California
Joshua Tree National Park 4/05 |
The high amount of winter rains made for spectacular desert blooms |
Cholla |
Standing on top of Instersection Rock after climb |
Giant cactus in bloom |
Pitch # 4 on Intersection Rock |
49 Palms desert oasis |
Cactus blooms near desert oasis |
In August of 2004 I climbed Mt Whitney. I started at 1207 AM and finished 16 hours 33 minutes later. I walked into the hind end of a black bear (in the dark) at the outset of the ascent! There was no moon that evening, but the stars were striking as I climbed through the early morning hours. I had some bats to keep me company, but I only saw a few headlamps (people) behind me as I climbed. I could hear creeks and waterfalls, but I had no idea of the surrounding terrain as I ascended. Daylight started around 5 AM, and it was amazing to look below at the lakes surrounded in rock. I reached the summit around 9 AM, right before the clouds began forming.
It started to storm on the way down, but that couldn't dampen my excitement at seeing the beautiful Portal trail I had ascended in the dark. There are hanging lakes, big waterfalls, wildflower-clad streams, and rare slick rock formations. I could not believe the trail was so beautiful; I had no idea! It is well worth hiking even if Mt Whitney was not the tallest peak in the lower 48.
I also spent time hiking around the Sierra Nevadas on this trip. I can't wait to climb Whitney again; I'm anxious to improve on my 16 hour time. BTW, I was able to hike the next day.
Sunrise as I hike up Mt Whitney (peak is actually on the far right). |
Summit hut at Mt Whitney 14,497 ft |
View west from the top of Mt Whitney |
Duck Lake around 10,000 ft near Mammoth Lakes |
Hiking down from Duck Pass |
Bodie State Park (ghost town) |
Mono Lake |
Tuftas at Mono Lake |
In August of 2003 I took a five day ice and snow mountaineering class on Mount Shasta (14,162)
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The summit - a 13 hour day |
View from the top in the direction climbed |
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| View of Shasta from town | High camp 10,000 ft |
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| Practicing ice climbing and crevasse techniques | Shasta viewed from the top of Grey Butte |
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| Panther Meadow | Practicing crevasse self-rescue |
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| Sunrise while climbing | Shasta and Shastina |
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| Reno from my hotel room |
This trip was originally scheduled to see The Who on June 29th, 2002. Unfortunately, John Entwistle passed away and the concert was postponed. I spent two days in LA four days in San Diego. The enlargements of these photos were lost in the last crash
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| Newport Beach | Architectural Tour in 1962 Cadillac | Queen Mary and Scorpion Submarine | Inside Russian Submarine |
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| Wild cat performance at San Diego Zoo | Zoo sign | Coronado Hotel | Seals on La Jolla beach |
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| San Diego harbor | Safe in basement of Mariott hotel | Tijuana | |
