“I’m coming!” I yelled, already in motion.

I scrambled for my boots and sunglasses, screaming at my phone to dial Clayton while I sprinted for the door—completely oblivious to the fact that I was still in my yoga pants. I hit the road on my four-wheeler just as Clayton confirmed he was nearby and closing in.

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I don’t think I’ve ever pushed my four-wheeler that hard, tearing down the road and praying that we wouldn’t be too late to save a life. But as I skidded to a halt, the scene wasn’t what I expected. The new mom was already vigorously licking her baby. Mom was watching from the porch, and Clayton was standing in the yard, looking just as surprised as I was.

I assumed Clayton had arrived early and played the hero, but Mom told a different story.

While we were all racing against the clock, a second heifer who had already had her calf—was standing nearby watching the confused new mother—simply took matters into her own hands. She turned on her haunches, walked over, and began licking the calf’s head until the sac tore open. Her “heavenly deed” finished, she calmly turned back to her own calf. The newborn took its first breath, the spell was broken, and the real mother immediately stepped in to take over.

I grabbed my camera and walked slowly up to the fence, to catch the moment on video as the new mom continued to fuss over her beautiful newborn. But to my surprise, they had an audience. One of our Highview Angus Ranch barn cats was perched nearby, sitting perfectly still and watching over the pair like a silent, furry guardian.

It was a quiet, sacred moment of ranch life—where nature provides its own heroes exactly when they’re needed.

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Our Highview Angus Ranch Boys are back home on Highview Angus Ranch!

Highview Angus Ranch is located in the beautiful cattle country of Northeastern Oregon and under the Wallowa Mountains. We are a third generation family cattle operation dedicated to providing genetic solutions to our customers needs through Angus Bulls and Females deep in nationally known and proven A.I. sires.

Visit https://highviewangusranch.com for more information.

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Rising with the sun isn't a fluke around here—it’s a requirement. Morning starts with feeding horses and the rhythmic demands of ranch work, a lifestyle that doesn't recognize a 9-to-5 schedule or the concept of a weekend off.

Living so closely with the elements opens our eyes to the natural beauty of an environment where the sky regularly performs something spectacular, sending me running for my camera to catch it before it’s gone.

These distinct, saucer-like shapes hovering north of the Wallowa Mountains are Lenticular clouds (scientifically known as Altocumulus lenticularis). While they are unique, they are not uncommon in Wallowa County. The trick is to capture them at the exact time of day when the light provides the most contrast, fully revealing these miracles of wonder.

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How They Form

Lenticular clouds form on the “lee” (downwind) side of the peaks. Unlike most clouds that drift with the wind, they appear to remain stationary while the air rushes through them.

These clouds typically form when moist air is forced upward over a mountain range. As the air moves over the peaks, it creates a series of “standing waves” on the downwind side—much like the ripples in a stream after water flows over a submerged rock.

• The Crest: When the air reaches the top of these waves and cools, the moisture condenses to form the cloud.

• The Trough: As the air sinks back down, it warms and the cloud evaporates, creating those sharp, clean edges.

Why They Look This Way

In the photograph, you can see multiple layers or “stacked” formations. This happens when there are alternating layers of moist and dry air stacked on top of each other.

Source: Gemini

Moments like these remind me why the early call to work is a blessing rather than a chore.

Whether you see them as scientific 'standing waves' or 'miracles of wonder,' there’s no denying the power of Mother Nature. Next time you see a saucer hovering over the peaks, you’ll understand the dance of wind and moisture that put it there.

Standing at a little over 4,000 feet above sea level, I look across the valley where the Seven Devils dominate the horizon with crystal clarity.

Their highest peak reaches 9,420 feet, rising a full vertical mile above the valley. This massive wall of stone is composed primarily of Permian and Triassic volcanic rock, carved by wind, snow, and time.

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Geologic Profile: The Seven Devils Range

The jagged peaks visible from where I stand are more than just a beautiful horizon—they are a vertical mile of deep-time history.

• Peak Elevation: 9,420 feet (He Devil & She Devil)

• Vertical Rise: 5,420 feet from the 4,000-foot basin floor.

• Primary Composition: Permian and Triassic Volcanic Rocks (200–300 million years old).

• Rock Type: Metamorphosed andesite and basalt, often referred to as “Greenstones” due to the presence of chlorite and epidote.

• Geologic Origin: Originally an exotic island arc in the Pacific Ocean, these mountains “docked” with the North American continent through massive tectonic collisions.

Around 8 PM, I streamed the feed from my iPad to the big screen. Honestly, who needs regular TV when you can witness life entering the world? I’ll admit, I dozed off for a split second right at the finish line, but I woke up to a beautiful sight: a healthy, vibrant calf being vigorously licked by her mama. We were amazed to see the little one up and walking within just ten minutes! We kept watch from the house to ensure they didn’t need a hand—the less human interference, the better.

Checking the cam over breakfast this morning, the calf wasn’t just walking; she was racing laps around the pen. We are so grateful to the Lord for this healthy new addition.

*A heifer is a female bovine (cattle) that has not yet given birth to her first calf, typically under two years old.

Every time I step out the front door at home, I am reminded of the history the Wallowa Valley exhibits. Looking south, I don’t just see the jagged skyline of these beautiful mountains; I see and feel an open-air archive of American history.

While its majestic neighbor, Mt. Joseph, claims the camera’s lens by far, Mount Howard carries a heavy history on its back—a legacy of conflict that remains as jagged as its peaks.

The mountain’s ‘heavy history’ began in 1925. Until then, Mt Howard carried a neutral name - Signal Peak. At the suggestion of J. Neilson Barry, the Oregon Geographic Names Board changed the name from Signal Peak to Mount Howard.

The Irony

The renaming of the mountain is often viewed as a controversial historical irony. General Howard was the military leader who pursued Chief Joseph and the Nez Perce people across 1,200 miles in 1877 after breaking the treaty of 1876, ordering them to leave their Wallowa homeland within 30 days.

Hence, the geographic irony is massive: Mount Howard sits directly across Wallowa Lake from Chief Joseph Mountain, (aka Mt Joseph) meaning the General and the Chief “face” each other across the valley.

Names have power

The discussion persists because the landscape and the Nez Perce remember. Many advocate for the mountain to be renamed to anything but Mt. Howard, a native name, or at least return to its neutral roots as Signal Peak, arguing that a place of such natural beauty and Nimiipuu history shouldn’t be anchored to a legacy of unjust displacement.

The Choice: A Place of Tribute or a Place of Evidence?

On the flip side, some argue, that renaming the mountain will strip the valley of a necessary reminder that depicts a serious historical wrong doing. Without that reminder the landscape may risk becoming a sanitized postcard rather than a living historical textbook. Proponents of keeping the name argue that "Mount Howard" serves as a permanent, uncomfortable witness—a physical scar that forces every resident and visitor to be confronted with American history as it happened.

Why it matters

The Breach of Trust

While the first treaty (1855) had guaranteed the Nez Perce a reservation of 7.7 million acres—including the Wallowa Valley—the discovery of gold in the 1860s changed everything. White miners and settlers flooded the land, and rather than removing the trespassers, the U.S. government decided to shrink the reservation.

The “second treaty” is the Treaty of 1863, more notoriously known among the Nez Perce as the “Thief Treaty” or the “Steal Treaty.”

It was signed on June 9, 1863, and it is the pivotal legal document that set the stage for the conflict between Chief Joseph and General Howard years later.

The 150-Year Timeline (1877–2027)

• May 1877: General Howard issued the 30-day ultimatum to the Nez Perce to leave the Wallowa Valley.

• June 1877: The Nez Perce crossed the Snake River at high water—a harrowing feat—marking the beginning of their forced displacement.

• September/October 1877: The final surrender at the Bear Paw Mountains and Chief Joseph’s famous speech.

• 2027: The 150th Anniversary (Sesquicentennial).

Modern Development and Recreation

In the 20th century, the mountain transitioned into a major tourism destination.

Wallowa Lake Tramway (1970): The opening of the gondola transformed the mountain’s accessibility. It remains the steepest tramway in North America, rising 3,700 vertical feet to the summit.

Summit Facilities: The top of the mountain (8,256 feet) features the Summit Grill, which is considered the highest restaurant in Oregon.

National Natural Landmark (2016): A 1,084-acre area including Mount Howard and East Peak was designated a National Natural Landmark due to its diverse montane grassland and rare, endemic plant species.

Pop Culture: The summit served as a filming location for the 1993 Disney film Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey.

Natural and Cultural Landscape

Indigenous Stewards: Long before European settlement, the Nez Perce (Nimi’ipuu) were the stewards of this land, using the valley and its peaks for seasonal resources.

Wilderness Access: Today, the mountain is a gateway to the Eagle Cap Wilderness, offering trails that lead to other high peaks like Aneroid Mountain.

Historical Sources: Wikipedia and Travel Oregon.

Great photography isn’t just about technical settings; it’s about the instinct of the decisive moment.

It doesn’t matter if I am outdoors with my iPhone or with a full frame camera, I catch myself looking for moments in time that tell a story before they disappear.

Whether it is the light hitting a ridge or the emotions of a young athlete on the court, the goal is to capture the split second where everything aligns. The equipment is just a tool; the real work happens in the observation.

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99 percent of my photography happens in a split of a second. Neither the athlete nor the bronc or the bull will give me time to assess and setup. Everything happens in the spur of the moment.

Hence, don’t be afraid to take a shot before you are certain of the outcome.

Whether you are experimenting with a new perspective or waiting for an unpredictable expression, the risk of a missed frame is nothing compared to the second it takes to hit the delete button after the fact.

I caught that fly through the lens while focusing on Katja’s head and hit the shutter the second it hovered near her eyes. Here is the original, uncropped shot of that moment. You never know what you may end up with, unless you take a chance.

Love and Peace 🧡🐻

I was recently scrolling through my Facebook feed when I encountered a post filled with shots of lavish yachts at a high-end resort. It was a striking display of success, but it immediately transported me back to a very different version of similar waters.

While I am pleased, of course, to see those who become so successful that they own yachts the size of a small island, my sense of wealth was forever formed by the time I spent in Sicily, Yugoslavia, and Greece as a child with my parents.

We didn’t find ourselves in luxury resorts or on the decks of massive vessels. Instead, my parents brought us into the heart of the villages, where we spent our time among the local people. They had almost nothing by any material standard, and yet their hospitality and love for children was a force of nature.

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It taught me that you can try to measure a life by the length of a hull, or you can measure it by the depth of a welcome. I’m grateful my parents showed me—even if it was unintentional—the latter; it’s a kind of wealth that no tide can wash away.

And while the photographs themselves may remain a bit blurry even after editing, my memories of Sicily, Greece, and Yugoslavia, are as vivid as if they happened yesterday.

Since 1974, Aliki in Greece, as well as Syracuse and Catania in Sicily, have evolved into high-demand luxury destinations. The Aliki I remember—defined by authentic, limited tourism—has been replaced by high-end experiences. I am grateful that I got to experience it in its purest form.

“...as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing everything.” ~2 Corinthians 6:10

Under the Wallowa Mountains, and on the edge of Hells Canyon bordering Idaho, the Wallowa Valley is much more similar to Northern Idaho and South Central Montana than the rest of Oregon.

Well known for being “Cattle Country” the area was settled by cattlemen venturing off the Oregon Trail in search of better summer grazing grounds. With a substantial portion of the annual precipitation occurring during the long days of the early growing season, the grass here can grow incredibly fast.

For more information, visit https://highviewangusranch.com

As we wait for spring to reclaim Wallowa County, we’re looking back at some of the most breathtaking moments Mother Nature gave us in 2025.

August brought this “spooky-beautiful” scene to our front door: a warm storm sweeping across the valley, illuminating Ruby Peak in a mesmerizing golden glow. Standing tall at 8,884 feet (2,708 meters), her summit never fails to command the horizon.

It is a rare intersection of shadow and light that perfectly defines the Eagle Cap Wilderness.

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About the waláwa mountains:

The Wallowa Mountains—often called the “Alps of Oregon”—have a history as dramatic as their jagged granite peaks. Their story is a mix of ancient geology, deeply rooted Indigenous heritage, and a heartbreaking struggle over land.

1. Geological Foundations

Before they were mountains, the Wallowas were actually islands in the Pacific Ocean.

• The Exotic Terrane: Around 200 million years ago, a group of volcanic islands (the Wallowa Terrane) drifted on a tectonic plate and slammed into the North American continent.

• The Uplift: Roughly 15 million years ago, massive tectonic forces pushed these rocks upward, while volcanic activity covered much of the surrounding area in basalt.

• The Ice Age: During the Pleistocene, massive glaciers carved out the deep U-shaped valleys and high-altitude lakes (like the famous Wallowa Lake) that give the range its Swiss-like appearance today.

2. The Nez Perce (Nimiipuu) Heartland

For thousands of years, the Wallowa Valley was the summer home of the Wallowa Band of the Nez Perce.

• Resource Wealth: The mountains provided huckleberries, game, and granite for tools, while the rivers were thick with salmon.

• Chief Joseph (Old Joseph): The band was led by Tu-ka-kas, who converted to Christianity and initially sought a peaceful coexistence with white settlers. He eventually tore up his Bible when the U.S. government began shrinking the Nez Perce reservation.

3. The Wallowas Today

Today, the mountains are a sanctuary for biodiversity, home to mountain goats, bighorn sheep, and wolves. The town of Joseph has evolved into a world-renowned center for bronze casting and art, keeping the legacy of the region’s history alive through sculpture and storytelling.

Source: Gemini

Almost 27, Ke Ja Co’s Katja is my pride and joy, resembling strength, resilience and independence; a Maverick for sure. Katja, a Norwegian Fjord, is one breed I grew up with. Others included Thoroughbreds, Arabians, Shetland Ponies and crazy Warmbloods, but the Norwegian will always have a very special place in my heart.

Katja, a livelong brood mare, joined our equine family many years ago giving birth to her last foal at the ranch. She enjoys her retirement, living wild and free, and still moves like she is in her prime, racing, bucking and kicking like a young bronc. She’s a strong-willed mare, yet she is remarkably kind to our young calves who, driven by curiosity, occasionally sneak into her pasture.

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She will, like all of our equine partners and friends, spend the rest of her life on Earth at home on Highview Angus Ranch. Once her time to cross the rainbow has come, she will be bedded aside the others who have spent their lives with us until God calls them back home.

The Norwegian Fjord horse is one of the world’s oldest and purest horse breeds, with a history in Norway dating back thousands of years. It is believed that the ancestors of the Fjord horse migrated to Norway and were domesticated over 4,000 years ago, and archaeological evidence from Viking burial sites suggests selective breeding has been practiced for at least 2,000 years.

Throughout this ancient history, the Fjord horse was an invaluable partner to the people of Norway. The Vikings famously used them as war mounts, and for centuries they were indispensable as sure-footed workhorses, pulling heavy loads and providing transportation across the mountainous and rugged terrain of Western Norway. The breed’s distinctive dun color and primitive markings, such as the dorsal stripe and zebra striping on the legs, link it closely to the wild, ancient horses of Eurasia.

The 2026 Calving Season has officially opened with a beautiful bull calf on born on Feb 16! If you look closely, the momma cow has milk dripping from her utter.

After 17 years on the High school basketball sidelines—a journey that began in 2007—life took an unexpected turn in August 2024. I stepped away from the court to become a full-time caretaker for a family member, a role that required my absolute focus.

2026 ~ A New Perspective. Same Passion. Championing Wallowa County’s Rising Stars.

While my time away resulted in the loss of my OSAA credentials and my previous news site, my passion for the game hasn’t wavered. I am thrilled to be back on the sidelines, shifting my lens and love for the sport to cover the rising talent in 3rd through 6th-grade and middle-school basketball.

Going forward, parents and fans of my sports and event photography will have two options to get their favorite pictures:

No 1: You may download high-quality images that contain a small watermark on the bottom right of the picture at ZERO cost. You may print the images on your personal equipment or at a third-party print business of your choice.

No. 2: You may purchase physical prints from my trusted lab to support my work.

CLICK HERE to enter the 3rd – 6th Grade Basketball Games Galleries, February 13, 2026, in Joseph.

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Pictures ©Angelika Ursula Dietrich regardless if available at no cost or purchased! Editorial or commercial use allowed ONLY with my permission BEFORE usage.

If you any questions, please contact me at wildhorsesmediaproductions@gmail.com 

A mind-blowing February 5, 2026.

Our cows are enjoying the warm sunrays in 40 something degrees in the afternoon at home on Highview Angus Ranch.

Life is good, God is GREAT!

Right out the kitchen window with a massive six inches between the lens and double-pane window (which causes enormous problems with stray light without the additional filter that I use).

I was hoping he would not take off as usual, but here he is, staring directly at me while waiting for an opportunity to “steal” leftover cat food from this morning’s feeding.

While so many can’t stand magpies, we appreciate and welcome them as an additional clean-up crew. They are highly intelligent, adaptive predators and scavengers who are part of controlling insect and small rodent populations. Our horses also enjoy their parasite-reducing grooming.

Highly adaptive, fiercely intelligent, and always welcome at home on Highview Angus Ranch. We appreciate our magpies for the vital role they play—leftover cat food is a small price to pay for such a dedicated grooming and pest-control team.

For the last week, fierce chinook wind-gusts have whipped across the Lower Alder Slope. Heavy rain showers have drenched the valley, and the Wallowa Mountains have received heavy snowfall.

For the last week, fierce chinook wind-gusts have whipped across the Lower Alder Slope. Heavy rain showers have drenched the valley, and the Wallowa Mountains have received heavy snowfall.

This morning was no different. When I stepped out the front door right after 8 am, the temperature was a warm 42 degrees and the wind was blowing hard. The skyline over the Seven Devils in Idaho was dark orange and covered with heavy clouds. Since the light and environment lacked contrast this morning, I purposely underexposed it at 1/125, f3.5, ISO 100 to create a black and white effect during editing.

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In conditions like this morning—when the chinook winds rage and the sky is a turbulent mix of dark orange light and heavy cloud—the flag itself becomes a profound symbol.

To me, its hardiness (represented by the red stripes) mirrors her enduring valor required to withstand fierce elements. Its vigilance (represented by the blue union) stands a silent, unwavering watch over our valley.

Flying against a tumultuous backdrop of heavy wind, the flag embodies the principle of perseverance—a steadfast object of beauty and order maintaining its integrity even when the surrounding environment is defined by drama, and the seemingly never-ending chaos of the changing weather.

And so, as the turbulent chinook winds continue across the Lower Alder Slope, the flag stands as a singular testament to resilience. It remains a steadfast object of beauty and order, embodying the enduring principle of perseverance that maintains integrity even when surrounded by drama and the seemingly never-ending chaos of a changing environment throughout the world.

December 11, 2025: Right after 5 pm, while the wind was still blowing hard at the house, the sky’s colors exploded for a brief moment in time.

The moment I stepped outside with my camera, I felt like I was in an episode of the Twilight Zone. This powerful scene sparked feelings of awe, gratitude, and humility, connecting me deeply to the historic, enduring land surrounding Chief Joseph’s peak.

The connection between Mount Joseph and the Wallowa Valley, the ancestral homeland of Chief Joseph’s band, is inextricable.

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Homeland and Heritage: The name honors the leader who fought for the right of his people to remain in their sacred valley. Many see the mountain as an unbreakable link the Nez Perce (Nimiipuu) have to their original lands, regardless of their displacement.

Symbol of Resistance and Tragedy: In 1877, Chief Joseph led his people on an epic 1,170-mile flight, attempting to escape forced relocation and reach Canada. For me, the mountain stands as a silent monument to his courage, his strategic brilliance, and the ultimate tragedy of their defeat and exile.

A “Giant” of History: The mountain’s massive presence naturally symbolizes the giant status of Chief Joseph himself—a leader revered for his wisdom, dignity, and eloquent defense of his people’s rights.

There is so much more to The Seven Devils in Idaho beyond taking pictures. The geological history tells a violent and dramatic tale of fire and ice, dating back to a time when these peaks were part of a volcanic island arc that collided with the North American continent.

Over millennia, relentless glaciation sculpted the volcanic rock into the jagged spires and deep basins visible today, creating a vertical landscape that plunges dramatically into Hells Canyon. Exploring this terrain offers a tangible connection to the ancient forces that shaped the West, rewarding those willing to trek beyond the viewpoint with a profound sense of prehistoric scale and solitude.

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1. Formation of the Seven Devils Terrane (Permian-Triassic Periods)

• Island Arc Volcanism: The Seven Devils Mountains are composed of an ancient island arc terrane (a fragment of Earth’s crust that formed elsewhere and was later added to the continent). About 300 to 200 million years ago, this area was a series of volcanic islands in the ancient Pacific Ocean.

• Rock Types: The primary rocks, collectively known as the Seven Devils Group, are dominated by volcanogenic materials, including:

  • Subvolcanic, volcanic, and pyroclastic rocks.

  • Volcaniclastic and epiclastic rocks.

  • Associated limestone, likely from subtropical coral reefs that formed around the islands.
    

November 27, 2025: The Seven Devils in Idaho viewed from the Lower Alder Slope outside of Enterprise, Oregon.
Click on the image to view the full-size picture

2. Accretion and Deformation (Mesozoic Era)

• Continental Collision (Accretion): Beginning around 100 million years ago, the oceanic plate carrying the Seven Devils island arc began to sink beneath the North American Plate (subduction). This caused the island arc to collide and accrete (attach) to the western edge of the North American continent. The modern-day Idaho/Oregon border roughly marks this ancient suture zone.

• Metamorphism and Thrust Faulting: The immense pressure and heat from this slow-motion collision folded, compressed, and metamorphosed the original volcanic and sedimentary rocks.

  • A major deformational event involved east-over-west thrust faulting, where rock layers were pushed up and over one another.

  • The collision also led to the formation of the Idaho Batholith, a massive body of granitic rock in central Idaho, which likely influenced the deformation of the Seven Devils terrane.

3. Uplift and Canyon Carving (Cenozoic Era)

• Block Faulting: The mountains experienced significant block faulting, where a large block of crust was uplifted, resulting in a steep eastern escarpment and a more gradual western slope.

• Columbia River Basalt Group: About 17 to 6 million years ago, massive floods of basalt lava poured out across the region (the Columbia River Basalt Group), covering much of the surrounding plateau, though the highest peaks of the Seven Devils likely stood as islands above the flow.

• Hells Canyon Formation: The Snake River began actively cutting down into the landscape. The river, aided by ongoing geological uplift, carved Hells Canyon, the deepest river gorge in North America, right along the western flank of the Seven Devils. This dramatic erosion reveals the complex, tilted, and metamorphosed rock layers of the terrane.

• Glaciation: During the Pleistocene Ice Age, alpine glaciers scoured the high peaks, leaving behind classic features like:

  • Jagged, serrated peaks (like He Devil and She Devil).

  • Cirques (amphitheater-like basins at the head of a glacial valley).

  • Dozens of pristine alpine lakes, many of which occupy these cirques.

The result is a rugged, geologically distinct mountain range characterized by ancient volcanic rocks, intense metamorphic folding, and an astounding vertical relief of over 8,000 feet from the Snake River to the summit of He Devil.

*Source: Gemini