Judging this kind of contest is a blast. Each photo is like taking a mini-vacation to somewhere new. Congratulations to all the winners. To really appreciate these photos, click on them to enlarge them.
Grand Prize
The top prize goes to Kaela K. from San Diego, CA. Her photo was taken in Cleveland National Forest at Holy Jim* Falls Trail in southern California. Her shot of branches curling over the path intrigued me, inviting me into the photo and making me want to know what was around the corner.
Runner Up Prizes
Louise C. of Massachusetts took this beautiful photo of Croagh Patrick Mountain in Ireland. The green rolling hills are just what you imagine hiking in Ireland would be like.
Deb E. of Atlanta, GA, submitted this stunning shot of a slot canyon in Utah. Slot canyons are significantly deeper than wide, and you need to be in good shape to squeeze through some of the slivers carved by water from millions of years ago.
Penne H. of San Diego, CA sent in a photo of this tranquil path in Barnstable, MA. If you are unfamiliar with Barnstable, it is the largest community on Cape Cod.
*If you are curious about the name of the trail (I was), it is named after a beekeeper from the 1870’s who was an unsavory character. To irritate him, his neighbors called him “Salvation Jim” and “Holy Jim.” When the government surveyors came round to ask who owned the land, the clever folks all said “Holy Jim.”
