Heart of the Sierra

If the Sierra Nevada's had a heart the Palisade Glacier would be it. It is the largest glacier in the Sierra Nevada and the rest of California.

 

One of my last posts here was a shot of view of Bishop Pass in the Eastern Sierra Neveda as I was trying to summit Mt. Agassiz (13,891ft) by sunrise but didn't make it up in time. I tried it again and this time I made it. Camped up there without a tent or sleeping bag, yes it was cold there always other ways of keeping yourself warm. My lightweight film body's batteries died so no long night exposures for me this time . That was supposed to keep me occupied for a little while up in the dark with no moon but it wasn't pitch black up there. There was plenty of reflected starlight so I could actually see in the dark pretty well. This is a shot from just below the summit looking at Thunderbolt peak and the rest of the palisades. Sad to say but California's largest glacier looks more like a large snowfield to me. More or less it was a memorable experience for me that I won't forget for quite some time.

 

 

A view from high in the Sierra Nevada

Can't believe you did all of that to get this shot but I think I would too now that I've seen it. Very natural and realistic work here.

 

Did you happen to get any altitude sickness while up so high?

Derek, I tried it a week before so that helped out a lot. Going from 800ft at 11am to almost 14k at 10pm seems like it wouldn't be a good idea but I did just fine. If needed, I was prepared to decend at any moment.

Quite a view up there, lovely use of light and very well composed shot of these majestic mountains.

 

 

Gorgeous light, and composition Steve. This is the kind of terrain I think of when I con sider the Sierras. You've captured it very well. Sounds like you worked hard for it too! Excellent work.

All the best,

Neil