Saturday, May 28, 2011

Summitted Mount Whitney on May 21st, 2011


Summit of Mount Whitney
Elevation - 14,496'
Summitted 1:15 pm - May 21, 2011


Bryan, Steve, and Trevor at the trail-head.
10:40 am May 20, 2011


Brad, 2 miles up the trail. We encountered snow 1.5 miles up the 11 mile trail.
No crampons or Ice Ax needed yet



Bryan closest, Steve in the middle, Trevor farthest away.


Trevor and Steve halfway between Bighorn Meadow and Trail Camp.


Brad, filtering water for the climb to the summit the next day.
We needed 3 quarts per person.

Our campsite: Trevor, Steve, and Bryan in the tent - me in the bivy sack.


Me, in my down parka, staying warm right after the sun went down.


Me, on the summit of Mount Whitney.
1:30 pm, Saturday Afternoon






All the boys on the summit.



All the boys on the summit with the Smithsonian survival shelter in the background.


Trevor, Steve, and Bryan on the way down posing along the very exposed trail between the summit and Trail Crest, looking towards the west.


Me, after descending the chute below Trail Crest.
Extremely tired, look at my meandering path.



On the way down Saturday afternoon.
Thor Peak in the background to the left and Bighorn Meadow below me in the canyon



Same location, but zoomed in.
This is my favorite photo that Trevor took of me.

Thanks everyone, for a great climb.
Denalee for helping to set up the arrangements and the boys
for sharing a fun but strenuous excursion.


This blog is dedicated to my Dad,
Rodney Orr Chapman,
who passed on to me his spirit of adventure and love of nature.

And to my Mother,
Noreen Nielsen Chapman,
who passed on to me her traits of
persistence and attention to detail.




Soaring California Condor at Grand Canyon South Rim N.P.

Yesterday, (5-27-2011) I got these photos of a Condor at the South Rim. It came soaring right over the landing behind the Bright Angel Lodge. I looks like it is #72. On an earlier blog I got photos of #52 while climbing Angels Landing in Zion National Park.



Interesting Info about The California Condor

1. Back in the 80's there were only about 20 condors left in existence.
They were all in captivity.

2. Today, because of a very effective captive breeding program, we have over 350.

3. They have the longest wing-span in North America - average 9.5 feet.

4. 70 or 80 Condors nest at the South Rim during the summer.











Wednesday, May 4, 2011

Spectacular Toroweap!

I took a tour to Toroweap a week ago last Monday. Other than the usual spectacular scenery, we also saw two coyotes, (one of the coyotes was running so fast that there was no time to get a photo) a horned lizard, and a good coyote paw print by a catch basin.


This is us taking a restroom break at the Tuweep Ranger Station.


I found this paw print in the dried mud by a catch basin near where the road passes the campground.


Halfway between the ranger station and Toroweap Point we came upon this Coyote.
It wasn't that hot of a day for this Coyote to be panting. I think the Coyote may have been sick.
It seemed to not have the usual fear of humans that most Coyotes have.




This was the first Horned Lizard that I had ever seen at Toroweap.

Sunday, May 1, 2011

Canoe Trip on Lake Mojave - April 23 & 24, 2011

The Family on Lake Mojave - April 23rd & 24th, 2011
From left to right: Azure, Sierra, Brookie, Gage, Steve, Denalee, Jace, Caci, Cali, Trevor, Bryan.
Brad is taking the photo.

Our campsite was on a sandy knoll across the lake from Nelson's Landing.

From left to right: Caci, Cali, Trevor, Denalee, Bryan, Jace, Steve, Gage, Brooke, Sierra, and Azure.


Trevor's family


Brooke's family


Sierra, Azure, Brooke, Gage, and Steve



Denalee


Sierra, Jace, and Denalee


Denalee, & Trevor's family


Brad and Azure



Now, here is some of the bird and animal life we saw!

Horned Grebe in Breeding Plumage


Common Loon
Early Saturday morning we heard a loon calling. It was so lonely and melancholy.

Red-winged Blackbird
This guy would fly into our camp and chew us out every hour or so.


Desert Bighorn Sheep
A group of about 6 bighorn peaked over the ridge at us on Saturday morning.



Evidence of a passing snake.
By the look of the J-shaped impressions it was probably a Sidewinder.



Evidence of a passing lizard.



Here are some of the flowers that we captured in photo.




Brooke with a Dune Evening Primrose



The Dune Evening Primrose close-up.


Dune Evening Primrose


Desert Golden Primrose


Our camp and bay early Sunday morning.
Our camp was on a sandy beach and the sand was clean and white.


Denalee and Bryan coming across the bay to pick me up after an early morning hike on Sunday morning.


Can you see my shoe in the photo.
I am looking straight down on Denalee and Bryan.


Trevor and Caci canoeing right before dusk on Saturday night.