Campsites of the Beautiful Suffering-- A 100 Day Photography Adventure
Summer is vastly approaching and I am sure many of you are getting ready for epic road trips and adventures. I thought it would be a good time to give you a quick review of the 86 nights spent in a tent during my 100 day photography adventure of 2018. Below are a few thoughts on a few campsites of the trip. If you have any questions on a location or itinerary feel free to ask away. Likewise, if you have any thoughts or experiences that you would like to share, please, shout out to me in the comments below. Mahalo!
To view images from this road trip, please click here to see the Beautiful Suffering online gallery.
Best Easy to get to Backcountry Campsite--Leigh Lake, GTNP, Wyoming
Best Hard to get to Backcountry Campsite-- Cascade North Fork along the Teton Crest Trail, GTNP, Wyoming
Worst Campsite-- Eagle Plains in the Yukon Territory on the way to Inuvik and Tuk
Hottest Campsite-- Shadow Mountain, Bridger Teton National Forest
Coldest Campsite-- Holly Lake, GTNP, Wyoming / Tuktoyaktuk, NWT, Canada (tie)
Windiest Campsite-- Tuktoyaktuk, NWT, Canada
Smokiest-- Summit Lake, BC / Kerkeselin, Jasper NP, Alberta, Canada (tie)
Northernmost Campsite-- Tuktoyaktuk, NWT, Canada
Easternmost Campsite-- Sage Creek, Badlands NP, South Dakota
Most Bear-- Brooks Camp, Katmai NP, Alaska
Most Elk-- Mammoth, Yellowstone NP, Wyoming
Most Bison-- Pebble Creek, Yellowstone NP, Wyoming
Most Moose-- Wonder Lake, Denali NP, AK
Most Caribou-- Wonder Lake, Denali NP, AK
Most Eagles-- Lake Garibaldi PP, BC, Canada
Most Prairie Dogs-- Sage Creek, Badlands NP, South Dakota
Most Snow in Campsite-- Lake Garibaldi PP, BC, Canada
Nicest Neighbors-- Stawamus Chief PP, BC Canada / Grizzly Lake / Talus Lake Tombstone TP, Yukon, Canada
Loudest Neighbors-- Lewis Lake, Yellowstone NP, Wyoming
Coziest Campsite-- Tombstone TP, Yukon Territory, Canada
Wettest Campsite-- Wrangell St. Elias NP, Alaska
Most Scenic (in a gothic beauty kind of way)-- Talus Lake, Tombstone TP, Yukon, Canada
Most Scenic (if The Mountain is out)-- Wonder Lake, Denali NP, Alasaka
Most Scenic (if The Mountain is NOT out)-- Leigh Lake/ Cascade North Fork (tie) GTNP, Wyoming
Most Scenic on a Budget-- Shadow Mountain, Bridger Teton NF, Wyoming
Cleanest--Devil's Tower NM, Wyoming
Best Showers (pay)-- St. Mary's GNP, Montana
Best Showers (free)-- Ten Mile Lake, BC, Canada (best overall)
Best Reservation System-- BC Parks, British Columbia, Canada
Best Memories-- All of 'em!
Aloha,
Lee
To see images from the exhibition The Beautiful Suffering, please click here.
A Perfect East Swell-- Kauai Surf Photos
Kauai recently had a perfect east swell fill in from Nawiliwili to Anahola. Here are a few action shots of Kauai's very talented wave riders. All photos were taken with the Canon 1 DX II and Canon 300mm f/2.8 II Lens.
The masked rider emerges from the explosion of white water and aims down the line. I love how the all natural sun screen (don't harm our reefs!) masks this body boarder's face, making him appear like a villain or super hero from an action flick.
Pulling in and slowing down. Notice how this surfer's left hand is on the outside rail of his surfboard? Well, he's doing that in order to get leverage so that he can pull himself down the face of a right breaking wave. In surfing, he's considered a goofy footer because his right leg leads, leaving his back to face the right breaking wave. It's likely he feels more comfortable on a left breaking wave where he would be directly facing the front of the wave. Anyway, when your back is to the wave you need to find some king of extra momentum to position yourself in the pocket or sweet spot of the wave. That's what he is expertly doing here. Notice, too, his right hand touching the wave, almost as if he is drawing a diagonal line on the wave. He's doing that to slow himself down, hoping to "get tubed".
Tubed. Shacked. Pitted. Barreled. Ecstasy. I've only experienced it once-- for a nano second on a small little wave at Honolulu Bay, Maui. Let's be clear-- it was nothing like this. This surfer is so much better! And I just love this photo. I love how the surfer's body matches the shape of the wave. Being one with nature in single minded focus. Adapting our position and posture so that we can better accept the gifts of nature.
Having Fun
Elegant Athleticism
Slash n Gash
In Perfect Position. This body boarder is in perfect position for a long ride down the face of the wave. To ride a body board in this manner takes a great deal of skill and technique. Watching these rippahs perform was inspiring. They were full of stoke and shared it with the gallery along the break wall. The afternoon show will be a wonderful memory for me for many years to come.
Droppin' In.
Flipped Out! (Oh, he nailed the landing, too!)
Go with the Flow
Finito
Aloha,
Lee
A Kind of Beautiful Suffering-- A Long Summer's Photo Trip
Aloha. Well, my photo trip is getting close. I've already shipped my Toyota FJ Cruiser to Seattle and I fly to meet it Sunday night. I'll be away from Kauai until October 10th and the above map shows my (rough) itinerary. Backpacking trips in Garibaldi PP, Tombstone TP, Assiniboine PP, and Tetons NP await. As do brown bears in Katmai NP; the mountain in Denali NP; and loads of other sights and critters along the way. Planning a road trip is always the romantic part, but enduring one is a kind of beautiful suffering. Wish me luck as I set out on this adventure. Hopefully, I'll come back with some nice photos to share.
Aloha,
Lee
PS-- Summer Hours at the Hanapepe Gallery (July 1 ~ October 10th)
Monday-- 10:30 ~ 2:30
Tuesday-- CLOSED
Wednesday-- 10:30 ~ 2:30
Thursday-- CLOSED
Friday-- 2 ~ 8:30
Saturday-- CLOSED
Sunday-- CLOSED
Pele's Process
Pele's Process, Big Island, Hawaii
I, like many of you, have been following closely the recent events on the Big Island. The Kilauea eruption into Leilani Estates in Puna and the subsequent ocean entries in and around Kapoho Bay show the power of Pele and impress upon us the fact that our Earth is a living planet. The devastation is incredibly sad, but at the same time Pele's alluring beauty is undeniable.
Pele, Puna, Big Island, Hawaii
***
I have had the chance to visit Hawaii island three times since last April, and on those trips I saw the Big Island as I have seen it before, and in new ways hitherto unimaginable. In April, the lava lake at Halema'uma'u was "normal", glowing in the dark hours like I had seen it in 2016.
As Night Falls a Halo Rises, Volcanoes National Park, Big Island, Hawaii
***
Then in May, the crater began to stir as earthquakes shook Volcano village and the Puna district multiple times daily, until the lava lake sank into Kilauea's underground tubes and channels. Next, the fissures opened from underground and eruptions into Leilani Estates spewed lava high into the air; lava pools and rivers formed; evacuations, roadblocks and checkpoints dotted the map; the loss and grief; and Pele's process began anew, creating new land in a display of awesome power.
Fissure 8, Leilani Estates, Big Island, Hawaii
Lava Fountain Pools, Puna, Big Island, Hawaii
A flyover Fissure 8 in Puna sees it shooting lava 220 feet high; the makings of a cinder cone along the back side of the lava fountain are apparent; as is, too, the lava river and it's ocean minded flow
***
I photographed this event on two occasions-- late May and again in early June. In May, I went over for just a few days. In June, I went on a one way ticket and took all my camping gear and stayed a bit longer, determined to photograph this event from a safe distance and a respectful perspective.
Fissure 8 (Modern Art), Puna, Big Island, Hawaii
***
On June 4th I saw the lava fill into Kapoho Bay and knew that on tomorrow's boat ride we would not be a able to get close to the lava flow because of the reef and breaking waves.
Where Lava Meets Sea with White Steam, Kapoho Bay, Big Island, Hawaii
A half-mile-wide lava flow reaches Kaphoho Bay and covers the reef and baths in new volcanic black rock and white steam.
***
At 4 am on June 5th I boarded a boat and didn't really know what to expect, only that it would be a shorter ride than my fire one the week before since the lava ocean entry at Kapoho Bay was closer to Hilo than the first ocean entry of this eruption. This ride was less choppy than the previous and I got less wet. The red plume in the pre dawn sky was much larger and appeared as if it were mirroring the lava river flowing below in the sky above. When we approached Kapoho Bay we could see lava just beginning to lap into flames around the back of these ocean front houses. And then the flames grew, danced, and spread. One of the most helpless feelings I have ever had. And one of the saddest, too.
Ocean Front Fire at Kaphoho Bay, Big Island, Hawaii
Kapoho Bay (Burning Down the House), Big Island, Hawaii
***
The power of Pele and her incredible beauty have never been more visible. I hope these images give you a sense of this energy and the wonder of our ever changing planet. Respect to Pele and hope and courage to all of those affected.
Aloha,
Lee
Teklanika Campground, Denali National Park, Alaska
The Northern Lights Dance above Teklanika Campground, Denali NP, Alaska
Good News! I was selected for a Professional Photographer's Road Permit in Denali NP so this summer I'll be spending a week at my second most favorite Denali campground-- Teklanika. 29 miles along the Park Road, Teklanika is the last campground you can drive to. But in most cases you will need a Tek Pass or a Camper bus ticket to go further into the park on one of the park buses. There's a bus stop just outside the campground and while conveniently located it was a bit busy each morning as many Tek campers were looking for the few available seats on the first buses each morning. I rode the bus from Tek to Igloo mountain and to Wonderlake. It was convenient and easy, and I felt much more a part of the Denali landscape than when I camped at Riley Creek.
The hillsides behind Teklanika River light up with the morning light.
The Teklanika river is right behind the Teklanika campground. The braided river bed is a great place to explore and look for wildlife and photo ops.
Sunset and the Braids of the Tekalanika River, Denali NP, Alaska
River Bar, Teklanika River, Denali NP, Alaska
The River bar is a great place to walk and explore. I saw a Caribou on the other side of the bank and a few other footprints of various other critters.
First Time for Everything, Teklanika River, Denali NP, Alaska
On my last night in the park I got lucky and saw the Northern Lights. I planned to wake up at 12:30 am but was too cold to fall asleep so I got out of the tent around 10pm and that's when the light show started. It was incredible! Absolutely one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen. I hurriedly grabbed my gear and gloves and headed to the river bed, hoping to photograph the lights and their reflections in the Tekalanika River. After about 30 minutes of photographing in the river bed-- all alone-- I became fearful that a bear might come up and eat me. So I packed up my things and returned to the campground where I set up with a few other photographers and photographed the dance from the comfort of numbers.
A Look Into the Heavens, Teklanika Campground, Denali NP, Alaska
Lastly, the Teklanika Campground has the normal campground amenities-- toilets, water spigot (froze each night and morning of my stay), concrete food pantry and gas/cooking pantry, picnic tables at each site and if I remember correctly, all of the sites were flat, gravelly and there were a good number of trees around, too. All in all a good place to camp if you have a car and want to be further inside the park than Riley or Savage. I can't wait to go back this year. 49/50 forever! (49-- Alaska/50-- Hawaii)
Aloha,
Lee
To view more photographs from Denali National Park, please click here.