USA Dalles Mountain Ranch

During the month of April, the surrounding area is covered with clumps of Arrowleaf Balsamroot, leaving a blanket of bright yellow over the sloping hills. Any other time of the year, the flower is gone, leaving you with a green weed.

a short hike will bring you to the abandoned car.

This area is known for strong wind gusts. The day I shot this we had gusts of 25mph. Where the Arrowleaf Balsamroot clump, the rest of the ground is covered with a very fine sand/dirt that will swirl, so bring plenty of lens cloth.

This is also a very popular place, so patience will be needed to cope with the selfie takers (most of whom will stamp the beautiful yellow flowers you came to shoot. Late in April will find these flowers on their last legs.

A two hour drive east from Portland, Oregon, along the stunning Columbia River Gorge. Cross into Washington at the Dalles.