Shameless Product Endorsement

Last post from Zion Narrows, my little joke was to not quite admit that I had gone in swimming by accident. What you didn't know was that one of my cameras went in with me.

My Canon Digital SLR (and lenses) was in a water proof container and I knew that getting it in and out of the canyon dry would limit where I could shoot. For quick snaps I took my old Olympus point and shoot. That was in my hand when I went in. I took out the batteries as quickly as I could so that the card wouldn't short out and two of the snaps (me starting out and the long shot of the two other hikers) were from that card. This week, after completely drying out the camera, I stuck the batteries back in and shot this pic of our office/studio. I replaced the camera because after somewhere well over 5000 images it was getting cranky but am I ever a believer.


I think I may never again buy anything but Olympus. My old (1975) OM-1 has gone to the top of Denali in Alaska at minus 145 F and out in the Mohave at 120 plus. Actually I still shoot with the OM occasionally and I may do more in the future.

More as it happens
Bob

Zion Narrows

I took a trip to Zion Canyon National Park. It's my 5th or 6th time and the valley just shares more and more secrets every time I go. My focus on this trip is was to hike up the Narrows which may be the most famous canyon hike in America.

I set up in a rather empty campground inside the Park. My first secret reveled was that each night cold air falls into the canyon, all 2000' deep of it and rushes downhill to escape, in 40 mph gusts, right over the top of my tent. Fortunately I was prepared.
I came in on Monday, explored a bit and was in the Narrows entrance early Tuesday morning.

Secret two, just to give the place a bit of scale, look for the two hikers about 100 yards ahead of me. The walls range between 1-2000' high and the water flow was 445 cfs at 45F. The water depth varies from a few inches to over my head in the holes. Guess how I found out how deep the holes are?

I'll let the rest of the Canyon speak for itself.

The last secret, six or so hours later, you climb out of the river very cold, very wet and about a mile from the car on a trail crowded with vacationing America at it's fast food fueled, overweight best, but at least most people are more than willing to get out of the way for a dripping wet backpacker with a slightly crazed look.

A bit more Getty and a bit more Zion to come.

More as it happens
Bob

Bob & Trudy go to the Getty

Finally our first trip to LA together. The first place we promised ourselves we would go after getting settled in Las Vegas took almost two years but what a treat it turned out to be.


We left all the arrangements up to Kathy Kren so it was a surprise when we could see the Getty from the Luxe Hotel balcony.

The reason for the timing of the trip was because Kathy's brother Tom is a curator at the Getty and was involved with a show opening. If you ever have a chance to go to an opening at the Getty, do not miss it. If you ever have a chance to have a private look with a curator, do not miss it! Just don't miss any trip to the Getty
We spent the first day at the Villa. There is very little sense in me trying to describe the Getty. I took a few pictures, and even those don't do the museum, collection and architecture justice.
You just have to see it to believe the size and scope.
I am not going to try describing the two days, you just gotta' go.
Barbara Debold, Kathy Kren and us in one of the gardens in the Villa.

More pics when I get back from a canyoneering trip to Zion.
Bob