From 1d74c7c656a7087b6c82280e76fa1107bf4f61e9 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Matthew Trentacoste Date: Tue, 26 Nov 2024 09:27:43 -0800 Subject: [PATCH] Refine Alabama Hills section with clearer descriptions and improved phrasing --- src/content/notes/2024-eastern-sierra-trip.mdx | 13 +++++++------ 1 file changed, 7 insertions(+), 6 deletions(-) diff --git a/src/content/notes/2024-eastern-sierra-trip.mdx b/src/content/notes/2024-eastern-sierra-trip.mdx index b61952b..59fb5d9 100644 --- a/src/content/notes/2024-eastern-sierra-trip.mdx +++ b/src/content/notes/2024-eastern-sierra-trip.mdx @@ -58,17 +58,17 @@ I cooked dinner watching the light creep behind the Sierra crest. The way the ]} /> -For all the trips I've taken, I still hadn't spent time in the Alabama Hills. I'd passed by it numerous times heading north or south on I-395, but it had never been the destination itself. Of all the places I had considered visiting, it was the furthest from home, and about as far from the Bay Area as one can be and still be by the Sierra. And the weather was very comfortable, and was interested in some things around that. So that seemed like a good first destination, with the option to begin working my way back whenever felt right. So I grabbed a few supplied within Bishop and started the brief journey south. +For all the trips I've taken, I still hadn't spent time in the Alabama Hills. I'd passed by it numerous times heading north or south on I-395, but it was never the destination itself. It is about as far from the Bay Area as one can be and still be by the Sierra, and the furthest from home I had considered for this trip. And the weather was very comfortable, and was interested in some things around that. So that seemed like a good first destination, with the option to begin working my way back whenever felt right. So I grabbed a few supplies within Bishop and started the brief journey south. -The area has seen a surge in visitors since 2020, and began placing restrictions on dispersed camping in 2023. In fact, checking the BLM site now, an additional requirement of a permit has been added since I visited. Another instance of strike the balance with making an area accessible to people and preventing it from being loved to death. That said, I had surprisingly little difficulty with campsite options, despite the restrictions and it being a Saturday. I staked my campsite, and enjoyed the view of the Sierra Crest while I ate my lunch. +The area has seen a surge in visitors since 2020, leading the BLM to place restrictions on dispersed camping in early 2023. (Since my visit, they've added a permit requirement.) Despite these restrictions and it being a Saturday, I had surprisingly little difficulty finding a campsite. I staked my claim and enjoyed the view of the Sierra Crest while I ate my lunch. { /*[Alabama Hills National Scenic Area Designated Dispersed Campsites](https://www.blm.gov/sites/default/files/docs/2023-02/AH_Camp_Map_508.pdf) map.a[Alabama Hills Designated Camping Permit](https://sierraforever.org/alabama-hills-camping-permit/) */ } -I proceeded to spend the afternoon wandering around, checking out various landmarks, and getting my bearings for the area. I hiked the short loop to Mobius Arch as well as some other spurs. I drove some loops. Despite knowing the area from maps, it felt surprisingly small in person. Within a couple hours I felt I had visited the majority of the notable sites. +I proceeded to spend the afternoon wandering around, checking out various landmarks, and getting my bearings for the area. Despite knowing the area from maps, I was surprised how small it felt in person. Within a couple hours I felt I had visited the majority of the notable sites. I hiked the short loop to Mobius Arch as well as some other spurs. I drove some loops. -Besides "see stuff" my goal for the afternoon was to try to make sense of the area photographically. The Sierra Crest forms an imposing wall that dominates any wide shot. The granite is white in midday light and has a character that fools the eye into thinking everything is equally far away and photos lack a sense of depth. The sun disappears behind the range an hour before sunset and gold hour light is non-existent. Sunrise is as impressive as sunset is mundane, but it's after noon at the moment. The boulders provided an endless opportunity to hunt for forms made of rock and shadow, but I wasn't seeing much in them then at the moment. +Much of my exploration was an attempt to make sense of the area photographically. The Sierra Crest forms an imposing wall that dominates any wide shot. The granite is white in midday light and has a character that fools the eye into thinking everything is equally far away and photos lack a sense of depth. The sun disappears behind the range an hour before sunset and gold hour light is non-existent. Sunrise is as impressive as sunset is mundane, but it's after noon at the moment. The boulders provided an endless opportunity to hunt for forms made of rock and shadow, but I wasn't seeing much in them then at the moment. -After the light disappeared behind the peaks and the mountains were in shadow, some atmospheric perspective began to be visible in the air. The undifferentiated wall of rock started to take on a third dimension as some ridges came forward and others recessed. The scene was helped by the partial clouds over the range to received the warming sunset light. The gave me opportunity play with the telephoto lens I had rented and try to pull some minimal compositions out that relied more on color and texture than subject matter. I managed to get a few that I was happy with, but overall was still trying to make sense of when best to employ the lens. +After the light disappeared behind the peaks and the mountains were in shadow, some atmospheric perspective began to be visible in the air. The undifferentiated wall of rock started to take on a third dimension as some ridges came forward and others recessed. The scene was helped by the partial clouds over the range to receive the warming sunset light. This gave me an opportunity to play with the telephoto lens I had rented and try to pull some minimal compositions out that relied more on color and texture than subject matter. I managed to get a few that I was happy with, but overall was still trying to make sense of when best to employ the lens. + +The sky turned more vibrant as I pulled back into camp. I ran up the adjacent hill to get a wider shot. My truck provides a useful compositional element in instances such as these. -The sky turned more vibrant as I pulled back into camp. I ran up the adjacent hill to get a wider shot. While I have mixed feelings about creating anything that verges "overland" content, my truck does provide a useful compositional element in instances such as these.