Your Top 8 (photos) of 2008!

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ah, a nice VFTT tradition! It's a treat on a cold winter's night to see all these nice images. I picked out some of my favorite moments in the forest...


snowshoe hare in springtime on Bartlett Mtn., in transition from winter white to summer brown


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On Bear Mtn., this fawn probably thought I was mama and it was ready for a nap. It saw me through the woods and wobbled toward me then laid down right in front of me and dozed while mama was trying to get it's attention and kept watching me. She had turned her back toward us and kept flashing her flag (tail) and lightly stomping her hoof on the ground..."Get over here right this minute!"

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I camped out near Mt. Eastman to participate in a bird count and I was treated to a nice sunrise...

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bald eagle at Lake Umbagog... This was my first visit to the lake...great memories...

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This is a favorite of a new(for me) style of scenic that I'm working on, where we can see the alpine flower in it's habitat. These are lapland rosebay near Mt. Franklin...

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This is mountain heath, which is rare. I remember this hike well, when I made a huge loop around Mt. Jefferson, probably my longest hike ever, and the "goal" of the hike was this patch of alpine flowers. It was a beautiful warm, sunny, long summer day...

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On the same hike I had my first ever sighting of a Bicknell's Thrush, on Caps Ridge Trail...

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This fox appeared out of the heavy mist high on Mt. Adams...

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Durring rutting season I was in a meadow at sunrise with five moose, who had all gotten used to my presence. Then this cow started staring at me then started walking right toward me, with her new boyfreind right behind her. I took a few slow steps back when they got to about ten feet away. I took this last shot just before I passed out. Yes, I fainted.

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These two cows did a little sparring over a nearby bull. That was a first for me, very cool to watch...

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Northern Harrier Hawk soaring through Zealand Notch

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Perhaps my very favorite memory of the year...Jupiter in Sagitarius with the glow of the Milky Way and a close visit from a cow moose...

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Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
 
Ice Storm on Pack Monadnock


You are only as tall as your Shadow


Sunrise on Pack Monadnock


Another Sunrise on Pack Monadnock


View of Mt Washington from Mt Pierce


Friendly Gray Jay on Mt Jackson


Indian Pipe on Rollins Trail, Mt Whiteface


Rhime Ice at Lakes of the Clouds, Mt Washington in the background
 
Eisenhower from Pierce (taken during my first winter hike back in January)


Lake right next to Carter Notch Hut


Heading down from Boott Spur


Northern Presis from the Gulfside Trail


Coming down the ski trails from Wildcat D


On Moosilauke the day before my birthday... :)


Isolation summit in November


Franconia Ridge Trail
 
Alaska - Our transport helicopter crashes as base camp. (no one hurt)

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Alaska - Base Camp at 10,000'

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Negotiating the Ice Falls

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Seracs

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Lakes of the Clouds Hut

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From the summit of Mt Harvard, CO

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Alpine Thistle - Mt Columbia, CO

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Sky Pilot - Mt Massive, CO

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Great thread! Here are some shots from around the Adks.

Lake Effect Storm
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Blue Mtn. Rimesicles
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Hitchings Pond Cliffs, Bog River Flow
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Good Luck Lake
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Trillium
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Chimney Mtn. view
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Noonmark
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Lake Adirondack
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Springtime from the Eagle Cliff Slide
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Late Autumn from the Eagle Cliff Slide
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October Cascades on the West Peabody Branch
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End of Harvest in Colebrook
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Autumn in Dixville Notch
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A beautiful Summer day at Speck Pond
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Beaver Brook Falls
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The Watcher holds court over Profile Lake
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I had a terrible time narrowing it down to 8! :eek: Sorry if the load time is long - my server seems to be a bit sluggish :eek:
 
8 Favorites

First, I would like to say there are some amazing photos here. Thanks to everyone for sharing and to Jim for starting this up.

Second, it was very hard for me to narrow it down to eight, so I had to narrow it down to eight of my favorite subject. Although I have some great winter scenes and some beautiful sunrise views from various mountains along with favorite shots of Emma and Judy, I decided to go with the tiny details I find myself searching for while we're hiking. I hope you enjoy them.

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Oxeye Daisy Chrysanthemum leucanthemum.

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Bluets Houstonia caerulea.

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Fly Agaric Amanita muscaria.

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Mountain Avens Geum peckii.
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Forget-Me-Nots Myosotis scorpioides.

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Fly Agaric Amanita muscaria.

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Mountain Sandwort Minaurtia groenlandica.

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Indian Pipe Monotropa uniflora.

KDT
 
Tough to narrow it down to just 8. These might not be my best photos from 2008, but these are some of my favorite shots from 2008.


Koolau Mountains from Mariner's Ridge
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A few shots from several hikes out to Kaena Point to see the Lysan Albatross
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Panorama from the Spine of the Dragon, looking back at Hanauma Bay and Koko Crater (scroll right)
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Carmel kayaking out to Mokulua Islands
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Looking straight down on mom and baby from the cliff at Makapuu
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Rainbow over Waimea Canyon (Kauai)
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Mokulua Island from up high
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Koko Crater
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Ooops...that might have been 9. OK, I'll stop there.

My favorite photos of 2008 were not taken by me though. They were taken by my friend Paul. This is one of the shots of my friend Marcus, his two dogs Pono and Hone, and I surfing Marcus' 4 man canoe off of Diamond Head. 430 pounds of man, 160 pounds of dog, and a 400+ pound canoe...and we caught waves. Haaa'waiian!

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Aloha! Best wishes in 2009.

- darren
 
This is one of the shots of my friend Marcus, his two dogs Pono and Hone, and I surfing Marcus' 4 man canoe off of Diamond Head.Haaa'waiian!
I think I can guess which one is Marcus but which one is Pono and which one is Hone?
 
My top of the year.

I always have issues making decisions when it comes to photos. So I give you my top 12 or 13, and then the album of my top 109 of the year. :rolleyes: They've been touched up from the original versions, so I definitely think they are better now then when I took them.

Cedar Brook trail February



Arched tree after a snowstorm, Hanover



Cole Pond, one of my favs


Tama Falls, another one of my favs



Along three ponds trail



Whale Watching


Rye Harbor near sunset



the rest in a minute

grouseking
 
It doesn't have the best technical quality, but I love the expression on her face, her ears, and the fact she has all 4 legs off the ground. This one just squeaks under the 2008 wire:

 
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