Trip Report
Long & Winding Road, Many Mountains, Not Much Climbing, Attempt To Photo California
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Friday August 19, 2011 3:28pm
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* Five States In Two + Weeks? CHECK!
* Hang Out With Three El Cap Partners In One Trip? CHECK!
* Awesome Mountain Country Everywhere? CHECK!
* Try To Photograph Like A Madman To Compensate For The Lack Of Climbing? CHECK!
* Climb Lots Of Big Gnarlies? NOT CHECK!!!
The stage was set when we were invited to a wedding in Sonoma and the Grandparents rented a semi beach house in Bodega Bay.
My bride sweetened the pot with "haven't you been wanting to take us to Yosemite?" SOLD!!!
But even though I took gear, I knew it was about a family experience, not a ME experience, so I tried to be at peace with the whole thing.
Plus, I couldn't believe that it had been 15 years since I had been to the valley, so I felt that I was looking at it with a new perspective.
I hope a little of that comes through in the photographs. I will be back with further installments.
Enjoy.
Dang it was hot crossing the Mojave with no AC!!!
 Visit on photobucket.com
Anybody recognize this big Hunk of stone, north of Bishop I think?
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More window photography. It stormed up and cooled off as we climbed to the north.
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 Visit on photobucket.com
What a joy it was to arrive at Mono Lake!!! Did you know that the Historic Mono Inn is under new management? Our friend Mario is one of the partners. They have a soft spot for climbers, great food and one of the best views on the lake.
We had dinner with friends, listened to a really good band, and got our first real sleep. This is the view that greeted us in the morning.
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 Visit on photobucket.com
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Off to Tuolumne!! The family's first stop. El Cap partner #1 in attendance, Keith.
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Layton's introduction to Tuolumne water!!
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More in a bit!!!
survival
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About the Author
survival is a big wall climber from A Token of My Extreme. |
Comments
this just in
climber
Justin Ross from North Fork
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Aug 19, 2011 - 04:11pm PT
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Wow, that's some amazing light you captured. I knew I could count on the survival for another great tr and this one has just begun. My favorite part of CA is rokjox isn't here. Thank you sir.
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survival
Big Wall climber
Terrapin Station
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Author's Reply
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Aug 19, 2011 - 04:19pm PT
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Thank you Sir Skully.
And same to you TJI. You're one I can count on too.
"What's that you said, you want some more? Well here's some more!"
The man-cub in the next body of water. This is a repeating pattern for him.
The old man playing above Tenaya Lake to make sure the climbing spirits don't strike him down for not climbing on his first day in the park.
The majesty of Tenaya Peak above.
Pywi-whatcha-ma-callit, with thunder drums beginning to play in the distance.
Amber & Thag Simmons digging the scene but not the Mos-Kwi-Toes.
Mini-Me running it out on the slabs!
Mother and son above Tenaya Lake.
Bruce and Keith, still crazy, after thirty five years of climbing together.
After we pulled the self preservation variation away from the Mos-Kwi-Toes, Amber surveys our route. We were high on the wet slabs, lower right.
Layton.....yep....you guessed it.
See you soon!
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Captain...or Skully
climber
Boise, ID
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Aug 19, 2011 - 04:21pm PT
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Might should've named Layton Poseidon...Glorious stuff, Bruce.
I'm spellbound. TFPU!!!6!!!4!!!
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Ghost
climber
A long way from where I started
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Aug 19, 2011 - 04:42pm PT
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Who wouldn't trade a few climbing days for that kind of family time?
Thanks for the reminder about what's really important.
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mike m
Trad climber
black hills
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Aug 19, 2011 - 04:48pm PT
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Great pictures. Looks like a great place to hang with the kids.
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nutjob
Sport climber
Almost to Hollywood, Baby!
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Aug 19, 2011 - 05:34pm PT
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Beautiful light and colors. It's wonderful to get immersed in different facets of nature after long absences, and this is what I sense from your pics of water and greenery after a long desert stint.
Family time in the mountains is special! Thanks for inspiration re: those slabs to the right of Tenaya. Next year that will be a family destination :)
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survival
Big Wall climber
Terrapin Station
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Author's Reply
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Aug 19, 2011 - 07:09pm PT
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Thanks for the nice comments guys. Nice to inspire someone about something as simple as some wet slabs!!
Nutjob, there's a lot more "unusual" shots to come later.....
Finally getting to the VALLEY!!!!
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Zander
climber
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Aug 19, 2011 - 07:31pm PT
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Oh Yeah! The good things just keep on coming.
Thanks,
Zander
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scuffy b
climber
heading slowly NNW
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Aug 19, 2011 - 07:48pm PT
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WOW
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Ezra Ellis
Trad climber
North wet, and Da souf
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Aug 19, 2011 - 09:35pm PT
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Awesome pics survival, love the mother and son pic.
I'm guessing that Layton got some shrinkage in the tuolome water?
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JMC
climber
the land of milk and honey
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Aug 19, 2011 - 09:56pm PT
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Total nectar, and a welcome dose of CA/Sierra/Tuolomne greatness. Thanks Mssr. Survival. As for your pic "big hunk of stone, north of Bishop?", That looks like the haunches of Olancha Peak to me, right across from the crystal geyser siphon in Olancha/Cartago speedtrap. Keep 'em coming man!
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Fritz
Social climber
Choss Creek, ID
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Aug 19, 2011 - 11:28pm PT
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Survival! Your trip reports and photos are always GREAT!
Thank you for taking the time to post those awesome photos!
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donini
Trad climber
Ouray, Colorado
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Aug 19, 2011 - 11:49pm PT
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Very nice photos, looks like you had a great time.
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this just in
climber
Justin Ross from North Fork
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Aug 20, 2011 - 03:34am PT
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Front page bump for the 20th. Something good to wake up to.
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survival
Big Wall climber
Terrapin Station
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Author's Reply
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Aug 20, 2011 - 03:42am PT
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Hey TJI, I'm up too!!!
The dood still looks pretty fit for fiddy sumpthin'
Can never remember the name of this one....
Amber touches El Cap for the first time.
We ran into a local tribesman. His name was Chicken Skinner or something. He was very friendly since we tried hard to speak the local dialect.
Can't believe it's been so long.......
The beauty of Middle still slays me.
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this just in
climber
Justin Ross from North Fork
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Aug 20, 2011 - 03:56am PT
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Man I love hanging out by the captain, it's spiritual for sure. Cool to see you reunited with old friends and experiencing it with your family. Cheers Bruce.
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drljefe
climber
El Presidio San Augustin del Tucson
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Aug 20, 2011 - 04:11am PT
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Sorry to butt in on your little late night bromance! Ha!
Very nice Bruce!
Nice trip.
I sure could use a roadie like that.
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Ezra Ellis
Trad climber
North wet, and Da souf
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Aug 20, 2011 - 06:44pm PT
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Great pics bruce, TFPU!!!
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neebee
Social climber
calif/texas
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Aug 20, 2011 - 06:50pm PT
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hey there say, survival....
wow, very very nice....
say, i will be back to see the pics, later, though...
also, say, is your mom doing well???
post a new thread, so we can share your victory for her wellness...
god blesss...
:)
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Patrick Oliver
Boulder climber
Fruita, Colorado
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Aug 20, 2011 - 07:17pm PT
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I don't think I've seen anything so beautiful
on Supertopo, anything that captures all that's important,
that goes into the deep, every-changing yet eternal beauty
of Tuolumne and Yosemite. And we are reminded that
every look at these places belongs to the looker alone,
even as he or she shares such experience in word or
photo. I look into these pictures and, first of all,
remember my resplendent friendship with survival, how
good he has been to me, and my little buddy Amber,
who awaits some poetry, and the whole family. Then
I think of my own experiences there, in Tuolumne
with Higgins and Bachar and others, so many seasons
in the Valley, and so many friends. There is a tender
moment in the fine movie "A River Runs Through It," where
the father and brothers muse by the side of the
river, and the older brother begins to know the moment won't
last. At no time in my own life have I ever felt closer
to such a truth....
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survival
Big Wall climber
Terrapin Station
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Author's Reply
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Aug 20, 2011 - 08:46pm PT
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Thanks again everyone.
Pat, wow that was really nice. You put into words what I was trying to find with the camera.
I really tried to capture something different here and there, because I knew I wasn't going to really climb. The camera became my climbing outlet.
Wait til you see a few from the Upper Falls, Yosemite Creek and NV. There are a few real keepers in there.
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survival
Big Wall climber
Terrapin Station
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Author's Reply
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Aug 29, 2011 - 02:29pm PT
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Captain...or Skully
climber
Boise, ID
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Aug 29, 2011 - 02:34pm PT
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Lovin' it. I could look at YoValley pics all day.
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squishy
Mountain climber
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Aug 29, 2011 - 03:46pm PT
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every time I check out this TR it grows, keep it coming dude, nice pics...
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survival
Big Wall climber
Terrapin Station
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Author's Reply
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Sep 10, 2011 - 03:51pm PT
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UP NEXT, UPPER FALLS DAY!
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survival
Big Wall climber
Terrapin Station
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Author's Reply
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Sep 13, 2011 - 01:27pm PT
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wayne burleson
climber
Amherst, MA
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Sep 10, 2011 - 04:17pm PT
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Beautiful photos in this thread!
What kind of camera?
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survival
Big Wall climber
Terrapin Station
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Author's Reply
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Sep 13, 2011 - 01:43pm PT
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NICE POST eKatPoetWoman!!
I've got some killer pix coming up soon. Errrr in a bit...er later?
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survival
Big Wall climber
Terrapin Station
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Author's Reply
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Sep 10, 2011 - 06:36pm PT
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survival
Big Wall climber
Terrapin Station
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Author's Reply
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Sep 10, 2011 - 07:43pm PT
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I was on the team that blew this stone off the upper falls trail. Took care of the blasters for days up there.
My blown stone on the trail...
Damn it's a long way up here...BONSAI!!!
Clouds are us.
Amber, upper falls overlook!!!!
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survival
Big Wall climber
Terrapin Station
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Author's Reply
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Sep 10, 2011 - 09:01pm PT
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Upper Falls Via Ferrata!!!!
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mctwisted
Trad climber
e.p.
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Sep 10, 2011 - 09:15pm PT
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wow!, great images, very cool
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survival
Big Wall climber
Terrapin Station
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Author's Reply
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Sep 13, 2011 - 12:59pm PT
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Top-O-The-Falls!!
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survival
Big Wall climber
Terrapin Station
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Author's Reply
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Sep 13, 2011 - 01:23pm PT
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Can you tell I fell in love with this rock?
Old man couldn't pull the lip!!!
Whoooaaaaa....
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KP Ariza
climber
SCC
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Sep 13, 2011 - 03:00pm PT
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That sums it up. No time to get to the park this year and this TR will almost suffice.....thanks for the images.
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survival
Big Wall climber
Terrapin Station
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Author's Reply
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Sep 13, 2011 - 03:36pm PT
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I love making somebody's day!
FREEKIN' COOL HOLES !!!
Survival takes a looksee.
REFRESHED!
Spot the Helo?
Spot the Helo Pt II?
A sacred pinch of Grandpa goes for a flight over the Upper Falls........WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!
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survival
Big Wall climber
Terrapin Station
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Author's Reply
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Sep 14, 2011 - 01:45pm PT
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Swerv
climber
Eagle River, AK
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Yo Bro. What an amazing journey! Your photography is as awesome as your artwork (painting, carving, woodwork, etc). I never saw a reply to what type of camera you use. Give my love to the family. The kids are so big now and Jill as beautiful as ever. Miss you guys.
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Patrick Oliver
Boulder climber
Fruita, Colorado
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Thanks, Bruce, for those images. I feel like I need another
trip south, to my friends in New Mexico....
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EdBannister
Mountain climber
13,000 feet
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Thanks
For
Posting!
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this just in
climber
Justin Ross from North Fork
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Occupy Bump.
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survival
Big Wall climber
Terrapin Station
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Author's Reply
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Oct 6, 2011 - 12:15pm PT
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Thanks all.
Swerv, it's just a little Nikon 4600.
Dood, it's done by dragging the gamma down, rather than bumping saturation up.
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J. Werlin
Social climber
Cedaredge, CO
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That was so good it hurt.
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JEleazarian
Trad climber
Fresno CA
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That was so good it hurt.
Amen! Thank you so much for these wonderful pictures.
John
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philo
climber
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I am DIG, DIG, DIGGIN' this TR. I sure hope it continues for a long time. TFPU Bruce!!
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