Today marked the first time ever that I got on the Appalachian Trail. Being from Seattle, I am used to spending a lot of time in the outdoors and after moving to Philadelphia that really hasn’t happened a whole lot. Needless to say the experience was fantastic. I did the loop hike from Berks County Park along Furnace Creek Trail, which peaks out at around 1,600 feet where it meets the Pinnacle Side Trail section of the Appalachian and then bends back down to Pulpit Rock on the Valley Rim Trail. I chose the hike for its fantastic views but it ended up being completely fogged in with some snow flurries and well, no views at all.
That was a little bit of a bummer but I still ended up with some great shots. The fog can always make for some cool depth and great subject isolation. I ended up with this shot at the end of the hike and near the bottom of Berks County Park by the Hamburg Reservoir. Down near Furnace creek the fog cleared and these eastern bluebirds fluttered about. At first I noticed one or two of them flying back and forth across the road and through the trees. Their blue feathers are perfectly contrast by the dull yellows and oranges of the wintered forest. They demand your attention, confusing your eyes with their brilliance in the otherwise mundane landscape.
Nikon D800, AF-S Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VRII, Nikkor TC-20E III
@ 400mm, f/5.6, 1/160s, ISO 800
Alex Krengel 
GREAT SHOT AND GREAT ACCOUNT OF YOUR FIRST APPALACHIAN EXPERIENCE. WILL YOU EVENTUALLY DO THE WHOLE TRAIL? LOVED BEING WITH YOU IN MAUI. ED