jonthephotographer

[jonthephotographer]

Five days of vacation with a trail runner

[jonthephotographer]

First time skiing this year - Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

A little 6 mile ski to Miners Falls. A little escape on Christmas Day. 

The sun goes down so early now that I didn't have time for the longer ski I had hoped to do. I delayed the drive up due to fog.

Still had a nice ski. I love the forest anytime of year.

[jonthephotographer]

Maze Rock Art

So cool that this rock art is here. A privilege to be able to hike to it and so great that it did not appear to be vandalized. 

[jonthephotographer]

Wire Pass Buckskin Gulch

Day 2 of vacation. The water was a little high and cold in Buckskin Gulch so I delayed the longer hike for a day. Instead I checked out the canyon and then hiked to an overlook. There wasn’t a trail to the overlook so I did my best then ended up at a high point that I could see a route to the destination. I found an animal trail and followed it. The overlook that I went to was not the best. I wish I had gone farther and found a better spot.

[jonthephotographer]

Wire Pass and Buckskin Gulch

Day 3 of vacation. Slept in the SUV rental. Tried to fall asleep watching the stars through the sun roof but it fogged up despite cracking the window.

This should have been long hike day but I decided to turn around when I came across quicksand in a narrow part of the canyon. I didn’t want to lose a shoe in it.

[jonthephotographer]

Wire Pass and Buckskin Gulch

Drove from Phoenix and camped overnight 1.5 miles from trailhead. It was forecast for rain later in the afternoon so I just planned a short hike to check out the canyon.

[jonthephotographer]

Grand Canyon - Tanner Trail

A one day 17 mile hike down and up the Tanner trail in December. It’s an unmaintained trail that is a bit rough in spots. I planned a longer hike but I shortened it because the rough trail slowed me down.

The scenery was beautiful. Loved it. Temp was about 30 F starting out and I was down to shorts and a short sleeve shirt for the hike up.

[jonthephotographer]

Toadstools in Southern Utah

[jonthephotographer]

Smoky Mountains

It was so nice to get away and onto the trails.

Fall color trip 2019. Hiked to Charles Bunion and then down a ridge and back up to make a loop.

[jonthephotographer]

Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

[jonthephotographer]

Yosemite Backpacking Spring 2019

[jonthephotographer]

Mighty Mac Swim 2019

A 4 mile swim from lower Michigan to Upper Michigan along side the Mackinac Bridge. My first year. A great adventure. We get on a ferry that takes us to the start, we jump off the boat, swim to shore, cross the timing mat, and then swim 4 miles back to the UP. The people were nice and the organizers were enthusiastic. I think they wanted to be in the water instead of running the event. At about mid way the current pushed me a little away from the bridge while trying to take video so I stopped taking video. The middle had some swells and current, the last mile was protected by the causeway and it was clearer than the swimming pool I practice in and smooth as can be.

[jonthephotographer]

Smoky Mountains October 2019

23.4 miles of beautiful fall color. Deep Creek Trail to Sunkota Ridge Trail and back.

Loved this hike. It has waterfalls at the beginning, hiking along a creek, then up to a ridge with pretty trees. The rain just enhanced the beauty and gave me something to splash in. Even saw my first bear while hiking in many years. I knew it was bear territory, As I looked up at the tress I kept stepping in their poo on the trail. I believe bears come down to the trail to poop, hide, then laugh when I step in it.

[jonthephotographer]

Same tent. One illuminated by headlamp to right. One illuminated by a green light. One illuminated by a light in the tent. Camping Yosemite national park.

[jonthephotographer]

Bryce Canyon 50K

Nice runnable trails with beautiful scenery.

Flew into Vegas Friday, Slept in hammock under the stars, knocked off frost from sleeping bag at 3:30AM, race started 6 AM, finished at 2:30, slept in hammock 2nd night, waterfall hike on Sunday, Flew out of Vegas midnight, back home 5 AM, into work 8 AM Monday.

[jonthephotographer]

38 Mile Day hike at the Grand Canyon.

7 years to the day of losing my wife to cancer. Took some of her ashes and some ashes of my daughter who I lost last year. Katy would love a hike like this. Zoe would hate it.

[jonthephotographer]

Prepping for winter camping. I set up my hammock tent between the pillars in my house. The purple wrap is to keep my ass from freezing. I think hammock campers should be called swingers.