gdanmitchell
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 p.2 #1 · Yosemite High Country — Early July | |
Yulinz wrote:
I’ve only camped in the Yosemite valley area and have only driven by Tioga Pass once last month, these open new perspectives for me!
Many people — understandably — think of the great Valley and the park itself as being synonymour, but the Valley occupies (IIRC) 5% of the area of the park! It is also at a much lower elevation that the vast majority of the place, and the greater Yosemite is really a place of subalpine and even alpine terrain worthy of a lifetime of exploration.
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Sergey Green wrote:
Super nice captures! Thank you.
Thanks, Sergey.
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GroovyGeek wrote:
Really good looking set. Voted.
I had a Pakistan trip coming in 2026 and was planning on doing a series of hikes starting at around 10k and going up to 14k (White Mountain Peak) this and next year in preparation. So this July 4th week I tried to do the Mineral King loop at what I thought was a fairly leisurely pace - 5 days for the "short" version (~38 miles) over Black Rock Pass and then down Sawtooth Pass.
Pack was 35 lbs of gear and food + 13 lbs of photo gear. Chunky but manageable. Or so I thought. Felt really good over Timber Gap (9,500 ft), got there from the trailhead in only 90 minutes. And then something happened on the 2nd day below Black Rock Pass. Right around 10,000 ft my legs literally refused to work. Had to stop every 20-30 steps and rest for 5 minutes. Heart rate was normal, leg muscles did not feel tired, it just felt like I had no ability to move.
Turned around at around 10,500ft, around 500-700 ft below Black Rock Pass. Could have probably done it if I had taken 2-3 hrs for the last mile, but I just could not imagine coming down Sawtooth Pass on such legs, particularly since there was still snow and cornices on it. Something changed drastically since last time I attempted elevation. I had done up to 14,000 ft before with daypacks, and up to about 7,000 ft with a 50 lb backpack.
Don't know if it was the combination of weight and elevation that did me in, or if it was a sign of a health condition I am not aware of. I can maintain 160-165bpm for 15+ minutes on a local trail, but I am going to ask the doc to take a closer look at the ticker next time I go in for a physical. Never felt like that in my life before.
Bottom line - you and I ain't spring chicken anymore, listen to your body when you do your trip. ...Show more →
Thanks!
I hear you on the subject of former spring chickenhood. ;-) My days of heading out into the backcountry for two weeks, sometimes solo, carrying packs of up to 75 pounds are behind me now. I can still get out there, but I’m slower and have to avoid certain activities like running down talus slopes! That used to be fun, but now it is simply dangerous. (I am doing a little pack trip with some friends next week — and one reason I was up there making photographs was to start adapting to the 10,000’ elevation.
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ctgoldwing wrote:
Just a great set Dan! Good on you
Thanks!
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douter wrote:
Beautiful work, Dan!
Douglas
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Jim Dockery wrote:
Sweet shots, and lack of crowds. Good luck on the upcoming trip, I look forward to seeing the results.
The lack of crowds was a special pleasure. The area around Tuolumne Meadows can be pretty crazy on a late-July, August, or early-September day… but at the beginning of July there are far fewer people around.
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zeitlos wrote:
Beautiful pictures! Art in its best sense. I love the area you live in. Now I love it even more. Thank you for the wonderful impressions.
Thanks! California certainly has its beautiful elements — from the Sierra to the deserts to the redwoods to the ocean. Heck, even the cities are pretty great — ranging from the small ones to the big centers.
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JSTORBECK wrote:
#1's misty vibe is whimsical almost
That’s an interesting observation, but now that you mention it I can sort of see it that way, too.
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aneufeld3 wrote:
Wonderful stuff here! I'm going to say the last one is my pick of the set, thanks for sharing.
That last one is really growing on me, too. Thanks.
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ratherfish wrote:
Very calming set to view Dan. I can imagine that it was to photograph as well. Thanks! Steve
The process is often (though not quite always) almost meditative. My process is often to go to a likely place, then slowly wander and consider as I look for subjects and compositions.
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