Humphrey's Basin TR Dedicated to the Memory of "Quentinc"

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maverick
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Humphrey's Basin TR Dedicated to the Memory of "Quentinc"

Post by maverick »

This TR was originally slated for posting back in October, but then Larry’s
disappearance just really did not make it an appropriate time to do so.
Knowing from his previous posts how much he enjoyed Humphrey’s
Basin, would like to dedicate this TR to his memory.


My journey started as all the others with a 3:30 am wake-up call, and on
the road heading east on Hwy 580 by 4 am.
Arrived at the White Mountain Ranger Station at around 10 am, where
there was only a brief wait, which is one of the perks of backpacking
after Labor Day. Had a great drive up to North Lake, especially as some
of the aspens where changing color around the North Lake –South Lake
junction, and up towards the North Lake area. This was the my first
taste of the Sierra this season, and was seriously letting it all soak in.
My goal on this trip was to show case Humphreys Basin, and the
Glacier Divide. Knowing that after a dry summer as the one we had just
experienced, all the smaller lakes and ponds that would have been of
interest, would all have dried up, so scouting during the day for photo
opportunities, would be even more important, if I was going to do this
basin any justice.
Instead of being discouraged by what my eyes saw, it instead motivated
me to seek out the morsels that mother nature offered, and if my efforts
did not produce something worthwhile, then it would because of my
shortcomings, and/or lack of effort, which was not going to happen, though
we’ll let you all be the judge of that.
Mount Humphreys is a gorgeous mountain, with beautiful fluted edges,
and is situated perfectly for the last rays of the “Golden Hours”, to light
it up with a brilliant alpenglow that looks fabulous from Lower Desolation
Lake. Because of the low water levels, the rocks showed off their very
unique, and picturesque white waterlines that can be seen in some of the
photo’s. My scouting efforts produced a beautiful pond that faced the
Glacier Divide, and on some of the mornings the clouds showed off some of
their intricate formations. As a matter of fact, each day got progressively
cloudier, making each sunrise, and sunset even more unique in its own way.
During the day, the time was spent scouting, and hiking to different parts
of the basin, but the Lower Desolation Lake, and the western part, south
of Tomahawk Lake, had my complete attention.
After the third night, with the clouds showing up even earlier than before,
Mono Lake was calling me, so around 8 am it was back over Piute Pass, and
on to North Lake, which took a little longer than usual because of constant
stops to take photographs, and talking to fellow backpackers/hikers.
With all the energy from the storms, there was a lot of action in the
atmosphere in the Mono Lake area, which made for the usual great colors
and spectacular black and white photographic opportunities. This area at
the golden hours is breathtaking , its tufa sections are rich with intriguing,
designs, shapes, and colors, that change and blend with every moving shadow,
it is truly a photographers dreamscape.
Will give a short description of the more important pieces that have
not yet been posted, and deserve a quick write up from this trip. Also
there is a link to see all the photo’s that made it to my on-line gallery at
the bottom.

Many of my favorite photo’s in this set are of clouds, which in my humble
view are one of the main draws in the Sierra. The intricate formations,
colors, and motion, all add to the landscape, and are an essential component
of anything photography related.


Piece #1: “Colors of Sunrise”
This was taken on the second morning at sunrise. The wind was lightly active
most of the day, though only bothersome from a photographer’s perspective,
since it made getting those perfect mirror reflections more difficult to get,
unless one gets creative, as was done in this shot. Using a 10 stop filter which
allowed the shutter to stay open much longer then usual, it allowed the waves
in the water to smooth out, and obtain a beautiful magical glow, which in turn
gave the rocks in the foreground a “floating on the water” effect, and a sense of
motionless tranquility. The filter also allowed the clouds to show movement,
which gave the top half of the piece a sense of velocity. This therefore creates
a ying and yang effect that worked in perfect harmony, allowing an equalization
of the two opposing effects. http://WildernessApertures.com/img/s2/v ... 6868-6.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Piece #8: “The Eagle Has Landed”
I have been humble many times by the magnificent clouds formation
that my eyes have witnessed, in the many years of visiting the Sierra,
this morning would be no different.
There were numerous clouds formations being manufacturing this
morning, one being more spectacular than the next. They were like
beautiful etchings in the sky, having me applauding out loud, that
mother nature would allow me once again to witness such grandeur.
There laid in front of my eyes to behold, a gorgeous pond with
the Glacier Divide imbedded into it’s mirror reflection, this alone was
worthy of any photographers attention, but what put the so-called
“icing on the cake”, was an enormous white sculpture that strikingly
resembled an eagle landing onto the Glacier Divide. The details were
stunningly beautiful, its claws positioned as if they were ready to grab the
ridgeline, the wings, and especially the angle of them, would have
been the exact way one would expect such a bird to expand and
position itself before landing. This piece at my show, in a 24 x 36, had
clients jaw just drop, and say wow..., it really is that stunningly beautiful.
http://WildernessApertures.com/img/s4/v ... 0280-6.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Piece #4: "Midnight Reflection"
Calmness and tranquility come to mind when one first sees this piece. Then
the realization of this being in the calm of the night adds some intrigue to it.
Something about night shots, especially like this one, that includes a mirror
reflection elevates it to whole new level. The moon as it peeks around the
sharp rock on the left side, creating a moonburst, was a fortunate,, and special
touch that adds another unique element to the special piece.
http://WildernessApertures.com/img/s4/v ... 9630-6.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Gallery link: http://WildernessApertures.com/p378039899" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; Click on the first
photo, and then proceed to get a larger photo.
Professional Sierra Landscape Photographer

I don't give out specific route information, my belief is that it takes away from the whole adventure spirit of a trip, if you need every inch planned out, you'll have to get that from someone else.

Have a safer backcountry experience by using the HST ReConn Form 2.0, named after Larry Conn, a HST member: http://reconn.org
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Re: Humphrey's Basin TR Dedicated to the Memory of "Quentinc"

Post by schmalz »

Welcome back Mav! O:)
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Re: Humphrey's Basin TR Dedicated to the Memory of "Quentinc"

Post by maverick »

Thanks Schmalz.
Professional Sierra Landscape Photographer

I don't give out specific route information, my belief is that it takes away from the whole adventure spirit of a trip, if you need every inch planned out, you'll have to get that from someone else.

Have a safer backcountry experience by using the HST ReConn Form 2.0, named after Larry Conn, a HST member: http://reconn.org
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Re: Humphrey's Basin TR Dedicated to the Memory of "Quentinc"

Post by jimmeans »

Mav,

For the ones that I could see, beautiful photos. A couple of them produce a "Content Protected by Owner" response, and the link to the collection produces a "Page Not Found" response.

Jim
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Re: Humphrey's Basin TR Dedicated to the Memory of "Quentinc"

Post by maverick »

Thanks Jim, will check, everything had been unlocked and should have been viewable. :\
Just checked and rechecked, the link to the gallery is correct and when I clicked
on all the links they worked. If anyone else is experiencing any difficulties please
let me know so I can contact Zenfolio. Thanks
Professional Sierra Landscape Photographer

I don't give out specific route information, my belief is that it takes away from the whole adventure spirit of a trip, if you need every inch planned out, you'll have to get that from someone else.

Have a safer backcountry experience by using the HST ReConn Form 2.0, named after Larry Conn, a HST member: http://reconn.org
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Re: Humphrey's Basin TR Dedicated to the Memory of "Quentinc"

Post by gary c. »

“The Eagle Has Landed” is such a great picture. It looks like 3D come to life.
Last edited by gary c. on Wed Jan 09, 2013 9:14 pm, edited 1 time in total.
"On this proud and beautiful mountain we have lived hours of fraternal, warm and exalting nobility. Here for a few days we have ceased to be slaves and have really been men. It is hard to return to servitude."
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Re: Humphrey's Basin TR Dedicated to the Memory of "Quentinc"

Post by Tollermom »

Oh my! Beautiful, just beautiful.
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Re: Humphrey's Basin TR Dedicated to the Memory of "Quentinc"

Post by Bluewater »

Wow! Thanks Maverick, really like the Colors of Sunrise. My wife and I hiked through HB last August but it didn't look like that.
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Re: Humphrey's Basin TR Dedicated to the Memory of "Quentinc"

Post by The Other Tom »

Wow ! Fantastic pics, Mav. The Eagle has landed is spectacular !
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Re: Humphrey's Basin TR Dedicated to the Memory of "Quentinc"

Post by Jason »

Fantastic! Thanks for posting the report and photos.
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