Hike to the peak at Mount Charleston

Pano at the top of Mt Charleston



The year I turned 50 Dennis asked what I wanted for my 50th birthday present. I said I wanted to hike to the peak at Mt. Charleston. We did many per hikes and even got caught in a lightning storm. I recently had an assignment to make a pano by stitching several images together. I found 10 images I had taken with my point and shoot camera that I hand held and was finally able to make a 360 view of my view from the top of Mt Charleston Peak. We started this hike at 6:30 am and finished the hike at 6:30 pm it was one of the hardest things I have done. Thanks Dennis for helping me accomplish this goal. After this hike Dennis said next time ask for diamonds.

Wounded Knee Cave in Red Rock Canyon

I heard of this cave from a friend.  I called and made an apointment to go explore the cave.  You need an appointment because the cave is locked.  It has a locked gate so that no one who would destroy it can enter.   And for good reason.  Another cave not more that 20 minutes away is trashed and spray painted with grafftie.   I was told bring knee pads, climbing helmet, 3 flashlights, water, snacks.  I was so excited to go and explore this cave, with it's stalagtites and stalagmites. I had my pro camera but never got it out of the back pack it was too dusty.  So I used my Olympus point and shoot camera.  The images aren't that great but here they are.   Now the rest of the story....

Entrance to wounded knee cave.  Yes you have to belly crawl.

Hence Wounded Knee

After crawling through the opening there is a 4 bar gate with a lock on the bottom bar.

Bars so the cave can breath.  They take down the bottom bar and you have to crawl under the bar to get the the part of the cave that you have to climb to get to the main cave.

 A plaque  talking about the cave put there by the Nevada Grotto a caving group that takes care of the cave, takes measurments twice a year.

 One of the limestone mini structures just inside the gate.

 The verticle climb to get to the main cave.

I tried I really did.  I made it half way up and couldn't go any farther. I had on thermals, pants, shirt, jacket, hat, helmet, leather gloves.   I began to overheat so I started pealing off clothes.  I took off everything but my thermals and my pants.  It was too late.  Hiking boots are really not very good climbing shoes either.  To climb this you really need to upper and lower body strength. 

Aparently I have neither.  

This is where I sat and waited while the others went into the main cave to get the measurements.

 All this horse needs is some water in that tire, to soak his tired feet.

All was not lost however. 

 On the way back to the car I took some interesting photographs along the way.

 Horse collars in the tac shed

 Measuring for the new shoes.

Filling the hoof to get ready for the new shoes.

Anticipating the ride. 

TIMELESS

Well it has been a few weeks since my last post. Since then my camera broke (that is another post) while out taking pictures at sunset, but it was a good sunset.   So I have been using my little point and shoot Olympus. But most of the time has been spent on getting my husband Dennis' new CD artwork ready for printing. The New CD is called "TIMELESS" Native American Flute Music. We are using a Grand Canyon Theme. So here are the new images that will be on the new CD

This is the front cover

 This is the Front Cover.  I was at the Grand Canyon for sunrise and there wasn't a cloud in the sky so around 3pm I took a nap in the truck.  OOOPs  I was awakend by people shouting "Rainbow"  I jumped up grabed my camera and tripod and mad a mad dash for the edge of the canyon.  It was spectacular. 

Inside the Front Cover

This image was taken when Dennis and I went to the Grand Canyon for a Second Honeymoon.  I promised I would not bring my pro camera and that the time would be ours.  We just brought the little Olympus point and shoot to document our time together.  Welllllllllllllllll  a photographer should never never never say that they won't take pictures.   I saw the rain in the distance and there was the tree and I said sorry can I have the camera and started shooting.  Needless to say D is now happy I did.

This image will be on the CD

This image was taken in Canyon De Chelly.  We hired a Navajo guide to take us to some seldom seen petroglyphs.  These were some of them.  One of the other images I took that day was the Rock Art of the "Blue Bull"

This is the back cover

This image was taken on the same day as the Front Cover Rainbow.   I had set up the tripod on the edge of the canyon and framed my composition.  I could see lightning on the horizion.  I didn't have a lightning sensor so I just held my finger on the exposure button and started taking shots.  Out of many many images I got 2 images of lightning, you can just make it out  on the horizion.  I love this shot.  For my birthday D got me a lightning sensor.  I haven't seen a lightning storm since.  Go figure

We are hoping to have the CD available in May.