Posted by Robert Helms on August 5, 2006 at 9:11 PM
I'm ready for fall. I hate the humidity around Indiana and the flat light that it brings.
I checked out the hotspots section and I still would like some input. Here's what I'm asking for.
1)I want to do a equal amount of hiking with very little, if any camera gear, in order to take the time to really enjoy the scenery instead of constantly looking for comps. that in the process causes me to miss a lot of beauty of the season. The hiking I'm most interested in is the kind that gives nice open views - that sounds easy to give input on.
2) suggestions for places ,or specific motels, to base out of for a few days that are clean. I really don't care about anything else, except my safety.
3) suggestions for an area(s) to camp. Campsites that you would feel comfortable leaving your gear locked in the trunk of a car - if they exist.
4)I have to decide on the dates so help there would be nice as well. I can get just about any 10 days off in Sept. I have to put in for this within the next week and a half. I'm aware there's no silver bullet when it comes to fall peak dates, but I'm confident at least some of you, if not all, keep a detailed log.
I've been up Mt. Evans in the past. I've also spent a few days in Estes Park and explored the east side of the RMNP. On my last trip to CO. I went backpacking on the west side of the RMNP. I'm not sure if Trail Ridge Road is open in Sept. but I really enjoyed by cruise along it, except the slight illness the altitude brought on. I'd like to travel south of I-70 this time, but will really be letting your info decide for me. No 4wd trails, please.
I know there is at least one of you on here that has a site on off roading and I wouldn't mind viewing some images of what off roading CO. is like. Who is it? Guess if I lurked more I'd know.
I'd really like to get a image from above the clouds. I'm from Indiana and never get to experience that moment. I'm sure most of you have gotten to on several occasions that it just seems normal for you, but I go crazy over those images. I have viewed thousands online and I still love them.
I'll stop there since my post is getting too long. Any information would be considered priceless. If you'd like to help but hate to type lenghty replies, just email me I'll glady contact you by phone, or pass on to you my cell and you can contact me.
Two keeper images, good hiking, and none of your secret locations. I feel these goals are attainable.
Thanks greatly,
Robert
Posted by Todd Caudle on August 5, 2006 at 11:18 PM
1. You don't constantly look for comps? Then I'm afraid no one here can help you.
2. Unless you're looking to shoot fall down on Colfax Avenue in Denver, I wouldn't worry about the motel safety issue too much. You certainly couldn't do much better than basing yourself out of Crested Butte and shooting all along the Kebler Pass road, Washington Gulch, Gothic Road, etc. Some of the best aspen forests in Colorado.
3. I don't feel comfortable leaving my gear in the car, but do so out of neccesity. If you're putting it in a trunk, out of view, I wouldn't worry about it at most Colorado trailheads. There's certainly been instances of people breaking into cars at THs, but it's not epidemic, and happens more at heavily travelled THs along highways. Crooks seem to not want to take the time to drive along 30 miles of dirt road (Kebler Pass) just to happen upon a parked car that may or may not have anything worth boosting.
4. Take the last 10 days in September and you should be good to go.
As for images above the clouds, I have patented that technique, and if you try to snap any photos of such phenomena, I will "sue you into the Stone Age." (patent pending)
Posted by Robert Helms on August 6, 2006 at 8:46 PM
I can't thank you enough for the reply, Todd. Yea, I don't constantly look for comps. when I'm out of state. I'm not on a mission to create a book from locations hundreds of miles away. If I get one image worthy of hanging then I'm pleased. Glad you broke the rules and decided to reply.
Can I purchase one time rights to use your technique for the clouds, or maybe borrow your compression sack?
I'm extremely pumped up about witnessing fall in CO. Maybe we will cross paths. I'll be the young guy under the dark cloth singing quietly while tapping my foot. Helps keep my frustrations down since I'm still not completelty comfy with the view camera.
Thanks for Darren's site address as well. I thought about it a lot at work today and swore the name started with the letter B. I'm going to check it out now.
If anyone else has anything to add, please go ahead. If you choose to reply, and have lived in CO for several years I'd also like to know if you ever get tired of it?
Thanks again, Todd.
Posted by Arthur Lund on August 6, 2006 at 10:22 PM
As a lifetime resident of Western Colorado. I strongly second Todd's recommendation.
Base your vacation out of Crested Butte. There are all the trails you can walk, and miles
of 2 wheel road to traverse thru the Aspens. Crested Butte even has some webcams that
will allow you to keep tabs on the color change.
Art L.
Posted by Roger Rouch on August 7, 2006 at 10:32 AM
When I first read your post, I was thinking about the same thing as Todd, Bout the only thing I might add is that there are some very nice trails on the other side of Kebler Pass from Crested Butte.
As a life long (since birth) resident of Colorado I can tell you that I never get tired of it, Robert. I get a little tired of seeing the places I've grown to like turn from natural or wilderness to touristy or popular, but there are enought nice places left to last out my days.
Posted by Robert Helms on August 7, 2006 at 1:16 PM
Thanks for the help, folks. Darren's site is a wealth of info, as I'm sure you all know. I guess I could've found it myself had I scrolled all the way to the bottom of the hot spots fall section. For some reason I was viewing the two pics at the bottom and thought that was it.
I should be able to get Sept 21 - Oct. 8 off in order to cover my bases. I won't be able to stay that long since I'm sure I'll run out of money long before pleasure.
Seems like no one get tired of Colorado. I get tired of IN for sure. Not that it lacks it's own beauty, but more because someone owns most of it. I pass up images almost daily due to lack of access and it really gets under my skin. There is only like 4-5 % of this state that is public accessible and that 4-5% is broken up into little tracts for the most part. I really like to get away and it's depressing to know that I have to travel so far to get a ltitle isolation and the true wilderness experience that comes with it.
I think I have enough info to comb through to help plan my trip best. I appreciate all the feedback and I'll thread lightly.
Discussion
5 repliesI checked out the hotspots section and I still would like some input. Here's what I'm asking for.
1)I want to do a equal amount of hiking with very little, if any camera gear, in order to take the time to really enjoy the scenery instead of constantly looking for comps. that in the process causes me to miss a lot of beauty of the season. The hiking I'm most interested in is the kind that gives nice open views - that sounds easy to give input on.
2) suggestions for places ,or specific motels, to base out of for a few days that are clean. I really don't care about anything else, except my safety.
3) suggestions for an area(s) to camp. Campsites that you would feel comfortable leaving your gear locked in the trunk of a car - if they exist.
4)I have to decide on the dates so help there would be nice as well. I can get just about any 10 days off in Sept. I have to put in for this within the next week and a half. I'm aware there's no silver bullet when it comes to fall peak dates, but I'm confident at least some of you, if not all, keep a detailed log.
I've been up Mt. Evans in the past. I've also spent a few days in Estes Park and explored the east side of the RMNP. On my last trip to CO. I went backpacking on the west side of the RMNP. I'm not sure if Trail Ridge Road is open in Sept. but I really enjoyed by cruise along it, except the slight illness the altitude brought on. I'd like to travel south of I-70 this time, but will really be letting your info decide for me. No 4wd trails, please.
I know there is at least one of you on here that has a site on off roading and I wouldn't mind viewing some images of what off roading CO. is like. Who is it? Guess if I lurked more I'd know.
I'd really like to get a image from above the clouds. I'm from Indiana and never get to experience that moment. I'm sure most of you have gotten to on several occasions that it just seems normal for you, but I go crazy over those images. I have viewed thousands online and I still love them.
I'll stop there since my post is getting too long. Any information would be considered priceless. If you'd like to help but hate to type lenghty replies, just email me I'll glady contact you by phone, or pass on to you my cell and you can contact me.
Two keeper images, good hiking, and none of your secret locations. I feel these goals are attainable.
Thanks greatly,
Robert
1. You don't constantly look for comps? Then I'm afraid no one here can help you.
2. Unless you're looking to shoot fall down on Colfax Avenue in Denver, I wouldn't worry about the motel safety issue too much. You certainly couldn't do much better than basing yourself out of Crested Butte and shooting all along the Kebler Pass road, Washington Gulch, Gothic Road, etc. Some of the best aspen forests in Colorado.
3. I don't feel comfortable leaving my gear in the car, but do so out of neccesity. If you're putting it in a trunk, out of view, I wouldn't worry about it at most Colorado trailheads. There's certainly been instances of people breaking into cars at THs, but it's not epidemic, and happens more at heavily travelled THs along highways. Crooks seem to not want to take the time to drive along 30 miles of dirt road (Kebler Pass) just to happen upon a parked car that may or may not have anything worth boosting.
4. Take the last 10 days in September and you should be good to go.
As for images above the clouds, I have patented that technique, and if you try to snap any photos of such phenomena, I will "sue you into the Stone Age." (patent pending)
Can I purchase one time rights to use your technique for the clouds, or maybe borrow your compression sack?
I'm extremely pumped up about witnessing fall in CO. Maybe we will cross paths. I'll be the young guy under the dark cloth singing quietly while tapping my foot. Helps keep my frustrations down since I'm still not completelty comfy with the view camera.
Thanks for Darren's site address as well. I thought about it a lot at work today and swore the name started with the letter B. I'm going to check it out now.
If anyone else has anything to add, please go ahead. If you choose to reply, and have lived in CO for several years I'd also like to know if you ever get tired of it?
Thanks again, Todd.
Base your vacation out of Crested Butte. There are all the trails you can walk, and miles
of 2 wheel road to traverse thru the Aspens. Crested Butte even has some webcams that
will allow you to keep tabs on the color change.
Art L.
As a life long (since birth) resident of Colorado I can tell you that I never get tired of it, Robert. I get a little tired of seeing the places I've grown to like turn from natural or wilderness to touristy or popular, but there are enought nice places left to last out my days.
I should be able to get Sept 21 - Oct. 8 off in order to cover my bases. I won't be able to stay that long since I'm sure I'll run out of money long before pleasure.
Seems like no one get tired of Colorado. I get tired of IN for sure. Not that it lacks it's own beauty, but more because someone owns most of it. I pass up images almost daily due to lack of access and it really gets under my skin. There is only like 4-5 % of this state that is public accessible and that 4-5% is broken up into little tracts for the most part. I really like to get away and it's depressing to know that I have to travel so far to get a ltitle isolation and the true wilderness experience that comes with it.
I think I have enough info to comb through to help plan my trip best. I appreciate all the feedback and I'll thread lightly.
Thanks
Robert