mike hardeman
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Posts posted by mike hardeman
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Steven,
No worries! I was able to get this Saturday, but I am curious where your spot is. Mine is about an hour and a half in.
Mike
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Also,
Friday night is not an option. I'm driving up Friday night, and my window for cancelling my hotel is coming up in the next few hours. That's why I put the call out to people who might have done the hike today. I've covered all of the other options I can think of.
Mike
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Right,
I've been there enough to know that information. Actually, nps has a very nice web page, I didn't see before I posted this, with the water levels report. All I need is this page (below), and no rain before I go, which looks like we're getting this weekend (no rain). I know it can happen at any time this year, but so far it is looking good.
I still need the "boots on the ground" report for the clarity of the water. Even the rangers can't tell you that unless they've been down there, which they frequently are not this time of year because of tourist demand at the center.
Here's the link:
http://waterdata.usgs.gov/ut/nwis/uv/?site_no=09405500&PARAmeter_cd=00065,00060,00010,00095,72020
And flash flood potential:
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I was headed to a Narrows trip Saturday and was concerned that the water levels might be too high, or that the water
might be to muddy. Anyone been there in the past couple of days who can report?
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Thanks in advance
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Mike
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<a href='http://www.michaelhardeman.com'>http://www.michaelhardeman.com</a>
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I've shot there many, many times. I once got lost at dusk and was not able to find my way back to my car. I ended up hiking to the highway, which took 6 hours. After another 3 hours on the highway, I was finally rescued by a Sheriff's deputy at 3:30 in the morning.
The way to avoid this is to not find yourself out of sight of the road at dusk. This is easy to do, but hard to find sand that close to the road that hasn't been walked on.
As far as shooting at sunrise, the $50 fee is much more preferable to the only other option, which is back-country camping on the dunes at night. This time of year, you're guaranteed to be below freezing at night. I can't see anyone doing that in January. My best shots there have been about 10 minutes before dawn. That's when the light is perfect. You can only really shoot for about 10 minutes after the sun comes up before things begin to get washed out, but it depends on what you're doing. This is one of those pre-dawn shots.<br><br>
<a href='http://www.michaelhardeman.com/ViewMyImage.aspx?i=78&p=2&g=4'>White Sands</a>
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Thanks for the reassurance that "the place isn't as easy to get lost as described above".
I had been to White Sands many times before that episode. With no moon and 25 mph winds and no maps, I can explain in great detail how easy it is to get lost there. I think if you had been in my situation, you might realize how it could happen, especially if you had intentionally hiked a mile or so away from the road, to avoid footprints.
This was all pre-GPS, and a particular sequence of events happened to make getting lost possible, something that at least a half a dozen hikers a year manage to achieve.
I think it is a little insulting for someone to sit on the sidelines and second-guess the events of that night, with no real information to base their opinion on.
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The only way to shoot White Sands at sunrise is to backcountry camp there, not recommended this time of year, too cold. And, yes, don't stray too far at sunset. I couldn't find my way back to my car and spent 9 hours hiking out of White Sands (the hard way) in the middle of the night when I got lost there in 1994.
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You can't lose first weekend in November.
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Great Sand Dunes takes a good deal of effort. You can't hope to shoot the Dunes with less than 3 hours. Dawn is best, but to shoot them, you have to cross the wash (if there is water in it), and hike about a mile to get away from footprints. Evening is more problematic as you're generally looking west for most shots there.
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naturephotographers.net
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I'm afraid I can't help you with the trails. I haven't had time for them. I spent 5 days in the area 18 months ago, and pretty much stuck to the areas mentioned, so I doubt you'll have a lot of spare time.
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Great site, Laurie.
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Jenny Lake is a poor spot for a shot. It's too close to one of the mountains to get Grand Teton in the shot, and too big to use as a reflection. You'll know what I mean when you get there. I haven't been to Signal Mountain that I know of.
When you get to Teton, get out and hike the trails. If you don't have time for that, then stick to the landing, Oxbow Bend and Snake River overlook. You can shoot all your shots in those three places and come up with something good. I've been there many times and wasted too much time trying to find other spots that didn't work out. This is true if you DON'T have the time to hike up some of the trails in the park.
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Regarding Joshua's statement, there are plenty of places along the banks that work. Everyone congregates in that one spot because there are more trees and such reflected in the beaver pond. What gets me is that everyone lines up right along the bank, and they don't realize that if they would all back up about 5 feet and get the side of the bank in the bottom of the frame, you have a much better picture. Hard to get everyone to go along with that idea!
Don't get me wrong, it's fine, and Joshua is right, you can find SOME sort of picture somewhere, but my idea of a good shot might not be the same as yours! Good luck and enjoy!
Don't forget Oxbow Bend, much more popular because it's right there on the drive, but also more room to move around....
MH<div>
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You can't miss the landing. There's a sign for it along U.S. 191, about 4 or 5 miles north of the turnoff for Moose Junction (where the south park headquarters is).
That's the "standard" shot that, during the months of May-September, is crawling with photographers. There is room enough for about 8 people, side by side, to take that shot, and there will be many more than that when you arrive, most days during those months.
Sunset shots are not really available, unless you want to silohette the mountains and shoot the sunset. Most everything is westward-facing, that is, if you're shooting the same postcards that everyone shoots there.
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God, if you're the Ron Chapman from KVIL, that's one club I don't want to join. :)
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Doug,
You might time right for dogwood flowers, but only at the lower elevations. It will be too early for a lot of green at the higher levels. It will be a great time for waterfalls, though. Check out ncwaterfalls.com for lots of good locations.
MH
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When you get to Garrapata, go a little past the big spot that everyone pulls over at, but before you get to the big right and then left turn, where there is another overlook. Along there, you might find the pathway down to the coast line. Get down there. That's where the best shots are. It's hard for me to describe without a map, but it's the only ocean point within Garrapata. If you reach it, you've gone too far.
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Been there, done that. Let's move on.
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I was there last weekend. It wasn't too cold to camp, if you don't mind 40 degree lows. But I think it will be colder this weekend. The colors show the best season I've seen there. Anyplace up and down the canyon is good, but around the Temple of Sinawa is the best.
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Just got back. You're right, Richard, the best color I've ever seen at Zion, one of my most productive photo trips ever. Hope you enjoyed it as much as we did!
Water level - Virgin River - Narrows - Zion this weekend
in Nature
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