Self Portrait

Nothing artsy or anything, but this was a really fun climb up Father Dyer Peak (northeast route, Class 3) in Breckenridge, CO on August 22, 2009. There's something to be said about just going out on your own and getting out in the wilderness for a couple of hours. I really do enjoy routes like this. Class 3 and 4 routes that is. I hate to hike actually, if it doesn't involve some kind of scrambling I'm not into it at all. Another thing I like is the fact that there are no ropes to slow you down, but at the same time there is usually a lot of exposure and if you fell it would more than likely end in death. And if that were the case, being by yourself, nobody would ever really know just what happened. It keeps you on your toes, and makes you feel alive. A funny story about this particular day was that the second I got to the summit I received a phone call from my good friend DC. When he asked me where I was, I told him on the top of Father Dyer Peak, can you see me, I'm waving my arms? He replied, yes, do you see me? Jokingly I said yes, but of course I didn't. He then tells me that he is on the summit of Helen Mountain (The peak lower center in this photo) and that he indeed can see me. Now do you see me he asked? Laughing now, I said yes. He then proceeded to fly a kite. Pretty random to say the least.

I never shoot Landscapes any more....

but yesterday I was bored, and with some fresh snow on the peaks and some really cool dramatic light I figured I'd get off my ass for a couple of hours and give it a shot. Here's one for your viewing pleasure. Enjoy....

A recent trip to the bowling alley.....

Drago....

Its on the way

Not at all ready for this, but either way, Winter is on the way!

Done Deal

After 7 months of tracking down owners, dealing with lawyers, finding the right partners, funds, blah, blah, blah.....It's ours. We signed the papers for the Bonnie Bell Cabin on Friday and have been working to get it ready for the winter since. What am I talking about you may ask yourself? Well I worked on a story for SNOWBOARDER Magazine about Silverton, Colorado last winter. The story is actually out in the September issue right now so go pick it up! Anyways while working on this story I was told about this cabin that was potentially for sale. After falling in love with the area in which the cabin sits, I knew I had to make it happen. Skylar Holgate, Silverton Mountain Guide and Chris Harrell, an old time Durango friend and business man extrodanaire are my two partners on this venture. Our concept is to eventually have a backcountry ski area complete with multiple cabins to stay overnight, snowcats for access, and snowmobiles to use once you are out there. There is also probably going to be some heli options for those with the cash. Off course when I say "Ski Area" it is not in the typical form. Our own personal interest will be looked out for first. Stay tuned for more to come.

This is what I call the front door lines. Just some off the options right out the front door

It was low tide when we were in town for the Magazine story, but you wouldn't really be able to tell if you go pick up the September issue of SNOWBOARDER Magazine. A closer look at the Front Door Lines

This is the living room. Lots of finish work to be done. Some day we will have flat screen TV's powered by wind and solar.

Propane Range and Refrigerater.

4th of July picnic. We hadn't signed the papers yet, but we cruised up early to reconfirm why we needed this property.

Working on a sick deck right now. The views are amazing...

This truck came with the property. I'm not going to lie. I'm a little scared to drive this thing down the road. Not sure the actual grade but it's steep as shit!

Stan and Max's snowcat (Treasure Mountain Hut). They have a cabin about 300 yards to the north of ours and already have a solid business in place. We will be working together to make the best of an already good situation.

I'm wondering how one becomes a member to this elite club?

Summer is finally here.......

After almost 6 weeks of rain in snow, summer has finally made an appearance here in Colorado. I was hanging out in Buena Vista for a friends birthday and captured these two images with my Canon G10.

Photo of The day

Ummmm.......Could we slow it down a bit? 9 and 1/2 miles an hour sounds good to me.  Hank, go put the sign up!

Photo of the Day

Waiting for the call....

iPhone photo of the day

Who could this be?

This past winter I ran into Jared Slater in the Backcountry of Wyoming.  I was trying to take photos of him smoking, but he wasn't having it.  Kind of funny in my mind.  I started just shooting auto focus from the hip as a joke and ended up with this shot.  I just found it while editing my Jackson stuff from the year and felt like posting it.  I like the anonymous feel.  Opps, looks like I blew it.

Hells Canyon, Snake River

I just came out of a great 5 day raft trip down Hells Canyon of the Snake River.  Instead of a high priced beach front vacation we opted for a more adventureous working holiday. We put my new (to me) boat to the test and old Barney passed with flying colors.  Hells Canyon is truly the Grand Canyon of the north, as it's actually the deepest Canyon in North America, beating out the Grand Canyon in Arizona by about 1000 feet.  Something I didn't know prior to this trip.  Amazing scenery.  Amazing food.  Fresh trout and bass.  PBR.  Just some of the good life the river has to offer.

Pushing off.  Steve with Pretty Keene.

The first big rapid of the day.  All the note worthy rapids are encountered on the first day.  1 of about 5.  I think this photo makes it look pretty small but I can assure you it is big and pushy, and will definitely take you out if you're not cautious.

A closer view

The boats.  Barney is my boat, and Pretty Keene is the boat in the back.

Rapid 2.  Caryn and I swam the whole thing.  Not quite on purpose.  We opted for a more difficult route river right and got swamped out of the boat.  Definitely a "good" near drowning experience.

Camp site numero uno.  No need for a rain fly.  Sleeping under the stars.  We ended up staying here two nights because we were so exhausted.

Proof

Crazy Moth population.  They were everywhere.

G10 macro is pretty good.

Hor 'dourvs to be served shortly

Happy Hour

Happy Stove

The general idea

Taking the bull by the horns

Snow peak mountains, and 95 degrees in the canyon floor.

Cliff jumper

Fishermans delight

More proof

Seeing double

I know

Civilization in the middle of nowhere.

Notice the standard issue river beer holder.

Camp 2, day 3.

B&W

More B&W

The confluence of the Snake River (right) and the Salmon River (left).
Camp 3, day 4

A few minutes later.  Our last campsite.  We took out about 2 hours down stream from here the next day.  Good times.  Trip of a lifetime without a doubt.

The iPhone camera and apps

After reading Cole Barash's and Chase Jarvis' blog yesterday I got a bit excited to shoot more photos with my iPhone.  I never really messed around with all the apps that are available, and I must say 5 minutes later and $8 broker, I was way impressed and hooked.  Messing around with all the many features available to edit photos right on the iPhone I ended up with this image within the first few minutes.  I thought it made a cool stamp and was definitely a direct influence of the new NEW YORKER cover, which was taken with an iPhone and then manipulated with one of the many apps.  I'm excited to use my iPhone in this manner much more in the future.  For now, step back into time.  Or at least that is how this image makes me feel.  It was actually taken at the REI parking lot in Denver two weeks ago.

Editing Blues

What can I say.  I hate editing photos.  I hate being on the computer.  It's probably sunny and beautiful out right now, but I wouldn't know because I'm stuck in my dungeon editing away.  When I edit, I get distracted very easily.  Whether it be the internet, an e-mail, the TV or even a bathroom break, I find my self doing anything BUT editing.  This double exposure is a classic example of how my mind wanders when I edit.  One second I'm actually editing in Lightroom and the next I'm creating this double exposure in Photoshop.  I just can't stay focused, especially when it gets to this time of the year and I'm just over winter.  I'd rather be out and about in the mountains or on the river in the desert.  Well this double exposure is the best of both worlds and must have been what I was day dreaming about while trying to get through the last of my photos from this past winter.  Enjoy!