I went to the San Juans this past weekend, wanted to snowshoe to the base of Lizard Head Peak. It looked so easy on Google Earth--about 2.5 miles, 1,700 feet or so vertical. NOT! I always seem to forget that it aint easy trudging through 10 feet of powder. Anyhow, i gat back to the car a bit late so i stuck around for sunrise and headed up to Red Mountain Pass in hope of some pre-storm light. Here's the pass at surise (sunday)
EDIT: I deleted a second star shot--after further review i believe that was just the southern extension of the milky way--i did observe the zodiacal light--however, that was to the west and i apparently did not get any photos!
Here's Lizard Head--as i discovered the best views are a bit farther back from the base (although this wide angle makes LH look a lot smaller than it did) but you still have to trudge about 2 miles for the first open views. Light at sunset wasnt too good, this is about 20 min prior to sunset.
It was pretty dark back at the car! You can see LH vaguely in the distance. I also saw the "Zodiacal Light" (sorry too lazy to link to wiki) which i had never observed before--i am going to go back and look at acouple more of my RAW files in hopes that i caught some of it--i thought it might be light pollution at first because i had never observed it before. Basically, it looks like a milkier MIly Way, and is the result of comet dust being trapped by Jupiter's gravity...
Nice stuff Stan! That first one's a great gentle winter sunrise image, and I like the streaky clouds and the snowshoe trail in #2. The evergreens are cool too, though I wish there were more breathing room at the top left in that one.
Even though I should really know better, I often get seduced by Google Earth into underestimating approaches. "All I've got to do is bushwhack a little ways up that ridge...."
Jackson nailed it with "a great gentle winter sunrise image" for the first one. Love the light and your pp on that one.
Posted by Jack Brauer on March 7, 2013 at 11:58 AM
Nice photos, Stan! I actually witnessed the same exact sunrise up on Red Mtn Pass on Sunday too! (I was staying at a friend's yurt higher up from the pass). Looking to the south towards Silverton the sunrise colors were even more intense; sadly I had no suitable comp in that direction.
I like these Stan! The black and white of the Lizard Head is especially good, the way the clouds are streaming and the great tones is very nice! Oh, and I got a lesson on what Zodiacal Light is too. Beautiful and educational!
Stan, you're certainly on to something. Easy winter access to fantastic mountain scenery is primary thought here. Not having looked at the map, I'm just assuming there's got to be some nice winter camping opportunities in that area. With daylight savings around the corner a winter overnighter doesn't seem so darn lonely and isolated! What bothers me though is Jack B hasn't shot that place yet, so I'm wondering if its any good Now that you laid down a track you should go back and reap the reward of your hard multiday work.
I love the Black and White. I think its fantastic. Its well composed and the track into the woods is great foreground.
Much better than your previous offering! I like 'em all, with my favorites being the first two. The b&w is extremely nice. The luminance in that one is remarkable!
I learned about zodiacal light as well, so thanks for that one.
Now that you laid down a track you should go back and reap the reward of your hard multiday work.
Kane, i like how you think, unfortunately today's storm will quickly cover my hard earned path with 2 feet of fresh powder...
Posted by Doug Koepsel on March 11, 2013 at 11:51 AM
Stan, I like the B&W with Lizard Head and track though the snow. I might be tempted to brighten the foreground snow some. I will need to look up zodiacal light now
Discussion
13 repliesEDIT: I deleted a second star shot--after further review i believe that was just the southern extension of the milky way--i did observe the zodiacal light--however, that was to the west and i apparently did not get any photos!
6 image mega stitch
Even though I should really know better, I often get seduced by Google Earth into underestimating approaches. "All I've got to do is bushwhack a little ways up that ridge...."
I'm really diggin your Lizard Head b/w shot.
I love the Black and White. I think its fantastic. Its well composed and the track into the woods is great foreground.
I learned about zodiacal light as well, so thanks for that one.
Now that you laid down a track you should go back and reap the reward of your hard multiday work.
Kane, i like how you think, unfortunately today's storm will quickly cover my hard earned path with 2 feet of fresh powder...