HILLS HURT, COUCHES KILL hiking log

Lots of hiking for me but all official business. Unfortunately, not much time to take photos. Here's the first rattlesnake I saw this year just yesterday. Black tail and good size.

 

Put in 6 hrs (and 4k ft vertical) on the splitty today! Just me and the doggo

 

Training today in Tanque Verde canyon. It was beautiful. I only took a few photos from one spot.

I got (approximately) 1400 cactus needles in both legs, my butt cheeks, and my right arm.

 

Walked a few miles through an empty Lake Kachess campground. Its still got a few weeks of snowpack blocking the entrance.

Trying to get the kiddo to walk on her own for most of the hike, she did pretty good

 

Toured up to the Edelweiss Bowl at sunset. Would've pushed for the summit but I was about 20 minutes too late on the daylight.

1800-2000 ft in 1.5 hrs

 

Made it to the top of Alpental this time with daylight to spare. Still plenty of snowpack above 3,500 ft on the north-facing aspects. Sure is fun to still have ride-able snow in late May.

 

Source Lake area at sunset

Waterfalls everywhere on the way up, temps in the 70s







Cool pic of the snowpack slowly calving into the lake. Note the avy debris everywhere


Some kind of slide made it across the lake and started heading down the valley, knocking trees over as it went



Pretty remarkable.. The pics don't really show the size of the entire slide area. It was getting dark and I didn't want to climb to a better position

 

Such clear water! I'm still hiking, just not recreational. I did 10-ish miles Sunday night to about 4am Monday. Heres an agave lit by my headlamp.

 

12 miles with the kiddo. Made it to the falls below Glacier Basin. The "trail" gets pretty steep after this point, didn't feel like scrambling up wet rocks with her on my back. Rained the entire time

 

I had a chance to hike only semi-officially today on a bit of a scouting mission for some training locations. This is near Sycamore Canyon in the Catalinas, Tucson, Arizona. We are having rain this year (last year there was no rain) so it was fun to check out some of the water in the higher elevations.

Mr. Dragon Fly


Looking southwest from the reservoir.


Down into the reservoir.


Clear running water up the Arizona trail.


Notice that huge tree branch that goes across the trail.


I know y'all are used to running water but this is photo worth in Tucson, Arizona!


A close up of the same tree branch.

 

10 hrs on the trail yesterday, 18-19 miles, around 5,000 ft elevation gain. Started out hiking the main trail to Snow Lake which is very popular and crowded.. But we went farther on past Gem Lake to Upper and Lower Wildcat Lake(s). Once we got past Gem Lake we didn't see any other people for the rest of the afternoon.

No clouds anywhere, blue skies all day long. Saw tons of frogs and fish in the shallow lakes, most of the bigger lakes still had ice floating on them.

The pics barely do the area justice. The cliffs around Snow Lake are epic, melting snow and water falls everywhere.

No kid on my back today. Just me, a buddy and the dog

Hiking up out of the Alpental Valley, ski resort in the distance


Snow Lake




Climbing out of Snow Lake Basin to Gem Lake


Gem Lake





Down to Wildcat Lakes







Unnamed Lake with some big-ass frogs




Another Unnamed Lake


Big-ass fungi



Lower Wildcat


Upper Wildcat

 

b_r_o , (Alex) I don't know if you realize it, but you have some really nice "landscape" photos posted in this thread. You have a natural knack for this type of photography. If these are cell phone shots, my congrats --they are good. Have you maybe considered a small (quality) mirrorless camera. Something like a Canon , Nikon or Sony? Your photos would be even better. I am serious here, these shots you are getting are marketable. Please understand, I am not a pro photog, but have been shooting pics for 30 -40 years, and I am betting any pro would agree with me. Given the fact you seem to really enjoy "getting out there" and sharing your "views" tells me you could make some extra money while enjoying your "work".
Good luck -- enjoy!!

 

Thank you kind sir!

I've thought about a nice camera.. but usually I like to travel light (at least when the kid isn't with me). A big heavy camera around my neck wouldn't be a good fit for my style of travel.

I upgraded my phone last month from my 5 yr old Samsung. The new camera is waaay better than the old one!

 

I understand -totally about the weight -considering where you go, but you may be surprised how small the newer mirror-less technology really is. I will admit the newer cell phones have gotten way better, but the one thing they can't duplicate is the lens quality of the true cameras. The wide angle lenses that would fit your style of photography for the most part are really short and light. Where you would really notice the quality is in the enlargement and editing of your shots.
I will stop with the advice cause it sounds like enjoy what you do. One more bit -remember unless you delete them, the images you take will never go away, so someday............
Have fun - I envy you

 

What your really doing in all these beautiful places.
Hope all is well.

 

Howdy Matt, thanks for liking all muh photos

Yes all is well, weather has been great up here lately, been spending a ton of time in the woods. Actually doing a late afternoon hike today with some buddies. The long days are really helping with the trail time

Hope you're having a good week

 

You’re welcome.

That’s awesome weather has been somewhat hit or miss either raining or super humid. Weeks been great first day back at work took some time off we went to the beach here had a relaxing time.

 

Evening hike to Alta Mt, 8-10 miles over 4 hrs. This one is brutally steep right out of the car, you gain 1,500 ft in the first 1.5 miles

Got a late start, made the summit right at sunset but some clouds swooped in and blocked most of the view. Hiked out by lamplight and got back to the truck at 10 pm

Lake Lillian with Mt Rainier in the distance


Unnamed tarns


Alta in the distance


Approaching the ridge


On the ridge


Lila Lake(s) and HiBox Mt


At the summit looking back


More unnamed tarns above Lila


Didn't see any other people, huge Marmots everywhere whistling their warning when we passed by, tons of mosquitoes