The Truck

For as long as I can remember this truck (belonging to my grandpa who lives in California) has been sitting at the edge of our property collecting rust... sometimes its an eyesore, sometimes its a landmark, but most of the time it is ignored.  Until today, I was standing in the field with the wind ripping around me and threatening to lift me into the sky... I had to grab my camera, but it wasn't dark enough and I didn't have a small enough aperture to make up for it to do a long exposure... long story short I ended up taking pictures of this mostly unnoticed piece of junk... I discovered that our truck was made to be photographed in black and white and I think they turned out kind of cool... 

At the Top of the World

Well, we were at the top of Utah county pretty much... So I think that counts. The first picture is one of my favorites, that is the ridge we hiked along, follow the cornice into the cloud and up, and there is the summit.   The summit was a really cool place, at times the clouds were so thick you couldn't see anything but the ground you were standing on, but then it could clear away in seconds and you could see the whole valley, but don't blink or it could be gone when you open your eyes again... 

Avalanche Zone

Note how many of the trees are just not quite right...  In the next post, notice the big pile of snow in the lake... we have sufficient evidence to suggest that that was the final destination of an epic avalanche. Thats one thing I love about being out in the wilderness... anything can happen. anytime.  

A Dream Fulfilled

About 2/3 up the mountain and shortly after we had donned our snow shoes (also a very heavy item to carry... if a bit more useful than a tripod...)   It was here that we crossed over to the other side, which is really what it seemed like.  All of a sudden mist surrounded us and every one of our 5 senses knew it. you could feel the moisture and pressure all around you. The smell was incredible, it was more than just a smell, its like it actually existed!  As we looked of the edge of a cliff there were trees rising from the mist, but soon you couldn't see anything farther than 30 or 40 feet, excepting of course, the cloud itself.  The sound expressed itself by it's silence; the only sound was our snow shoes, the cloud seemed to have stiffed the sound of birds we had been hearing and although the cloud was moving, the wind that moved it didn't make a sound.  To be inside a cloud is to be inside something that is alive... 

On Birds and Mountains...

Not too far into our hike we were crossing a large stream with I looked up and saw this eagle landing one the top of a nearby pine... watching it control its landing with those massive and powerful wings to gracefully land on a thin branch was one of the coolest things I've seen.  Anytime I see wildlife in its natural habitat, I am reminded of how majestic it can be.  unfortunately it started flying away before I could change lenses and this is the best picture I snapped. 

By now we were getting ever closer to the cloud line and I was eagerly looking forward to seeing the innards of a cloud. The view looking up the mountain and across the valley is what I picture a place like Scotland or wales to look like... one day I'll find out for real, but for now this will have to do. 

The Latest Adventure...

Last week ended with 3 days of rain, all of which were so cloudy we couldn't see the top of the mountains... This week began with a hike to the top of Maple Mountain (officially it is called Spanish Fork Peak, but whatever, the top of the tallest mountain...)  

It was cloudy again that morning and I was especially looking forward to fulfilling my dream of being inside a cloud.... but first we had to get high enough to be in the clouds, and the beginning of our hike saw many "photo-stops" (aka, Alex is tired and is going to stop and take a picture now so he doesn't have to hike stops)  :)   and up these incredibly steep trails I lugged my heavy fullsize tripod... which I only used twice, once at the beginning and once at the end... However, even if these were the only reason I lugged that thing all the way up the mountain, I think they were worth it. :)  These are without question the best pictures I have done of water. 

Its been a while...

Yes... its been a while since I posted, actually its been exactly a month since my dark canyon adventure, and although I've had plenty of adventures I've not spent much time behind the lens... this weekend I did happen to take a few pictures at a Scottish festival we attended and had a lot of fun at... 

And Eileen wanted me to post this list... of random songs on my play list that i used as answers for these questions. the rule was you had to use the next song to play as the answer for the question... theres some pretty funny ones... 

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IF SOMEONE SAYS 'ARE YOU OKAY' YOU SAY....?

-  Beautiful world (we’re all here)  - Jim Brickman

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOURSELF?

- What the world needs now J 

- WHAT DO YOU LOOK FOR IN A GUY/GIRL?

- Pocket full of sunshine: Natasha beddingfield

HOW DO YOU FEEL TODAY?

-  Taylor Swift: the best day

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE'S PURPOSE?

- Measure of a Man: Clay Aiken

WHAT'S YOUR MOTTO?

- Needle and Haystack life: Switchfoot

WHAT DO YOUR FRIENDS THINK OF YOU?

- Can’t let it go: Goo Goo Dolls

WHAT DO YOUR PARENTS THINK OF YOU?

- Two Worlds: phil Collins

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT VERY OFTEN?

- Rainbow Veins: Owl City

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT YOUR FIRST KISS?

- We Didn’t Start the Fire: Billy Joel  J

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR BEST FRIEND?

- Its Your Day: Yiruma

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE STORY?

- Without you here: Goo Goo Dolls

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP?

- Awakening: Switchfoot

WHAT DO YOU THINK WHEN YOU SEE THE PERSON YOU LIKE?

-  No Other Way:  Jack Johnson J

WHAT WILL YOU DANCE TO AT YOUR WEDDING?

- How do I live without you: Leann Rimes

WHAT WILL THEY PLAY AT YOUR FUNERAL?

- Absolutely( story of a girl) 

WHAT IS YOUR HOBBY/INTEREST?

- Rule the World: Pop Feast

WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST FEAR?

- Staple it together:  Jack Johnson

WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST SECRET?

- Ninety and Nine : Michael Mclean

WHAT DO YOU WANT RIGHT NOW?

- Learn You Inside Out: Lifehouse

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR FRIENDS?

- Beautiful: Ted Bruner