Russell Johnson

New Oil of Fossil Creek

2012-02-14T19:15:00.002-07:00

This painting was done on Jan 29th, my birthday present to myself (I mean to say, the time in the studio was want I wanted to do on my birthday). It was done in oil with a palette knife, measures 12x16 inches, and depicts Fossil Creek in late afternoon. I don't have a title yet... maybe, "Autumn at Fossil Creek."

Winter at the Grand Canyon

2012-02-13T20:03:00.002-07:00

The afternoon at the Grand Canyon yesterday was spectacular! It is always doubtful what the Canyon will look like on a stormy day: socked in with clouds or just overcast with no sun light. We were lucky! Snow flurries moved in and swept through the Canyon and the clouds broke to let the sun play with color and light on the cliff walls. Denise and I walked on the Rim Trail from Mather Point to Yaki Point, enjoying the pockets of solitude. We stuck around for sunset and a watched as the fog rolled in. How quickly the weather changed and the fog blew away for a few moments to let us see what it decided to reveal to us. Amazing!

snow blowing through

from Yaki Point

another flurry of snow, near Bright Angel trailhead

Lookout Studio

sheets of blowing snow far below

fog and susnet at Powell Point

drama!

An amazing afternoon at the Grand Canyon!

2012-02-12T21:19:00.002-07:00

Denise and I have mentioned to each other over the past few weeks that we need to make it up to the Grand Canyon. Yesterday morning we checked the weather for the Canyon: Snow! Yep, we are going! We were rewarded with wintry weather and breath-taking views of clouds and weather in the Canyon. I have 250 photos to edit... so here's is just one image for your enjoyment.

Birthday Hike

2012-01-27T17:02:00.001-07:00

My birthday isn't until Sunday... I chose to go on a birthday hike today at Grapevine Springs. Here are my favorite pics:

Two New Paintings

2012-01-26T21:39:00.003-07:00

8x12" oil, palette knife, "Sunset from Mather Point"

8x10" oil, "Winter at Thumb Butte"

A quick trip up to Minnesota

2012-01-24T20:28:00.001-07:00

I flew up to MN with my Mom to spend some time with my Grandma and help Grandma celebrate her 91st birthday. I flew to Duluth from Mesa and tried to enjoy the bitter cold winter in lovely Northern Minnesota.

Sunrise from Grandma's apartment window, paper mill on the horizon

my beautiful Grandma

went for a walk in the snow

Weekend in Sedona - Sterling Pass Trail

2012-01-15T20:39:00.000-07:00

This past weekend was spent in scenic Sedona, a good time ofyear to go with tourist season at a slower pace. We arrived mid-afternoon onFriday, walking through art galleries and checking out downtown. A sales ladytried to scam me on a free tour to an archaeological site normally valued at$99 per person. All I had to do was spend a morning listening to a times sharetalk at a Sedona resort, plus I could come back for another weekend and stayfree. Sounds great, right? Wrong! I pulled out my view book I brought with totantalize galleries to exhibit my paintings and tried to sell her a painting. Ithink she got the point. I told her you are trying to sell me something and soI will try to sell you something in return. Haha! Apparently, neither of uswere interested in each other’s wares. We checked into our place of respite,the Briar Patch Inn, a wonderful place in Oak Creek Canyon. We had our ownlittle cabin (the Inn puts on a killer buffet breakfast). We then drove on SchneblyHill road to watch the sunset. Mid-morning Saturday, we ventured up to SterlingPass and back down to Vultee Arch. The hike was great! Right away, the trailwent straight up into a side canyon off of Oak Creek Canyon through a burn outarea. Snow and ice provided some hazards, Denise slipped and earned a souveniron her wrist (nothing serious, just a scrape). The trail gained almost 1200feet in the first 1.2 miles up to Sterling Pass, and then back down again tomeet up with Vultee Arch trail. We walked on the arch, and felt the dizzying "vortex"there (I really don't think vortexes exist, people claim they experience avortex after a long hike and felt dizzy from Sedona's energy vortexes...whatever works for you). I do believe in being taken away by extraordinaryscenery, a possible experience on the sublime; a transformative orawe-inspiring experience of nature's splendor. After lunch, we re-traced oursteps, slipping again on the ice, and back to our cozy little cabin. Sundaymorning, today, we awoke to an overcast sky and explored Oak Creek a little.All in all, a wonderful time with my beautiful wife!

nearing Sterling Pass

Denise on Vultee Arch

Oak Creek

My kind of tree!!

Art Show!!

2012-01-07T14:16:00.002-07:00

Dreaming of the Tetons

2011-12-31T12:41:00.002-07:00

Woods Canyon Trail - Sedona

2011-12-27T18:49:00.003-07:00

What a beautiful day! Denise and I decided to celebrate today's warm weather by hiking in Sedona on the Woods Canyon Trail. Starting at the Ranger Station just South of the Village of Oak Creek at about 10:45 AM and up through the gorgeous riparian area of Dry Beaver Creek (definitely not dry). It was chilly this time of morning, but the temps gradually warmed to a pleasent 62 degrees or so. The trail ended as the canyon walls closed in on us and the trail as it is maintained pittered out to boulder hopping. We stopped there next to a large pool of water and listened to the chirping of birds (no buzzing of insects during winter time). The trail was overall relatively easy, with some elevation change and minimal bush-wacking. It was an 8.5 mile round trip hike, taking us about 5 hours. This was a great winter hike, although some mud and cow pies created minor hazards.

manzanita

red rock abstractions

I'm loving my new polarizer lens (my Christmas gift from Denise) and the added depth I can acheive in the water

caught up

we need to try this trail during Fall, the Sycamore trees would look fantastic then

desert Christmas colors

Watson Lake and Cat-tails

2011-12-26T20:19:00.001-07:00

Petroglyphs in Prescott

2011-12-17T14:52:00.001-07:00

Are you aware of these Petroglyphs near Prescott? It took me a couple tries to find them; on trail 95 near Lynx Creek, just north of Lynx Lake. From the trail head, go left, after 3/4 mile on an outcropping of rocks, these petroglyphs can be found. Pretty cool!

antelope?

Recent oil paining "Touch of Light"

2011-12-16T20:29:00.003-07:00

This is an 8x10 inch oil painting done with a pallete knife. This scene is from the North Rim of the Grand Canyon from Point Royal at sunset. The last bit of light was setting the clouds aglow and the canyon was a warm glow of light. Dreamy......

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-16T18:57:00.003-07:00

Snow Hike at Thumb Butte

2011-12-04T18:33:00.001-07:00

yaktrax on and ready to climb

Granite Mountain

looking Southwest

looks like a good image to paint!

Autumn still hanging on

clouds moving in as we were ending our hike

A New Oil Painting "Afterglow"

2011-12-01T19:24:00.001-07:00

8x10" oil painting, palette knife. The last light of the day, an afterglow of radiance as viewed from Point Royal at the North Rim of the Grand Canyon.

Fain Park with Niece and Nephews

2011-11-22T21:48:00.001-07:00

Golden Cottonwoods

Krista

Thane

Derek

the three hikers

11.11.11 at 11:11

2011-11-11T16:18:00.001-07:00

Lucky for me, I have a Friday off! Where were you at 11:11 on 11.11.11? Denise and I were hiking to Fireplace Springs! Here's what we found:

An unusual view of Thumb Butte

I also spent time in my studio, winterizing... plastic over the window and a/c unit and a thick rug at the door to keep cold drafts out. Set the space heater going, good to go!

New Oil - "Autumn's Poem"

2011-11-08T21:04:00.001-07:00

"Autumn's Poem" 11x14 oil, palette knife. The place of reference for this painting is West Fork!

A Couple of New Oil Paintings

2011-11-07T21:42:00.002-07:00

Now that the weather is so chilly, my oil paintings are taking quite a bit longer to dry. These two paintings were completed about a month ago. The first one was painted on site at West Fork, also known as Plein Aire painting. I used a palette knife for the entire painting. The second one is a forest scene off of Senator Highway, "Oak and Aspen" will be it's title. I am not entirely thrilled by it for some reason although the colors are pleasant and pretty. I will stare at it for a while longer or just move on to painting other subjects. With this freezing weather, going into my studio is not so exciting. I use space heaters to warm up the studio, but I need to wait at least a half hour for it to reach a comfy temp. Not too worry, I will get back in my studio next week.

9x12 oil with palette knife, "West Fork Meditation"

8x10 oil, "Oak and Aspen"

A Cold Sunday Afternoon Hike

2011-11-06T20:37:00.003-07:00

This weather certainly changed quick, warm fall weather to cold freezing temps. Cold doesn't mean staying home all day, my wife and I took a couple hour hike north of Thumb Butte. A few fall colors remain plus patches of snow linger in the shade.

Going Black & White

2011-11-05T12:07:00.001-07:00

I miss working in the darkroom, hand developing negatives and enlarging them. I decided to try a few of my recent digital photos as black and whites. Photoshop is like a darkroom, allowing me to dodge and burn, adjust contrast and brightness. The only problem I have is my printer. My first print looked purple. I played with color balance and got them looking like a warm tone paper, but they still have a touch of green to it. If I want to do this more seriously, I will invest in special software to print great black and whites. For now, I mostly use my photos as references for paintings... I still own all of my old film cameras, 35mm, 2x2, and a 4x5. Some day, I will set up a darkroom and do "old-fashioned" photos. Digital is the way to go but the act of making prints by hand is slowly becoming a lost art and I think will be more of a rare thing, thus, giving hand developed photos more value.

Mini Show at the Frame & I Art Gallery

2011-11-03T21:03:00.001-07:00

Stop by my work during November and December to view our "Miniature Masterpieces Show." I have 8 pieces in it, including this Aspen Tree colored pencil drawing! The Frame & I is downtown Prescott at 229 W. Gurley St.

An Afternoon at the Grand Canyon

2011-10-30T20:55:00.001-07:00

We spent the day (Saturday, Oct 29th) traveling with friends to Sedona, Oak Creek, and to the Grand Canyon. Here are a couple pics from the gorgeous sunset from Mather Point.

West Fork of Oak Creek

2011-10-18T20:01:00.000-07:00

I thought Monday would be a great day to miss the crowds at West Fork. Was I ever wrong! I did not get there bright and early, but still, I figured at 10am, there would be a parking spot for me. My first clue was that Sedona itself was hopping with tourists with many out of state cars. I saw someone taking a picture while driving, another with his arm through the sunroof, and cars pulling off to the shoulder to see a view I would consider "okay." The best views of Sedona are those you get by hiking, getting away from homes and cars. Today, I was forced to park a half mile up the road to get into West Fork, hauling two tripods, a paint box, a camera, lunch, water/vitamin water, and other painting gear. I had a spot in mind where I wanted to paint away from the trail and up against a cliff wall. The air was noticeably cold there and once in a while a breeze would blow warm air my way. I was not prepared for cold weather and quickly completed a palette knife study. Not to mention the 120 photos I took along the way. I noticed many elderly folk on the trail and on the way back, a woman had slipped and fallen at the second creek crossing. Paramedics had here stablilized, I heard that she had a possible broken hip. Sad! West Fork is amazing and many seek it's treasures. I think I found a few:

spirals in nature

almost done

Fossil Creek in October

2011-10-17T19:23:00.002-07:00

Denise and I decided to try Fossil Creek in October again. Last year was pleasant during the same time of the month to enjoy Fossil Creek. However, just the week before, we experienced winter-like weather and would not have been a good time to swim at Fossil Creek. For this trip, the weather was warm, a little hot in the sun, yet perfect conditions for cooling off in the fresh, clear waters. Fall colors were beginning and created vibrant reflections in the water. We hiked down mid-morning from the trailhead, 4 miles to the springs, and a little further to find a place to hang out for lunch. We swam, rested, hiked some more, swam at the waterfall, sampled a rope swing, photographed, and headed back up by 5:00 to enjoy the cooler evening temps while hiking back up. A tiring trip and well worth it. I must gripe about seeing trash and abandoned hiking gear. We hauled up extra trash when we could, but the hiking gear would be most difficult with our small packs. I am anxious to see how the authorities choose to manage this area. I am for a permit system. A limited number of permits would be issued any given day to limit use and the money would finance maintenence and pay a Ranger to patrol the trail and camp areas. I dislike seeing trash at Fossil. I didn't photopraph trash, so here my my favs from the trip:

Flashback

2011-10-15T21:41:00.004-07:00

I was browsing through some of my older drawings and came across this portrait from 2004. My High School art teacher, Mr. Murphy, told me that each art piece is a self-portrait because it is a reflection or expression of the artist (I graduated from HS in 1999). This may not look exactly like me, but I consider it a self-portrait. Flashback!

Searching for Fall colors in Flagstaff

2011-10-09T18:39:00.001-07:00

Every year, at about this time of the month, the aspen trees change to golden yellow. I thought this year would be unique after the San Francisco Peaks received a few inches of snow paired up with the golden aspen leaves. However, most of the apsen trees were still green or changing to a brown yellow. It was still a great trip and we found hidden pockets of color as we hiked around. Here are my fav pics from the day.

A couple more mini's

2011-10-07T18:45:00.004-07:00

Here are two more 5x7 oil paintings to be exhibited at the Frame & I Art Gallery for a miniature show during the months of November and December. These were both done with a palette knife. This will be a great show!!

Recent oil, "Breath of Summer"

2011-10-06T19:37:00.001-07:00

This 12x16 inch oil painting, is of a scene engraved in my mind of the lush forests at the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. This was seen/experienced along the Transcept Trail and I love the play of light on the aspen trees and pine branches.

New oil painting!

2011-10-04T18:04:00.003-07:00

This oil painting was completed during the Best Fest, September 17th. I set up my easel to demonstrate oil painting on the sidewalk in front of the Frame & I and assembled a table of my paintings to show off. I hoped to catch the attention of the many thousands of people walking downtown for AZ's centenniel celebration. I was able to stop a few people in their tracks and had a few interested folks. Ladies and gentlemen, I present another palette knife oil painting by Russell Johnson, 11x 14 inches, "Monsoon Sunset from the North Rim."

More Autumn Colors, South of Prescott

2011-10-04T16:14:00.001-07:00

I couldn't get enough of the Fall colors I saw on Sunday south of Prescott. So, today, I drove to the same spot for afternoon lighting and a closer look at the scenery. It was overcast but the colors still appeared vibrant. It is worth the 15 minute drive south of Prescott to enjoy the colors of the season.

Fall Colors Near Prescott

2011-10-02T20:31:00.000-07:00

Sunday afternoon looked like scattered rain showers and otherwise warm. We drove south of Prescott on Senator Highway and spent some time in the cooler high elevations near Mt. Union. The drive there exhibited these wonderful fall colors. The lighting was soft and serene.

A day with kids!

2011-10-01T15:57:00.002-07:00

We borrowed a few (actually four) kids for a couple days to allow Dean & Keilah to relax with their new baby, Elaina. To entertain the kids, we started the morning with a outdoor painting session, then to Granite Basin Lake for a hike and picnic, played at a park, stopped at a couple artists studios who are part of the Mountain Artist Guild Studio Tour, and then back home to make cards and decorate shirts. The day isn't over yet and the kids still aren't worn out, although Donovan took a good two hour nap. I love seeing what kids come up with in artistic projects; they have no caution and really come up with amazing artworks. I think all kids are artists, it's when we grow up and decide we can't draw anymore or someone tells us there is no future in art or any other negative comments. Here are some of my fav pics from today. Enjoy!

Brant

Good Morning, Donovan!

Connor

Captain Underpants

At Granite Basin Lake

Aubrey, Donovan, Connor, and Brant (our very cute niece and nephews)

"we are in a jungle"

some fall colors

shelter from the rain

Art Show!

2011-09-30T18:32:00.000-07:00

I am part of the annual employee art show coming up at the Frame & I Art Gallery, downtown Prescott. The show actually starts on Monday, October 3rd. See ya there!!

"Castle in the Clouds"

2011-09-29T18:30:00.000-07:00

I posted this painting a few weeks ago right when I completed it, however, the photo I took was inadequate to convey how the painting actually looks. I asked Rich Charpentier to color match for me and came up with this awesome representation of my painting, which is a perfect match. Thanks Rich! See Rich's website to learn more about what he does: www.richcharpentier.com. This painting will hang at the Frame & I Art Gallery, downtown Prescott as part of our annual Employee Art Show during the month of October. Stop by and take a look!

Small Scale oil paintings

2011-09-22T21:32:00.000-07:00

Here are a couple mini paintings I did last week in preparation for a miniature show at the Frame & I Art Gallery starting mid November. These two paintings are both done in oil with a palette knife, they measure 5x7 inches. It isn't necessarily easier to paint small, the same elements that make a good painting still apply. I have a few more paintings this size still drying.

Watson Lake at Sunset

Last Light at Watson Lake

Additional Paintings from this Summer

2011-09-09T20:45:00.000-07:00

Here are a couple more paintings I never posted from earlier this summer. Both of these are from a Grand Canyon hike that took place during the first weekend of June on the South Bass Trail.

"Leaving South Bass Camp" 16x16 inch, oil painting with palette knife

"Sunrise from South Bass Trail" 18x24 inch, oil painting with a palette knife

Another new painting to share!

2011-09-08T22:09:00.000-07:00

"Hermit's Rest" 9x12 inch acrylic.

New oil Painting: "Monsoon from Point Imperial"

2011-09-07T22:20:00.000-07:00

18x24" palette knife oil painting, "Monsoon from Point Imperial." I completed this a couple weeks ago. I was craving rain on the day I painted it and decided to paint a rainy, moody painting since the monsoon rains had pittered out. Enjoy!

New Painting!!

2011-09-06T21:51:00.000-07:00

This is a 20x30" acrylic of the Rocky Mountains of Colorado at Maroon Bells National Park. My medium of choice for the past few years was oil, but I was intrigued to use acrylic again after Golden Acrylics came out with their "Open" acrylics. With Open Acrylics, I have more drying time than regular acrylic but not as long as oils. Opens become tacky after about an hour. They are easy to use, washable and thinned withed water. I tentative title for this painting is "Castle in the Clouds."

Oak Creek Canyon

2011-08-20T21:33:00.000-07:00

A warm Saturday afternoon led us to cool off at Oak Creek and search for blackberries. We found Oak Creek Canyon refreshing and loaded with blackberries (at least one particular, very top secret, area). The water was cool and the late afternoon reflections tantalizing. Take a look for yourself:

My brand new paint box!

2011-08-18T21:57:00.001-07:00

Finally, here are a couple photos of my new paint box I made with my father-in-law Loren while up in Washington recently. This paint box is designed to be carried with a shoulder strap and has the capacity to hold up to 4 wet paintings. The palette removes to show ample space to haul brushes, knives, and paint. I plan to take this hiking with me, set up the box on top of a tripod and paint on site, "plein aire." Plein aire is a French term meaning painting outside, on site, and completing a painting study in one standing. Many plein aire painters attach an umbrella to their easel to keep the lighting uniform over their painting. Hopefully, I can just find a spot of shade to stand in. Many people who see my paintings have asked me if I paint plein aire because my loose, vibrant style reminds them of other plein aire paintings they have seen. So, now I'm geared up to do just that! I've included two extra photos of my new cedar fence. I loaded up just about enough cedar planks from my father-in-laws stash to complete this 23 foot section of fence to divide our driveway from the backyard. I really like how it turned out, rustic, varied, and unique.

planted a few things as well

August Art Walk Event, Live Painting Demo

2011-08-12T15:45:00.000-07:00

Trip to the Northwest

2011-08-07T13:15:00.000-07:00

My wife and I traveled to the Northwest for our annual visit to see her family and enjoy some cooler weather. We spent our quick week picking berries, hiking in the woods near my in-laws place, a day trip to the beach, and a day trip to Mt. Rainier. The week flew by as we enjoyed visiting with family and friends we haven't seen for a while. My Father-in-law helped me build a paint box for plein air painting (I will share a pic of it soon).

Mosquito Creek - Longview, WA

Mosquito Creek

Cannon Beach, Oregon

Ecolo State Park, Oregon

Ecola

Spray Park Trail, Mt. Rainier

300 ft Waterfall at Spray Park, Mt. Rainier

Clouds obscured the mountain from a clear view, still lots of snow up there, probably 5 ft drifts at 6200' elevation

Lush forests along Spray Park Trail

Two New Paintings!

2011-07-26T22:02:00.000-07:00

Here are two new palette knife oil paintings, both 8x10 inches. "Eve at Lynx Lake" and "At Maroon Bells National Park."

The North Rim - Day 2, Part 2

2011-07-22T21:29:00.000-07:00

The sunset from Point Imperial was magnificent. When we arrived, rain showers played with the canyon walls and light shimmered on the distant horizon. I wondered if the sun would peek through the clouds behind us for a magical light show. It sure did and a rainbow appeared, creating a dazzling display of color.

The North Rim, Day 2 - Part 1

2011-07-21T19:08:00.000-07:00

On Sunday, we woke up to a few ravens terrorizing the camp at about 6:30. It was partly cloudy, so I thought to check out the canyon from a vantage point near the campground. There were rain showers in the distance and the sun highlighted the Transcept formation. After breakfast, we packed up our camp and checked out because we could not get the same site for both nights, being that we reserved last minute. We hiked the Uncle Jim Trail to return around 11:00 to set up camp again. Later, we went wildflower hunting. The rest of the day was spent relaxing and reading a novel. A cloud cover formed over us and it looked like rain. No rain. We had planned to drive 18 miles to Point Sublime but the road was closed due to fires. The next blog will be of Sunday nights sunset from Point Imperial...

My dependable 4Runner, over 206,000 miles and going strong!

The North Rim, Day 1

2011-07-20T21:16:00.000-07:00

We arrived to the campground around 1pm, set up, and went for a stroll along the Transcept Trail to the lodge. We returned to our campsite to enjoy the shade underneath the quaking aspen trees. After dinner, we drove to Point Imperial and then to Cape Royal to watch the sunset.

from Cape Royal

from our campsite

from Cape Royal

last light, from Cape Royal looking West

from Cape Royal

Angel's Window

A Weekend at the North Rim

2011-07-18T20:15:00.000-07:00

This past weekend was spent camping and hiking at the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. There are many things to like about the North Rim. The only downside is the 5 hour drive. Other than that, comparing it to the South Rim, the North Rim is quieter, cooler, more densely forested, and quieter (this deserves mentioning twice!). Sunday morning, for example, we hiked on Uncle Jim Trail and only saw 2 other groups of people. Experiencing the Grand Canyon in isolation and quiet allowed for a more meditative experience. My wife and I enjoyed a sunset all to ourselves at Point Imperial last night. I have 450+ photos to sort through and edit. Here is one of my favorites from our first sunset of the weekend from Point Royal. The monsoonal clouds were amazing! More to come...

Lynx Lake, go around again!

2011-07-13T21:34:00.000-07:00

Hiking around Lynx Lake has become a weekly event. I don't I will ever become bored of this place, especially during the evening hours when the light is never the same. This time, we were given a special treat: a moonrise during sunset. Did you know that parking is free on Wednesday's at all of the National Forest areas around Prescott? Even so, the lake was quiet with only a few people.

Moonrise!

MONSOON!

2011-07-09T21:31:00.002-07:00

It is amazing to witness nature's fury as the rain downpours in sheets and lightning shakes the earth. All day today, the clouds looked as if they were building up to something but nothing happened. After dinner, I was photographing the clouds and enjoying the abstract shapes they formed. The downpour came suddenly and lasted a good 15 minutes, leaving almost a half inch of rain in its wake. My wife and I drove to a viewpoint on Glassford Hill to watch the lightning to the South and East. I got a few lucky photographs of the lightning! Hurray for the Monsoon!

The calm before the storm

Another Round at Lynx Lake

2011-07-06T21:43:00.000-07:00

The air was fresh from recent rain, moist and heavy. The water was quiet and the light soft, pink and pale orange. Solitude and refreshment. The humidity was new from last weeks hike around the lake, a welcome moisture even with it's stickiness.

Colorado Trip Part 2

2011-07-05T20:36:00.000-07:00

Maroon Bells

Cascades at The Grottos

Ice Caves

The Grottos

Rifle Falls

Trip to Colorado Part 1

2011-07-05T18:10:00.000-07:00

This past weekend, my wife and I traveled to Colorado to visit family and do some sightseeing/hiking. On the way, we stopped at Arches National Park. It was toasty there, 95 degrees. We stopped at a few spots and took short hikes. In Colorado, we hiked to Hanging Lake, a small lake of bright blue waters and numerous waterfalls.

Back from Colorado!!

2011-07-05T09:15:00.000-07:00

Our quick weekend in Colorado was a blast! My wife and I were able to enjoy the beautiful Roaring Fork Valley and other places around Aspen. Here is a teaser photograph from our trip with a promise of more to come. This is a view from the Maroon Bells area.

New Palette Knife Oil Painting

2011-06-30T18:50:00.000-07:00

"Sunrise from South Bass," 8x10" palette knife oil painting. This is a study for a larger painting I completed last weekend. The subject is from my Grand Canyon trip earlier this month on the South Bass trail. It was early morning, 6am, overcast and soft lighting. The clouds began to break up and the sun spotlit this scene for me to be inspired to paint.

Evening at Lynx Lake

2011-06-28T21:41:00.000-07:00

A hike around Lynx Lake in the evening is gorgeous! We arrived at the South shore at 7pm, and began walking on the un-paved portion of the trail that follows the East side of the lake. My favorite spot for photos is where Lynx Creek flows into the lake, although the creek was not flowing today. The water was still and the sunlight was orange. We saw a blue heron that didn't allow me to get near enough for a photo. This is one of the best times to hike around the lake because it is so quiet, hardly anyone else was there. The trick is to not park on the North shore because the host likes to lock up the gate around 7:30. The hike around the lake is 3 miles and can take 45 minutes or up to an 1.5 hours. What are you waiting for?

I would have traded places with this fellow. I am itching to get a kayak of my own...

New Oil Painting

2011-06-27T18:46:00.000-07:00

11x14" palette knife oil painting, "From Havasupai Point."

Watson Woods on a hot summer day!

2011-06-26T20:59:00.000-07:00

What is there to do on a hot summer day in Prescott, AZ? Wanting not to spend the hot afternoon being a couch potato in a cool, air-conditioned home, we decided to go to Watson Woods Riparian Preserve. This place is a gem! Many times I visit here for inspiration and to be amazed by nature's resilience. About a year and a half ago, a huge flood ripped through Watson Woods and it's bouncing back! I especially enjoy bringing young ones here to discover and explore. We found lady bugs, a toad, two snakes, a maze through the reeds, spongy ground, some trash, and an eagle roosting in a far-off Cottonwood tree. The air feels cooler there and refreshing. We are so fortunate to have this place to visit and to benefit from.

New Oil Painting

2011-06-20T21:52:00.000-07:00

A recently completed oil painting: 14x18" oil on canvas, palette knife. "Lynx Lake Spring."

Snippets of my weekend at the Grand Canyon & Sunset Crater

2011-06-19T22:00:00.000-07:00

Went on a day hike on Hermit Trail to the Santa Maria Springs

The figurative shape of this tree intrigued me. I suspect this will be transformed into a painting soon.

Watching the sunset from Mather Point, followed by star gazing as a participant of the Star Party. We looked through telescopes at Saturn, star clusters, and other stars. Cool!

Lava Flow Trail in Sunset Crater.

Kachina Trail

2011-06-15T22:02:00.000-07:00

A quick post of a photo from a hike from a few weeks back on the Kachina Trail that skirts along the southwest corner of the San Francisco Peaks. The red bark of the Ponderosa tree attracted my attention against the white and greet aspens.

Beaver Creek

2011-06-12T21:53:00.000-07:00

Beaver Creek is one of our (my wife and I) favorite summer spots to cool off. It was about 95 degrees out, but the Riparian area of Beaver Creek is considerably cooler feeling with ample shade and cool waters. I knew of a swimming hole with a rope swing and invited a few of my nieces and nephews along. We had a great time exploring, swimming, and relaxing on the warm rocks.

I love roots!

We found a ruin, a rock home. Here is my nephew Derek surveying the creek.

My niece Shana having a blast!

My niece Nicole, climbing with monkey skills.

Grand Canyon Hike Pt. 5

2011-06-12T21:34:00.000-07:00

Here are a few more pictures from my hike on the South Bass Trail a week ago to conclude my series of blog entries about this trip. I enjoyed every minute of being at the Grand Canyon and am already planning my next hike!

Early morning on the way out

Heading a few miles up the trail for our second night, during the evening

Went on a short day hike near the river. Dean enjoying the shade!

Plenty of lizards

Grand Canyon Hike Pt. 4

2011-06-07T21:09:00.001-07:00

The first evening in the Grand Canyon was peaceful as the light softened and shadows delineated the ridges of canyon formations. Here are a few of my favorite shots from the evening. I carried my tripod all this way, I needed to put it to use.

a sand critter!

Grand Canyon Hike Pt. 3

2011-06-07T17:13:00.001-07:00

The South Bass Trail descends quickly, after three miles we are at the top of the Redwall. After about a mile of scrambling through boulders, shrubs, and cactus we were hiking along the wash leading to the river. I didn't see a rattler but we heard a few in the bushes warning us to keep back, which we gladly obliged. By this time, the weather was quite warm, and we stopped to cool off in whatever shade we could find. The river doesn't come soon enough, it seems we will never get there as the trail winds across the wash. Finally, we can hear the roar of rapids and can see the river below us. The last descent to the river is through the hot, black Vishnu Schist rock. We passed an old metal boat left on the boulders and finally made it to the beach for a quick dip in the river. The water is very cold but refreshing.

in the Redwall

rafters who shared our beach for a short time, they offered to take any trash we had and refills for our water bottles

a grandpa lizard

a view of our camp

Grand Canyon Hike Pt. 2

2011-06-06T21:40:00.000-07:00

To begin the 7.5 mile hike down to the river, we woke up at 4:15 AM to get a head start on the impending heat expected at the bottom of 95 degrees. The morning temperature was predicted to be 35 at the village, but we were slightly lower in elevation and it felt more like 45. The sky was overcast and the sun illuminated the canyon beautifully. There were ten of us on this hike, four adults, four teens, and two at the ages of ten and twelve. I first started hiking the Canyon myself at the age of thirteen on this same trail. This hike was more fourth on the South Bass Trail and my fourteenth multi-day hike with plans for many more. The morning was brisk and the trail descended quickly to warmer weather. We took many breaks and enjoyed our time. These next pictures are of the first mile of the trail, which was trimmed by wild flowers. When I hiked the Canyon in my teens, it was always with a group of similar aged youth as well as a few adults. We were taught the importance of staying on the trail, respecting nature, being responsible, and enjoying our time together through good times and difficult. We could help each other if the other struggled, offer words of encouragement and motivation. Backpacking is not for the faint of heart. I learned that it requires two kinds of abilites: mind and body. If I thought how much I wanted to complete the hike and wish for the physical excertion to be over, I found it less than fun. On the other hand, if I stopped to assess what I have accomplished by looking back to where I came from and take in the natural wonders as well, the experience became most enjoyable. I plan group trips to include younger people to give them the same oppurtunity I had and share my passion toward the place.

5:30 AM at the trailhead

Darren securing a water jug to his pack to cache partway down

young hikers taking in the view

Grand Canyon Hike Pt. 1

2011-06-05T18:47:00.001-07:00

A group of friends and I recently completed a three-day hike on the South Bass Trail, staying two nights at the Colorado River and in the Canyon. We arrived a day early to allow for extra time to get to the trailhead via a 30 mile dirt road requiring a high-clearance vehicle in places (easy work for my trusty 4Runner). After dinner, we drove out to Havusapai Point to watch the sunset. We were rewarded with a panoramic view and a sunset exhibiting vibrant colors. Here are a few of my favorites. I will continue posting selections from my trip during this week.

Watson Lake at Sunset

2011-05-21T14:45:00.000-07:00

Watson Lake is a picturesque place of curious granite boulders, high desert plant life, and reflective waters. During mid-day, the sun brightly reflects off the rocks, but during sunset with dramatic clouds overhead, the raking light of the sun sets the rocks aglow. During this particular evening of May 20th, 2011, the lake was in complete shade as the sun was blocked by a massive cloud. I knew the sun would show through a gap in the clouds eventually. The moment came, and I was not disapointed. Here are five of my favorite shots:

Tonto Natural Bridge State Park

2011-05-15T12:57:00.000-07:00

Tonto Natural Bridge is a hidden gem in Arizona. It is a state park and worthwhile spending a few hours exploring. We only had one hour, so we hiked the steep 1/2 mile into the canyon to get under the bridge. It resembles an outdoor cave with mineral deposits and petrified moss/lichen formations. A spring from above rained on our heads. This place is ancient! Next time you are driving by this place between Camp Verde and Payson, stop in for a quick visit and support our State Parks.

Horton Springs

2011-05-15T10:26:00.000-07:00

Horton Springs Trail is fifteen miles east of Payson. I've driven past this area so many times without stopping and had no idea the beauty that resides there. It is at the Upper Tonto Recreation Area; picnic spots, camping, hiking, and places to play in the creek. At the start of the trail, there was little or no water in Horton Creek, then suddenly we could hear the fall of water. The water must go underground at some point because there is pleny of water in Horton Creek. The area is lush, forested, and verdent. Other people were playing in the water, but it seemed a little cold for that, although it was almost 80 degrees. We made it to the springs around lunch time (I forgot our sandwiches in the fridge so we only snacked on pretzels), finding the spring gushing out of a small opening in the rock. I will definitely come back!

I have no idea what these are.

Minature Niagara

vibrant greens

At Horton Springs

Grand Falls

2011-05-14T21:41:00.000-07:00

I always wanted to check out the Grand "Chocolate" Falls, recently mentioned in the Arizona Highways Magazine as looking like something out of Willie Wonka. To our dismay, it was dry! We hiked down to the water to get a closer look and the kids didn't mind the water. There was plenty of thick, juicy mud probably from recent silt deposits. We will have to make it back after a heavy rain and/or snowmelt.

My niece Aubrey on the quicksand beach

My nephew Connor wondering how deep?

Volcanic Rock

An Expressive Tree

2011-04-26T15:45:00.000-07:00

I have always been attracted to gnarled, deformed trees. I like a tree that is scary, mysterious, and alive. This oak was found near Lynx Creek while hiking, just north of Lynx Lake. The arms of the tree are twisted and look like tentacles searching for a victim. Maybe I should write fiction, it would certainly be a nice break from scholarly writing. Perhaps the strong Spring-time winds shaped this tree?

Aspen Creek Trail (Winter's last revenge)

2011-04-10T18:09:00.001-07:00

This latest storm brought snow to the Prescott area, but we couldn't just sit on our duffs this weekend. I have free time on my hands! I have about another week of waiting for feedback on my thesis draft. Instead of stressing about how my reviewer may not like my writing, we just had to get outside (even if our warm spring weather was put on hold for a few days). We drove west on Copper Basin Road to the Aspen Creek Trail #48. The weather was warm enough, but the trail was squishy and slushy with snow. The trees pelted us with snowballs as we passed underneath. After about a mile a panoramic view of the Bradshaw Mountains opens up. A nice day to be out even if it meant getting a little wet. Here in Arizona, I am happy to get any kind of moisture, especially if we have dry weather from now until Monsoon season.

Spring and winter blending

Moss on the North facing branches of this Alligator Juniper

Baby Ferns

Manzanita

The Bradshaw Mountains

Spring has Sprung!

2011-04-03T13:52:00.000-07:00

Spring is in full swing in Prescott! Despite the windy weather, the warm air and blossoming trees are sweet smells easily uplifting me out of the brown/cold winter. Our tulips and daffodils have opened, attracting my camera and lovely butteflies. Our pear trees in our backyard are shimmering in a white veil of blossoms, swarming with bees and attracting butterflies as well. All this pollen and wind does wonders to my sinuses and eyes, meaning giving me a fuzzy head. Oh well, this changing season brings with it optimism as I finalize my thesis for the goal of graduating mid-may.

Courthouse, Downtown Prescott

Pear Tree Blossoms

Daffodil, soft focus

A Tulip Chair

Tulips, photographed through a drinking glass

Tulips and water

Tulips photographed through a drinking glass

Iris and water

ready to bloom

Daffodil

Hiking Badger Springs

2011-03-20T09:46:00.000-07:00

Hiking to the Agua Fria River on the Badger Springs trail on a windy Saturday was a way to catch more allergies and check out a new place. This was a small reward after working 2 weeks on my thesis, a day trip to the Agua Fria National Monument. The hike down to the river was an easy one mile. Looking up to the left, petroglyphs grace the rock wall. The trail from here is mostly boulder hopping and crossing the river a few times. We went on for another mile up river, finding cactus blooms and a biggie sized suguaro. On our way home, we stopped in at Arcosanti, my wife's first time there. It is worth a visit to experience an innovative urban city. The allergies that came on later that evening were unsatisfactory, but the cactus blooms made it all worth it.

Apex dome at Arcosanti

Signs of Spring

2011-03-15T20:54:00.000-07:00

The air is warming, buds are bursting, the grass is green, the lakes are full, the creeks are chortling, and I am enjoying it (despite the pollen).

Buds at Lynx Creek

Falls at Lynx Creek, south of Lynx Lake

On the shores of Lynx Lake

Moss in the Dells

Watson Lake Dam, overflowing

Lichen, in the Dells

My Studio

2011-03-05T18:22:00.001-07:00

This is where I create! It is a small space but very functional. It measures about 8x18 ft, well lit, with enough wall space to hang finished paintings and paintings in progress. I have a separate work table for working on my laptop, reviewing photos, sketching, and finishing picture frames. A glass-topped table serves as my pallette. My wife made the lovely burnt orange curtains for a touch of color. I installed a wall unit air-conditioner and heat it with a space heater. A few years ago, I insulated this space and hung plywood. Recently, I finally finished the room by chaulking, trimming, and painting. Before, the room also doubled as a storage room (all of that junk went into the shed). It was time to devote this space exclusively to my art-making. Well, I did leave the bike helmets hanging in there, a reminder to get out and enjoy beautiful AZ.

These coffee cans contain my paint thinner.

A screen door lets the fresh air in and the bugs out. Looks like my thesis is being worked on! I better get back to it.

Art Exhibition Coming Soon!

2011-02-21T17:09:00.000-07:00

Just about a week until my show starts at the Frame & I Art Gallery in beautiful downtown Prescott.

Snow-Shoeing Smith Ravine

2011-02-20T18:57:00.000-07:00

Birthday Hike

2011-01-29T16:50:00.002-07:00

For my birthday, I chose to hike the Grapevine Trail to check out the waterfall at the end. The late morning light was great for photographing slow speed images. Here are some of my favorites. We were surprised to find the waterfall was frozen, exhibiting an awesome cascading ice sculpture. Happy Birthday to me!!

New Oil Painting - West Fork Reflections

2011-01-24T21:21:00.000-07:00

I've really enjoyed my winter break from grad school, especially having time to paint in the studio. This 16x20 inch oil was painted only with a pallette knife. When I started painting, I was using a brush but decided the pallette knife would create the kind of effects I wanted. This is part of West Fork, about 2.5 miles in, where a natural dam of logs created this reflecting pool. The sun was illuminating the autumn colors on the opposite bank that were reflected in the quiet waters. There is some movement in the water in the lower right, where a red leaf floats on the surface. This was a lot of fun to paint! Now, I must get back to revising my thesis and save up another bucket full of painting ideas for this summer. Who knows, I might find some free time to whip up another painting while my thesis is being reviewed.

Wolf Creek Falls

2011-01-23T21:27:00.000-07:00

With all of the recent snow and melting runoff, my wife and I were interested to check out Wolf Creek Falls. The waterfall was not heavy but the weather was perfect for a hike. I lugged down a tripod to capture these pics. The last few images are actually Hassayampa Creek not much further downstream from the falls.

West Fork Oil Painting

2011-01-21T18:32:00.000-07:00

This tranquil scene is one of my favorite spots to hike to at West Fork. I am impressed by the sloping red cliff, the crystal clear waters, and the backlit rock formations and trees. This oil painting is 16x20 inches, using a combination of brush and palette knife. I strive for a painterly effect with realistic lighting and vibrant colors as I remembered this view. I did work from a photo but am not a slave to it, also referring to a charcoal value study sketch. This sounds like an appropriate title: "West Fork Autumn."

Diversity of Arizona

2011-01-20T20:22:00.001-07:00

Arizona is a state of diverse climates and environments. As an example, below are two photos taken within a 3 hour drive of each other. The first is from the Superstition Mountains, southeast of Phoenix, and the second is the San Francisco Peaks near Flagstaff. For a nature lover such as me, the variety of sights is inspiring and always refreshing. Just last weekend, I visited the Superstitions for the first time. I feel sorry to be saying this since I am an Arizona native. What kept me away? Well, for one, I must drive through Phoenix... I prefer the less crowded Northern Arizona for my hiking adventures. Right now and during the next two months is a great time of year to hike in the desert, spring is already starting there. The image of the SF Peaks was from New Year's Day while snowshoeing just East of Flagstaff. So, within a couple weeks of each other, I experienced a high of about 35 in Flagstaff to about 75 in Phoenix. If you live in AZ and can't stand the weather or would like a change, just drive a couple hours to a different climate zone. Enjoy AZ!

Painting Snow

2011-01-18T21:15:00.000-07:00

In an earlier blog, I mentioned painting snow and felt inspired to paint this scene. My wife and I snow-shoed to this spot after receiving about a foot of snow. New fallen snow is a beautiful blanket creating graceful contours of the rocks and bushes it has covered. Here, Lynx Creek is partially covered with ice and rays of sun filter through the trees highlighting the far bank of the creek. I wanted to portray this kind of light. Painting snow is actually quite fun. I enjoyed trying warm and cool colors to define the shape and mass of the snow, using pale yellow to suggest high spots where light is hitting, blues and purples in the shadow areas. The finished size of this oil painting is 18x24 inches.

Prescott, AZ

2011-01-10T19:39:00.000-07:00

I thought to share this picture because it really personifies Prescott. This is at the south side of the courthouse, Christmas lights still grace the trees, "Cowboy at Rest" speaks of Prescott's early history, and a gorgeous sunset behind Thumb Butte is a common occurance. I am fortnuate to live in Prescott around such beautiful history and scenery!

Snow Day

2010-12-30T21:53:00.000-07:00

Here are a few pictures from snow-shoeing near Lynx Lake after a winter storm in AZ. The last picture is of Mingus Mountain looking over Prescott Valley, not part of the snow-shoeing hike. I have an itch to try painting snow. I've heard it can be difficult, it is not simply using white paint but an appropriate color reflected on the snow. Enjoy!

Cabin at Phantom Ranch

2010-12-30T21:21:00.000-07:00

This painting is a little late for Christmas, but here it is at last. Oil paint tends to take about four times longer to dry in the winter, hence the tardiness of this image. I can't say too much about this painting because it was a comission from a photo I did not take. Nonetheless, I put a little of my own experiences into the painting knowing how this place looks since my wife and I stayed two nights in one of these quaint cabins last March. They have two bunkbeds, a small bathroom and sink, a heater, and airy windows. The photo I worked from was from the a few weeks before Christmas and each cabin had a wreath on the door. The painting is 9x12" using a combination of brush and palette knife.

A few recent paintings!

2010-11-06T18:14:00.000-07:00

Here are three recent studio oil paintings. "Blue Juniper" and "Bright Angel" are available, however "Ponderosa" is already called for (but I could make prints of it if you are interested). I posted images of two of these already, but today they were dry enough to scan in at high resolution. Enjoy!

"Blue Juniper" 11x14

"Bright Angel" 9x12

"Ponderosa" 12x16

Walking in an Autumn Wonderland

2010-11-06T17:16:00.000-07:00

Autumn in Arizona is not complete without hiking at West Fork, North of Sedona, a side canyon of Oak Creek. I talked my wife into waking up at 6am to beat the rush at the parking lot. A couple years ago, we waited one hour to get a parking spot. West Fork is popular this time of year and there are many reasons why, but mostly it is a stunning canyon! We hiked the full three miles before the canyon narrows to the point that we would have to wade in water. It was too cold for that but I will come back in the summer to do the full 11 miles sometime soon (I hope). When we arrived, it was cold, about 38 degrees, but the soft light was marvelous. I can't wait to work on painting these awesome sights I caught on camera. Sure enough, by the time we left at noon-thirty, a line of cars six deep were waiting to park. By the way, parking there is now a whoppin' ten bucks, but it is well worth it.

Thesis Show

2010-11-04T20:16:00.002-07:00

Winter in the Grand Canyon

2010-10-26T14:48:00.002-07:00

Here is a recent 9x12" oil painting inspired from a hike last March. It was an overcast day but the sun was illuminating the snow on the south rim. This was about a mile down-trail from Indian Gardens, as my wife and I made our way back to the south rim after spending two nights at Phantom Ranch. In my painting, I really wanted to emphasize the soft light of this wintery morning. I have included the photo and sketch below, sources for my painting.

Finishing Touches

2010-10-25T19:29:00.001-07:00

After a few weeks of checking out my painting on my living room wall and a valuable critique by an artist friend, I made the finishing touches on my big Grand Canyon painting. The changes may seem minor but they helped keep the center of interest just that, the most important area of the painting without other areas distracting from it. In case you haven't guessed, the focal area is the bright orange and red area in the center/left portion. I did a little darkening around the juniper tree on the bottom left, darkened the little pink cliff near the lower left, made the sweeping purple clouds less purple and lighter, and simplified the lower right corner. Compare them for yourself with the image below. My thesis presenation will be on November 19th if anyone is interested, 3:00-3:50 in the Chapel Room at Prescott College. This painting and the artwork leading up to it will also be on display, hopefully for the weekend of November 19-21 also in the Chapel Room. Wish me luck!

Fireplace Springs

2010-10-24T19:09:00.001-07:00

When I thought I knew of all of the trails in Prescott, I found another gem. I heard about Fireplace Springs from a friend and decided to find it. This trail was not in any of my books but I found it on Sharlot Hall Museum's website, of all places. Check it out: http://sharlot.org/archives/maps/trailmaps/index.html. My wife and I parked at the Thumb Butte Parking area and began hiking North. Amazingly, we found this tucked in Riparian area and with brilliant fall color! The air was crisp and moist from recent rains. I will certainly come back to this area.

"Ponderosa"

2010-10-19T11:21:00.003-07:00

"Ponderosa" is a 12x16 oil painting I just completed this morning. I've included the charcoal sketch I used as a reference for the painting and the original source of inspiration, a photograph taken near Flagstaff May of 2009 during early morning. As you can see, the painting has changed significantly from the photograph, which was my intention. I don't want to copy the photograph but paint a landscape that is about processing the scene through my creative filter, concentrating on mood of color and light instead of the details of a photograph. I really should be working on my thesis, but I felt like I needed a boost from a morning in the studio. I rationalized this by waking up at 6am so I would still have all of the afternoon to work on the left brained stuff. Plus, I can't work all day on one side of the brain... Sorry about all of the shiny spots on the image above, the painting was still wet and probably will be for a couple more weeks. I used a comination of palette knife and a #10 brush on this painting.

9th Annual Employee Art Show

2010-10-18T11:01:00.000-07:00

I am participating in our 9th Annual Employee Art Show at the Frame & I Gallery. You are invited to join us for our reception during the 4th Friday Art Walk, October 22, 6-8pm. See you there!

Secret Canyon

2010-10-16T19:19:00.000-07:00

Today, my wife Denise and I went to Sedona to hunt down some fall colors. What better place to find them than in Secret Canyon? We were a little early for peak fall colors, but we were pleased with the color we found. The secret about this place is that it is not crowded. We only saw four other people the whole time. Maybe it is the 3.3 miles of rough road to drive to the trailhead and the 8-10 mile round trip hike. Either way, we enjoyed the cool shade of Secret Canyon and the contrast of red rock to vibrant green and yellow foliage. I really should work on my thesis but this seemed more exciting, so I thought to get this distraction out of the way before getting back to writing. I have the hardest time writing about my own artwork, not how I did it or what the subject is, rather, what are my intentions and objectives for making art. I've got to dig deep and get to the point instead of floundering around. I think I will start with some freewriting.... Enjoy these pictures, but you must keep this place a secret.

The photo above almost looks like an Eliot Porter, one of my favorite color photographers. Click on this link to see my all time favorite Eliot Porter photo: http://www.cartermuseum.org/collections/porter/collection.php?asn=P1990-51-4079-1&mcat=3&scat=11

Fossil Creek Day Hike

2010-10-10T10:34:00.000-07:00

I took a break from schoolwork to be refreshed by the beauty of Fossil Springs. I was last here about five years ago and since then, the dam has been demolished to the normal creek flow level. This was part of an effort to make the creek wild again. The tempature of the water was warm enough to swim in the 85 degree weather. Such a perfect day to be there, not too many people. Although we did see our share of folks. I was warned that since Fossil Creek was publicized as a wilderness area, it became much more popular to visit. Hence, more trash was visible, yet not as much as I was fearing. Maybe the rains from earlier in the week had washed the trash out. I was disturbed to see the trash and wonder what goes through people's heads when they choose to leave litter when they so willingly carried down to that point. Has the litter become that much heavier? It is a four mile hike and many that hike this trail are not prepared for the potential hot climb out. We hiked out in the late afternoon and just made it out as the first stars appeared in the sky. The air was cool and once in a while a warm draft of air would raise from the canyon below. We were about a mile from the trailhead on the way up, when we saw three young teenagers making their way down, carrying their bedding and food by hand, in duffle bags. Sheesh, what next? They will regret having to haul their stuff up on the way up. Builds character, right? I don't see this hike as difficult but it can be in the blazing/hot sun during summer months. An ill prepared hiker puts themselves in danger by not having enough water. Here are some of my favorite photos from the hike. Enjoy!