St3v3M Loc: 35,000 feet

Garnet Lake, Madera County, from the John Muir Trail. S-

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Uuglypher Loc: South Dakota (East River)

Absolute perfection in vertical symmetry in a beautifully presented scene.

Dave

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

Breathtaking!

minniev Loc: MIssissippi

Gorgeous, perfect composition, rule of thirds while also bisecting the frame for making the most of the perfect reflection. You could process it to heck and back but it might not make it any better than it is of its own accord. One of those images I wish were mine.

ebrunner Loc: New Jersey Shore

Boy, do I want to do that hike. This wonderful photo makes that sentiment even stronger. Great post.

Frank2013 Loc: San Antonio, TX. & Milwaukee, WI.

Well done St3v3M, one of your best.

pfrancke Loc: cold Maine

Awesome - wish I was there!!

St3v3M Loc: 35,000 feet

Wow. I have no words... No words other than THANK YOU!

Life has a funny way of making plans for you and as this got lost in the shuffle, but with a little time to catch up I returned hoping to find something like Happy 100th, and the same, but instead found overwhelming praise that makes my spirits sore. Thank you, truly thank you! S-

St3v3M Loc: 35,000 feet

Life has been crazy lately where I haven't had time to share my story, or process the shots, so I'll take a few minutes here to relate a little of the story and save the rest for when I have more time to put it all together.

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Find a hole in my schedule and having always wanted to hike the John Muir Trail I called a last minute Hail Mary, threw everything in my pack and headed up.

I had called to ask about getting a last minute Wilderness Permit and the ranger basically laughed saying they were booked until late October when they expect snow and not to even try, but being persistent, and thinking I might go without I called again to ask about the weather and was told they give away a small percentage of permits first-come-first-serve starting at 11:00, but be sure to get in line as early as possible.

Having to run errands all day I was up, and out by 11:00pm with a six hour drive. I crashed out at a gas station about half way up, but made it to the ranger station a little after 6:00am. My plan was to show, setup camp, and try the following morning, but when I pulled in I counted seven people so I joined them to make eight. More showed soon after and some all the way up to, and after 11:00am. I felt pretty good about my chances having heard they give away ten permits, and as it worked out they asked if I wanted to start today or tomorrow. I was blitzed so I said tomorrow, and with a permit in hand made my way to the backpackers camp and set up.

The camp is huge, but around 4 it was filling up so I invited others to stay with me. They were grateful and while I went for water they invited someone else. It was awesome and they were all great people so we had a good time. Restless with the I'm Going To Disneyland feeling I couldn't sleep and went the Tuolumne Meadows Campfire. The ranger talked about how they named the Sierra's and it was amazing. I wanted more, but off to bed, and early to rise.

I started out at 7:00am leading a small group I met on the way, but soon outpaced them and made my own way. It's an amazing trail and no wonder they try to keep the numbers down with the quota system. Needing water, and taking everything in, I stopped for water before the first peak and met the guy in front of me inline getting permits. I said hello to his friend, we talked a minute then they moved on. I said Hello to another and soon caught up to all of them on the trail, and making the group a quartet we camped at Evelyn Lake. It was beautiful!

Two of the friends were going to climb Mount Lyell and the other was making his own time so I was up at 7:00, out at 8:00 and smiling all the way. Somewhere on the climb up Donohue Pass I twisted my ankle hearing a pop and thought of my choices. Lean on my trekking poles and head home, or take my chances and press on. Luckily the pain passed and I could put some weight on it so choice made and I carried on! Once sprained its easy to do it again, and again, and again, but knowing I needed to get myself out of this I slowed down, met amazing people along the way, and made it to Thousand Island Lakes late in the day.

I sat with some of my trail friends while filtering water and they talked about where to camp. I wanted to stay at Thousand Island Lakes so I could try to copy Ansel Adam's famous image from the same, but they talked about pressing on to make more mileage and spend less tomorrow. I used to have a competitive streak, and needing to get as far along the trail as I could to lessen the pain of tomorrow I packed it out with them and soon fell behind. Somewhere along the way I thought I made a bad choice and started looking for somewhere to camp, but Garnet Lake came into view and I pushed though it.

I met them at the footbridge, said hello, and passed them knowing I was running on fumes and needed to make camp. I found this little space, just big enough for my tent, right alongside the trail, but being a photographer loved it even more knowing it was on the east-side of the lake meaning the Sun would shine on Banner Peak making it an amazing morning and set up camp. My friends looked for somewhere near, but with four tents they made their way back and found something in the meadow so I was alone staring at the stars!

I'm a night owl by nature, but too overwhelmed by it all so I don't sleep a lot on the trail and woke with the breaking sun. Knowing I didn't have much time I grabbed my phone and my camera and started shooting. I spent thirty minute or so saying hello to those making it out early and taking photos in-between then packed most of my gear, had a great breakfast, and made my way over the next pass. It wasn't until later that I was talking to my trail-friends from the day before that I had time to look at the images on my phone and wished I had another day to take a time-laps of the beautiful alpine-glow!

So SURPRISE this is a quick shot taken from cellphone, as I've yet to look at the images on my camera. I had to double-check to make sure, and can only hope the rest are as beautiful when I share them with you. Permits are iffy, and the snow will change the trail soon enough, but if anyone wants to join me with I do it again please know you're always welcome.

Thank you again! I'm overwhelmed, S-

minniev Loc: MIssissippi

And thank you for sharing your adventure with us, for most of us will never get to see what you saw or experience what you felt. Hope you'll share some images from your "real" camera when you get those worked up.

pfrancke Loc: cold Maine

thanks so very much for your detailed report. It sounds like an awesome hike/trip - even with the ankle, though that could have turned bad. Next time include an ankle wrap!

Good job in particular doing the things that allowed the trip to happen. Driving, sleeping in a car, getting to be eighth in line. Meeting and making friends. Capturing and remembering some of this most wonderful time. Trusting in yourself and in others. THIS is your world, you make us proud.

Frank2013 Loc: San Antonio, TX. & Milwaukee, WI.

Oppps, sorry I was still hung at breakfast St3v3M, was always my favorite when camping. Glad all went well this time....well, well enough.

plessner Loc: North Dakota

A great story and a GREAT photo--love it

St3v3M Loc: 35,000 feet

Thank you! It's been a crazy week, but I'll try to get to them soon! S-

St3v3M Loc: 35,000 feet

I hope to do the trail again and was thinking the same about the ankle wrap!

Thank you so much for the rest. It's weird to say, but the mountains call to me and I find time stands still. Thank you again! S-