R03/R01 TR: Miter Basin, November 2024

[Harlen]

Wow! Lizzie and I have just gone slowly through your fine post Tomas. It is so much fun to open up your short videos (like that Coot!!), and also to click on your great panoramas. So many of your images are stunners, and we liked so many that there is no point in trying to pick out favorites. One image did intrigue me-- when I expand your picture titled "Lakes below Crabtree Pass. Sunset", I distinctly see the abstract image of a large bird face in the icy lake to the left. It looks most like a swift, or a swallow. Anyhow, great trip, and captivating photography. Cheers, Ian and Lizzie.

[LMBSGV]

I agree with all the other posts--great trip and captivating photos along with personally avoiding major passes when accumulating snow may be imminent. It was wonderful to vicariously be able to imagine and hike with you through the cold and snow.

[tomba]

The weather forecast for Day 4 was: 57% chance of snow, 0.6 inches, starting just before sunset. Wind at 25 mph, with gusts up to 36 mph. The actual amount of snowfall was larger, but that wasn’t surprising.

I took a car that should be able to handle a few inches of snow. I also brought a shovel.

When it started snowing heavily in the dark, I could barely see a few steps ahead. GPS with up-to-date, precise trail alignment in the MapBuilder Overlay in CalTopo was essential. I was concerned that, without my phone, it would be impossible to follow the trail.

Wandering Daisy: Each of my trips last year involved a separate drive from home.

I like frozen lakes in late fall. They are quite interesting.

I deal with long nights by waking up in the dark and doing my morning routine as it brightens up. In the evening, I try to find a campsite before it gets too dark to see clearly. Unfortunately, it is not uncommon for me to search for a campsite in the dark. It’s much harder to find a suitable spot then. In the morning, I often discover much better ones. My evening routine is also in the dark, by headlamp. That way, I don’t end up lying in the tent too long at night.

Dawn, dusk, and moonlit photos are easier with modern phones. They are able to take low-light photos even without a tripod, although a tripod should improve them. Such phone photos are still low-quality and look okay only when viewed small. But, better to have a low-resolution photo than no photo at all. Night photos are brighter than how the view appears to our eyes at night.