their load of water on our breakfast picnic.