OW-W-W-W…..THAT HURT…A LOT!!!

A couple weeks ago I was planning on doing an overnight hike of the Pohono Trail. The weekend was great weather in the mid to high 80’s but then came my days off and the cold front.

Determined to go hiking I decided to hitchhike to Glacier Point and do a day hike on the Panorama Trail instead. I got lucky and it only took me 1 hour and 40 minutes to arrive to Glacier Point which was totally socked in by the clouds.

I waited for 45 minutes to see if the clouds would break and give me a good photograph of Half Dome but no such luck. So off I went down a trail I have not hiked in thirty years.

The hike start at approximately 7,200 feet and first couple miles are through a burned out area from a fire in 1987. It seemed a little eerie as clouds blocking any views normally seen of Half Dome, Liberty Cap, Nevada Falls and the mountaintops shrouded the trail. Still it was refreshing just to be out in nature.

Half Dome peeks out from the clouds for a moment

A little over the two mile mark of downhill and switchbacks you arrive at Illilouette Falls Lookout which sits upon an overhanging cliff. It is just off trail a few steps and a worn path leads to it. Be careful not to get too close otherwise you are assured to take the quick way down to the bottom of the canyon.

Illilouette Canyon shrouded in clouds

This was my first opportunity to take pictures on the trail this day and it was well worth the wait. You are above Illilouette Falls and being cautious you are able to photograph the falls from top to bottom along with shots of Illilouette Canyon. After I took a short break and got the pictures I wanted I continued down the trail.

Looking Down on Illilouette Falls

At the two and a half mile mark and at an elevation 6,430 you arrive at Illilouette Creek, which is crossable by a steady steel footbridge. Be careful not to swim or soak you feet in the river, as it would be a short ride in the swift water over the falls. Those of us that live in the park know how many people die every year from seemly safe places to swim or even soaking your feet only to slide into the water.

Illilouette Creek from the bridge

After a few photographs I now found myself hiking uphill out of the canyon. It just stands to reason if you hike down one side of a canyon even if your destination is 3,000 feet below your starting point you are still going to have to hike out of a canyon or two along the way.

A typical switchback making my way

out of Illilouette Canyon

And so I started up the trail and left the river behind. On the Panaroma Trail it is only about a mile and a 1,000 foot elevation gain from the bridge so it is not too bad. After approximately the half mile mark you find a footpath leading off to the left to Panorama Point. Here there was a large rockslide in 1968-1969 and it is thought that it may again tumble at anytime. It is a great place to view and photograph Royal Arches, Washington Column, North Dome and the backside of Half Dome.

After a lunch break at Panorama Point

Continuing on the trail keep you eyes open as you are afforded glimpse of Yosemite Falls in the distance. Once you reach the top at approximately 6,600 feet the trail turns and your view changes to Nevada Falls, Liberty Cap and Little Yosemite Valley.

Yosemite Falls from the Panorama Trail

From here I felt safe having years of experience hiking in the Sierra and the Rockies to go off trail looking for a better viewpoint for a photograph I had in mind of Nevada Falls. There was more then one place that I turned back noting it was too big of a chance and the footing was not stable. Finally I found what I was looking for, a place that I had a great view from Little Yosemite Valley to Nevada Falls, Vernal Falls and of the Yosemite Valley and Yosemite Falls in the distance.

The off trail shot of Nevada Falls I was looking for

Also from this vantage point I had a great view of the helicopter search for a missing person. His daypack was found a few days before near the top of one of the waterfalls. Apparently he had fallen into the river and was swept away as I found out the next day his body was found near the foot of one of the waterfalls.

Vernal Falls and search party on the Silver Apron

My friends know I have a saying that is very true. I have been 40 miles out on the Sea of Cortez in a 17 foot fishing boat chasing yellowfin tuna, I have hike hundreds of miles in the mountains and sat on 12,000 foot mountain tops and I don’t care where you are “the is only ONE rule in nature…you SCREW up you die…DON’T break the rule!” Unfortunately he “broke the rule” and got to close and slipped into the water.

The stream between Nevada and Vernal Falls

After taking a break and noticing the hour it was time to start hiking again. As I began walking the weather changed again and it started to snow. It was just a few miles ago when the weather also changed from rain and hail to sunshine and I thought of putting on shorts and a t-shirt. Now I was glad that I had on my long sleeve shirt, vest, hat and gloves. I had also come prepared and had my Northface jacket in my pack.

More then one person I met on the trail was only dressed in shorts and a t-shirt and I heard them say, “you are better prepared then we are”. I just thought “I live here I know what can happen” and smiled. I also thought to myself how can these people be dressed like that with the sky is dark, cloudy and grey? They are “breaking” the rule…

With that said I continued down the trail to the top of Nevada Falls. Here I met a couple from Ireland that had no map (breaking the rule) and could not find the path to the Mist Trail. I decided to show them the way even though I did not relish the thought of doing the Mist Trail with my knees after all the operations I have had. Off in the distance I could see the valley was being rained on so it was time to get moving again. Once on the correct trail we said our goodbyes, as they were much younger and can move quickly and I am very cautious on steep trails not really trusting my knees anymore.

At the top of Nevada Falls

I could see them bounding towards the Mist Trail as the distance between us grew. That is okay I’ll just take my time as I slowly made my way towards Vernal Falls.

Nevada Falls as I continue towards the Mist Trail

Once there I took my time crossing the Silver Apron, as it was slick from the rain. I knew enough to stay well back from the waters edge so there was no chance of slipping into the river and going over the falls which has happened many times at this location.

All of a sudden before I had time to think my feet shot out from underneath me and I landed hard on my left shoulder. Ow-w-w that hurt a lot! My first thought was “did I dislocate my shoulder?” Because of my medical background I knew how to check for this. Thankfully it was not dislocated but it was injured to the point I could not move my arm very much and could put no pressure on it.

My next thought was even though I did not hit my head on the rock, which was a miracle in itself, I really rang my bell. I tried to stand but I was very dizzy and I was disorientated. “Great I am going to have to hike down the Mist Trail not only with bad knees, an injured shoulder but with a concussion!”

I decided it was best to sit for a few minutes and assess the situation. Worse case scenario I’d have to stay the night here on the trail. I have food, warm clothes and the means to make a fire. Also I did not break the rule and told two or three friends exactly what trail I was going on and when I planned on being back. This is probably the Number One Rule of Backpacking…ALWAYS tell someone where you are going and when you are to be back!

After a few more minutes I decided to try and stand again. This time it was effort free except for the shoulder of course. But there was no dizziness, ringing of the ears, I was coherent and able to process thought patterns I came up with…no concussion.

So off I went down the Mist Trail step by step down 600 stairs. Actually because I could not brace myself with my left arm and wanted to be extra careful not to slip again it was double step by double step making it 1,200 stairs.

Vernal Falls on the Mist Trail

Half way down I encountered two rangers climbing up the trail. Once at the bottom of the trail I found that they had closed the trail and assumed they were doing the Mist Trail/John Muir Trail loop to look for hikers as it was dusk.

Now at the bottom of the trail and the bridge at Vernal Falls it was only another mile down the trail to the shuttle stop and home to a hot shower.

Vernal Falls from  the bridge below it

near the end of the trail

I had also been thinking the entire time that I can’t wait to get back to my room and do acupuncture on my knees and especially my shoulder. Arriving back at my dorm I realized my needles were in my truck parked a few miles away at Tunnel View where I had started the morning hitch hiking to Glacier Point.

Oh well a hot shower and a handful to Chinese Herbs is going to have to do…

GLAD TO BE BACK...

I've been gone for a few days from Yosemite on a road trip. It's good to get out every now and then and even better to get back so I can relax...

kicking back in my hammock...gotta love the view...

Playing with water when I got back...

Fern Spring

Here are a few shots from before I left...

Turtle Dome

Turtle Dome Near Sunset

Going Vertical...

Now What Am I Going To Do....

Go HIKING!!!!!

FREE Photo Lecture...

DNC Employees....On Monday May 13^th at 7pm I am giving a FREE talk on photography at the Yosemite Employee Community Center. It will be very much like this blog covering how to use your camera, exposure settings, composition and how to take a better photograph. Hope to see you there…

Merced River at Midnight...

Yosemite Falls 

TIME FOR A PHOTO BREAK...

One afternoon after work I decided to go on a short hike to yet another place I have never hiked before. I was hoping to catch the shift in sunset colors over the valley as a storm passed through from a different vantage point.

With El Capitan on the left and Half Dome on the right the wait is on...

By changing the focal length I got a different look

After two hours of waiting I could tell I was not going to get the the colors and sky I was hoping to photograph. There was too much of a cloudy sky behind me, it started to snow and low lying clouds covered the valley and Half Dome...

But not to worry I literally turned around and got this shot...

there is always something to photograph here...

just turn around and look....

And this shot a few minutes later...

This is the exact same tree but by moving the camera slightly

and using a different compostion you get two totally different looks...

HOW DENSE ARE YOU....REALLY

HOW DENSE ARE YOU…REALLY

If you are anything like me probably not “dense” enough when it comes to taking photographs.

If you live in Yosemite like I do go to the Ansel Adams Gallery and pull the trigger and spend $40 on a high quality Neutral Density Filter. That may sound expensive but when you take into account that many of us have spent hundreds if not thousands of dollars on our cameras and lenses it really is not much money. And for that reason it is important to get a quality filter for just a few more dollars, they include HiTech, Cokin, Lee and some others. I have seen filters and filter sets for a lot less money but then again so is the quality. After doing the research you will find that the lower quality filters can give you a lower quality photograph as well as color shifts.

So why get a neutral density filter and what do they do? Do I get a graduated filter or a filter that is entirely a neutral density filter? How what grade filter do I get?

That depends on what you are trying to achieve. Especially here in Yosemite the sky, granite walls and waterfalls when shot will be a lot lighter then the foreground. This is really noticeable near sunset. As stated in a previous post you can correct this some by underexposing by 2/3’s of a stop but by doing so your entire photograph is darkened.

I bought a graduated filter that is rectangular and darker on the top of the filter and gradually becomes clear on the bottom. With this type of filter I can darken the upper part of the photo and the bottom of the photograph remains unchanged. I prefer as many do to just hold the filter against the lens without a filter holder and look through the viewfinder until I get the “look” that I want. You will find by using this method that the entire photograph will be exposed at the same value.

Here are a few examples of using a .9 graduated neutral density filter

Half Dome an hour before the sun starts to set. This is without a filter.

Note the exposure in the foregropund verses how washed out the sky and Half Dome are.

And the same shot using a filter a mintue later.

Note how even the exposure is throughout the photograph.

No Filter

.9 Neutral Density Filter

Again note the even exposure and the richness of the colors

No Filter... just slightly a different compostion

Note the position of the plants in the foreground

and the overall exposure of the photo

.9 Neutral Density Filter

In this photograph the exposure is much more even

and there is more detail is in both Half Dome and the foreground

Another choice is a circular filter that mounts to your lens like any other filter, just screw it into place. With this filter the entire photograph is “stopped down” and the number of stops depends on the filter you buy. A .3 is one stop, .6 is 2 stops, .9 is three stops and a 1.2 is 4 stops.

This can be used to slow the shutter speed and achieve the “blurred” water effect on waterfalls and streams. I am still experimenting with the graduated filter and it has worked so far for this effect but will probably end up buying a circular filter at some point.

This shot was taken at Cascade Creek

using a slow shutter speed to "blur" the water

without a filter

.9 Neutral Density Filter

Here the desired effect is much better

As to what filter to buy. After some research and getting some advice from a “local” professional photographer, Kirk, at the Ansel Adams Gallery I chose a .9 filter HiTech filter to use in Yosemite. It is equivalent to stopping down 3 stops and not so dark as to see a noticeable line across your photograph that Kirk told me may appear using a 1.2 or 4 stop filter. I will eventually look into .3 and .6 filters if I find the need arises for them.

So that is what I have to say about becoming a little “more dense” as a photographer. Also if you are in Yosemite I highly recommend stopping by the Ansel Adams Gallery to see their exhibit of Ansel Adams photographs and to talk to Kirk. Better yet sign up for a Photo Walk with Kirk and get first hand knowledge on how to improve you photographs the instant you are taking them at some of Kirks favorite places in Yosemite Valley. And tell him Larry sent ya….

OKAY...LET's TAKE A BREAK

Okay Let's Take a Break and look at some pictures. I took these on afternoon in Cooks Meadow as a storm came through. It only lasted about an hour and went from clear skies to snow and back to clear skies during that time...

and so it begins...

if you don't like the weather wait ten mintues...

it ends just as quickly...

Sentinel Rock silhouetted as the storm passes through

Lost Arrow begins to clear...

clear...

Yosemite Falls and Lost Arrow...

Half Dome after the storm passes...

TIME TO REFLECT...

Time to Reflect…

Yosemite is a beautiful place to reflect…in more then one way. This time of year water is here, there and everywhere.

Snow Creek Falls in Teneya Canyon above Mirrow Lake

Cascade Creek off of Hwy 120

Royal Arches Cascade

Sentinal Falls

Yosemite Falls in all its glory...

Rainbows at Bridelveil Falls are a daily occurence

Yosemite Falls is “cranking”, Bridalveil Falls and Nevada Falls are bathed in unbelievable rainbows for hours at a time in the late afternoon, the Merced River is rising slowly and it looks different everyday but the big difference this time of year is the flooding of the meadows causing seasonal ponds to appear.

Reflection near the Merced River below Ledig Meadow

Depending where you are there are reflections to be found of Sentinal Rock, Half Dome, Yosemite Falls and El Capitan. Some are the “usual” reflections we expect to see in the river and at Mirror Lake. 

Yosemite Falls and Reflection at Swing Bridge

Three Brothers refelction in the Merced River

But one of the best places to find seasonal reflections is in the ponds in Cooks Meadow.Within a few minutes of walking from each other in Cooks Meadow you can photograph reflections of Sentinal Rock, North Dome, Yosemite Falls and Half Dome. And of course on the edge of Cooks Meadow is Sentinal Bridge we have all seen the most recognized shot of Half Dome and its reflection in the Merced River.

Half Dome in a pond in Cooks Meadow

Another shot of Half Dome in a Cook Meadow pond

And yet another reflection of Half Dome in a Cooks Meadow Pond

Yosemite Falls in a Cook Meadow pond

A midday shot of Yosemite Falls in Cooks Meadow.

The shot must be taken during this time of day to get light on the falls.

In the late afternoon it is in the shadows

Sentinel Rock reflcetion from Cooks Meadow

Just moving the camera slightly gives a little different shot

as does going hortizonal

The time of day is also a factor in photographing reflections. Reflections in the river can be most anytime of the day although my favorite time is usually around sunset in order to get the color variations in the water and in the sky.

Half Dome closer to sunset

Tree reflections near sunset

When photographing reflections in ponds or other still waters I have found the best time again to be around sunset or maybe within the hour before the sun goes down which is also the time of day that wind dies. This not only allows for beautiful colors but a clear reflection in ponds and still water. So as always it is a game of patience waiting for the colors in the sky and waiting for the wind to die down.