One should be in extremely good shape to make it up to Delicate Arch. After several stops along the way several years ago, my wife and I finally got to the end of the trail. The "slick rock" almost did me in, but we made it in one piece. Loved the scenery from the top, especially the snow-covered mountains in the far distance. However, two months after that long hike, I had my heart attack and had to slow down and take it easy for a couple of years. The altitude also gets to me now, being a "low-lander" from South Texas. I still love to look at photos of mountains and beautiful scenes like Arches NP, Canyonlands, Bryce Canyon and a few others in southern Utah.

You might want to try Picasa. I think it is free and is quite simple to work with. It does not have all the aspects of Photoshop or Elements, but does a good job on your photos. Good Luck.
Bob

You might also try the book Photoshop Elements - The Missing Manual, by Barbara Brundage. I purchased a copy a few years ago,but the material is still good today.

The Nikon D300 is a great camera, the "s" model is even better, if you are into video. I have been shooting the D300 ever since it first appeared and I feel that it is the best camera made. Even though it only has 12.2 megs, it still gives me what I want. It is a bit on the heavy side, especially when you put a long lens on it. Good luck finding what suits you.
Bob

Stationed near LV in 1958-59 and visited Valley of Fire several times during my stay. If memory serves me, there is a picnic area near the valley, which we used to utilize from time to time. I was into 8mm film (all faded out by now) at the time, so don't have any slides or photos to prove we were there.

That's a creek? In Texas that would be a river. Most of our creeks have very little or no water. Nice rendition of your waterway.

This may sound humorous to some, but it was quite disasterous at the time. While photographing a wedding in a neighboring town we had a small misfortune at the reception afterwards. Just as I was about to shoot the wedding cake scene, with bride and groom starting to cut the cake, the legs at one end of the table decided to collapse and the cake just slid right down and landed on the floor. It was such a mess that they didn't even try eating any of it.

I insure all my photo gear - cameras, lenses, tripods, electronic flash, etc. with the same company that handles my auto insurance - State Farm. Everything I own in the photo line has passed its warranty date. Cost is only about $100 to $125 per year. I feel safe at that price.

Precision Camera in Austin, Texas - N. Lamar (?) and Anderson Lane.
Camera Exchange in San Antonio.

I had the same experience while on an Elderhostel photo workshop in New Hampshire several years ago, except mine hit a rock on the beach. When I took it to a camera repair shop they told me that it was cheaper to replace than repair. It was a Nikon 35-105mm, my favorite lens. I found one on eBay, exact match. and it worked perfectly after that. If yours was a "kit" lens, it should be cheaper to replace than to repair.

I would choose the second and third images. I may be old fashioned, but old, rusty things interest me. And the composition on on the covered bridge is quite interesting, especially with the mirror image.

They look more like Maori from New Zealand to me.

Try Hastings - they have books on just about every camera known to man.

I would not check your tripod, as things like that have a way of being "lost", by the baggage handlers, even in locked baggage. I agree with the others - find a way to disassemble it so you can carry it inside the airplane.

I can't imagine why anyone would be wanting to get rid of a D300. As far as I have seen and read about, it is the best camera for serious amateurs and aspiring professionals. I have had mine for over 3 years now and wouldn't swap it for anything else, not even a Leica. I have had only one boo boo, and that was due to my stupidity, not knowing how to operate it. I am doing better now. Why not quote me a price and I just might buy it from you? (email address: robbiedoug463@gmail.com) OK?