Wednesday, July 3, 2013

Cathedral Peak - Yosemite National Park, Ca.

Cathedral Peak


So I'm back from my annual Summer trip to the High Sierra.  It was an amazing week - not only photographically but spiritually as well.  My buddy Darrell and I were blessed with a week of thunder storms.  I say blessed because thunder storms bring in dramatic cloudy skies (ideal for photographing).  But also because not one rain drop fell on us (ideal for backpacking).  Two years ago, while in Sequoia National Park, that was not the case.  And let me tell you - it's no fun to hike in a pouring rain.  But the reward is almost always spectacular as you can see here.

Here's an example of the daily late afternoon scene's we got.  As the soaring heat from the Owens Valley far below rises and meets the cooler air above the Sierra Nevada range quite often you'll find monstrous clouds exploding like mushroom clouds over the mountains and taking on the form of thunder storms.

This is Upper Cathedral Lake with the renowned Cathedral Peak just beyond.  Cathedral Peak, standing at 10,912 feet, sits near the middle of Yosemite National Park, Ca. A four mile trail from Tuolumne Meadows leads you to this High Sierra lake.  Cathedral Peak is a popular peak to climb.  I didn't think twice as I hiked passed it though.  I did however opt for the lesser scramble up a small ridge to get this shot.  The afternoon photography was just as dramatic as the sunsets.

Lots more to come!