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Friday, November 15, 2019

Full Moon Setting over Snowy Mountains - Nature Friday

We had a full moon this week. I have realized that I love seeing the full moon set to our west because it sets over the snowy mountains. The downside to this is that I have to wake up very early, when it's still pitch black outside. Then, I have to go out into the frigid winter air and pedal through the dark forest to get to a lookout point.

On the morning that the full moon set here, moose were seemingly everywhere in the forest. As I pedaled through a meadow, I heard some rustling. I pointed my head lamp toward the sound, and a bull moose was just waking up and getting to his feet. I was far enough away that I just pedaled harder to get past him safely.

When I arrived at the lookout point, I was overjoyed to see that the western horizon wasn't too cloudy. I've gone through this routine in past months only to find that the moon was totally obscured by clouds.

However, the moon was already closer falling behind the mountains than I expected because it was setting over a very tall mountain. I rushed to pull out my tripod and set up my camera.  I quickly took two exposures so that I could have both the mountains and the moon properly exposed.

It worked! It was such a glorious sight. The world was completely quiet, without even a whisper of the wind. And the one thin cloud near the horizon lit up gorgeously from the moonlight.
It was so worth running the "moose gauntlet" to see this sight.

It was over way too fast with the moon hidden below the mountains but its glow lingering.

I packed up my gear, and I headed home to pick up Shyla for a ride together. I spotted the brilliant purple hue coming from the east. When this color started appearing at dawn and dusk months ago, we learned that it was due to volcanic particles in the atmosphere, all the way from a volcano in Russia. I love the color.
It was well worth getting up so early and running that Moose Gauntlet.

Thanks to the LLB Gang for hosting the Nature Friday Blog Hop!

22 comments:

  1. it is like a painting... and somehow like it should be... the picture of a better world maybe?

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  2. you are soooo brave, I would never go out in the dark, alone with moose or anything else. but so glad you braved the moose gauntlet because these photos are stunning... wow and wow...

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  3. What An Adventure - Like WoW - The Moon Was So Wonderful For Riding Under This Past Week - Perfect Exposure There - Would Love To See A Canvas Print

    Cheers

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  4. Hari OM
    Wow, that is some effort - but it paid off! My own shot this week was taken from my kitchen window, through double-glazing. No real effort at all, but also not the sharpest shot in the portfolio! I agree with others here, your first shot deserves to hang on a wall! YAM xx

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  5. Those photos are absolutely stunning, no matter what the moose says!

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  6. Your photography is breathtakingly beautiful.

    Have a fabulous day and weekend. Scritches to the pups. ♥

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  7. Beautiful! I love the full moon. I live in the middle of 7 wooded acres and when the moon is full, the trees look beautiful - no matter what time of year.

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  8. That early morning colour is spectacular, and so worth the ride and the Moose Run!!! Do you have a whistle or a personal alarm that will scream? Or do they get angry only in mating season or with a little calf? I so agree with the other earlier comments too.

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  9. I am truly speechless KB
    WOW...thank you for sharing
    Hugs Cecilia

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  10. Just stunning. We appreciate your early morning efforts.
    And Bertie insists he would have chased away to moose!
    Cheers, Gail.

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  11. Incredible photos! Your willingness to go out in the cold and dark to get the shots is amazing too.

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  12. Wow, just wow. Good for you having the ambition to go out and capture such beautiful moments. Thanks for sharing with us too! ♥
    Jan, Wag 'n Woof Pets

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  13. You could be submitting these pics to a magazine and getting paid. Or creating your own book. Also, in the top pic, where it is black at the bottom...it looks like a big monster with glowing eyes.

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  14. Those are spectacular pictures of the moon. Thanks for peddling through the moose gauntlet to get that beautiful picture.

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  15. You should rent a space and display pictures like this.

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  16. What gorgeous pictures! Thanks so much for getting up and braving the elements(and moose) and sharing them!

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  17. Fantastic pictures. I am jeaous of your spacious skies. Our views are limited becauser of the trees and mountains. During major meteor showers,we do drive dowen to the golf course where we csn see m,ore sky

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  18. We had a gorgeous moon on Thursday night, but of course seen from suburbia it is a whole different look. Great photos.

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  19. Spectacular!

    I've been wondering if Mr. Crankymoose has moved out of your immediate yard. Sounds like there are plenty still around.

    Cheers,
    Chris from Boise

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  20. That is a stunner of a photo. Kudos for the effort you made to capture it.

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