Rob Mutch Ecosystem Photography

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Kalispell, MT
Rob Mutch Ecosystem Photography

Photographing the ecosystems of the Western U.S.A. with an emphasis on the Pacific Northwest.

"One Touch of nature makes the whole world kin." ~ William Shakespeare

06/21/2026

El Nino is underway. How big it gets is still a question being studied. It should have an effect on fire season, but, will really manifest itself in this coming fall and winter.... Yes, I'm at the Carpenter Mtn fire lookout for my 13th season. I opened it on Monday. https://science.nasa.gov/earth/earth-observatory/el-nino-is-underway/

03/26/2026

Here is the URL to the online report I made of a fireball last summer, at Carpenter Mtn. It was to the South breaking up into several pieces, just South of Crater Lake. I see many shooting stars, but, fireballs (large, highly visible shooting stars) are pretty rare. It was only the 2nd fireball I'v seen at Carpenter Mtn.

03/20/2026

Chuck Norris passed away. Growing up in the 80s he was in his heyday in tv and the movies. Share your best Chuck Norris joke... "If paper beats rock, rock beats scissors, and scissors beats paper, what beats all 3 at the same time? Chuck Norris."

03/01/2026

Last season - New steps at Carpenter Mtn. The old steps were getting pretty dicey. Rough-cut lumber from downed timber was used, so, it's nice and beefy and should last for several years. Thanks so much to the Virginia (i believe) engine crew for cutting and installing the steps. They did a great job!

02/27/2026

Last season - A small lightning wildfire startup just North of Carpenter Mtn. This is the following day after a system had cleared out leaving a half dozen fires in the immediate area. More often than not, we get fire startups back in the wilderness along the Crest, but, this system started several small fires in the Blue River drainage and East along the Crest just South of Sand Mtn fire lookout. Wolf Rock is visible nearby to the SW.

02/26/2026

Reflection selfie at the fire lookout last season. This was with just a few days left. Fall is my favorite time of year. McKenzie River R.D., Willamette NF, Oregon, USA

02/22/2026

From last season - This Douglas squirrel doesn't care that I'v been living at Carpenter Mtn for 12 seasons. It was barking at me for passing thru it's territory. They and the Townsend's chipmunks are common small mammals at Carpenter Mtn. Carpenter Mtn trail, McKenzie River RD, Willamette NF, Oregon, USA. John Muir wrote, "Gathering courage, he ventures down the trunk again, churring and chirping, and jerking nervously up and down in curious loops, eyeing you all the time, as if showing off and demanding your admiration"

02/21/2026

Last season - These are AT (Air Tractor) single engine water tanker/scoop aircraft used in wildfires, ideally initial attack. also used in agriculture. I don't often see these. My first sighting was during the Lookout Fire a couple seasons ago. From Carpenter Mtn, McKenzie River RD, Willamette NF, Oregon, USA.

02/20/2026

A phone panorama from last season. So, a bit distorted. Facing South. The fire lookout sits on a basalt/andesite outcrop/column, so, it doesn't need a tower. It has a natural tower. I'm sure the top was dynamited at a certain point to level the top. It would be nice to have a small tower to increase the viewshed a bit, but, it has a great view as it is. Carpenter Mtn, Mckenzie River RD, Willamette NF, Oregon.

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Kalispell, MT

Website

https://www.robmutchphoto.com/

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