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Back (to van) from 4 Day / 3 Night Overnight at Spire Lake

I think I’ve answered all emails and subscriptions as of this evening.

The Sony A7R IV got a major workout, and I’ll have quite a few thoughts to share on my experience with it. In brief, Sony has a winner—even with gloves on. Best camera ever methinks.

The hike up from Pine Creek towards Morgan Lakes but cutting west instead to Spire Lake is a grueling 4000 vertical feet (that’s not the hard part!) over very challenging terrain, including getting past the two-year-old deep landslide gully cutting through the old mining road/trail—definitely not for the faint hearted or for any but very experience hikers at ease with class 3 climbing and I’m glad a rope was there that someone put into place (National Forest Service still calls it “impassable” with advisory at the Rock Creek trailhead).

Just got back after dark tonight and wishing I were still at Bear Lake (next lake down) —the lighting was magical in that area and through the aspen on the way down—awe inspiring. Lots of pictures coming, but I had to rush today as it is a very long and difficult hike back down that I did not want to make in the dark, particularly the traverse over the “impassable” area.

Last night it took me 3 hours to get down from Spire Lake to Bear Lake; it started snowing and it’s tricky enough when dry so I made the call to descend late in the day, descending very slowly down boulder fields and similar (no trails!) in the dark on snowy rocks, placing every footstep carefully. Got into the fart sack at Bear Lake by about 9:30 at 25°F and warmed up and dried out slowly. But I know my stuff and had all the right gear, including the Spot X to check in and let family know all OK.

The weather up here this time of year can swing 30°F in temperature in an hour as I was reminded at Spire Lake yesterday. Was a bit annoyed that the first day up hiking up was gorgeous but next day very windy and cold, then decent the next day then gorgeous the day I had to descend (today). So the two best days by far were the days I had to hike most of the day up or down!

Lloyd bundled up, heading down to 10000' Bear Lake from 11450' at Spire Lake, to beat coming snow
f8 @ 1/13 sec electronic shutter, ISO 100; 2019-10-17 17:30:44
Sony A7R IV + Sigma FE 14-24mm f/2.8 DG DN Art @ 17mm
ENV: Spire Lake, altitude 11450 ft / 3490 m, 28°F / -2°C
RAW: LACA corrected, vignetting corrected

[low-res image for bot]
f1.8 @ 1/1100 sec panorama, ISO 20; 2019-10-16 16:53:01
iPhone 7 Plus + iPhone 7 Plus 4.0 mm f/1.8 @ 4mm
ENV: Spire Lake, altitude 11600 ft / 3536 m, 35°F / 1°C

[low-res image for bot]

Below is what I hugely dislike about the iPhone—severely mutilated flesh tones from massively aggressive compression and noise reduction—looks like I have a disease. Hopefully the iPhone 11 Pro Max will be less bad.

Lloyd bundled up, snow is coming
f1.8 @ 1/150 sec, ISO 20; 2019-10-17 16:52:44
iPhone 7 Plus + iPhone 7 Plus 4.0 mm f/1.8 @ 28mm equiv (4mm)
ENV: Spire Lake, altitude 11600 ft / 3536 m, 28°F / -2°C
snow starting to fall

[low-res image for bot]

A few days later.

Lloyd bundled up, snow is coming
f6.3 @ 1/50 sec electronic shutter, ISO 100; 2019-10-19 13:23:49
Sony A7R IV + Sigma FE 14-24mm f/2.8 DG DN Art @ 14mm
ENV: Pine Creek Pass Trail, waterfall junction, altitude 8800 ft / 2682 m, 45°F / 7°C
RAW: Enhance Details, LACA corrected, vignetting corrected

[low-res image for bot]

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