Philmont Scout Ranch, NM

DanielB · August 2, 2006

it was a fantastic backpacking trip. one experience i'll never forget. this is only but a taste of the photos i took.

enjoy,

on the bus ride over i witnesses a wonderful sunrise

when we arrived at base camp after checking in and getting our food, tents, and any "extra" gear our packs were loaded down to about 50 pounds a person. we slept in Perma-tents that night.

these guys were all over the place

the next day after breakfast and lunch we were driven out to the middle of nowhere called Zastrow Turnaround to begin our 11 day trek in the mountains. it was a glorious sight...i live for this kinda beauty

we camped our first night at a beautiful spot just about 1.5 miles from this spot called Rayado, it was a trail camp with a beautiful creek running through it.

our second night we stayed in a meadow just 4 miles from Rayado, it was called Carson Meadows after Kit Carson who discovered them in his many adventures in these mountains.

this was morning light after the 2nd night.

our 4th night we stayed at Fish Camp which was a good 7 mile trek from Carson Meadows uphill about 900 feet. the stars came out that night and i had fresh fried brown trout i'd caught with my fly rod.:wink

i was privilaged on our 5 night to have a gorgeous night sky, such as i'd never seen before. you could see the milky way band stretching across the sky, it came across in an orange color in this photo below. this is me and my friend's tent. i had him hold my little LED light inside to give it the glow...

we stayed at the same campsite again the 6th night called apache springs as the photo above was taken in... here it is in the daylight.

from then on we hiked to Wild Horse, then up to the peak of our trek to Mount Phillips at just under 12,000ft elevation. it was astounding. after that we went to Cyphers Mine camp, got to gold pan and took blacksmithing and mine tours. we then headed over to Cimmaroncito for a night and from then on to Ponderosa our last camp of the trek. on our last day, an 11 mile trek we side-hiked the Tooth of Time, (Philmonts "calling card")

no trails, pack-off, "hands and knees" bear-crawling up boulders to get to the top of the 9k peak, but at the top there is a highly rewarding view as my friend stood on the top awestruck i whipped out my camera.

thanks for letting me share my adventures with you.

:thumb

Daniel

photodoug · August 2, 2006

we've been waiting for you....

keep 'em coming and tell us all about it. Really enjoyed these words and pictures.

Pezpix · August 2, 2006

Thanks for sharing! Looks like a peaceful trip away from the crowds

saurora · August 2, 2006

Very cool, Daniel. I'm out of breath just thinking of climbing that last peak!!!!

ian408 · August 2, 2006

I usually save my potty mouth for across the hall. But Out f-n-standing!

Looks like you had a wonderful time and were treated to some spectacular
scenery. Thanks for sharing!

Ian

DanielB · August 2, 2006

thanks everyone

ian408 wrote:

I usually save my potty mouth for across the hall. But Out f-n-standing!

thanks ian

ziggy53 · August 2, 2006

Daniel,

What an awesome, amazing journey, and what beautiful and diverse photographs. I absolutely love the night scene with the illuminated tent. That deserves to be published.

I'm awfully glad that you made it back in one piece, and that your camera survived as well.

Great stuff and keep 'em coming.

Best,

ziggy53

ChrisJ · August 2, 2006

Awesome shots, Daniel. I love the stars and the Milky Way!

wxwax · August 2, 2006

Excellent!

I hope you shot this in RAW, I reckon you could do an awful lot with it in PS.

TopRow · August 2, 2006

Daniel,
Thanks for sharing a little piece of your adventure! I must admit that I am very jealous. I live for these outdoor opportunities, even if I had to live vicariously through someone else's.

DanielB · August 2, 2006

wxwax wrote:

Excellent!

I hope you shot this in RAW, I reckon you could do an awful lot with it in PS.

everything was shot in RAW this trip

System · August 2, 2006

TopRow wrote:

I must admit that I am very jealous. I live for these outdoor opportunities, even if I had to live vicariously through someone else's.

i hate to hijack TopRow quote but it is what i would have said... great stuff.. stars are dang.......

TristanP · August 2, 2006

Sounds like you had a great time. I love that night shot with the tent.

arroyoshark · August 3, 2006

DanielB wrote:

everything was shot in RAW this trip

So....didya see any bears...uhm, in the RAW?

JamieC · August 3, 2006

That belongs in some kind of magazine!

jamie

DanielB · August 4, 2006

arroyoshark wrote:

So....didya see any bears...uhm, in the RAW?

saw them, but i wasn't quick enough on the draw.

Fred W · August 4, 2006

Congratulations on these great shots. I'm sure you had a great trip. The tent picture is in a class by itself !!!

Dante · August 4, 2006

Shot number 6 (tent with night sky) is wonderful! Thanks for sharing.

-Dante

ysr612 · August 4, 2006

great shots

this is also part of the fun.

shot with a disposable.

this one with an underwater camara I think

not a good shot but makes me think of the hikes I took up there

SirArmstrong · August 5, 2006

Cool record! I especially like the night shots with the stars. Thanks

pathfinder · August 6, 2006

JamieC wrote:

Galen Rowell would be proud of your work, Daniel!!:):

DanielB · August 28, 2006

pathfinder wrote:

Galen Rowell would be proud of your work, Daniel!!:):

here's some more...

here i'm trying to go for the ansel adams*ish* B&W

there ya go.

more to come so keep watch.

Daniel

ian408 · August 29, 2006

thanks for the update!

arroyoshark · August 31, 2006

DanB, bet you are learning some about high contrast lighting conditions in which we shoot in the southwest. My instructor says that if you can capture an image well out here, then you will take good photos anywhere.

DanielB · August 31, 2006

arroyoshark wrote:

DanB, bet you are learning some about high contrast lighting conditions in which we shoot in the southwest.

no kidding there.

you almost have to shoot in RAW, just so you can go back and fix the exposure in the shadows.

arroyoshark · August 31, 2006

Also had wanted to ask you, in retrospect, how it worked out for you using just one lens at Philmont, the 17-40mm?

When I picked up my digital rebel xt, I went ahead and got the Sigma 17-70 mm and it's met almost all my needs. I find I am using focal lengths of 17-35mm most often. It did turn out to be a very sharp lens after all.

DanielB · August 31, 2006

arroyoshark wrote:

Also had wanted to ask you, in retrospect, how it worked out for you using just one lens at Philmont, the 17-40mm?

When I picked up my digital rebel xt, I went ahead and got the Sigma 17-70 mm and it's met almost all my needs. I find I am using focal lengths of 17-35mm most often. It did turn out to be a very sharp lens after all.

it worked perfect

i never needed any more zoom until we ran into the bears and the elk, but that wasn't too bad. i woulda liked something a little under f/4 on occasion though. but overall it was a great set-up. if you're going FF out there i'd say bring something like the 24-105 IS though, it'd meet almost all of your needs.

NHBubba · October 4, 2006

Outstanding!

jsedlak · October 4, 2006

Nice shots, my brother went to Philmont this summer for a scout trip as well. He had lots of fun despite coming down with mono (He lost hearring temporarily) or something.

Jnichols · October 5, 2006

My good friend Zane was a leader at Philmont a few years ago - I didn't realize it was so beautiful out there. I need to get on his case about not bringing us some pics!

Great work!

DanielB · October 6, 2006

Jnichols wrote:

My good friend Zane was a leader at Philmont a few years ago - I didn't realize it was so beautiful out there. I need to get on his case about not bringing us some pics!

Great work!

thanks guys!

yes, it was truly gorgeous out there and every turn on the trails had another breathtaking view.

I must be honest though. lately i've been feeling a little homesick

...i miss the outdoors and the rugged wild beauty of nature. i wanna get back out there in the wild as soon as i can so i can capture the once in a lifetime moments that nature so often presents when you're out of the contamination that humans cause.
To me the changing of leaves in the fall is a beautiful time. but its a wasted opportunity if you cannot capture its true uniquness.*real word?*

*sigh* i'm done rambling.

thanks for the kind comments guys,
Daniel

Philmont Scout Ranch, NM

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