Taking a roadtrip from WA to AK this summer (Fairbanks: house, camp)

[warptman]

Originally Posted by cobolt

Yea, between me and FDM, we'll keep you in pics! I'm so bad when it comes to that. I was hiking a stretch of the Pacific Crest Trail and it normally takes 8 hours, but it takes me more like 10 because I am stopping to snap pics, compose pics, capture every piece of eye candy nature has for me. I've also gotten quite good at the self pic (via either tripod, ad-libbed tripod [rocks, tree stumps] or just the extended arm version).

I'm really excited about the trip. Even if I car camp... it's all good!

How about posting a self portrait?

[cobolt]

You're joking Warptman, right?

[warptman]

Who? Me?
Who me?
Who?! Me?!

lol...why would i joke on such a thing?

[cobolt]

You're such a sinister one!!! I love it...!!!

[FauteDeMieux]

Originally Posted by cobolt

Yea, between me and FDM, we'll keep you in pics! I'm so bad when it comes to that. I was hiking a stretch of the Pacific Crest Trail and it normally takes 8 hours, but it takes me more like 10 because I am stopping to snap pics, compose pics, capture every piece of eye candy nature has for me. I've also gotten quite good at the self pic (via either tripod, ad-libbed tripod [rocks, tree stumps] or just the extended arm version).

I'm really excited about the trip. Even if I car camp... it's all good!

I recently completed a 23,000 mile roadtrip and came home with over 5,000 pictures. My girlfriend was so annoyed - I was constantly pulling off the highway taking landscapes, or bugging her to get out and take a picture of me or getting one of both of us. After a few months, now that the trip isn't so recent in our memories, she (and I, of course) really appreciate all the shots I took.

[cobolt]

FDM,

I'm totally on board with you on the pics thing. And the great thing about digital is that if they look bad, you can just delete them!!! You know, every time I go hiking, I think "man I am taking too many pics" and then when I get home and look through them, I'm really glad I did. I did a 3 day hiking trip at Mt St Helens this past summer---really one of my favorite places, and I had hundreds of pics!! But you catch so much with the change of lighting, cloud cover, terrain, wild life etc. Last year I was in Juneau and I ran into this "touron" who just got done with a bear-seeing trip to Pack Creek. That guy took 900 pictures!! But MAN....those were some pictures!!!

[FauteDeMieux]

Yeah, I've always loved digital. Those 5,000 shots are just the ones that made it into the PC, we deleted countless others on the camera. Some of them came out so well that we'll probably have large size prints made for our rather bare apartment walls.

[warptman]

I went to Mount St. Helens last year before the Seattle Supercross. I drove down and back alone just for that and a side trip to Long Beach/Astoria/Portland/St. Helens all in 12 days.

[cobolt]

FDM--I know what you mean. You end up deleting tons, but the stuff you hang on to is awesome. And I love that power and freedom, whereas with film....The year before last I was toting around my dinosaur Cannon T70 while hiking through the Hurricane Ridge area in the Olympics. What was so frustrating was not really knowing how these shots would turn out and having to wait for the film to develop...sort of like waiting for those Christmas morning presents...you just never know what you're going to end up with. I hate seeing a cool shot but it doesn't come out in film. With digital you can see and correct your errors immediately.

Warptman. Damnit. The attachment thingy is telling me my pics need to be downsized manually before I can attach them on this site!!! I don't have time for that right now but I've got some lovely pics of St Helen's, Spirit Lake, and a point on one of the ridgeline trails where I could see St Helen's to me right, Rainier peeking from behind, and Mt Adams to my left.

[forgetwho]

I've been away for a week and haven't read everything posted here, so I may be repeating something others have said, but I have two recommendations:

1. In Denali, camp at Wonder Lake. It is the furthest in campground on the road system and a great place to view the mountain from when the mountain is "out" (you are really close there). If you are camped there you have a good chance of actually seeing the mountain "out," as I did one morning when I stuck my head out of my tent and the clouds lifted. Plus, to get to the campground you get to ride the "camper bus" 90 miles in, seeing wildlife and spectacular scenery on the way. Wonder Lake has communal covered picnic tables and bear lockers, so even if it's pouring rain, you can function there. Reserve as early as possible - months in advance if you can.

2. On the Dalton Highway stop overnight in Wiseman (14 miles north of Coldfoot, and then 3 miles west) at Arctic Getaways, a solar-powered B&B. Both the B&B and Wiseman are unique experiences. (Google "Arctic Getaway" for the website.)