U.S. Environment
![Making Peace with Thanksgiving](https://hobblecreek.us/assets/images/IMG_9867tn.jpg)
Making Peace with Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving is a holiday fraught with American history. Let's get it right.
![Water, Water Nowhere](https://hobblecreek.us/assets/images/IMG_5626tn.jpg)
Water, Water Nowhere
The historic drought has thrown the Colorado River and its water system into crisis, with federal officials warning that serious conservation is the only way out.
![The World’s Glaciers](https://hobblecreek.us/assets/images/rou20220619-906tn.jpg)
The World’s Glaciers
Glaciers, one of the world's priceless natural resources, are melting rapidly because of global warming.
![The Earth’s Massive Wrinkle](https://hobblecreek.us/assets/images/Waterpocket-fold-tn.jpg)
The Earth’s Massive Wrinkle
Capitol Reef National Park encompasses a 100-mile-long fold in the Earth in which 270 million years of history is captured.
![Let It Snow (Blizzard, Flurry, Squall)!](https://hobblecreek.us/assets/images/Snow-19tn.jpg)
Let It Snow (Blizzard, Flurry, Squall)!
Snow is a deep subject. It cools our atmosphere, is a critical source of water in many regions, and creates winter travel challenges.
![How Mountains Move](https://hobblecreek.us/assets/images/rou20220212-412tn.jpg)
How Mountains Move
Mountains grow, shrink and change shape both slowly and suddenly, and human behavior is changing them in alarming ways.
![How to Photograph Really Big Things](https://hobblecreek.us/assets/images/Arches-National-Park-031tn.jpg)
How to Photograph Really Big Things
Photographing large landmarks and buildings is always a challenge. Here's how.
![Tracking Dinosaurs in the Wild](https://hobblecreek.us/assets/images/Copper-Ridge-Dinosaur-Tracks-22tn.jpg)
Tracking Dinosaurs in the Wild
With a pandemic raging and snarled air traffic, it's a perfect time to head into the past and the wild to track dinosaurs.
![How to Fight Inflation of Food Prices](https://hobblecreek.us/assets/images/Groceriesttn.jpg)
How to Fight Inflation of Food Prices
Inflation, health concerns and climate change are at the top of the news. Wise food shopping and consumption can help with all three.
![Going On A Mammoth Hunt](https://hobblecreek.us/assets/images/Ancient-Life-245tn.jpg)
Going On A Mammoth Hunt
Scientists are stitching together a DNA sequence to produce a living mammoth as well as learning more about the chubby long-haired giant.
![Comeback of the Courtyard House](https://hobblecreek.us/assets/images/IMG_3381tn.jpg)
Comeback of the Courtyard House
The pandemic, soaring cost of housing and environmental concerns are renewing interest in courtyard houses, albeit on a miniature scale.
![Central Coast Chillin’](https://hobblecreek.us/assets/images/rou1109078789tn.jpg)
Central Coast Chillin’
When you need a break and relaxing activities that are relatively safe in the pandemic, try California's Central Coast.
![Smoke and Haze](https://hobblecreek.us/assets/images/rou20210724-307tn.jpg)
Smoke and Haze
Western wildfires have blanketed normally pristine landscapes with smoke. What's a photographer to do?
![The Booming and Broiling Southwest](https://hobblecreek.us/assets/images/rou20160507-515tn.jpg)
The Booming and Broiling Southwest
The American Southwest is the fastest growing region in the United States, but also the hottest and most arid.
![For the Love of Arches](https://hobblecreek.us/assets/images/rou20140315-351tn.jpg)
For the Love of Arches
Arches National Park in southeastern Utah is being loved to death, and the park service is scrambling to manage the attention.
![Yellowstone Roars Back To Life](https://hobblecreek.us/assets/images/rou20210515-557tn.jpg)
Yellowstone Roars Back To Life
As the pandemic wanes in the United States, the crowds have returned to Yellowstone National Park.
![Mining Towns of the Old West](https://hobblecreek.us/assets/images/rou1108299392tn.jpg)
Mining Towns of the Old West
Colorful Western mining towns where the ancestors of many Americans once flocked to seek their fortunes have become upscale tourist meccas for outdoor adventure.
![Saving the Great Salt Lake](https://hobblecreek.us/assets/images/rou20170404-144tn.jpg)
Saving the Great Salt Lake
The Great Salt Lake, along with other saline lakes worldwide, is drying out. Preserving and restoring won't come cheap.
![A Classical Chinese Garden](https://hobblecreek.us/assets/images/rou20180918-278tn.jpg)
A Classical Chinese Garden
Lan Su Chinese Garden in Portland, Ore., was built by artisans from the garden city of Suzhou, China, to demonstrate the basic elements of Chinese gardens.
![Duke’s Beautiful Campus, Academic Excellence and Mixed Legacy](https://hobblecreek.us/assets/images/rou100618187tn.jpg)
Duke’s Beautiful Campus, Academic Excellence and Mixed Legacy
Duke University's Gothic architecture and academic excellence alongside its mixed historical legacy makes it a microcosm of the American South's historical dilemmas.
![Japan’s Poignant Cherry Blossom Season](https://hobblecreek.us/assets/images/rou20170406-118tn.jpg)
Japan’s Poignant Cherry Blossom Season
Japan's annual cherry blossom season conveys a timely message of renewal, transience and death in a year of global tragedy.
![Apocalyptic Outing](https://hobblecreek.us/assets/images/rou20201017-294tn.jpg)
Apocalyptic Outing
We take a (semi)-humorous look at what a Saturday afternoon outing is like in the fall of 2020.
![Nature Trails](https://hobblecreek.us/assets/images/rou20100816-368tn.jpg)
Nature Trails
Urban nature trails are more important than ever as other exercise and recreation venues have been closed.
![Springtime in the Rockies](https://hobblecreek.us/assets/images/rou20200525-019tn.jpg)
Springtime in the Rockies
It's springtime in Utah's Rockies. Photographer Forrest Anderson captured the stunning scenery.
![Home is a Destination, Too](https://hobblecreek.us/assets/images/rou20170611-221tn.jpg)
Home is a Destination, Too
Need a five-minute stress reliever while sheltering at home? See these photos of my beautiful mountain village of Mapleton, Utah.
![Lighthouse, Tide Pools and Seals](https://hobblecreek.us/assets/images/Yaquin-Head-tn.jpg)
Lighthouse, Tide Pools and Seals
Yaquina Head, Ore., has one of the Pacific Coast’s premier tide pool observation sites, a lighthouse and seal and seabird colonies.
![Utah’s Rock Stars](https://hobblecreek.us/assets/images/rou20160910-837tn.jpg)
Utah’s Rock Stars
Utah's spectacular scenery harbors one of the world's most complete and diverse dinosaur fossil records.
![Eating Food in Season](https://hobblecreek.us/assets/images/rou20190928-076tn.jpg)
Eating Food in Season
Eating locally grown food in season is a great strategy for weight loss, good health, saving money and protecting the environment.
![The River That Keeps on Giving](https://hobblecreek.us/assets/images/Colorado-River-tn.jpg)
The River That Keeps on Giving
The mammoth Colorado River is the lifeblood of the southwest United States, supplying water and power for cities and agriculture.
![Japanese Design Past and Present](https://hobblecreek.us/assets/images/Kengo-Kuma-garden-tn.jpg)
Japanese Design Past and Present
Architect Kengo Kuma's village at the Portland Japanese Garden blends modern architecture with traditional Japanese design.
![The Elephant Needs the Room](https://hobblecreek.us/assets/images/elephanttn.jpg)
The Elephant Needs the Room
Despite tough bans on ivory trade, Africa's elephants are declining in numbers because of poaching and trafficking of illegal ivory.
![Visit Utah’s National Parks](https://hobblecreek.us/assets/images/Arches-National-Parktn.jpg)
Visit Utah’s National Parks
Utah state and local governments and organizations are chipping in to keep national parks operating during the government shutdown.
![How is Utah Changing?](https://hobblecreek.us/assets/images/rou20170412-020tn.jpg)
How is Utah Changing?
The Utah population boom, fueled by economic growth and an image of a healthy, family-friendly state, is expected to be long-term.
![Green thumb challenged? Grow rocks](https://hobblecreek.us/assets/images/rou20180408-389tn.jpg)
Green thumb challenged? Grow rocks
Okay, so you don’t have green thumbs. We don't either. Not to worry. Rock gardens are the next best option.
![Fire! Is this the new norm?](https://hobblecreek.us/assets/images/rou20180914-252tn.jpg)
Fire! Is this the new norm?
Are record wildfires the new norm in the West? As fires threaten homes and communities, here are answers to questions about them.
![Garden in the Desert](https://hobblecreek.us/assets/images/rou20170527-416.jpg)
Garden in the Desert
One of the Intermountain West’s most beautiful gardens is at the Point of the Mountain between Salt Lake City and Provo, Utah.
![Elements of a Japanese Garden](https://hobblecreek.us/assets/images/rou20170803-085tn.jpg)
Elements of a Japanese Garden
Imagine you're sitting in Los Angeles traffic on a hot day. Take a break and head for a cool green oasis - Suihoen Japanese Garden
![The Wasatch Back](https://hobblecreek.us/assets/images/rou20141011-179tn.jpg)
The Wasatch Back
The Wasatch Back is the chief year-round playground for residents of the booming Wasatch Front in Utah.
![Timpanogos Cave](https://hobblecreek.us/assets/images/Timpanogoscavetn.jpg)
Timpanogos Cave
A wierd and wonderful cave system holds the heart of Mt. Timpanogos, near Provo, Utah.
![The Chesapeake’s Shrinking Isle](https://hobblecreek.us/assets/images/ROU_20100731_6367-tn.jpg)
The Chesapeake’s Shrinking Isle
Smith Island in the Chesapeake Bay is rich in history but shrinking in land and population.
![Salt Water Cure, Change of Scene](https://hobblecreek.us/assets/images/beach-tn.jpg)
Salt Water Cure, Change of Scene
Changes in the air, the light and the sounds all add up to a new perspective.