Tag Archives: climbers

Photographs: Nature, Photographs: People In Landscape, Photographs: Scotland, Photographs: Travel

At Arthur’s Seat

Image Leave a comment
At Arthur's Seat
“At Arthur’s Seat” — Hikers rest and enjoy the view at Arthur’s Seat, Edinburgh, Scotland.

I did not plan to find myself on this summit in Edinburgh. Arthur’s Seat is a landmark here, the summit of a volcanic ridge that rises above the lowlands of the city. It has historical significance — perhaps you can imagine why? — and it is also in the middle of a very large park close to central Edinburgh. I made this photograph at the summit, and you can see that the climb was far from a solitary experience! More about the hike? Read on…

Someone Patty knows heard we were in Edinburgh, knew that we had just hiked the Great Glen Way, and assumed correctly that we were willing to do some walking. He suggested this “little hike,” and his description led us to expect a little nature hike. As we walked from our hotel not far from Edinburgh Castle and spotted a very tall and steep wall to our right we began to wonder what we were getting into! We joined a crowd of people on the hike — many hundreds for sure — as we slowly ascended this stiff climb. If we had known, we might not have done it, but once you get partway up such a thing it is hard to turn back,!

G Dan Mitchell is a California photographer and visual opportunist. His book, “California’s Fall Color: A Photographer’s Guide to Autumn in the Sierra” is available from Heyday Books, Amazon, and directly from G Dan Mitchell.

Blog | About | Instagram | Flickr | Facebook | Threads | Post | Email

Links: Articles, Sales and Licensing, my Sierra Nevada Fall Color book, Contact Info.

Scroll down to share comments or questions. (Click post title first if viewing on the home page.)

All media © Copyright G Dan Mitchell and others as indicated. Any use requires advance permission from G Dan Mitchell.

Photographs: Northern California, Photographs: People, Photographs: Sierra Nevada, Photographs: Sports, Photographs: Yosemite

Climbing Rescue

Image Leave a comment
Climging Rescue
A helicopter hovers next to a cliff above climbers in Yosemite Valley.

Climbing Rescue. © Copyright 2023 G Dan Mitchell.

A helicopter hovers next to a cliff above climbers in Yosemite Valley.

If you visit places like Yosemite often enough, the sight of helicopters doing rescue operations almost becomes a normal part of the experience. I saw this helicopter parked in a Valley meadow, surrounded by climbing rangers and crew, but I didn’t stop. Instead I went up the road a bit to photograph some spring trees. But soon I heard the thing take off and saw it rise up toward this face on the far side of the Valley, so I quickly swapped in a long lens and make a few photographs as it ferried climbers back and forth.

I’ve watched a few of these operations over my years visiting the park. We once witnessed a rescue off the top of a dome near Toulumne in electrical storm conditions, and a few years ago we got buzzed by a helicopter looking for a missing person in the backcountry. But the drama of “parking” the helicopter so close to the rock face caught my attention here. I kept thinking that it was great that there was no wind! If you look closely you can see a group of climbers on a ledge in the shaded vertical crack system near the right side of the photograph.

G Dan Mitchell is a California photographer and visual opportunist. His book, “California’s Fall Color: A Photographer’s Guide to Autumn in the Sierra” is available from Heyday Books, Amazon, and directly from G Dan Mitchell.

Blog | About | Twitter | Flickr | Facebook | Email

Links to Articles, Sales and Licensing, my Sierra Nevada Fall Color book, Contact Information.

Scroll down to leave a comment or question. (Click this post’s title first if you are viewing on the home page.)

All media © Copyright G Dan Mitchell and others as indicated. Any use requires advance permission from G Dan Mitchell.