Viewing a single comment thread. View all comments

TheFireNation42 OP t1_j6izwmb wrote

TRACKED/STACKED/COMPOSITE
EQUIPMENT
Camera: Canon Rebel t6
Lens: Canon 24mm f/2.8
Startracker: Ioptron startracker pro
EXIFS:
Sky:3x2min, F/2.8, ISO:1600
Foreground: 1/50, f/4, ISO:800
STORY!
It was my birthday on the 16th of january, and one of my greatest expirences was when I went down to canyonlands for my 17th birthday. So I asked my mom if I could go down this year. With no one else willing to go with me, I went on my first solo trip! I headed down Sunday, set up my tent and went to sleep. The next morning I woke up dark and early to go on a hike. Small issue though... canyonlands got 8 Inches of snow, not that big of a deal right? Wrong. You dont think about these things, the snow covers the cairns so you cant see which way to actually go. The snow makes the sandstone impossible to grip, but me and my microspikes, and my ice axe were far to stubborn to let that stop me. So I hiked, I slipped, I scraped, I got lost. But with great adversity comes great beauty! The snow covered redrocks, the ice forming from all the prescipitaion, made for an amazing view, when blue hour hit, it was far too foggy to see much ahead of me, all I could see was this next cairn, the icicles forming on the rock formations, and a lone tree at the top, I took the shot. After Hiking one of the hardest hikes I've ever done, it was pitch black and all I wanted to do was to go to bed, but the night was clear from clouds, and in purpose, I needed to capture the beautiful night sky that I so rarely get to see, so I set up my startracker, my camera, and went into my tent, took some photos, and called it a night. When I came back home from a lonely long trip I pulled up the data. I was able to pull so much out of it! So much color, and realize, it might have been hard, lonely, and cold, but it was definately worth it! I put it in with the icicles because it was pretty, but also to really show the conditions I went through. Love you all!
SOCIALS: Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeTAdmN2bQk2qoAM2UaWXLA
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afsgphotography/
Vero: https://vero.co/elifrisbie

8

shatterly t1_j6jm13d wrote

I totally understand your desire to get to where you were wanting to go. I will say, though, that this remote area is not a great place to push your boundaries in bad conditions -- especially alone, and I say this as someone who loves solo hiking.

I was once on the Peekaboo trail in late winter and watched two strangers nearly slide off a 100+-foot drop trying to cross an icy patch. It would've taken me at least a few hours to hike out to a ranger or cell service to call for help for them, and they would've been lucky that another person was around to do that. You very easily could've ended up truly lost or injured, in need of rescue -- then SAR folks would have to go out in bad conditions to try to assist you.

Also, as someone who spends a lot of time hiking in southeastern Utah, I'm noticing a huge increase in trails across the rocks that are getting scarred by people wearing spikes or using other gear. Please try to make sure you're not leaving lasting tracks as you're out exploring.

Your photo is stunning. I'm glad you love this incredible area of Utah. Please be safe out there and mindful of the impact your exploration could have on others.

6

TheFireNation42 OP t1_j6lldkz wrote

>meone who spends a lot of time hiking in southeastern Utah, I'm noticing a huge increase in trails across the rocks that are getting scarred by people wearing spikes or using other gear. Please try to make sure you're not leaving lasting tracks as you're out exploring.

I appriciate it my friend, and I definately understand now, this hike was a VERY humbling expirence and have no desire to do these hikes again #1 alone, and #2 with brand new snow. And thanks so much for letting me know! Safe travels to you my friend!

4