Two Snags – Big Arroyo. Sequoia National Park, California. August 7 2008. © Copyright G Dan Mitchell – all rights reserved.
Black and white photograph of two trailside snags above Big Arroyo with Great Western Divide in the distance, Sequoia National Park, California.
This photograph was made on Sequoia National Park’s High Sierra Trail as it climbs out of Big Arroyo and onto the Chagoopa Plateau before eventually dropping down into the depths of the Kern Canyon.
I was in full “head down and climbing the trail” mode when I almost walked right past these trailside snags, but my friend Ernie fortunately pointed them out to me. Ernie’s not really a photographer – though he takes far more great photos of fellow backpackers than I – but he notices a lot on the trail. He was the champion at running into wildlife on the August 2008 High Sierra Trail trip, typically managing to discover a couple rattlesnakes each day and on another day discovering a small mammal that the rest of us had never seen in the Sierra.
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Hey, “websailor,” I have to thank you for pointing that one out to me! (For anyone else wondering what this is about, “websailor” was on the trip with me and he suggested that it just might be worthwhile for me to look up from the trail and take a darned photo of these trees! He was right. :-)
THANKS Dan! My little backpacking camera had no chance of getting this photo, so I’m glad I mentioned it to you. I had a great time with the group and especially talking with you about photography…. One of the great snapshots I got, IMHO, was the one of you sitting by the shore at Hamilton Lake, tripod and camera all set up, patiently waiting for the light to be right. It is a classic picture of a true photographer!!!
Jonny – the Sierra’s are fantastic if you love the outdoors….akin to the Canadian Rockies. The HST hike took my breath away every day, not from the altitude, but from the absolute beauty all around me. A HST tip – don’t try for big miles, take the time to enjoy the scenery around you.
Ahh… that rings a bell now, I think I read about the route in Backpacker magazine recently. I’ve been to the bay area 3 times in the last 2 years (i currently live in Calgary), but still haven’t had a chance to visit the Sierra Nevada’s. I will definitely have to make it a priority next time i am in the area.
It is a classic route, for sure – especially in that the HS Trail takes you all the way across the Sierra from the forested world of the west side to the alpine and then high desert of the east side, in between crossing two major divides (the Great Western Divide and the Sierra crest) and the huge trench of the Kern River.
I know what you mean about the combination of aspens and snow!
Beautiful scene Dan. I’ve heard about this trail… very good things. Looks like an absolutely fantastic view! I’m looking forward to this fall myself… something about the aspens turning color with the snow-covered peaks as grand backdrops. Looking forward to more of your Sierra Nevada work.