Posted by Jody Grigg on December 7, 2006 at 9:46 PM
Taken yesterday evening high on the saddle between Castleton Tower and the Rectory in the Castle Valley just outside of Moab. The hike is only about a mile or so one way but it has over a 1,000ft gain. Going up there solo probably was not the smartest thing I have done lately, the trail is kind of sketchy in places. Fresh snow melting on steep gradients doesn't really go together, the extra few pounds of mud sticking to the bottom of my hiking boots didn't help either. I would have liked to stayed on the saddle until dusk because the views were incredible but playing it safe was guiding me down. So as soon as the sunset I packed up my bags and headed off, I had only gone a couple of hundreds yards from the saddle when I slipped and had to use my hiking poles to self arrest my self from sliding to my death, boy was my heart pounding. After getting up and dusting myself off checking my bruises I continued on my way. 2 things I never go without on hikes like these are 1 hiking poles and 2 my petzel headlamp. After returning to my Jeep in the pitch dark, I checked my gear and was thankful for everything was in good condition. This shot is just a digital snapshot of my evening, I will post some more from this location when I get my medium format film developed. Will I hike this again yes, alone? well maybe not.
Posted by bill meikle on December 7, 2006 at 10:09 PM
Great photo Jody, glad you made it, I almost slipped and fell at The Wave on loose rock and my friend did slip and fall on the ice at Arches NP last weekend, luckily no damage from either.
Wow! Fantastic color and comp. Glad you didn't snuff it there. I just lost a friend to cancer who was equally adventurous, so it's very much on my mind. Great shot. Wish I could get out there.
MH
Posted by Momo Vuyisich on December 7, 2006 at 11:09 PM
Terrific Image. I cant wait to see the shots from your Pentax.
RichieV
Posted by Todd Caudle on December 8, 2006 at 11:04 AM
Beautiful image, Jody, and what an adventure!
Posted by Joshua Hardin on December 8, 2006 at 12:49 PM
Great light and interesting composition with the rocks and snow in the foreground. That's quite a story!
Posted by Tony Bouchard on December 8, 2006 at 1:43 PM
Nice Shot
Several times before I've been in the situation of not knowing how I was going to get down or back from my photo location. Not fun. My wife knows to get my film developed if I don't make it.
Posted by Don Grall on December 9, 2006 at 1:11 PM
Great shot and harrowing tale!
Don
Posted by Rick Dunn on December 9, 2006 at 2:47 PM
Sweet shot, Jody! The light and color are fantastic. Glad to see that this wasn't your swan song...
Posted by John Zinn on December 11, 2006 at 12:29 AM
Jody, glad you lived to tell about it!! I can't wait to see what you got.
Posted by Adam Schallau on December 12, 2006 at 9:49 PM
That's some beautiful light. Glad to hear you made it back to your Jeep in one piece.
Discussion
13 repliesBill
Wow! Fantastic color and comp. Glad you didn't snuff it there. I just lost a friend to cancer who was equally adventurous, so it's very much on my mind. Great shot. Wish I could get out there.
MH
Guy
RichieV
Several times before I've been in the situation of not knowing how I was going to get down or back from my photo location. Not fun. My wife knows to get my film developed if I don't make it.
Don