“Snow-capped Slioch” — Trees frame the snow-dusted summit of Slioch.
This photograph is an example of my policy of not knowing too much when I travel. It drives some people (hi, Patty!) crazy, but it does mean that I get to “discover” things before knowing that they are iconic. Almost two months after photographing this “random” impressive Scottish mountain I learned that it is well-known. The peak is Slioch — or “The Shield” — and a “munro,”* one of the peaks reaching over 3000′. I read that there is a well-known climbing route to its summit. Apparently, photographs of the peak have been used to represent this area of northern Scotland.
“Alpine Lake, Mirrored Reflection” — Cliff wall mirrored on the surface of a rockbound alpine lake in Sequoia National Park.
There’s a story and a lesson associated with this photograph. Explaining may take a bit more than the usual two paragraphs. (It takes five. I urge/invite you to click through and read the whole thing — and I’ll be interested in your comments.) I’ll start with the subject though. Years ago (I’ll reveal how many years below) I was on a trans-Sierra pack trip of over a week’s length with a group of backcountry friends. I had walked this route years before this trip, and there were a few places that I specifically wanted to photograph again, especially this lake. I stopped there long enough to make a few careful photographs, including one of my favorites. (That one also comes with a bit of a story and lesson.)
“Slioch and Loch Maree” — Snow-dusted peak of Slioch towers above Loch Maree.
The impressive, fortress-like mountain is Slioch, one of the Scottish peaks that reaches above 3000′. We passed by after driving south from Ullapool, Scotland, then cutting west toward Torridon and later heading to Applecross, on the coast looking westward toward the Isle of Skye. The route passes all sorts of beautiful country — coastal bays, long valleys, lochs, tall peaks.
“Looking Toward Skye” — View over a mountain loch toward the Isle of Skye, seen from the road to Applecross Pass.
While Scotland’s Isle of Skye is, for good reason, a very popular place to visit, you can also find great views of the Isle and its mountains from along Scotland’s less-populated western coast. After our visit to Skye we headed north to Ullapool, and from there drove a long loop out to the village of Applecross. Before turning south toward that spot the route hugged the coastline, offering continuous views across the water to islands including Skye.
Photographer and visual opportunist. Daily photos since 2005, plus articles, reviews, news, and ideas.
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