Taking a Season Break

I realize I haven't posted for awhile, and while I've been working on the photography guide and the projects around the photography guide (expedtion, maps, history, etc.), I've been doing other work, such as the day after Thanksgiving Day Parade photos and Christmas cards (you know some of us still do them).

What does this mean? Well, I will be doing a quick review of the todo list for the photography guide and Mt. Rainier NP projects to see what needs to be done this month, what can be done as part of the on-going work, and what I can postpone to 2009. This means just the minimum will done, such as the access and road status information, monthly report, etc. In short, just enough to keep you up to date. The rest will be the bow on the package, extra as time permits.

As for where I'm at? Well, the expedition guide is still on-going. The timeline of the two week expedition has been determined for dates and approximate locations, better locations will be necessary for the map Web page. I found two letters written by one of the geologist during and after the expedition and need to be transcribed and translated to the narrative and maps. An unpublished manuscript written in 1880 has also been found that needs to be transcribed.

The map project is on waiting Web pages. I have prepared report and map files for the first USGS topographic (1915) map, but the Web pages with maps are still awaiting work. The NPS maps and later USGS topographic maps are still awaiting work for Web pages. I need to summarize the history and changes in the NP boundary and land acreage and proposed and build development. Most of it is there, just finding time is the issue.

The other maps Web pages for the latest USGS 7.5 minute (1:24,000) topographic maps is still awaiting work. I'm looking for a file server to make the map files available. They're currently available on the USGS Website but not without some work to locate and download and I can simplify the process by doing all that work to just download them. That's the goal and the plan is there, time, again, is the issue.

I'm still researching early photographers working in Mt. Rainier NP, 1890-1900. I still have to visit some photo archives to see what was done, or still exists in film, and which are in the 1898 report about the expedition along with determining locations for the photos. On the agenda is still visits to other archives for historic information, files and photos. Most of these are 1-2 day trips, so schedule is key.

And there are the "forthcoming" projects listed in the Mt. Rainier NP photo guide. I want to finish up the history projects first before focusing on the other topics and updating the quadrant Web pages. These are scheduled for 2008 winter-spring work.

So, after that? Well, continued large format photography, Mt. Rainier winter trips, and the always present on-going work with my Website about photography and post-retirement life building a new personal business. And learning the image production (computer system) side of photography is the on-going learning curve. There's always something new along with the current state of producing better images and prints.

And there's always the camera bags who seem sneak to the front door when I'm not looking, sit there quietly until I pass by when the suddenly they begin to sing, "A travelin' we will go...", and when the backpack and hiking boots chime in, it's a lost cause except get the winter gear and go. On that, I hope everyone is enjoying the holiday.