Going Up...

I'm on my way up to Cloud's Rest, my first day on the 220 mile John Muir Trail. Note to management: may I suggest an escalator? (View of Half Dome, Yosemite National Park.)

Portrait of Cathedral Peak

This is surely one of the most beautiful peaks in the world. The setting is so stunning that it is almost always photographed in a wide view. But here is Cathedral Peak itself in portrait. (From mile 17 on the John Muir Trail, Yosemite National Park.)

A Yosemite Morning Panorama

I've come a long way north of the John Muir Trail here, almost to the summit of Ragged Peak. A few important JMT landmarks are visible: Cathedral Peak, Tuolumne Meadows, Lyell Canyon, and the Ritter Range. Ragged Peak's own morning shadow swoops to the right.

Lyell Canyon under Moonlight

It's about an hour after sunset. I think the light hitting the canyon floor is about half moonlight and half twilight. (From mile 29 on the John Muir Trail, Yosemite National Park.)

Banner Peak at Blue Hour

A long exposure soaks up the blues of predawn. The mountain winds are about to switch direction, but the calm between allows a perfect reflection. (From mile 43 on the John Muir Trai; Thousand Island Lake, Ansel Adams Wilderness.)

Banner & Moon

The Moon sets behind Banner Peak the morning after a day and night of storms. (From mile 44 on the John Muir Trail; Garnet Lake, Ansel Adams Wilderness.)

Morning Reflections

The morning sun lights the eastern flanks of these mountains. Marie Lake reflects this but remains in blue shadow. (From mile 99 on the John Muir Trail; John Muir Wilderness.)

The Hermit

The Hermit sits at the eastern end of Evolution Canyon surrounded by forest, meadow and wildflowers. (From mile 118 on the John Muir Trail, Kings Canyon National Park.)

Lake Marjorie Abstract

Here's an abstract composed of diagonally cracked cliff face and steeply sloping talus reflected in Lake Marjorie. (From mile 157 on the John Muir Trail, Kings Canyon National Park.)

Milky Way over Fin Dome

In my 24 days on the trail, I slept under the stars all but 4 nights. "Cowboy camping" in backpacker jargon. Usually above 10000 feet with an extraordinary view of the sky. To be honest, I was in an exhausted sleep by 9pm most nights. Still, I feel closer to the stars after that experience. (From mile 170 on the John Muir Trail; Dollar Lake, Kings Canyon National Park.)

Painted Lady

The Painted Lady stands above this small island in one of the Rae Lakes. (From mile 172 on the John Muir Trail, Kings Canyon National Park.)

Bighorn Plateau

Sunrise produces amazing colors at Bighorn Plateau, reflected in this unnamed little lake. (From mile 196 on the John Muir Trail, Sequoia National Park.)

Hiking on Mars

This is how I imagine Mars before most of the water evaporated into space. With a trail and hiker, strangely enough. (From mile 196 on the John Muir Trail; Bighorn Plateau, Sequoia National Park.)