Hi Doc,
Thanks much. You're images are very powerful in
design and composition. For me this is what photography
is all about. Have you studied composition and design
formally?
Bellow is a quick recap of the last Glacial Divide trip.
I'm currently in the planning stages of three or more
trips starting in May. Each one should be about a 2-3
weeks. I'll be exporing some new remote areas along the
Pacific Crest trail.
If you're interested in updates ... let me know.
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Part Three: Glacial Divide
This trip was an intense experience in the presence of high altitude storms. To capture the rapture of these moments photographically helps sear into me the intensity of these locations (I do not wanna forget um).There is no way to get to these places without being .. hmm ... OBSESSED.
No planes, no cruises, no freeways, no trails ... but the payoff is priceless. To recap; I arrived late at North Lake and headed up the Piute Trail. Since I didn't have a chance to acclimate to altitude and dusk was upon me I decided to stop at Piute Lake. Besides, I always wanted to
do some photo shoots there. Next morning on to the Humphreys Basin. As soon as I make the pass it's off the trails (I always bushwhack up there, get off the freakin freeway ... so to speak). The Humphreys Basin, an interesting area carved by ancient glaciers, framed by the dominance
of Mount Humphreys. Oh Mt Humphreys! One of natures truly great monuments. Please, no sculptured heads of State. From there on to the Golden Trout lakes, where I established a base camp. Started exploring the area. Decided
to direct my energy toward there mote Packsaddle Lake (just below the Matthes Glaciers) or what's left of them ... Did you know the Glaciers really are melting? Did a lot of exploring ... next trip planning on climbing up the Matthes Glaciers. From the top looking southwest, Evolution Valley and
Goddard Canyon would be in full panoramic view. Ah! Another place to explore. Since I was now at high elevation, my intention was to climb up to Paine Lake
(a high glacial lake above 12000 ft.). Didn't make it. Another time and that's a definite. On to Wahoo Lake, witnessed an extraordinary meteor shower. Needless to say it kept me up for the better part of the night. Morning and
up into the Goethe Cirque, an immense glaciated area. Time constraints now dictated I start thinking about getting back. Started moving down out of theGoethe Cirque and spent the last night at Muriel Lake. One can get really ambitious up there and forget how enormous, how vast it is. Having
"Wander Lust" makes it more so.
Events that made this trip more impactful were the intense storms moving over the High Sierras. At high altitude in the Sierra Nevada, DO NOT listen to what the weatherman says. DO, anticipate, assess and act. Thunderstorms
come in many forms. The worst entities in the thunderstorm world are MCS's(mesoscale convective systems). That's a fancy way of saying they're a system of thunderstorms ranging in size from roughly twelve to several
hundred miles. They come in many flavors: squall lines, drylines, bow echoes and more. Squall lines were the thunderstorm events of this trip.
If a squall line moves over your camp at high altitude, it's an experience you won't soon forget. Heavy rain, high winds, hail, snow, intense lightning and thunder ... etc ...
Anyway that's the quick of it ... Stay tuned.
Well! It's of to Europa, a large dense icy moon of Jupiter.
I here tell there my be chemical signatures of life.
Should have some interesting experiences, observations and
images.
"I Wish".
