"SUN LIT" New Oil Painting By Mike Callahan

"Sun Lit"
Oil on Canvas
30" x 30"

Here's another painting from my Ruby Mountain trip. When we were on the trail, the Sun broke through the clouds and illuminated this peak for just long enough for me to get a great reference shot. I really like this scene because I think it really portrays the immensity of the place. Enjoy!

"INDIAN PAINTBRUSH" - new original oil painting by Mike Callahan

"Indian Paintbrush"
10" x 8" oil on canvas
Sometimes when you are hiking in the desert, something catches your eye and repositions your view from wide angle to close up...that's what Indian Paintbrush flowers will do; they are such bright, energetic and unexpected flowers usually growing where nothing else will...enjoy!

"COWBOY'S RIB" - New Original Oil Painting by Mike Callahan

"Cowboy's Rib"
16" x 12" oil on canvas

"This painting is the second to last from the Tule Peak/Winnemucca Ranch series I've been doing...it's called 'Cowboy's Rib' because that's the name of the ridge that we climbed to get to the top of the peak. This is a view looking up the canyon that runs along the rib near the base of the mountain before things started getting really steep...enjoy!"

"LONELY AT THE TOP" - New Original Oil Painting by Mike Callahan

"Lonely At The Top"
12" x 16" oil on canvas
"During last summer's trek to the top of Tule Peak, I was intrigued by the tenacity of the Juniper trees that grew on the rock outcroppings near the peak. This is one of those lonely, ardent strugglers. Even though it is only at about 8,000' in altitude, it's close to 4,000' above the valley floor a mere three miles away! Aside from snow, I have no idea what water it may ever get, and it has to grow in near constant wind. I guess that explains why there are so few of these up there at the top!"

"TULE SPRING" new original oil painting by Mike Callahan

"Tule Spring"
12" x 16" oil on canvas
"This is Tule Peak just a few weeks ago with the last dusting of snow falling on it over night - but alas, spring's triumphant advance continues, evidenced by the greening of grasses and underground springs yeilding their abundance. This is another one, like last weeks, where I was thoroughly taken by the early morning light on the mountain broken by retreating clouds in the sky - I've done my best to capture that here...enjoy!"

"Tule Peak" original oil painting by Mike Callahan

"Tule Peak"

Oil on Canvas 11" x 14"

This is the only remaining piece that's still available from the Winnemucca Ranch / Citizens for Sensible Growth Benefit show! The show was a near sell out for me! You have one last chance to see this piece as the show is coming down on Dec. 6th. Erik Holland will be at the Patagonia Service Center from 3-6:30 pm tomorrow, December 5th, so if you want to see it or the other great art in the show, hurry over there! The directions are below!
You can see a larger version of this painting by clicking here.


Patagonia, 8550 White Fir, November 29th, 5 to 8:30 pm.

Directions: Take 4th street west of Reno to Woodland ( just beyond Mayberry intersection). Turn left on Woodland and cross the RR tracks. The first right is White Fir. Take White Fir around to just before the Truckee River Bridge, and turn left into the parking lot.

Tule Peak Hike

On the Summit of Tule Peak

My Dunham Cloud 9's at Journey's End

Tule Peak beckoning at 8a.m.

I took a break from painting and hiked to the top of Tule Peak with my buddy Barry Brady this weekend. There's no trail to the top of this 8,724' mountain and since starting elevation is about 3,500 feet below, it's a darn steep 3 miles up. Our route up was a very direct one so to save our knees and ankles we decided to come down a less direct and somewhat flatter route (basically the ridge to the right in the photo above). This added several miles to the trek. Overall journey approximately 8 1/2 hours. Daytime high at the base of the mountain, about 97 degrees. Liquids (water and gatorade) consumed, approximately 4 liters. Things most thankful for on this trip - Camelback hydration pack, walking stick, gators, and the best boots ever - my Dunham Cloud Nines! (worn with a pair of liners and a pair of Smartwool socks) - read, no blisters! These boots are simply the best; they are lightweight, have great wicking properties, have this great rollbar technology that keeps you from twisting your ankles especially on side hill descents and are as comfortable as my New Balance tennis shoes (no exaggeration!) And in case you are wondering, no, I'm not being paid by Dunham for the endorsement either! I just like passing on great info about a great product once in a while!
The view from the top - the local landmarks (and some not so local) that you can see from this peak are phenomenal! Here the list in a clockwise sweep starting out looking south: Job's Peak, Slide Mountain, Mount Rose, Peavine Mountain, Squaw Peak, Sierra Buttes and the Sierra Valley, the Smoke Creek Desert, Mt. Lassen, the Black Rock Desert, Pyramid Lake, Pah Rah Mountain, and Spanish Springs Peak.