patricia emerson mitchell photography
the way I see the world
This is another image from our 2017 pack trip. I really like it, but because I (typical me!) didn’t use the tripod it isn’t one I could print very large. Still, I think Dan will enjoy it.
Reminder to self: the tripod, while cumbersome, is worth using.
Dan at Work, 8.28.17
For some reason I’m looking back again at our 2017 pack trip. On this particular day the majority of the gang hiked up higher and we saw some amazing sights. By the time I shot this I think I was headed back down, while many were up higher. I liked the cloud reflections on the lake.
Early Evening at a Lake, 8.28.17
This time I’m looking back at the backpack trip I was able to take over a year ago, with some very wonderful people who also happen to be great photographers. I’m still ever so grateful that they allowed me to tag along that year.
We had weather on some days, and this was one of those days. I do love some rain, so when it came in I was pretty darn happy.
In the Backcountry, 8.30.17
I have a lot of photos from our recent trip that could be reviewed and worked on (or dumped). Instead, though, I have gone back a year. I suspect it’s because Dan is in on a Sierra trip right now and this is my way of coping. Or something.
This is from our pack trip. (Dan is currently with some of the same men who were on the trip I was able to take.) We had some wonderful weather while we were out … I love it when rain comes in or even just threatens to do so.
A Cloudy Afternoon, 8.30.17
Who knew this would be the first photo I’d post from an Eastern Sierra aspen trip? But here it is … not an aspen in sight. I just like the color palette. So there you go. Of course I will be posting aspen color soon, but it may take a few days to manage to get to the images. I have a somewhat full schedule at the moment.
Mono Lake, 10.9.17
I’m still visiting photos from the pack trip.
Meadow, Trees & Mountains, 8.30.17
This is another instance of “I wish I’d taken the time to get the Canon out!” … or at least, “I should have used the Lightroom app so this would have been shot in RAW.”
Oh well.
Log & Rock, Meadow & Mountains, 9.1.17
More from the trip …
Meadow, Trees and Mountain, 9.1.17
Indeed I would return in an instant … if only I could!
I continue to look through all the images I have. So many make me yearn to go back to those mountains and meadows and forget all the “stuff of life” that interferes with my selfish desire to bask in the beauty of the Sierra Nevada.
I miss the other people on this trip, too. I will be forever grateful that they allowed me to tag along!
Meadow, Lake, Mountains, 9.2.17
Today’s walk wasn’t long, although my intention was to take a full day if I decided I wanted to (Mondays are my day off). My back was just not cooperating.
Here is my lengthy story:
On our hike out from our pack trip adventure I took a fall, slipping on wet, smooth granite. It was a very hard fall, and after going down I immediately said, over and over, “I’m okay, I’m okay.” I suspect I said it as much to myself as to Dan, who saw me go down. I had used my left hand to catch myself, and I hit my butt pretty darn hard, but all seemed okay when I got back up and checked things out. One of our friends (thanks, Karl!) suggested I quickly stick my hand in the very cold running stream and I did that for a time which felt wonderful. Miraculously I could wiggle my fingers and thought I’d really dodged a bullet. (Dan later told me he was worried, having seen the fall, that I’d have a broken hip!)
We continued our trek out, and I seemed okay. When we reached a very wonderful high spot I was still feeling pretty good.
From The Top (I, II, III, IV), 9.3.17
Later, that wasn’t the case. Suddenly I realized my left hand was hurting. Shortly after I could no longer hold my left trekking pole, as the hand had no strength. It started to swell up, and hurt enough that, when Dan met up with me again (I had gone ahead) he had to help me get my pack off on and then help me put on my rain jacket (we thought it might rain). Even touching the hand at all caused me to let out a moan.
As we continued to walk out (now staying together along with our friend Scot) I was thinking about the opera rehearsal in two days and assuming I might have to move to second oboe because I really wasn’t sure I could play much. Mozart seems to go very easy on second oboe so I was at least bound and determined to play that book, as our finances do demand that I work! I did noticed that while the hand hurt, I could continue to wiggle my fingers, so I assumed there was no break.
I admit to being horribly disappointed for the remainder of the hike down. I saw so many amazing wildflowers, but I no longer had any inclination to get the camera out due to the pain, and I knew we really had to move to get back down in any case.
Finally, getting out, I felt the hand was actually improving somewhat rapidly. Whew! Maybe I could play principal after all (and I have … now having done three rehearsals and two performances.)
So today, my wonderful day off (my “weekend”, as I call it), was to be a good long walk day.
Alas, not so.
As it turns out, my back DID have a bit of damage and now walking, and even sitting, hurts. It’s not bad enough for a doctor’s visit, but it’s bad enough to know I need to take it easy.
Still, I say the pack trip was WELL worth this little injury! I’d go back today if someone suggested it (and I didn’t have work).
So there’s my little “ouchy story”.
Now for the “First Shot” photo from today. I only did a small amount of shooting, but a first shot is, as I say, a first shot. That’s my story and I’m sticking to it!
First Shot: Dahlia, 9.11.17