Painted Dunes, Lassen Volcanic National Park, 07/04/2021

Painted Dune is famous for its colorful dunes created by volcanic ashes. In this morning, we were hoping for a spectacular sunrise, but the sun never broke out of thick clouds. However, we found these two pine trees standing right in front of several dunes. The color contrast between the trees and the dunes is too good to be missed.

Valley and Mountain Peaks of Sierra Nevada, Kings Canyon National Park, 07/24/2021

Kings Canyon National Park keeps its low profile between the famous Yosemite and Sequoia National Parks. The vantage point of Moro Rock offers a breathtaking view of a beautiful valley and a panoramic view of high Sierra mountain peaks at far distancde. In clear days, when visibility is excellent, it is possible to see Mt Whiteney from this point. Standing on top of the rock and looking at this grandeur view is a once-a-life-time experience which is hard to forget.

Lone Pine Tree on Cinder Cone, Lassen Volcanic National Park, 07/03/2021

Lassen Volcanic National Park is a seriously underrated national park. It offered diverse geology features within a relative small package. A remote area that is separated from the main park, namely Cinder Cone, is the hidden gem of the park. It is a young volcano, only a few hundred years old. Hence, there is very little vegetation over it today. The few pine trees on its surface are popular subjects in photographs.