The Great Outdoors - Hiking and so on…

[Wander]

@marlin, how wonderful

[mclaincausey]

@Wander:

@mclaincausey, that’s sweet! Are you based out of Colorado? Over the years, I’ve explored most of Colorado, done black canyon too. Few 14ers on the bag. We’ve friends/family in Boulder next time we visit, would love to toast a beer or two at the Sun brew pub? Unfortunately, just couldn’t get into skiing and related sports.
]

Not only am I in Colorado, I'm a former fellow Minnesotan. Definitely drop me a line any time you're coming out west!

[marlin]

A few from the alps, a mix out of Switzerland/Wallis, Italy/Dolomites and Austria/Tyrol:

[neph93]

They are quite amazing pictures @marlin . The night skies are truly spectacular.

[marlin]

@neph93 Thanks buddy, that's the Aletschgletscher, the longest glacier in europe!

[neph93]

Technically difficult to capture? Obviously there’s starlight/moonlight and the ice reflects well but still I’d imagine they are tough shots to take.

[marlin]

Yes, they are quite demanding on the equipment. Tripod, a camera body which delivers good results at ISO setting fom 3200 to 6400, a very bright lens (apertures 1.4-2.8 ) and shutter speeds as long as up to 30 seconds.

[neph93]

30 secs?! Wow, must be very tough to get those results.

[marlin]

Yes 30 seconds, but the shorter the better. Ideal between 15 and 20 seconds, because of the earth rotation the stars get to star trails the longer the shutter is open.

[Seul]

Stunning, marlin. Just stunning.

[marlin]

Thanks! @Seul

[gaseousclay]

@marlin for the win! Those are some amazing pics 

[JDelage]

Stunning pics. That Milky Way shot in particular…  ??? ??? ???

[marlin]

Thanks! @gaseousclay and @JDelage

[motojobobo]

Last weekend I went on a 3 day motorcycle trip to a small town, Santiago de Chiquitos, 440 km east of where I live. It was a group of friends, each one on a different bike.

It is a hilly area with many rocky outcrops and expansive views.

Typical of rocky areas around here, rattlesnakes abound and we got to see one as we hiked. It was mid size, probably about 80 cm or so. It only had 4 or 5 rattlers but it was loud enough.

It was a hot day so we were all sweaty by the time we got to the top. We mostly see cold pics in IH gear so here are some damp ones…

IHT 1610
IH 666 D
Scarpa

[mclaincausey]

Wow! What a gorgeous place.

Here's Cascade Falls on Ouray's Perimeter Trail. Ouray, CO is in a box canyon in the San Juan mountains, to my eye the most scenic of Colorado's ranges (which is saying something). Imogene Pass takes you out of this box canyon and into the neighboring one that's home to Tellurode. They are both mining towns, as this range is rich with minerals, one of the reasons they have such a beautiful, jagged, striated appearance.

You get nice views of Ouray from the trail.

Elsewhere, about 45 minutes northwest of Ouray in the woods, the mountain that looks like a tit is Mt. Sneffels. South from this view on the far side of it is Telluride.

Then if you go north and east towards Gunnison and Crested Butte you encounter the Black Canyon of the Gunnison, so called because it's so steep little sunlight gets in. If you ever visit Colorado I'd encourage making it out to this far-flung region.

[Giles]

Want to go - now on the list….

[mclaincausey]

@Giles:

Want to go - now on the list….

Whenever you next come out west I can provide a good list of things to do, not just in Colorado. And of course would love to play Sherpa!

[Wander]

Sedona, AZ & surrounding area.
(One of our family  fav. Stateside escape- this is our 5th time in last 6 years)
Sedona, Oak Creek, Grand Canyon. (I am mostly wearing MF & IH)
If anyone wants to know things to do/eat/stay…plz feel free to ask.

[Wander]