Posted by Lon Overacker on August 19, 2007 at 10:53 PM
Well, Cory got it right when he posted a comment to one of Harley's images.... poor Lon. The weather and winds somehow managed to move all the smoke from the Santa Barbara fire in to the southern Sierra.
My lungs burned for much of the hike in on Tuesday; the sky a thick haze of smoke, the high peaks barely visible. The hike in was reasonably easy (for an out of shape middle-ager) and we set up camp at Chickenfoot Lake. It was a great camp spot, on top of a small ridge overlooking the lake with the massive peaks above. Unfortunately, being such an accessible place, we were directly across the lake from a couple of families who pack-horsed in. They had large family tents, lanterns, bbq's, rafts and screaming kids. Sure didn't help in feeling like we were in the wilderness - more like Lake Tahoe.
The next day, Wednesday, the sky had actually cleared up and the smoke seemed to have moved on. Well, I would say at least 95% visibility and made for a great day for a short hike to Gem lakes. Now, that was a gorgeous setting; my favorite of the trip. Wednesday was the best day of the trip. That night I even set up the 4x5 for some star trails. got up at 4am to close the shutter.
Thursday morning, we awoke to even worse smoke than on Tuesday. It was so bad, I couldn't even see the high peaks, Mt. Dade, Mt. Abbott - Bear Creek Spire barely visible. The smokey sky did however generate some very nice warm light on the landscape and tree trunks. I decided to do some photography that didn't include any sky or landscape. I had spotted a very unusual Whitebark pine the day before; with any amazing trunk with wonderful colors and patterns. My camera was still setup from the star trails, so I just grabbed the tripod and headed for the tree a hundred or so yards away.
Disaster strikes! In my stupidity of carelessness, I had set the tripod down, on a slope, while I planned out my shot. Next thing I know, I kicked the tripod and it all came crashing down... yup, 4x5 wood camera with 75mm lens attached, now performing a face plant. The front and rear standards now separated from the base, shattered... the bellows now fully extended, twisted like a warped accordian. I was dumbfounded without words... not even uttering a single cuss word. I simply disconnected the quick-release from the tripod, wrapped my shattered camera in my dark cloth and headed back to camp.
With the sky as ugly as it was and my disposition as it was, we decided to break camp and head home, a day early. Attached is a snap my son took just before we decided to leave. You can see the conditions of the sky. Oh, to add insult to injury, my waist belt on the pack broke as we set to leave... had to jury-rig it with some cord for the hike out.
After all that, you might think I was totally dejected. I can always get another camera. But the time I was able to spend in the wilderness with my son will always be remembered. Sure, my photography was cut short, but in the end, it's all about being there, in nature. And I'm glad I was able to make the trip, both physically and mentally.
Lon
Posted by Laurent Baig on August 19, 2007 at 11:27 PM
Oh, man, I'm sorry to hear that Lon. That totally bites. I can send you a loaner if you need. It's a POS, but it'll work till you get a new camera.
I'm sorry to hear about your camera, Lon! I am glad, though, that you did have a time with good memories to hold onto. It looks like great campsite! I camped at Chickenfoot many years ago after being chased out of the Dade Lake area by a storm. It's a nice place, indeed.
I hope you'll post some of the images you made. I'd love to see them.
-PB
Posted by Nelcha Cross on August 20, 2007 at 3:53 AM
Geez..Lon, that totally sucks....Glad you could keep "perspective"
sounds worse that that other trip you dad going to Yosemite...
Hope you have had a few good trips in between...
And MOST Importantly ..
are making that LIST of hikes that us old geezers can make relatively easy while hauling equipment!
I would REALLY appreiacate anything to you have to add to that list....
Just starting to make my own
........
I would still like to do some Fall color 4x5 with you and anyone else?
and if you want we can use my Technika 3 field camera with a Fuji quick load?
I only have a 90, 150 and 120mm tho.....
A day trip to Hope Valley some day might be nice...
Let me know if that interests you...next month, I assume?
I'm serious about that list, too
Lon, I always love your stories but this one has a sour note to it due to the unfortunate conditions and camera loss. But I also admire your positive attitude. I definitely think some curse words would have come out of my mouth.
Posted by Dan Baumbach on August 20, 2007 at 10:05 AM
Sorry about your camera, Lon. But, your your take on your trip is really true. The camera can always be replaced while the relationship with your son and being out in nature are irreplaceable.
- Dan.
Posted by Cory Freeman on August 20, 2007 at 10:13 AM
Bummer man. I was feeling for ya all week. I heard it was pretty smoky throughout the entire southern sierra unfortunately. Usually chicken foot lake is pretty mellow, it's unfortunate that you had such loud campers nearby. Perhaps a fall backpacking trip, i.e. sometime after labor day weekend, is in order? Glad to hear that you still had a positive experience from the trip regardless of the circumstances.
Posted by Michie Wong on August 20, 2007 at 10:49 AM
Lon,
You are definitely a better and wiser man than I am - I'm glad to hear that the time spent with your son was more important than what happened on the trip...after all that's what its all about in the end - memories with your kids - all the rest is gravy.
Lon, as we exchanged emails on this already I will only say again how sad I was to here about the loss. Overall, it is still an outing you will recall as time goes by and you can look back on the positives. I can truthfully say I have had trips that did not go well for a variety of reasons, but still enjoyed it for the sake of being outdoors. I also looked this morning and did not see any deals yet on 4x5's, but we will keep looking. Take care.....
Posted by Richard Wong on August 20, 2007 at 4:59 PM
Sorry to hear about the camera. That's one reason why I try to avoid tripods whenever possible. Ironically aren't tripods supposed to hold your camera steady?
That's good you got out though, perhaps this is the start of something new for you and your son.
Posted by Edward Nunez on August 20, 2007 at 10:20 PM
Lon, I'm so sorry to hear about your camera, but your attitude is really an example of enjoying things even during critic and bad situations, and always make it a positive memory. I really admire your attitude on this, and remember the good time you spend with your son.
Posted by David Senesac on August 23, 2007 at 10:36 PM
Really sorry to hear about your camera falling over. Happens to the best of us and we can only do our best to be careful. Best of luck with a replacement and hopefully one that you can put together before our coming fall leaf season. Last Sunday morning after driving south on US395, I turned around at Conway Summit from where I had the definite view south into the very smoky Owens Valley, then drove north to Tahoe where air was crystal clear though windy. I recognize that exact campspot at Chickenfoot. In July of 2006 I camped just east of the lake's outlet at a time all the shores were covered with Indian and Lemmon's paintbrush. Although I didn't have to deal with much more hopeless smoky skies, it was far too breezy to get any reflection images with the lake.
I recently posted a thread on a view camera forum about how my Wisner with a 150mm Nikkor lens fell over last month while my big Gitzo G-1325 was setup on lake edge mud. The leg apparently slowly went deeper into the muck until it lost balance. Crashed hard, making an 8 inch hole that half buried the lens. But I was lucky it was mud and within an hour had cleaned all the mud off, dried off all, then exposed a couple more sheets of film that came out well. Years ago I ruined a 90mm lens when the lens board popped off due to my not noticing how holding screws had come loose. Lessons learned the hard (expensive) way.
Sorry to hear about the camera. That sucks. I am also surprised you got as much smoke as you did. I was up at Cottonwood Lakes 8/8-8/13. A little smoke came in each evening, but then was gone by daybreak. I have been backpacking in heavy smoke before and it ain't that much fun. Sure makes me appreciate the firefighters and the hell they must go through.
Also too bad about your neighbors at Chickenfoot. Nothing more irritating than noisy obxnious people on a backpack. You go there to get away from that kind of stuff. It should be peaceful and quiet.
At least you got to spend some quality time with your son and scout out a new location to return to. I have camped at Chickenfoot several times and have always enjoyed it. Beautiful area and a fairly easy hike (except for the altitude).
Lon, I had to grimly shake my head in disbelief after reading your story. Little Lakes Valley must be cursed in that regard. In 2001 I planted my Pentax 645 and 45-85mm zoom into the marsh at Heart Lake while just finishing up a sunrise composition. The camera went, upside down and horizontal, into about 1 inch of water and a few inches of mud. Amazingly the film chamber did not flood and later, in the dark, I was able to rescue the 120 roll that was inside it at the time! The lens could be cleaned, but the camera body was a total loss, as well of course as any subsequent photography on that trip (since I was backpacking, I'd left the Pentax 67ii at home).
Coincidentally, my dad, son and I backpacked into the Sabrina Basin August 19 - 22 this month. Conditions were hellish with the smoke from the Zaca wildfire in the Santa Barbara County backcountry, though for the trip in only (August 20-22 were crystal clear). I think the southwesterly flow was pushing the smoke over the Tehachapis and Walker Pass area and into the low western Mojave, then prevailing southerly air currents in the desert were pulling the smoke up north into the higher Owens Valley and surrounding canyons.
Best of luck outfitting a new rig! I definitely know how you feel.
Scott
Posted by Anil Rao on September 9, 2007 at 10:04 PM
Hi Lon,
Sorry to hear about the loss of your 4x5 camera. I hope you can find a suitable replacement soon.
Despite the camera incident and the poor weather conditions, its nice to hear that you guys had a great time camping.
Discussion
14 repliesMy lungs burned for much of the hike in on Tuesday; the sky a thick haze of smoke, the high peaks barely visible. The hike in was reasonably easy (for an out of shape middle-ager) and we set up camp at Chickenfoot Lake. It was a great camp spot, on top of a small ridge overlooking the lake with the massive peaks above. Unfortunately, being such an accessible place, we were directly across the lake from a couple of families who pack-horsed in. They had large family tents, lanterns, bbq's, rafts and screaming kids. Sure didn't help in feeling like we were in the wilderness - more like Lake Tahoe.
The next day, Wednesday, the sky had actually cleared up and the smoke seemed to have moved on. Well, I would say at least 95% visibility and made for a great day for a short hike to Gem lakes. Now, that was a gorgeous setting; my favorite of the trip. Wednesday was the best day of the trip. That night I even set up the 4x5 for some star trails. got up at 4am to close the shutter.
Thursday morning, we awoke to even worse smoke than on Tuesday. It was so bad, I couldn't even see the high peaks, Mt. Dade, Mt. Abbott - Bear Creek Spire barely visible. The smokey sky did however generate some very nice warm light on the landscape and tree trunks. I decided to do some photography that didn't include any sky or landscape. I had spotted a very unusual Whitebark pine the day before; with any amazing trunk with wonderful colors and patterns. My camera was still setup from the star trails, so I just grabbed the tripod and headed for the tree a hundred or so yards away.
Disaster strikes! In my stupidity of carelessness, I had set the tripod down, on a slope, while I planned out my shot. Next thing I know, I kicked the tripod and it all came crashing down... yup, 4x5 wood camera with 75mm lens attached, now performing a face plant. The front and rear standards now separated from the base, shattered... the bellows now fully extended, twisted like a warped accordian. I was dumbfounded without words... not even uttering a single cuss word. I simply disconnected the quick-release from the tripod, wrapped my shattered camera in my dark cloth and headed back to camp.
With the sky as ugly as it was and my disposition as it was, we decided to break camp and head home, a day early. Attached is a snap my son took just before we decided to leave. You can see the conditions of the sky. Oh, to add insult to injury, my waist belt on the pack broke as we set to leave... had to jury-rig it with some cord for the hike out.
After all that, you might think I was totally dejected. I can always get another camera. But the time I was able to spend in the wilderness with my son will always be remembered. Sure, my photography was cut short, but in the end, it's all about being there, in nature. And I'm glad I was able to make the trip, both physically and mentally.
Lon
I hope you'll post some of the images you made. I'd love to see them.
-PB
sounds worse that that other trip you dad going to Yosemite...
Hope you have had a few good trips in between...
And MOST Importantly ..
are making that LIST of hikes that us old geezers can make relatively easy while hauling equipment!
I would REALLY appreiacate anything to you have to add to that list....
Just starting to make my own
........
I would still like to do some Fall color 4x5 with you and anyone else?
and if you want we can use my Technika 3 field camera with a Fuji quick load?
I only have a 90, 150 and 120mm tho.....
A day trip to Hope Valley some day might be nice...
Let me know if that interests you...next month, I assume?
I'm serious about that list, too
in gratitude,
Nelcha
- Dan.
You are definitely a better and wiser man than I am - I'm glad to hear that the time spent with your son was more important than what happened on the trip...after all that's what its all about in the end - memories with your kids - all the rest is gravy.
That's good you got out though, perhaps this is the start of something new for you and your son.
I recently posted a thread on a view camera forum about how my Wisner with a 150mm Nikkor lens fell over last month while my big Gitzo G-1325 was setup on lake edge mud. The leg apparently slowly went deeper into the muck until it lost balance. Crashed hard, making an 8 inch hole that half buried the lens. But I was lucky it was mud and within an hour had cleaned all the mud off, dried off all, then exposed a couple more sheets of film that came out well. Years ago I ruined a 90mm lens when the lens board popped off due to my not noticing how holding screws had come loose. Lessons learned the hard (expensive) way.
...David
Sorry to hear about the camera. That sucks. I am also surprised you got as much smoke as you did. I was up at Cottonwood Lakes 8/8-8/13. A little smoke came in each evening, but then was gone by daybreak. I have been backpacking in heavy smoke before and it ain't that much fun. Sure makes me appreciate the firefighters and the hell they must go through.
Also too bad about your neighbors at Chickenfoot. Nothing more irritating than noisy obxnious people on a backpack. You go there to get away from that kind of stuff. It should be peaceful and quiet.
At least you got to spend some quality time with your son and scout out a new location to return to. I have camped at Chickenfoot several times and have always enjoyed it. Beautiful area and a fairly easy hike (except for the altitude).
Coincidentally, my dad, son and I backpacked into the Sabrina Basin August 19 - 22 this month. Conditions were hellish with the smoke from the Zaca wildfire in the Santa Barbara County backcountry, though for the trip in only (August 20-22 were crystal clear). I think the southwesterly flow was pushing the smoke over the Tehachapis and Walker Pass area and into the low western Mojave, then prevailing southerly air currents in the desert were pulling the smoke up north into the higher Owens Valley and surrounding canyons.
Best of luck outfitting a new rig! I definitely know how you feel.
Scott
Sorry to hear about the loss of your 4x5 camera. I hope you can find a suitable replacement soon.
Despite the camera incident and the poor weather conditions, its nice to hear that you guys had a great time camping.
Regards.