Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest - Mt. Whitney and the Alabama Hills...
I had the opportunity to spend some time this last week in the Eastern Sierra. Specifically, I visited the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest in the White Mountains outside Big Pine, California and the Alabama Hills / Mt. Whitney area outside Lone Pine, California.
The Ancient Bristlecone Pines are the oldest living things on earth. Some of them have been determined to be over 4700 years old. They grow in the barren, harsh, high altitude alpine environment over 10,000 feet. The Patriarch Grove in the White Mountains lies at 11,200 feet. The landscape in this area is almost lunar in appearance.
Ancient Bristlecone Pine...
These trees thrive in the stark landscape...
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Next I moved south to the Alabama Hills and Mt. Whitney area outside Lone Pine, California. The Alabama Hills are unique rock formations on the Owens Valley floor below the Whitney Massif. They provide an interesting foreground for the jagged peaks of the High Sierra. Mt. Whitney is the highest peak in the lower 48 states at 14,496' in elevation. This trip was unusual for me as my wife Nana was climbing Whitney at the time that I was photographing it so the photos captured have an extra special meaning to us both.
First light on Mt. Whitney...
There are several arches hidden in the Alabama Hills that provide interesting compositional opportunities for framing the peaks of the High Sierra. One in particular, the "Mobius Arch" is most famous...
Mt. Whitney at first light through the Mobius Arch...
On Friday, August 18th, shortly after 10am, I received a cell phone call from Nana letting me know that she had successfully reached the summit. This was the first time I had been able to talk to her in over two weeks because she had been out of range hiking the John Muir Trail to reach Whitney. It was a special moment for us both.
I wanted to photograph Whitney while she was on top and the Gods smiled upon us both by providing some spectacular clouds for us to enjoy - me from 10,000' below the summit and her at the top...
Ragged Cirrus over the High Sierra...
Closer view...
That evening, I photographed Whitney again through another Arch and eagerly awaited Saturday morning when Nana and I would be reunited after her 34 day trek...
Sunset in the Alabama Hills...
**********
Shortly after noon, Nana and her friends completed their High Sierra Adventure and we greeted them at the Whitney trailhead with champagne, roses and chocolate! To read all about their trip, check out their online journal, "The Long Walk".
As usual, I was accompanied by my photographer friend, John Musaus from the San Francisco Bay Area. To see some of his work, please check out his web site here!
Till next time...Here's to good light!
Bill
__
When you use a camera, not as a machine but as an extension of your heart, you become one with your subject. -Anonymous
The Ancient Bristlecone Pines are the oldest living things on earth. Some of them have been determined to be over 4700 years old. They grow in the barren, harsh, high altitude alpine environment over 10,000 feet. The Patriarch Grove in the White Mountains lies at 11,200 feet. The landscape in this area is almost lunar in appearance.
Ancient Bristlecone Pine...
These trees thrive in the stark landscape...
**********
Next I moved south to the Alabama Hills and Mt. Whitney area outside Lone Pine, California. The Alabama Hills are unique rock formations on the Owens Valley floor below the Whitney Massif. They provide an interesting foreground for the jagged peaks of the High Sierra. Mt. Whitney is the highest peak in the lower 48 states at 14,496' in elevation. This trip was unusual for me as my wife Nana was climbing Whitney at the time that I was photographing it so the photos captured have an extra special meaning to us both.
First light on Mt. Whitney...
There are several arches hidden in the Alabama Hills that provide interesting compositional opportunities for framing the peaks of the High Sierra. One in particular, the "Mobius Arch" is most famous...
Mt. Whitney at first light through the Mobius Arch...
On Friday, August 18th, shortly after 10am, I received a cell phone call from Nana letting me know that she had successfully reached the summit. This was the first time I had been able to talk to her in over two weeks because she had been out of range hiking the John Muir Trail to reach Whitney. It was a special moment for us both.
I wanted to photograph Whitney while she was on top and the Gods smiled upon us both by providing some spectacular clouds for us to enjoy - me from 10,000' below the summit and her at the top...
Ragged Cirrus over the High Sierra...
Closer view...
That evening, I photographed Whitney again through another Arch and eagerly awaited Saturday morning when Nana and I would be reunited after her 34 day trek...
Sunset in the Alabama Hills...
**********
Shortly after noon, Nana and her friends completed their High Sierra Adventure and we greeted them at the Whitney trailhead with champagne, roses and chocolate! To read all about their trip, check out their online journal, "The Long Walk".
As usual, I was accompanied by my photographer friend, John Musaus from the San Francisco Bay Area. To see some of his work, please check out his web site here!
Till next time...Here's to good light!
Bill
__
When you use a camera, not as a machine but as an extension of your heart, you become one with your subject. -Anonymous
posted by Bill Langton at
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