ZapperZ's Great Outdoors Photo Contest

[Andre]

Today's hike destination was the Cascade d'Ars

Obviously not the best season but we just happened to be around.

the fall starts here.

 

[hypatia]

What a beautiful cascade waterfall, lovely photos.

 

[rolerbe]

My life as a liveaboard. Hardship <sigh>

 

[turbo]

My wife forgot her lunch on the counter this morning, so Duke and I took a ride to her workplace to bring it to her. On the way home, I pulled over on the River Road, and snapped a few views of the mountains. I decided to stitch them, but had not really planned on it originally because I didn't have a tripod with me. For that reason, I did not shoot in the "panorama" mode, which would have locked exposure, etc for the series and you can see banding in the sky where the photos were stitched.

The ski areas are quite happy with the early snow, and with the current cold-snap, so they can make even more artificial snow and build a hard base in preparation for natural snow from future storms. They have lots of trails and open terrain groomed and available for skiers. The recession is hurting their traffic, but at least when people can scrape up the dough to pay for travel, lodging, food, and lift tickets, they'll find nice show conditions and lighter-than-normal crowds.

 

[Astronuc]

Andre has some great photos as always!


One of my favorite places on Earth - the Pamirs

http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2009/12/20/travel/20091220-pamir-slideshow_index.html


I am saddened by the political developments there and in the Karakorum over the past 3 decades.

 

[turbo]

Winter can be a pain in the butt, but there are some high points. Here are a couple.

Sugarloaf Mountain as seen from a clearing on the road I live on.

Bigelow Mountain (Big and Little peaks) as seen from route 201 a couple of miles from my house.

I took these pictures today while on a pilgrimage to a local business to get tire chains for my snowblower. When the snow let up Wednesday after 3 days of steady light snows it was too heavy for my snowblower to handle and it kept spinning on the packed snow below, so I used my tractor to clear all the accessible places, and had to resort to snow shovels and a scoop to clear the rest.

 

[Astronuc]

The Pamirs are among my most favorite places on earth.

Enjoy!

http://www.pamirs.org/panoramas.htm - stunning vistas!

http://onthesilkroad.blogspot.com/2007/06/pamir-highway.html

 

[turbo]

Rugged part of the Earth for sure. Beautiful.

The Appalacians have been so heavily glaciated, rounded and otherwise weathered - they were probably gorgeous during and after uplift.

 

[Astronuc]

Rugged part of the Earth for sure. Beautiful.

The Appalacians have been so heavily glaciated, rounded and otherwise weathered - they were probably gorgeous during and after uplift.

Yeah - about 400 million years ago.

I would be happy to sit down and die (when the time comes) right here!
http://www.pamirs.org/images/panoramas/new/big/Wakhan%20from%20Yamchun.jpg

Although the Baltoro Glacier at the base of Paiju Peak is equally alluring.

The only problem is that I'd have to haul the wood for my pyre many km.

 

[Borek]

I always wonder how long it takes till such place becomes just a view, as any other. Sure, better to see Pamir than Mount Sunflower in Kansas.

 

[turbo]

The only problem is that I'd have to haul the wood for my pyre many km.

And who would you get to light it? Nearby villagers would think "Wow! Look at all the nice fire-wood." and take it home.

 

[Evo]

Yeah - about 400 million years ago.

I would be happy to sit down and die (when the time comes) right here!
http://www.pamirs.org/images/panoramas/new/big/Wakhan%20from%20Yamchun.jpg

Although the Baltoro Glacier at the base of Paiju Peak is equally alluring.

The only problem is that I'd have to haul the wood for my pyre many km.

Does this mean you've decided against the Tibetan Sky Funeral?

 

[Evo]

I always wonder how long it takes till such place becomes just a view, as any other. Sure, better to see Pamir than Mount Sunflower in Kansas.

Did you see what that brave team of climbers went through to reach the summit? I'm really surprised someone didn't twist an ankle in one of those cracks. I know that I, for one, could have never made it across that ladder bridge.

 

[Astronuc]

Does this mean you've decided against the Tibetan Sky Funeral?

I don't know if there are any vultures up that high. I need to do research.

And who would you get to light it? Nearby villagers would think "Wow! Look at all the nice fire-wood." and take it home.

I'd light it myself.

On the other hand, if there are vultures around, I'd be tempted to go that route.

 

[Borek]

Did you see what that brave team of climbers went through to reach the summit? I'm really surprised someone didn't twist an ankle in one of those cracks. I know that I, for one, could have never made it across that ladder bridge.

I know you can break a leg in a place that is flat as a pancake, still, I think Mount Sunflower is not beyond your reach. You just have to believe.

 

[turbo]

I know you can break a leg in a place that is flat as a pancake, still, I think Mount Sunflower is not beyond your reach. You just have to believe.

Don't you think she ought to train for a while before trying to make a first ascent on that monster? Baby steps!

 

[Dembadon]

A childhood friend of mine spent a few years in South America and has shared some amazing pictures. He (Ryan) is the person in the pictures.

Santa Cruz range at early morning above Laguna Azulcocha, Cordillera Blanca, Peru.

Cordillera Huayhuash, Peru.

El Calafate Glaciar, Argentina.

Piedras Blancas glacier, El Chalten, Argentina.

Deathroad, Bolivia. (He named the picture "Sphincter contraction")

Awesome canyons just outside Tupiza, Bolivia.

 

[turbo]

Awesome shots, Dembadon!

 

[Dembadon]

Awesome shots, Dembadon!

I only wish I could have been there!

He is currently on his way to El Salvador and has promised to upload more photos when internet access is available.

 

[Borek]

Just wow.

 

[Astronuc]

Awesome shots, Dembadon!

Very cool!

The awesome canyons just outside Tupiza, Bolivia look a lot like Bryce and Zion in Utah.

http://www.nps.gov/brca/index.htm

http://www.nps.gov/brca/photosmultimedia/photogallery.htm

http://www.nps.gov/Zion/index.htm

http://home.nps.gov/zion/photosmultimedia/photogallery.htm

 

[Evo]

Awesome pictures Dembadon!

 

[Astronuc]

Awesome pictures Dembadon!

One can even here the echo - sort of.

 

[Dembadon]

Here are some more shots from his travels:

I've added the actual captions from his photos on those that apply.

Long overdue, Macchu Pichu just earned recognition as one of the New 7 Wonders of the World. Set high atop a narrow saddle between two rock monoliths, Incan terraces flank the immediate vicinity of the ruins, before the mountainsides plunge down to the winding river below, which cuts its snaking path through the steep, green mountainsides. Impressive views surround the admirer 360 degrees around, with glimpses of glaciated peaks, and become even grander higher up amongst the ancient temples constructed atop Wayna Pichu (the peak pictured jutting up above the ruins). One can scarcely find anything to detract from the magic of the sight, except perhaps the hordes of tourists wandering its grounds. But even with this distraction, it is impossible not to fall in love with this Incan relic.

Window into the Past. The sun-scorched Jesuit ruins of Trinidad, Paraguay burn orange beneath a hot blue sky and lush surroundings.

Iguassu falls.

Cerro Torre – The Rock Tower. El Chaltén, Patagonia, Argentina.

Rewarding view after wandering the winding, narrow callejones (alleyways) in Guanajuato, Mexico.

Petrified falls.

Torres Del Paine, Chile.

His photos are a welcome reprieve from the dullness of my cubicle.

 

[DanP]

The dream of so many climbers. And a major climb by any standard. Did he climbed in the area, or just visited ?

Cerro Torre – The Rock Tower. El Chaltén, Patagonia, Argentina.

 

[Dembadon]

The dream of so many climbers. And a major climb by any standard. Did he climbed in the area, or just visited ?

He is an avid climber, but I don't know whether or not he made the ascent that trip.

 

[Gokul43201]

Dembadon: Those are gorgeous pics from the Andes/Patagonia. Someday, when I've got enough money ...

Meanwhile, I've been going out exploring my local neck of the woods, i.e. the White Mountains in New Hampshire. More often than not, the views are spoiled by finding yourself in a cloud when you get to the summit, but every now and then, you get above treeline on a clear day and get some very nice views.

I took this picture of Mt Washington (NH) on a beautiful, sunny (albeit windy, but that can't be helped in these parts) day last weekend, from the summit of nearby Mt Adams:

Like Turbo said, being in the Appalachians, most of these mountains are soft, rounded hunks of rock. One of the less rounded peaks in the area is Mount Madison, the northernmost peak on the Presidential range, with its beautiful and nearly conical shape (pic taken the same day, from the same location).

 

[turbo]

Notice the tower in Gokul's first picture. That is part of the weather station on Mount Washington, the place that has recorded the highest wind-speed in the US. Our mountains may be rounded and weathered, but our weather is spiky!

 

[turbo]

I know you can break a leg in a place that is flat as a pancake, still, I think Mount Sunflower is not beyond your reach. You just have to believe.

Due to Evo's silence, I am concerned that she might be considering a winter ascent of Mount Sunflower. I pray that she does not attempt an ascent of the north face! We will lose a mentor for sure!

 

[Gokul43201]

Notice the tower in Gokul's first picture. That is part of the weather station on Mount Washington, the place that has recorded the highest wind-speed in the US. Our mountains may be rounded and weathered, but our weather is spiky!

Yes, one might get the impression from my pics that it was a lovely, warm day in the mountains. But you certainly wouldn't find Bambi prancing around anywhere here. The following pictures might help dispel any feelings of warm fuzziness created by the previous pictures.

This sign is what you see just before you go above treeline:

https://www.physicsforums.com/attachments/131652

And this is me, on the summit:

Crisp and sunny != warm and cozy.