Blog entries

White Mountains Bristlecones

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The fabulous summer skys have continued, drawing us up into the White's. Lots of rain and a few close calls with lightning.

Tonights sky over Crooked Creek take 2

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Mono Lake, new images

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We spent a beautiful day wandering the shores of Mono Lake. A lot of lightning and resulting fires, beautiful skies.

Tonights sky over Crooked Creek

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Lenticular over Wheeler Peak, Sierra Nevada

More Sierra

More North Cascades

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North Cascades; mountains of my youth

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We spent the summers of '81 thru '92 in the mountains of northern Washington. Unwittingly following in the footsteps of Gary Snyder and Jack Kerouac
In celebration of the time and place I have resurrected some past images.

[...]

Bodie Hills

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Beauty Peak

Rough Creek

Late Spring Early Summer

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Dynamic weather this May/June in the Sierra is reminiscent of summers in the North Cascades. To celebrate memories of the ol' stompin' grounds we headed for one of the few "real" trails here on the Eastside. The little used trail climbs 4000 feet in 4 miles, through wonderfully steep forests of White Fir and Juniper.
A steep walled canyon of metamorphics, dusted with fresh Junuary snow. Black wall of storm engulfed the White Mountains, thunderi [...]

The New Corporate Ladder

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Nevahbe traverse

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Traversing low gullies snow filled last month, great skiing. Twisted metal tracks protrude from tunnels, mimmic Limber pine high on cliffs, vestiges of time gone by. Rusted cable car fallen to earth, ancient trail o [...]

South Fork San Joaquin

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We just (kinda) returned from a trip over Piute Pass down to the South Fork San Joaquin. Piute and the San Joaquin were running high and we got to be what looked like first tracks on the John Muir Trail.
Also I shot the last image for our book on the JMT; Walk the Sky, due out this October.
We had to deal with about 3 miles of sloppy snow and some wet crossings.

Below Piute Pass, John Muir Wilderness

Mark crossing one of the five st [...]

Sierra Spring Ski Tour

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We managed to slip in a 5 day tour between snowfall and rain. A high tour out to the end of the Glacier Divide; nice snow and fine views. High runoff thundered down Piute Creek and was flooding McClure Meadow.
Roland Knapp high in the Glacier Divide, Kings Canyon National Park

Thin snow conditions

North side, Pavilion Dome, John Muir Wilderness

Evening, Mt Humpherys, John Muir Wilderness

Sierra Spring

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The road is longer and rockier than I recall. Truck stalled in drift. Deer rise from evening bed. Morning sun on spring snow. Musky scent of damp sage and thawing meadow. No partner, no camera. Snow is punchy in the trees, shallow freeze.
Is this the correct couloir? So short from below. Nice people kicked steps for the old man; yesterday? Shadows bend, arcing sun, snow softens. Ice clinging to rock, nocturnal, falling, smashing, thousand of&nbs [...]

More Sierra spring ski

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Skied Bloody couloir today with my friend Joel St Marie. Joel you need better colors for photos!
Here's Joel at the crux

Joshua Tree NP

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We took a break from spring corn on the eastside to join friends for a benefit in Joshua Tree. Took a little time to climb as well as a good long hike. The cactus is in full bloom.
Mojave Mound Cactus, Joshua Tree National Park

Calico Hedgehog & Barrel Cactus Joshua Tree [...]

Sierra Spring skiing

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Excellent skiing continues this spring in the Sierra backcountry.

New Wilderness for Eastern Sierra

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I'd like to thank all those that worked so hard in gaining protection for all the newly designated Wilderness Lands in the Sierra, California and the rest of the Nation. Places like the White Mountains will remain wild in perpetuity! Congratulations

Ben Grasseschi on White Mountain Peak

Bristlecone Pine, White Mountains

Prickly Pear Cactus, White Mountains

Montgomery Peak, White Mountains

"Spring" skiing in the Sierra Nevada

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Two feet of winter powder on the Sierra Crest made for some fine spring skiing.

Mojave Desert photo shoot

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We just returned from a ten day assignment shooting remote ranges in the Mojave. We ended up shooting the Palo Verde, Cady, Soda and Avawatz Mountains. Quite a bit of driving, not much hiking, but nice cactus and wildflower blooms.
Cady Mountains, Mojave
Beavertail Cactus in the Soda Mountains

Salt Creek Hills and Avawatz Range, Mojave

Sunrise and Palo Verde, Palo Verde Mountains

&n [...]

More snow surveys

dittli
We have just returned from skiing and measuring snow (in that order) over Kearsarge Pass in Sequoia National Park. The snow courses at Bullfrog and Charlotte Lake are both around 100% for the season.
Skiing was quite good with corn on the south aspects and powder on the north. Great coverage.