Kolob Winter

I had to get out and do some hiking. Its been a while since I've had time to get out and get any shots and I was starting to go through withdrawls! It was so nice to get out and do some hiking and breath the fresh air! There's nothing like standing out on the mountain listening to some good tunes and having the sunshine on your face while looking at all the amazing scenery God has graced us with!
There was about 18" of snow and the ground but with the sun shining it was in the upper 30s and it was perfect for hiking!

Mild January

Its been about two weeks since Ive gotten back out but Im getting an itchy trigger finger so its time to get out today. The temperatures have been in the upper 40s and lower 50s. Its great hiking weather but I miss all the snow and sandstone shots. I headed up to Kolob Terrace again because with the nice weather there are a lot of deer and elk wintering up there. There are some great places to get some shots of them and I always enjoy watching them. The big bucks come out in the late afternoon and spar. Its an amazing thing to see with the sandstone cliffs of Zion in the background. With the weather this nice I took a 4 mile hike into some of the lesser known redrock formations and got a few good pictures. At the end of the day I hiked back out to my truck and parked in a field clearing to watch the deer graze and spar. Another amazing day!

New Years Eve

We had a couple of good snow storms last week after Christmas. Most of the snow had melted off at the lower elevations but I was determined to get up into the top of Zion and get some shots of the snowcovered cliffs. Our family was in town to celebrate New Years with us and my father in law is a photography and outdoor nut like me so I thought he might enjoy the drive too.
We drove into the top of Zion Canyon up to Kolob Lake. We didnt see much snow until we got to the top. The lake was frozen over for the most part. It wouldnt have been safe to walk on. This has been an unusual year for us as we should have a lot deeper snow pack by the end of December and our temperatures this year have been really mild. We made our way back and stopped at different points for us to get shots of some of the more interesting sites. We did a short hike below the snow line of the Kolob Cliffs where the sun was shinning and the temperatures were in the upper 40s. Great hiking weather! After a great day of sightseeing we headed home for a few relaxing drinks and got ready to celebrate the incoming of the new year.

Back In The Saddle

I got my boot off yesterday! Finally! I can hike again. I had been out doing short hikes and taking pictures but its been torture. If your a photographer you know what I mean. To stand there taking pictures and looking down a trail where you know there is better shots. Its like starving and watching someone eat! I took my first hike with my son Stevie down the trail along the narrows in Zion Canyon. It was a cold windy day but it still felt great to get out. With the wind blowing through the canyon there wasnt any people who wanted to venture to far into the canyon. We hiked a mile in to the point where we would have to go from the trail into the river. It was 30 degrees without the windchill so when I asked Stevie if he wanted to hike up the river he looked at me like I had a third eye sprouting from my head!
We turned around and started hiking back. By the time we made it back to the truck I was glad we hadnt gone any farther. My foot was starting to sing out to me to let me know it was not happy! On the way out of the canyon we stopped to watch some of the mule deer laying out in the sun. It was a great day to be out and now I can slowly get my foot back into shape before spring. Im looking forward to some great long hikes and lots of photo ops!

Fall In Zion

It is so great to get out again! Just to be driving around looking at the scenery is great. I was having major withdrawls from not being able to get out and do any photography.
What a great time to come into Zion Canyon! Its fall so all the leaves are changing and the large crowds are gone for the most part.  Its still torture to get out to take pictures and see great spots that I could get an awesome shot from but, I cant hike over to it. Half my concience says, no sweat you can hike right over there! The other side says, yeah and when they find you laying in the ravine your going to kick your self in the ass! After you heal up in another four months! So Im playin it safe, just road photography for now!

Free at Last!

Well its been four long, excruciating, boring, monotanas months. In case you dont catch my drift. The last four months sucked! Ive had to sit here in my room in a recliner since my stunt in the Subway at Zion. I have not been able to take pictures of anything that I cant see from my bedroom window or my dogs. Im sure the dogs are sick of the paparazzi treatment. Now every time I take a camera out Buddy runs and hides. Ive just been released by the doctor to walk with a walking boot. Hallelujah! Zion Canyon Here I come!

Air Rescue in Zion Canyon

After debating on what to do next we decided to send part of the group back out the way we came in with my cell phone to call the rangers and Sylvia was carrying a satelite signal called a Spot that is used in emergency situations to get help and they activated that.  Amanda, Sylvia and Jims daughter, took over and wrapped my foot with an ace bandage that she had and she took care of me as we were seperated from the rest of the group who were up on the rock.
It was about 10:30am when all this happened and about an hour and a half later we heard a helicopter. The helicopter came in and hovered around for a while and then flew away. It was a good thing I was with my friends as they kept my mind off of my foot and we entertained each other. I was lucky because the temperatures outside were perfect and the area where I was laying was nice and sandy with a pool of ice cold water for me to soak my foot in. The helicopter came back again and as before it flew away. The third time was a charm and two of the rescue team came down and let us know that they were going to be getting me ready to lift out of the canyon but they were going to have to cut down a large pine tree that was preventing the helicopter from lifting me out safely. Apparently rescues in this area had been hampered in the past from the tree and they decided to remove it. As the medic Craig got me preped and we moved into some rock cover. The other guys started cutting the tree down. When Craig got the harness out for me to sit in he informed me that the seat is called the screamer. At that point it was apparent to me that not everyone enjoys hanging from a rope under a helicopter. At first the chopper was going to lift me from the spot where I was laying but after a failed attempt there they decided they were going to have to get me up on top of the rock I had come down to get me to a safer spot to lift from. The guys rigged up some gear and I had to climb up onto the rock with one foot and several guys pulling from the top and one Craig helping from below.
It was a bear climbing out but we did it. At that point Will, the second guy from our rescue team let me know that he would be flying out with me and gave me the instructions for what was going to happen.
The helicopter came in and we hooked our harnesses to the rope hanging down off of the helicopter and away we went. I was really bummed out that I couldnt take my camera and I didnt think anyone would get a shot of the chopper lifting us out but I was pleasantly surprised to find out later that Amanda had hiked up to the side of the canyon and had video taped the rescue.
 The flight through the canyon was amazing and I was able to see parts of Zion from an angle that I will probably never see again.
 We landed at the temporary rescue point where an ambulance was to pick me up. After they got me all unhooked I was able to meet the pilot and to thank all of the people who had helped. They were all great and we are lucky to have people like that out there to help us.
 It was now 7pm and by the time the ambulance got there I was really starting to wear down. It had been a long day and I still had to go to the hospital where I found out I had broken the heel of my foot and I would probably need surgery.  Another adventure to add to my list.