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![[info]](http://p-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif) edbook | |
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 ©2008 Ed Bookcamera: Canon EOS 1Ds MkII lens: Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS USM handheld (yeah, it's heavy) ISO 1250 1/6400sec @ f/6.3 I saw the eagle and grabbed the camera with lens from the van and didn't have time to more than push the 'doohickey'. The tripod was set up but if I would have bothered to use it I would have missed the bird. Also, I had, without looking, spun the exposure time dial and ISO buttons/dial... I wouldn't have used ISO 1250 or 1/6400 sec exposure had I had time to look at the camera while I was grabbing it - I didn't take my eyes from the bird or wouldn't have found it with the long glass.  Two years ago, at this time of year, at low tide, we could see three dozen bald eagles at this location all at once. This year, this is about the sixth eagle I've seen all season. I hope because they had some other place they wanted to visit and not for declining salmon run. After the eagle landed in a tree, about a quarter mile away, I set the camera on the tripod and changed shutter speed and ISO to make this image before it left to go up the canal away from me and out of sight.  Peace
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From: edbook |
Date: April 28th, 2008 06:16 pm (UTC) |
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Unless I go up in the next couple days or the ski season is extended (we've done so before), I won't be going up until snow melts. Mount Tahoma Trails is divided into two discrete districts: the north district (where Copper Creek hut is located) is private timber company land and open only to Mount Tahoma Trail Association trail users during the winter preseason,season,postseason which ends for winter the end of April. They will allow access to their lands otherwise but for a $250 fee. Because of the fee, we can't operate the hut or maintain trails because MTTA is a no-fee trail system.
Our other district, (south) is located in the Tahoma State Forest and because of the Nisqually flood of November of winter before last, the bridge access was washed out and so no public access and we didn't operate the trail system. Access to the huts was by a very long and convoluted route ~38 miles farther across private gated timber lands and only in convoys or by fording a raging stream and bushwack a mile or so to logging roads and then another eleven or so miles through deep snow... We have accessed the huts by both methods this season (I went via the long route in January and took a grooming machine that could get through the deep snow but we had to cut down trees and move a lot of snow to get there... and it took about 12 hours. We went to move snow from around the yurt so snow falling on the roof would have room to pile up before the roof collapsed because of excessive snowload. One of our cabins (Snow Bowl) burned mysteriously last month and we won't know why until an investigator looks at the site after snow subsides enough to allow access (which may not be till the end of June or even July). I suspect that the hut collapsed from the heavy snowload on the roof (it was rated for 10 feet of snow but we still have >12 ft of compacted snow on the ground now.)
Temperatures... because of our mild Pacific Northwest climate and fairly low mountain altitudes, our mountain weather is moderate too. Normal winter temperatures for 4000-5000 feet range from daytime highs in the high thirties to lows in the upper twenties. The week I was up there recently had unseasonal colder temperatures with temperatures in the twenties day and night and snow showers every day. For me, it was the best weather of the winter... cold to keep the snow as powder and cloudy to prevent sun melt of the surface and then freeze at night.
I normally wear (top and bottom) about two or three layers of polyproplyene and then a layer or two of sweater or sweater and vest and then a top layer breathable but water repellant parka and snow pants. I wear a single thick layer of polyproplyene or wool socks and waterproof boots. That's if I'm going to be fairly sedate as in standing around in the snow making photographs or riding a snowmobile and less if I'm driving an enclosed groomer or skiing... (what I don't wear, I carry in a pack)... gloves and another pair if I lose them... and, of course, a warm hat or two...
dressing for the trails in winter is to try to keep warm in thirtysomething weather and then have extra layers for lower temps or a waterproof layer for rain... sometimes at lower altitudes.
BUT! summer... we do a lot up there in the summer both on the trails and at the huts... we'll have some work projects to do at the yurt this summer that I started last summer and we'll be driving right to the huts when the snow melts out enough to make the logging road accesses accessible... And then, there's the replacement project for Snowbowl hut but that might take a much longer time before we churn up funds and design, etc... Our hut and trail workparties are easy work for most and we tend to party with good food and music and company when we go up there. And meet lots of different folks some times and other visits, it's just me or me and a couple others.
I like to go up and spend some time working and some time wandering in the forest or going up to High Hut for the evening to sit and watch Rainier in evening alpenglo.
So... what one needs to bring when going to the trail system is applicable clothing, sleeping bag, food and drink... the rest is provided.
I'll be announcing when I'm headed for the hills, just in case.
Peace
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