tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21283379335078558042024-03-14T02:49:49.769-04:00 Vick and Jennifer's Travels Sharing travel, architecture, nature, and underwater photography with friends and family.Vick Fisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17003851466843959506noreply@blogger.comBlogger159125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2128337933507855804.post-22447148860945248892023-12-15T16:35:00.001-05:002023-12-16T11:01:12.962-05:00Ultimate Iceland: Finally Getting Inside an Ice Cave<p>As many of my friends know, I'm a huge ice-o-phile. We've visited glaciers and glaciated mountains all over the world, and I've always wanted to go inside an ice cave. But every time I tried, they would say <br />"It's not safe, the ice isn't stable, it might collapse and crush you!" Finally, I found a company in Iceland that wasn't so obsessed with risk. </p><p>So, we signed up for an all-day private tour, and that ended up giving us a truly rare experience. With a group, they need to cater to the least fit person, and they need room for everyone to fit inside. For our tour, we had the privilege of being the first guests to visit this ice cave, as the only other visit to the cave so far was by our guide going to explore it. To get there, we had to drive off-road in a "super jeep", which is a four-wheel drive SUV with gigantic tires that resist being bogged down in the deep, uneven gravel. This is the area where the glacier used to be, before it receded. So, we had to drive several miles to where the front of the glacier is now. </p><p>Once we parked the super-jeep, we had to get out and hike over a mile on the glacier itself. So, we strapped crampons onto our hiking boots to give them traction on the crunchy glacier ice. I love the crunch sound of every step when hiking on glaciers. It's such a satisfying sound that indicates you have a good grip in the ice, so you won't slip. Here we are hiking up - our guide brought two trainee guides with him that day, so we had three guides for two people. Jennifer's crampons are visible in the photo if you're looking on a decent-sized screen. The ice looks black because of all the volcanic ash that has fallen in recent years. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCkDaV8Ajgmq72kIO0hldkr2hdZEfzJBeCI34daBytQDJDrIdNd92Rp-ZTItq8-taDFDzF1j8nq1SKhTorGDMISjrwNNMyZiS7vXwvflXVJP8f3cNF5aVlkXYcGzPtOmn-Zi9VaGyLOD6xDh6FaB_rH-Eb6kZ6Dwcar79phq8Ndnr4RL6KCcbKLT2AToRY/s1600/VGF06647_edit.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCkDaV8Ajgmq72kIO0hldkr2hdZEfzJBeCI34daBytQDJDrIdNd92Rp-ZTItq8-taDFDzF1j8nq1SKhTorGDMISjrwNNMyZiS7vXwvflXVJP8f3cNF5aVlkXYcGzPtOmn-Zi9VaGyLOD6xDh6FaB_rH-Eb6kZ6Dwcar79phq8Ndnr4RL6KCcbKLT2AToRY/s16000/VGF06647_edit.jpg" /></a></div><p>This is the deadly kind of place you don't want to slide into. It's called a <i>moulin</i>, and it's where melting water has created a hole in the glacier that goes deep inside and out the bottom, potentially thousands of feet from the entrance, since glaciers are typically that thick. That's astounding to me - to think of a mile-thick layer of ice. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8acqQPsopaOnL_q4Uj7xJRd-c2LjJGISUi-VJqOqxvytueRUVgw438Wz2wcMVt35CpZP9-VLCC57iUMH2FmY3yDHlGibWV5oMZFE7QnCuG0uVQuGtX3RpqeUtoPqHq4hc3uV11FAIA1VQuPi59GfikMB4UUsiN4aGoF11PTlRbUSy1TR00vcU2f6OvKye/s1600/VGF06823_edit.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8acqQPsopaOnL_q4Uj7xJRd-c2LjJGISUi-VJqOqxvytueRUVgw438Wz2wcMVt35CpZP9-VLCC57iUMH2FmY3yDHlGibWV5oMZFE7QnCuG0uVQuGtX3RpqeUtoPqHq4hc3uV11FAIA1VQuPi59GfikMB4UUsiN4aGoF11PTlRbUSy1TR00vcU2f6OvKye/w640-h426/VGF06823_edit.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>As we approached the ice cave, our guide told us to wait while he explored the best way to get down to the cave. So, he left us alone on the glacier for twenty minutes or so while he looked around for a safe way to descend into the cave. Here's Jennifer hanging out beside a crevasse while we wait. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg52sKmVkUl0i4iQouzyAyq44wcbb3eD_4tkQEsTDoMRNUqNKxVTX_7uu4Uej1ZLdO6-3JhYDIpk-9ld2h3ezjgFeUNrbh-hlOQKmipa7CNw2pIH-9mvIGcgMornOWY_3-U_74upGcNmz81HroZSTseQrt_ncMZNQwV4xXEcsg0O_rN6b3_do5WNGzdKNIp/s1600/VGF06655_edit.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg52sKmVkUl0i4iQouzyAyq44wcbb3eD_4tkQEsTDoMRNUqNKxVTX_7uu4Uej1ZLdO6-3JhYDIpk-9ld2h3ezjgFeUNrbh-hlOQKmipa7CNw2pIH-9mvIGcgMornOWY_3-U_74upGcNmz81HroZSTseQrt_ncMZNQwV4xXEcsg0O_rN6b3_do5WNGzdKNIp/w640-h426/VGF06655_edit.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>Finally, we saw our guide reappear over a rise and indicate we should follow him to the entrance. The cave is located along the very edge of the glacier, where the glacier meets the valley wall. Here's Mike walking out of the cave entrance and telling us to come on in and check it out. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcaxbdqwmIPVkCykuebcOuPm896YjJqvz4FdPF-dmQ5IwYAfB5CGguwK1eZyVyimRu1moPNXpvp7GBplB2XJe1rDGGAeDr6aopJ4qFdAT-LHuY2JbYZpgnG8pTMmVq76XHFfRSRBuCrr-QIsWI9v2qBOia6b7SM084q7Kz25zW5mONVY3DjlJTufPw279n/s1600/VGF06670-IceCaveEntrance.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcaxbdqwmIPVkCykuebcOuPm896YjJqvz4FdPF-dmQ5IwYAfB5CGguwK1eZyVyimRu1moPNXpvp7GBplB2XJe1rDGGAeDr6aopJ4qFdAT-LHuY2JbYZpgnG8pTMmVq76XHFfRSRBuCrr-QIsWI9v2qBOia6b7SM084q7Kz25zW5mONVY3DjlJTufPw279n/s16000/VGF06670-IceCaveEntrance.jpg" /></a></div><p>He started taking photos of Jennifer to give us later. He and his partner are photographers as well as guides. This one is near the entrance.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgoiQH3HMLXj5vlvLuMqY5lknV2w2qPI1osPCly1ERS-TfhL_IojGvLKAbgQFyDaxiQ71F-TEFK8_1dcaygkEjRLHCYK4dXVNd_YdRbtpwxNuJwaiDpk-a_tGphwHi_yUO0ychVdEvQW_O3SJh7fi7fLr_nRy9XV4ehqch1dy6WE5JWL7b_M-KIauCfxPa/s1600/VGF06748-JenniferModelingInCave.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgoiQH3HMLXj5vlvLuMqY5lknV2w2qPI1osPCly1ERS-TfhL_IojGvLKAbgQFyDaxiQ71F-TEFK8_1dcaygkEjRLHCYK4dXVNd_YdRbtpwxNuJwaiDpk-a_tGphwHi_yUO0ychVdEvQW_O3SJh7fi7fLr_nRy9XV4ehqch1dy6WE5JWL7b_M-KIauCfxPa/w640-h426/VGF06748-JenniferModelingInCave.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>Another one deep inside the cave. The vertical streaks in the photo are the melting water dripping from the ceiling. There are a few huge chunks of ice on the floor of the cave, which begs the question: when will the next huge chunk of ice come crashing down?! Here's another taken with me deep inside the cave, the guide in the middle, and Jennifer up near the entrance.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-8XK3TaxQumkCpS8HwIbxK0n-Mh-s733n_p_P-IvjpY74ZLVNXcIFnv9JELidVRz_WMwe0tu5o1vtVMdO_litXExgVzHDmtGU4IWsU5cxmTUlagA4Zjc4o6e1YLs8L57YPYp3RAcTiw3xjoLh3iFxXWQ-IxmeZ5SALc6XUWXWPs1oI8ImbuIeTblfJ_qb/s1350/VGF06726_edit.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1350" data-original-width="1080" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-8XK3TaxQumkCpS8HwIbxK0n-Mh-s733n_p_P-IvjpY74ZLVNXcIFnv9JELidVRz_WMwe0tu5o1vtVMdO_litXExgVzHDmtGU4IWsU5cxmTUlagA4Zjc4o6e1YLs8L57YPYp3RAcTiw3xjoLh3iFxXWQ-IxmeZ5SALc6XUWXWPs1oI8ImbuIeTblfJ_qb/s16000/VGF06726_edit.jpg" /></a></div><p>Meanwhile, I ignored the guide and took off to take photos of the ice. The ice was my canvas for abstract painting. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdoZTrR7_A_g3bTWS_Gw7Gi7g-Tjpb9lalxFolm7VvC8lYH1ldL0QVsteC2Rp3Klg5sDy03T6yUp-ghqTtO4GZIZbDgkkEb-dtZUXTPE60P-vP4TqOqGigS-wnCRWEEFV77OzLbzIHL2PZ3szkhbvUXuSB-8tXejPTxgW_3YTNflGQxgicznNBOPpDnY_Y/s1600/VGF06673.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdoZTrR7_A_g3bTWS_Gw7Gi7g-Tjpb9lalxFolm7VvC8lYH1ldL0QVsteC2Rp3Klg5sDy03T6yUp-ghqTtO4GZIZbDgkkEb-dtZUXTPE60P-vP4TqOqGigS-wnCRWEEFV77OzLbzIHL2PZ3szkhbvUXuSB-8tXejPTxgW_3YTNflGQxgicznNBOPpDnY_Y/s16000/VGF06673.jpg" /></a></div><p>The colors varied, depending on how deep into the cave you were, further from sunlight. The rock of the valley wall is on the left in this photo. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiahfwHaOjiwn8uAmvT4yBe6eNkrai7dbQkiGyi9X0IZaz2z8NRDG_93GxDmaVFZD9VuuG_C-1epjpCilvhmYaasFjK56SwfId8ZFG9sVSObg4JxCNt1YoB9J2KneR2k_ZOXc2JdV_f0lebjVL6ITVwyInAe4gSD_ph2Oy_J7Xh-7h3XBv4cgdG7BMywRQk/s1600/VGF06690_edit2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiahfwHaOjiwn8uAmvT4yBe6eNkrai7dbQkiGyi9X0IZaz2z8NRDG_93GxDmaVFZD9VuuG_C-1epjpCilvhmYaasFjK56SwfId8ZFG9sVSObg4JxCNt1YoB9J2KneR2k_ZOXc2JdV_f0lebjVL6ITVwyInAe4gSD_ph2Oy_J7Xh-7h3XBv4cgdG7BMywRQk/s16000/VGF06690_edit2.jpg" /></a></div><p>I could have stayed for hours and taken hundreds of photos. I was totally entranced by the colors and the shapes, and the whole thousand-year process that created all of it. The white fuzz in the ice is bubbles of air, possibly trapped in there for centuries, or even millennia. The black is likely volcanic ash from past eruptions. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZCDM2p2YZTJQgmjh5-jAPpyKWTimQerkCCpw_8Y4EyXotgl6VaDu8K_tbMkxbxzId21noLReTzAzyDouCcatYdxoaVrbELdo1k0wcPvLIgkiu-XeQ2MwLyAU2GKqDgyaLyQ6bYY_bGOyLfPrKHBHoFof2PWSe-r1dptmv4RZ42z4hOl1ssY2nB9EWOT85/s1600/VGF06698_edit.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZCDM2p2YZTJQgmjh5-jAPpyKWTimQerkCCpw_8Y4EyXotgl6VaDu8K_tbMkxbxzId21noLReTzAzyDouCcatYdxoaVrbELdo1k0wcPvLIgkiu-XeQ2MwLyAU2GKqDgyaLyQ6bYY_bGOyLfPrKHBHoFof2PWSe-r1dptmv4RZ42z4hOl1ssY2nB9EWOT85/s16000/VGF06698_edit.jpg" /></a></div><p>Snow fell, snow got packed denser and denser by more snow on top of it, year after year, while the entire mass slid inches per year out of the mountains toward the sea. In the meantime, seasons passed, volcanoes erupted, ash fell, over and over again. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMyjBbk0_kUQZqNyGUYw9I30omD54CeDCvDdJT4e5KuBZJfUq4Q6x3-EKAu4-d7DTg59b-i3sGvFpxABBh4faJpjccpM2aHtP-JcVX3EMBlzi4ubw0Ny9tx-c2wFugTG-kOYSJ2idc3CV9TpeABYKmk3-sgsbLSD8f5bgXoTWj2d8LMclmikd7xHhcfXn3/s1600/VGF06706_edit.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMyjBbk0_kUQZqNyGUYw9I30omD54CeDCvDdJT4e5KuBZJfUq4Q6x3-EKAu4-d7DTg59b-i3sGvFpxABBh4faJpjccpM2aHtP-JcVX3EMBlzi4ubw0Ny9tx-c2wFugTG-kOYSJ2idc3CV9TpeABYKmk3-sgsbLSD8f5bgXoTWj2d8LMclmikd7xHhcfXn3/s16000/VGF06706_edit.jpg" /></a></div><p>There was an opening in the ceiling of the cave that allowed sunlight in. Here's Jennifer looking up toward the opening. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNWL99UjWVNzPwc_fUeODprjyhyphenhyphenPN__bNDN4jBpETCsbCzuXDm2hnPVYHvbJiJW0guMW2e4BnFkaTtFMQI2G4otZSEf8gEcCGn5dvufIr3nzgaBFLW5xRJxdI0AKKU252xkc0YE_uGXMMWQEa4w6QbLs5wjDf-lueA2B_PaKGivgAalkLsUb5e78BYpo0o/s1350/VGF06751_edit.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1350" data-original-width="900" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNWL99UjWVNzPwc_fUeODprjyhyphenhyphenPN__bNDN4jBpETCsbCzuXDm2hnPVYHvbJiJW0guMW2e4BnFkaTtFMQI2G4otZSEf8gEcCGn5dvufIr3nzgaBFLW5xRJxdI0AKKU252xkc0YE_uGXMMWQEa4w6QbLs5wjDf-lueA2B_PaKGivgAalkLsUb5e78BYpo0o/s16000/VGF06751_edit.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Here's the view she had looking up.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieYqru4olqdX6Vt8ybD_1d93uv0lXEMbJNNBNWkCS5pkDHddN4ZJwfEhz97YK0PhGdvOIp-WyTuao4PnqX_Z-Q93qeubVPUKSkgBLRAKNSyiMC6wNRFvEKH6z8mlmMGB6GocI3hNqky0QGteRvjOyW_O0sEtlFRft-eda-iJGVNCJHNLZchwaiW9GiVgEm/s1350/VGF06734_edit_crop.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1350" data-original-width="1350" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieYqru4olqdX6Vt8ybD_1d93uv0lXEMbJNNBNWkCS5pkDHddN4ZJwfEhz97YK0PhGdvOIp-WyTuao4PnqX_Z-Q93qeubVPUKSkgBLRAKNSyiMC6wNRFvEKH6z8mlmMGB6GocI3hNqky0QGteRvjOyW_O0sEtlFRft-eda-iJGVNCJHNLZchwaiW9GiVgEm/s16000/VGF06734_edit_crop.jpg" /></a></div><p>This is one of my favorite abstracts from the day. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdXgGUsxwPPsB_8KEFJUg6FpxTsmc8dA-ZTc5f24kRYfONK5xPJ-IVErADZbSqKm-R9f1J-75HRBIxtihMtp3S5yPk9qdxpYYTD4iIgRJnjOTMR5wgB7M_fWjeDxOJCL0x75J2F430AgxYPSFc6LtMEdG0uvm87PRPOFac_-URTW6uhdj1tbFm72ZWbvV9/s1350/VGF06728_edit_crop.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1350" data-original-width="1350" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdXgGUsxwPPsB_8KEFJUg6FpxTsmc8dA-ZTc5f24kRYfONK5xPJ-IVErADZbSqKm-R9f1J-75HRBIxtihMtp3S5yPk9qdxpYYTD4iIgRJnjOTMR5wgB7M_fWjeDxOJCL0x75J2F430AgxYPSFc6LtMEdG0uvm87PRPOFac_-URTW6uhdj1tbFm72ZWbvV9/s16000/VGF06728_edit_crop.jpg" /></a></div><p>Let's leave it at that for the ice cave, though I'm tempted to add many more.</p><p>This is the fourth in a series on our extensive tour of Iceland, going all around the Ring Road, and far beyond in the west, the north, and the east. It was a great trip.</p><p>To see more photos of the great natural wonders of Iceland, check out these other photo essays.</p><p><a href="https://fisherphotocraft.blogspot.com/2023/11/ultimate-iceland-horses-cliffs-and.html">Follow this link for Icelandic horses in idyllic settings, along with one of Iceland's greatest waterfalls - Dynjandi.</a></p><p><a href="https://fisherphotocraft.blogspot.com/2023/11/ultimate-iceland-studlagil-hengifoss.html">Follow this link for the famous Studlagil basalt columns, beautiful waterfalls, and the Heineberg glacier.</a></p><p><a href="https://fisherphotocraft.blogspot.com/2023/11/ultimate-iceland-westfjords-to-godafoss.html">Follow this link for the Westfjords and two more of Iceland's most famous waterfalls.</a></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Vick Fisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17003851466843959506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2128337933507855804.post-3851594968354520722023-11-29T17:50:00.005-05:002023-11-29T19:19:58.801-05:00Ultimate Iceland: Studlagil, Hengifoss, and Heineberg Glacier<p>Leaving Akureyri, we went east, passing Lake Myvatn for the second time in two days, but this time with the sun shining. The landscape around this area is a thick layer of crumbling cooled lava covered in rich plant life. Lake Myvatn can be seen in the background. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN7BWkSVClvAjVq6gH-3wp0nWvdGug9E9sfwhEQFlgG6U7sBUyeefwUxL4utxvisPhqSxwxL_u2yNx-rfz2eVYuJpUGVEY2o3Cb-Ynzv4cveA2uzqdodOakYoUAvy3ce7OSIZiKPTAwRTzvXILN-v6AGZY4qwM5DcellpHhRylnsfm3Gtqrk258lkvEc42/s1600/VGF06381_edit.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN7BWkSVClvAjVq6gH-3wp0nWvdGug9E9sfwhEQFlgG6U7sBUyeefwUxL4utxvisPhqSxwxL_u2yNx-rfz2eVYuJpUGVEY2o3Cb-Ynzv4cveA2uzqdodOakYoUAvy3ce7OSIZiKPTAwRTzvXILN-v6AGZY4qwM5DcellpHhRylnsfm3Gtqrk258lkvEc42/s16000/VGF06381_edit.jpg" /></a></div><p>After that we headed to an Iceland Instagram sensation - Studlagil. This place only became visible in 2007, after a dam was built upstream. It only became a tourist destination in 2017, when it appeared in a brochure for an Icelandic airline. This place is featured extensively in <i>A Murder at the End of the World</i>, Season 1, Episode 4, which was released about six weeks after we came back from our trip. The actors walk in exactly the same spot we walked in, on the left side. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimWvjhgfxKJERWBV9A16k11f9YN6r7W8ZDT7s-_FkmDM4tXzM76YdiPTradmGMxdkXkaVIHXtX6LNHHwAhgkCC-c6lQSKVZJWVJihhIZHtCWaiBE1SbGz4p-MISkhcoEwKVKy4dZoy8nmc0kNAtZVSfvQZRkGqV3xNfiMubMGtxhbI1tYzqRToqkbUtPb-/s1600/VGF06403_edit.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimWvjhgfxKJERWBV9A16k11f9YN6r7W8ZDT7s-_FkmDM4tXzM76YdiPTradmGMxdkXkaVIHXtX6LNHHwAhgkCC-c6lQSKVZJWVJihhIZHtCWaiBE1SbGz4p-MISkhcoEwKVKy4dZoy8nmc0kNAtZVSfvQZRkGqV3xNfiMubMGtxhbI1tYzqRToqkbUtPb-/s16000/VGF06403_edit.jpg" /></a></div><p>We even took a selfie exactly where they stood on the show. I look like a lunatic with the wind blowing my hair. All part of the adventure!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh_N6cVtkxUWftUUGvVD-pwD6eLchepaMP9pSzI72w0Axtue6A3VxlqTbhelQY24xKjHMXy8PMB0GCIUUiYk0a7SLD2aUx55wOh2mJiqbFFx7to9qp9rJruiUw1afUVsCIAFWmOhJajzhhTp0FKSji1ynptgdD-Tn2aQc2ejLptGXe8-d8d59aNjhdYr1S/s3968/20230908_144829.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2232" data-original-width="3968" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh_N6cVtkxUWftUUGvVD-pwD6eLchepaMP9pSzI72w0Axtue6A3VxlqTbhelQY24xKjHMXy8PMB0GCIUUiYk0a7SLD2aUx55wOh2mJiqbFFx7to9qp9rJruiUw1afUVsCIAFWmOhJajzhhTp0FKSji1ynptgdD-Tn2aQc2ejLptGXe8-d8d59aNjhdYr1S/w400-h225/20230908_144829.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>These basalt columns are formed when magma cools rapidly as it forces its way up through millions of tons of glacial ice to reach the surface. This causes the liquid basalt to crystallize into hexagonal columns. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgecJ5m2qiCGDDB7i7L8wZqeYM517o8pgVRgcuKifHGOFnLO8_o3km11tpmD5R7LFlxvuEbKTbGpO9zmn_wuRhiaHrifBogZOn0451mMXr77GCmmTOjHEltX6BEKVFn5Ao6U64YDgvGyjPC9mzb_PEgdjrU-nrAVqoJaV5nawsmEU4XaQUUkokCJ_ALrwMn/s1600/VGF06402-edit.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgecJ5m2qiCGDDB7i7L8wZqeYM517o8pgVRgcuKifHGOFnLO8_o3km11tpmD5R7LFlxvuEbKTbGpO9zmn_wuRhiaHrifBogZOn0451mMXr77GCmmTOjHEltX6BEKVFn5Ao6U64YDgvGyjPC9mzb_PEgdjrU-nrAVqoJaV5nawsmEU4XaQUUkokCJ_ALrwMn/s16000/VGF06402-edit.jpg" /></a></div><p>The columns look so flat-sided and regular as to appear man-made, but they're natural. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiLHd1oceGmsUJuMj4KX1-Fl1KIBICMlk8t9YmQ1ImcH13YBndpM5OkhuHlznFcnfDHHbIhXr9VUs4bMCA_NdjjK3z3ppiC2-IYEIVkTmfomnPBetp_KmkEXgvXPwPdzP7AlkmoAPRyx0F_-AhX7oFP3uV7ifCxzrDLHKrpYNE3U6TM4D0ycHO801O0unW/s1600/VGF06394-edit.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiLHd1oceGmsUJuMj4KX1-Fl1KIBICMlk8t9YmQ1ImcH13YBndpM5OkhuHlznFcnfDHHbIhXr9VUs4bMCA_NdjjK3z3ppiC2-IYEIVkTmfomnPBetp_KmkEXgvXPwPdzP7AlkmoAPRyx0F_-AhX7oFP3uV7ifCxzrDLHKrpYNE3U6TM4D0ycHO801O0unW/s16000/VGF06394-edit.jpg" /></a></div><p>Since Iceland is full of both volcanoes and glaciers, columns like this appear in many places. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-UWA7kUUkBvgwDEnPoTSES6GAS7ZEG12gavZW4BD4U5_Y7nfPzf8Mb-nFQHADaEWLNgg9pGFWdITMr6f3HBQDGtncMSkLWVheAylrZrXbSd8IPn8HMfpKlNRJDWur3gxnS30f0TYGeO1gZAavjyXD-XcNxgEJe_WjrZw_Obdh_VdDAWquckMwXtp-pLB1/s1600/VGF06401-edit.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-UWA7kUUkBvgwDEnPoTSES6GAS7ZEG12gavZW4BD4U5_Y7nfPzf8Mb-nFQHADaEWLNgg9pGFWdITMr6f3HBQDGtncMSkLWVheAylrZrXbSd8IPn8HMfpKlNRJDWur3gxnS30f0TYGeO1gZAavjyXD-XcNxgEJe_WjrZw_Obdh_VdDAWquckMwXtp-pLB1/s16000/VGF06401-edit.jpg" /></a></div><p>In fact, basalt columns are the inspiration for the design of the famous Hallgrimur Church in Reykjavik. The vertical columns in the facade of the building are also hexagonal. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs32p5-rTw0oKTd4ZSnWRxRyBPvxRdNoaGrQomLHFB7l8VmWnuI9PinfJN9jkhLIDPZSHbJFOWsVRVR47OSalv4bbB-GbjDQ4cbip_RgwCnpcwXnADJkk6Q9IrNUqwWWY-dmzhxnuD-KfMABENG2lRsvpkp2rkIs8ESfSLmIUbMsvk-CCkRbeIXl81hM1I/s2267/20230915_205132.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2267" data-original-width="1800" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs32p5-rTw0oKTd4ZSnWRxRyBPvxRdNoaGrQomLHFB7l8VmWnuI9PinfJN9jkhLIDPZSHbJFOWsVRVR47OSalv4bbB-GbjDQ4cbip_RgwCnpcwXnADJkk6Q9IrNUqwWWY-dmzhxnuD-KfMABENG2lRsvpkp2rkIs8ESfSLmIUbMsvk-CCkRbeIXl81hM1I/w318-h400/20230915_205132.jpg" width="318" /></a></div><p>The next day, we hiked a mile and a half up to the tall, slender waterfall Hengifoss. On the way up, we passed a beautiful, smaller waterfall fed by Hengifoss. Basalt columns formed here too. It almost looks like someone placed planters on top of each column. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLb0rDucUOqtvkzU8HrfeqXvbx2ST8c1QD91gG9jgJtq9ChZAUQOCbbMROt1dEspKZxbE4ReDIyCPbxCOmRcfQYMDSVbylzi53OYd_oih6e5Ukdw7Ci6DyR8bWnJSQAZNBHLAtOPesC2K2G-EtsFXB5llr4TLKT-lK8VnjGn82kwwLyKVbnG5GghmPo4bD/s1350/VGF06454_edit.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1350" data-original-width="900" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLb0rDucUOqtvkzU8HrfeqXvbx2ST8c1QD91gG9jgJtq9ChZAUQOCbbMROt1dEspKZxbE4ReDIyCPbxCOmRcfQYMDSVbylzi53OYd_oih6e5Ukdw7Ci6DyR8bWnJSQAZNBHLAtOPesC2K2G-EtsFXB5llr4TLKT-lK8VnjGn82kwwLyKVbnG5GghmPo4bD/s16000/VGF06454_edit.jpg" /></a></div><p>The official trail up to Hengifoss ends about a quarter mile short of where the falls actually touch down. At this point, the falls look like this. Notice the young woman posing while a drone films her from just above and behind her head. The drone is visible as a white spot in the highest resolution version of this photo. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKRbDx1QHjILSxi8Ek4DuIviDST7dykhWQEfvTVWgy2v-_431xn5Lvb2IWrMm0l-oIGonxhmV_BiDr_o0p7p2oRdvoZZFvGsSr6dBmZOy8JtqHvMHiMZFiTHNc5v_PsB4dFjQb4Uk1wgKP3XWPj33XZZerbVbwLVW0Tf0Up5-6kyjxG8s57iATEX80KRqh/s1350/VGF06475_edit.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1350" data-original-width="900" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKRbDx1QHjILSxi8Ek4DuIviDST7dykhWQEfvTVWgy2v-_431xn5Lvb2IWrMm0l-oIGonxhmV_BiDr_o0p7p2oRdvoZZFvGsSr6dBmZOy8JtqHvMHiMZFiTHNc5v_PsB4dFjQb4Uk1wgKP3XWPj33XZZerbVbwLVW0Tf0Up5-6kyjxG8s57iATEX80KRqh/s16000/VGF06475_edit.jpg" /></a></div><p>To get there, we had to scramble on rocks to cross the stream, then clamber up more gritty, wet rocks. You see easily the layers of different types of rock formed over millions of years, alternating black, red, and yellow. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ380lqoivmdVJN-bPdCtnLX__2vfaXNFoJ1RtnsvO_Cn2fN8A5Yu-yCApObCwHaZIEbEArvKjaCCB2UMkztKs2A-6ojKe3cQd23o-gRN_LNeT4cmFuUu1zaIM2AQp95uXhqe5-4rtVama0Qecbcb8sibfHWWpuhtHy70MivJmsG0KOpxCqle9PiX_oLIF/s1600/VGF06490_edit.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ380lqoivmdVJN-bPdCtnLX__2vfaXNFoJ1RtnsvO_Cn2fN8A5Yu-yCApObCwHaZIEbEArvKjaCCB2UMkztKs2A-6ojKe3cQd23o-gRN_LNeT4cmFuUu1zaIM2AQp95uXhqe5-4rtVama0Qecbcb8sibfHWWpuhtHy70MivJmsG0KOpxCqle9PiX_oLIF/s16000/VGF06490_edit.jpg" /></a></div><p>It was really exciting to watch the water fall hundreds of feet, crash into the rocks, and splash in the green pool at the bottom. We could feel the cool spray and brisk wind created by the falling water on our faces. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcTJrd8pE4YQIHU1WM42STEkQJu70-ktRwfQ8j4y-kQthvxFA6GDrJKyCp1cYCsU6xH17HZcaLmXQh5YR7rGwwKHHAMmHYVJg64vc-i6AH6VRmdFRnG5vfBS8B4fyIkmBQmb30tUq7tsSn6pYmervb3Tfle3W25DLh7y8HZHDlkghkIwNYihhEsmrtlXyx/s1350/VGF06494_edit.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1350" data-original-width="900" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcTJrd8pE4YQIHU1WM42STEkQJu70-ktRwfQ8j4y-kQthvxFA6GDrJKyCp1cYCsU6xH17HZcaLmXQh5YR7rGwwKHHAMmHYVJg64vc-i6AH6VRmdFRnG5vfBS8B4fyIkmBQmb30tUq7tsSn6pYmervb3Tfle3W25DLh7y8HZHDlkghkIwNYihhEsmrtlXyx/s16000/VGF06494_edit.jpg" /></a></div><p>Hiking back down on the other side of the stream, we got a view of another tall, thin waterfall named Litlanesfoss. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="444" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/7ZY08-GqAZ4" width="320" youtube-src-id="7ZY08-GqAZ4"></iframe></div><p>The next day, we headed out to a nearby eastern fjord called Mjoifjordur, which means narrow fjord. There are no tourist attractions there, and the road is gravel the entire way, so very few people go out there. I wanted to go see a series of waterfalls there, but I ended up really enjoying the whole drive. Here's a waterfall I saw from the road and went to take photos of. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixwZaganLqey3VpkGuElqA4VB-2FWh2OmC7io4Ip4FkT8gQj5ce6CzoMPufawZfYKg9GSwgR4C_-o1SNfIynduSYzuX-L5_ICxHOnyOQ_45YCtfSaFxfLcUbVR9_qErTPBUQpkmFvN3X7ot7BKvvclJa_5xZthPBKDZFRznEP4TJxlJ5S8RJHfX_yGHMtg/s1600/VGF06521-edit.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixwZaganLqey3VpkGuElqA4VB-2FWh2OmC7io4Ip4FkT8gQj5ce6CzoMPufawZfYKg9GSwgR4C_-o1SNfIynduSYzuX-L5_ICxHOnyOQ_45YCtfSaFxfLcUbVR9_qErTPBUQpkmFvN3X7ot7BKvvclJa_5xZthPBKDZFRznEP4TJxlJ5S8RJHfX_yGHMtg/s16000/VGF06521-edit.jpg" /></a></div><p>All of the rocks there are completely carpeted in a six-inch thick layer of spongy green, yellow, and orange mosses. This is a wonderland that can never be a tourist attraction, as too many tourists would destroy it just by walking on the thick moss. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdyUWfCLyyASghp4hrmM8obX_8SJz22VCeFydPrUbvBLEe9_mTF0eHauGCsCy_cGon38Fy5s904GesSQv0JCzZAlBZxLETZplok4AXklH8HN-1MZLyUIS0bSgIab8MnEnP5aEMMBq4DlEW6LrI66XlsxI6IGWgb7ZI5_V2Vj8oEeo8zI3frpIj1n7TjGD7/s1350/VGF06525_edit.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1350" data-original-width="900" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdyUWfCLyyASghp4hrmM8obX_8SJz22VCeFydPrUbvBLEe9_mTF0eHauGCsCy_cGon38Fy5s904GesSQv0JCzZAlBZxLETZplok4AXklH8HN-1MZLyUIS0bSgIab8MnEnP5aEMMBq4DlEW6LrI66XlsxI6IGWgb7ZI5_V2Vj8oEeo8zI3frpIj1n7TjGD7/s16000/VGF06525_edit.jpg" /></a></div><p>The views as we came over the head of the valley and looked out over the fjord were gorgeous. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHIi-zXKB9kmF-ZOx4bHHo22G8TK9P3Klt8O8ANW5hNyikezhXI6CP9Kv5vAUNzC3t3SV5PZYV0EMDJ1l2TTz6eiJm129htdGdaf1DL-YjcqMvz4pvPYNffDmDGc_VaoKcOVQaaY4R743BeGRHWtC1-eMUkkrkU4LUDudYA8KgBgysPzQYgdxV6NvOBuu5/s1600/VGF06531_edit.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHIi-zXKB9kmF-ZOx4bHHo22G8TK9P3Klt8O8ANW5hNyikezhXI6CP9Kv5vAUNzC3t3SV5PZYV0EMDJ1l2TTz6eiJm129htdGdaf1DL-YjcqMvz4pvPYNffDmDGc_VaoKcOVQaaY4R743BeGRHWtC1-eMUkkrkU4LUDudYA8KgBgysPzQYgdxV6NvOBuu5/s16000/VGF06531_edit.jpg" /></a></div><p>For those last two nights, we stayed in Eglisstadir, the biggest town in east Iceland, with a population of under 3000. The next day we headed down the eastern coast and started heading west along the southern coast. Here is a series of nameless waterfalls on private land that we passed as we drove south on a chilly, rainy morning. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgnI8dSiJf_FhiddBWC2potrXQlSYr0u8Pz9Yi5vuij6kxDkMQVAhyphenhyphenxnCZWvvVZ17vwHtRQIMANQ6RezAhW9URlHqJ6CtNhgcQrvj7YUNZurSeTF_0zyu0vL_rarr16_j1s-aDdfnPFYvYORmvs_ZOkMvMLmd4ev120oVNLcEYOvHsyAQKcyqxKSf0c1oj/s1350/VGF06593_edit.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1350" data-original-width="900" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgnI8dSiJf_FhiddBWC2potrXQlSYr0u8Pz9Yi5vuij6kxDkMQVAhyphenhyphenxnCZWvvVZ17vwHtRQIMANQ6RezAhW9URlHqJ6CtNhgcQrvj7YUNZurSeTF_0zyu0vL_rarr16_j1s-aDdfnPFYvYORmvs_ZOkMvMLmd4ev120oVNLcEYOvHsyAQKcyqxKSf0c1oj/s16000/VGF06593_edit.jpg" /></a></div><p>I had been hoping to get close to the face of a glacier on this drive, so I looked on the map and said let's turn north here, where a road headed toward the glacier. To get to this glacier lagoon, we were again driving on gravel roads, and then on a sort of rocky riverbed, for several miles. It got a little hazardous, as water had created some drop-offs Jennifer had to navigate around. </p><p>We decided to walk around the edge of the lagoon toward the front of the glacier, which was further away than it first seemed. Looking back toward the terminal moraine (the large mound of gravel left at the front of a glacier's advance). There's Jennifer on the right.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe-K5P5eppmm6uqdgL4-e7WIvw3CrVDCNM57xfVu1d9W1N2ZlJELW3LrRR54onzJy6xKPbUW7rDYa9QYko1tAFbZ93qtMSAlb-n8e5y4e_Gdc6sRs4hsyFptr1EhKJayYzWO8jQ0xV6IUQTRFGQhGyJzmQge204h4mm50cwSJR4J1N-6GA_RWufUIvm4-C/s1600/VGF06610_edit.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe-K5P5eppmm6uqdgL4-e7WIvw3CrVDCNM57xfVu1d9W1N2ZlJELW3LrRR54onzJy6xKPbUW7rDYa9QYko1tAFbZ93qtMSAlb-n8e5y4e_Gdc6sRs4hsyFptr1EhKJayYzWO8jQ0xV6IUQTRFGQhGyJzmQge204h4mm50cwSJR4J1N-6GA_RWufUIvm4-C/s16000/VGF06610_edit.jpg" /></a></div><p>As we hiked around the lagoon, we had to climb higher up. The lagoon was surrounded by cliffs looking down on the water. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlPsafgFY7tzBd7tI1byXvdX3s41fB5MXD1-OxcxHmhIB9uWv7nMvl55ch4u45W7OEMvj92MrEXhLfnq2BK0ZJw3wkObQQ0RdolJ7FBWCdcCrI_TX5GSRMRS9G3mmbbS3POWzmHdqs9TnH_ejtm-BmgVENkZbf3MaV-Sid_e22n7q4rei_lHxYb0cNWoMH/s1600/VGF06619_edit.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlPsafgFY7tzBd7tI1byXvdX3s41fB5MXD1-OxcxHmhIB9uWv7nMvl55ch4u45W7OEMvj92MrEXhLfnq2BK0ZJw3wkObQQ0RdolJ7FBWCdcCrI_TX5GSRMRS9G3mmbbS3POWzmHdqs9TnH_ejtm-BmgVENkZbf3MaV-Sid_e22n7q4rei_lHxYb0cNWoMH/s16000/VGF06619_edit.jpg" /></a></div><p>The icebergs in the lagoon are pieces of the glacier that broke off and rolled onto their sides. We walked for close to an hour and still weren't all that close to the face of the glacier. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtbpnRNrqZlSNU7sYwQIQLYWArpEBDbAoaFGgsPOcR_xmQC0rZUy9fUAReg5-04tv1Oqe26NLiAnYjl_scRAObX2mIk9EXXfDFHj7VDFrnb62Py8oF8RrgYNqq8BoKW_G8wiHTxsRUj0K_Be0cJ6QSfpQi0zw6PwlH56wPtkmsdzSUycUuDpdzSZwlYVqd/s1600/VGF06630_edit.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtbpnRNrqZlSNU7sYwQIQLYWArpEBDbAoaFGgsPOcR_xmQC0rZUy9fUAReg5-04tv1Oqe26NLiAnYjl_scRAObX2mIk9EXXfDFHj7VDFrnb62Py8oF8RrgYNqq8BoKW_G8wiHTxsRUj0K_Be0cJ6QSfpQi0zw6PwlH56wPtkmsdzSUycUuDpdzSZwlYVqd/s16000/VGF06630_edit.jpg" /></a></div><p>The black stripes in the blueish white ice are caused by ash from different volcanic eruptions over the last several hundred or maybe several thousand, years. So, the layers are snow and ice, then ash, then more ice, and so on. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd7V87U_nl5_S2qHPHbZ2xkhWgRK4etTKTYI83-4doEIItNwlODACuZaEr02PCIBePIWy51HeeI70JhKCoMsLVgoXgdzknZcyxbI-GBYAunats8DpKpFXIujqzzMoN7b76u0u8NrjB58W-9aBNdg9hVpTROMl2d-O4KBRsX0UOOT1aNNfIQtmin_7LJddp/s1600/VGF06629_edit.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd7V87U_nl5_S2qHPHbZ2xkhWgRK4etTKTYI83-4doEIItNwlODACuZaEr02PCIBePIWy51HeeI70JhKCoMsLVgoXgdzknZcyxbI-GBYAunats8DpKpFXIujqzzMoN7b76u0u8NrjB58W-9aBNdg9hVpTROMl2d-O4KBRsX0UOOT1aNNfIQtmin_7LJddp/s16000/VGF06629_edit.jpg" /></a></div><p>That's it for this edition of Vick and Jennifer's Icelandic Travels. Still more to come though! </p><p><a href="https://fisherphotocraft.blogspot.com/2023/11/ultimate-iceland-horses-cliffs-and.html">Click here to see the first couple days of the trip, with Icelandic horses, Arnarstapi Cliffs, and the incredible Dynjandi waterfall of the Westfjords.</a></p><p><a href="https://fisherphotocraft.blogspot.com/2023/11/ultimate-iceland-westfjords-to-godafoss.html">Click here to see the next few days of the trip, with Arctic foxes and two more iconic Icelandic waterfalls - Godafoss and Dettifoss.</a> </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Vick Fisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17003851466843959506noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2128337933507855804.post-24897994624217479192023-11-15T11:57:00.006-05:002023-12-01T08:44:09.982-05:00Ultimate Iceland: Westfjords to Godafoss and Dettifoss<p>The photos in this article cover a huge distance, from Isafjordur, in the northern Westfjords, across the north of Iceland to the Godafoss and Dettifoss waterfalls. After spending the night in the northern port town of Isafjordur, which means something like ice fjord town, we headed south again, along a road which followed the zigzagging contours of one fjord after another. It was cool and cloudy, but no rain. </p><p>We were happy to see that the Arctic Fox Center was still open. It usually closes at the end of August, but it was Sep 4 and they were still open. The "Center" is actually a small house with a couple of nice exhibits, a beautifully done documentary, and a fenced yard in the back with two arctic foxes. The foxes were rescued after being shot by farmers who fear foxes kill lambs. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfMewKH6wL96BtkddJqE8-x9mihgyriqEn_h22OmcJBXNHXZvPI6sPV46zu4Y5LrAkUNL6Cy8ZEyQ1bq6QZk1fgAG8yvyW3T4kBrJ-DrOvXuiW9Ho4f12HiFwINDZSvJRnDFOecOw1Skpd7JGWFYJ-K7H_Eh1AiW4Er2yF5C_MSsN1C-Lt693M3Os4zqrY/s1356/20230905_120134-crop-signed.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="904" data-original-width="1356" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfMewKH6wL96BtkddJqE8-x9mihgyriqEn_h22OmcJBXNHXZvPI6sPV46zu4Y5LrAkUNL6Cy8ZEyQ1bq6QZk1fgAG8yvyW3T4kBrJ-DrOvXuiW9Ho4f12HiFwINDZSvJRnDFOecOw1Skpd7JGWFYJ-K7H_Eh1AiW4Er2yF5C_MSsN1C-Lt693M3Os4zqrY/w640-h426/20230905_120134-crop-signed.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsw2-DemAhF9D96Jri0w8zd6V8fbHnCFjCaJMpEVZM1K_hEsUwIAhI6ulqWnclCOYCXctu1zEoLi4m8UlvU_34cHgORiVlKSp_LcgBknz3KnztO45cwudzsX4XHA4ycz5t2bR3OW6Yr9Fq-NMXARmGbMNDR_MBv7t7nrsYKHqR-lDcFRyDX367YQU5ZGjI/s1356/20230905_120145-crop-signed.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="904" data-original-width="1356" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsw2-DemAhF9D96Jri0w8zd6V8fbHnCFjCaJMpEVZM1K_hEsUwIAhI6ulqWnclCOYCXctu1zEoLi4m8UlvU_34cHgORiVlKSp_LcgBknz3KnztO45cwudzsX4XHA4ycz5t2bR3OW6Yr9Fq-NMXARmGbMNDR_MBv7t7nrsYKHqR-lDcFRyDX367YQU5ZGjI/w640-h426/20230905_120145-crop-signed.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTbmQ_0pi0qEjus6PAseEFw-K6wxq4yYjBSwWFDjkKJa5n_Ebu-GGRLF8FRmQXLSyKVb5XDFrVtfFRNEnYiZfoFgcJbPYUqf41Y6rl1Ziji1kwh6Xy46U_NHdt2MXguR19p-LErJnXuD75ckP3VVzsjS8O1Z6atK5AIIoooz2GvzEuh1H9IG7USyNS8hlT/s1352/20230905_120125-crop-sgned.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="901" data-original-width="1352" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTbmQ_0pi0qEjus6PAseEFw-K6wxq4yYjBSwWFDjkKJa5n_Ebu-GGRLF8FRmQXLSyKVb5XDFrVtfFRNEnYiZfoFgcJbPYUqf41Y6rl1Ziji1kwh6Xy46U_NHdt2MXguR19p-LErJnXuD75ckP3VVzsjS8O1Z6atK5AIIoooz2GvzEuh1H9IG7USyNS8hlT/w640-h426/20230905_120125-crop-sgned.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p>Continuing south, the views of the fjords were wonderful. We stopped to take a look at this sturdy little shed. It looked abandoned. Many areas in Iceland have this rich, thick, thigh-high green grass. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDvXjd9daLiTw46Zd69wzJyxcTuTi7b0eWUTzPsfdWArX3d2423L-eExW51Nb1FehzzFBOWBEXMjHep4StuxP3Zc21e0GFTZ_vbC6z8GetWBu-pkQ5IUhbU8fBHThlq88g8XQj1Gzqtjt2gr9g8xhGp-kDSApU4T6nR3FdtT_Re7EmWvzhsMUU7A9DKUbX/s1600/VGF06186_edit.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDvXjd9daLiTw46Zd69wzJyxcTuTi7b0eWUTzPsfdWArX3d2423L-eExW51Nb1FehzzFBOWBEXMjHep4StuxP3Zc21e0GFTZ_vbC6z8GetWBu-pkQ5IUhbU8fBHThlq88g8XQj1Gzqtjt2gr9g8xhGp-kDSApU4T6nR3FdtT_Re7EmWvzhsMUU7A9DKUbX/s16000/VGF06186_edit.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div>The shed from the photo above is actually in the photo below, taken after driving twenty more minutes. The shed is along the coastline just to the right of the central peak and the inlet. You'd need to look at this on your big TV to be able to see it. The wind was blowing pretty hard, which you can sort of see on the surface of the water. <div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjet-n1ic0LjdrTc-8q0Bbyo0zxR6814rENOq9D0IJba3jST_wr-z5zTPPOfjbhfbZHvEj6vO3Wtbp_YIsy9ZoEG2jKs6LdNPxoI3KsDcGuCCpU1aiSZPJ403ZEdj3KG-ln1C9X6SnxU1bwed0QqonNETE046QepiKiXpTvu904BJVS9iIEMMPxOgsp8jfq/s1600/VGF06191_edit_2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjet-n1ic0LjdrTc-8q0Bbyo0zxR6814rENOq9D0IJba3jST_wr-z5zTPPOfjbhfbZHvEj6vO3Wtbp_YIsy9ZoEG2jKs6LdNPxoI3KsDcGuCCpU1aiSZPJ403ZEdj3KG-ln1C9X6SnxU1bwed0QqonNETE046QepiKiXpTvu904BJVS9iIEMMPxOgsp8jfq/s16000/VGF06191_edit_2.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The wind was some of the strongest we encountered during the trip here. The water is covered in whitecaps. The rental car companies warn everyone to hold onto car doors when opening them, as the wind can catch it and bend it backwards. When I went to get back into the car here, I held onto the door as I opened it and the door pulled me along with it. Almost pulled me over. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwhOE5AmTESuHQYrx5jw4idgqU0cqhNmgMepfv2MV3ZDCVQJ_KtmFXkYrkC-E4fHGkp6N8Wy9NqWeuQz1FpOIX0oh_lY-Qnh-U8tW6WkQPSCMsPHSiRyLUzQjauJoV9ew0vGqTjwnHV8Bv68V3azc6gc4sQIMsSNtE8agty3yteme4nKNUT_y-gIVTqfsj/s1600/VGF06206_edit.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwhOE5AmTESuHQYrx5jw4idgqU0cqhNmgMepfv2MV3ZDCVQJ_KtmFXkYrkC-E4fHGkp6N8Wy9NqWeuQz1FpOIX0oh_lY-Qnh-U8tW6WkQPSCMsPHSiRyLUzQjauJoV9ew0vGqTjwnHV8Bv68V3azc6gc4sQIMsSNtE8agty3yteme4nKNUT_y-gIVTqfsj/s16000/VGF06206_edit.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>On our way down the coast, these guys were hanging out on the road. The other sheep had already run off the sides of the road by the time we approached. These two were bold and curious. Yet again, sheep in Iceland looking freshly primped and blow-dried. When driving around Iceland, do keep an eye out for sheep. There are a lot of barbed wire fences, so I'm not sure why so many sheep are running loose. Our hosts the night before told us there is a big roundup in late fall, where all the sheep are tracked down and sorted out so their owners can house and feed them over the winter. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSiAqW7lwQhs5UQunF_bqLbY5OTBltFZ-i2t6cS-l3U4pY3gLIMOtjnchIGtddQ2VzJsYobdfkLjNVNH1PiILtgZ_w6S7WBpwzB6qJy6prej5r53yVgrzBRNi0vxdNSPAJ8Buljifscf5YsNaxivol5RWyLqZ8vrbZwCTZWwfjgpXK8kVmNTPayprIHsDY/s1601/20230905_154602-01.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1601" data-original-width="1293" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSiAqW7lwQhs5UQunF_bqLbY5OTBltFZ-i2t6cS-l3U4pY3gLIMOtjnchIGtddQ2VzJsYobdfkLjNVNH1PiILtgZ_w6S7WBpwzB6qJy6prej5r53yVgrzBRNi0vxdNSPAJ8Buljifscf5YsNaxivol5RWyLqZ8vrbZwCTZWwfjgpXK8kVmNTPayprIHsDY/w517-h640/20230905_154602-01.jpeg" width="517" /></a></div><br /><div>This was later that day as we approached the <a href="https://www.booking.com/hotel/is/guesthouse-malarhorn.html">Malarhorn Guesthouse</a>. Iceland's stormy weather makes for beautiful skies. </div><div><div><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv64FTA6byANYH3eVMJGJ4s1p_JVKVqgAnfT3he_8DYjkNBZSp5wYiLA5erRJ-fwvrO69KbVYwJSxSefvh1gQCyGfPI4ICmUt6O-0J3OPsTGusBLltqKaNftq7fh8ELDrdToPUz9bslRwSdjDpK_tLzdYxuzSHVIWb9xiaTIC3B0dPENJJSnjHYQj4sUJ0/s1253/VGF06214_edit-crop.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1253" data-original-width="895" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv64FTA6byANYH3eVMJGJ4s1p_JVKVqgAnfT3he_8DYjkNBZSp5wYiLA5erRJ-fwvrO69KbVYwJSxSefvh1gQCyGfPI4ICmUt6O-0J3OPsTGusBLltqKaNftq7fh8ELDrdToPUz9bslRwSdjDpK_tLzdYxuzSHVIWb9xiaTIC3B0dPENJJSnjHYQj4sUJ0/s16000/VGF06214_edit-crop.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>After we checked into the guesthouse, we walked down the shore, past faded blue plastic fishing nets, rusting boat engine parts, and abandoned white fiberglass hulls. Around the bend and up a hill, we found this lovely cove of crystal clear water. Oddly, there were a lot of desiccated frog bodies strewn along the trail and lying in the tall grass. My guess was that seabirds were catching them and eating them, but we never really found out. There's a bright orange lighthouse on top of the far island in the photo - just a tiny speck you won't be able to see on a phone. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqGuaDNBrE2Ak_8aR_HXrozFHCmxEmoLXvmvU3mz7C3HO5cvvv6qGCTiMiLs1Uc22Fmi4NHEQe_Y_GojkBgcsy2QiR_MdZq1QEYQPAIlkSASjnOitEXGiLnXuZb2CqOD81ikUVsBlkl3shSBOcSveUmsTnjIQCbmSZgA8fqv0sNgiQ9c2qQZAmzFW0-Znm/s1350/VGF06221_edited.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1350" data-original-width="900" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqGuaDNBrE2Ak_8aR_HXrozFHCmxEmoLXvmvU3mz7C3HO5cvvv6qGCTiMiLs1Uc22Fmi4NHEQe_Y_GojkBgcsy2QiR_MdZq1QEYQPAIlkSASjnOitEXGiLnXuZb2CqOD81ikUVsBlkl3shSBOcSveUmsTnjIQCbmSZgA8fqv0sNgiQ9c2qQZAmzFW0-Znm/s16000/VGF06221_edited.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>After dinner, we drove back to a great vantage point along the coast to check out the sunset. While the wind howled around the car, we ate our dessert and watched the clouds shift and the sunlight change shades. We were all alone there. I loved all the layers of clouds, from the dark ones practically touching the hills to the ones way up in the stratosphere catching the last rays of the sun.</div><div> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfBYM6xkvZNpQMsBsh-nxkmrOuFHrIbyo0Bs3HVjTcjWgP9obZPsF6ciJL3oqvZxlZTgrlT7ltW347VJcxIcDTuPBOjhT-IXtHmEkg3HQzam5rN6p2FDCouJsdr6smr1MiVJMX8ZPz5BSJnpM9BHA5QsyN9L-QLEUszBhwjMmGszhLCsOJ4pGxCqFsBLSU/s1600/VGF06226_edit.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfBYM6xkvZNpQMsBsh-nxkmrOuFHrIbyo0Bs3HVjTcjWgP9obZPsF6ciJL3oqvZxlZTgrlT7ltW347VJcxIcDTuPBOjhT-IXtHmEkg3HQzam5rN6p2FDCouJsdr6smr1MiVJMX8ZPz5BSJnpM9BHA5QsyN9L-QLEUszBhwjMmGszhLCsOJ4pGxCqFsBLSU/s16000/VGF06226_edit.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>The next day, we continued our drive across the top of Iceland to reach the second largest Icelandic city - Akureyri. We saw this island, and more great clouds, along the way. I couldn't see any part of the edge of this island that is NOT a cliff. I wonder if you can even get onto it. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeq7AxaJwX9-ZBOec1QsYDFI38lihIrF6EjDM519DoeMrE2mFJOd3tH6ojvMh_mhslmaGTdX6YXjpmkRujBJB-7De66TA1oTlZT5EVeTuNUhRRCPWisLT5b3s1VTxxCRCgNA1u0PVKKc63Bz3KTl08iNtIFcGherrL9MNZH2WalbQIicZxOSlzN6XOeF1c/s1600/VGF06243_edit.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeq7AxaJwX9-ZBOec1QsYDFI38lihIrF6EjDM519DoeMrE2mFJOd3tH6ojvMh_mhslmaGTdX6YXjpmkRujBJB-7De66TA1oTlZT5EVeTuNUhRRCPWisLT5b3s1VTxxCRCgNA1u0PVKKc63Bz3KTl08iNtIFcGherrL9MNZH2WalbQIicZxOSlzN6XOeF1c/s16000/VGF06243_edit.jpg" /></a></div><p>With just another hour to go before arriving into Akureyri, a bit north of the town called Dalvik, we stopped off to take a look from the top of a tall cliff with a small waterfall tumbling into midair and down to the water. We ended up doing an impromptu, death-defying hike along a steep hillside to get to the top of that waterfall. This is the view looking back toward where we started. It was beautiful and we were the only people there. There are three seagulls soaring in front of the cliffs. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAfMjR6WYFHcAXQo2njAb7p7N2h3KPOXHJButGLSXVTV5Zx4RPelEZb4EGQLT8LMfdvPQMJ8cd5-pfwlBCmfzglOJ8hxwderNnF3lYN-W6s2HGoyaqXZX9bDmLeia-v-W3m_NXSz5k0bswyD3nWEKm6PnSMI2Yqun8X_CBVpqqRTzICA36md-Xyd5W8ZZ1/s1600/VGF06257_edit.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1082" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAfMjR6WYFHcAXQo2njAb7p7N2h3KPOXHJButGLSXVTV5Zx4RPelEZb4EGQLT8LMfdvPQMJ8cd5-pfwlBCmfzglOJ8hxwderNnF3lYN-W6s2HGoyaqXZX9bDmLeia-v-W3m_NXSz5k0bswyD3nWEKm6PnSMI2Yqun8X_CBVpqqRTzICA36md-Xyd5W8ZZ1/s16000/VGF06257_edit.jpg" /></a></div><p>Unfortunately, after risking death to get to the waterfall, we couldn't see it at all - it was below us, over the edge of a 150' cliff. Out of desperation, I lay on my stomach and reached out to try to see over the edge. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4gE0GQ_e0e3ky9_LHBNVzNBsXx9Bc29rzvXRhf671RzSsM6Bua3EaJ3ayGzIz7BPmjwI5ghZ9d8Zcio4yUkswGGqKn5Is1dSuhHdYZGr8sJ79u3bkAT5TZFSJR2Mkk4eOZAh1Dr1i0S5iVve9JSxMP1lwoJppQf2k7h2_DI_ne8EgtyOOzMsDBMxajChr/s4080/PXL_20230906_162508605.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3072" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4gE0GQ_e0e3ky9_LHBNVzNBsXx9Bc29rzvXRhf671RzSsM6Bua3EaJ3ayGzIz7BPmjwI5ghZ9d8Zcio4yUkswGGqKn5Is1dSuhHdYZGr8sJ79u3bkAT5TZFSJR2Mkk4eOZAh1Dr1i0S5iVve9JSxMP1lwoJppQf2k7h2_DI_ne8EgtyOOzMsDBMxajChr/w482-h640/PXL_20230906_162508605.jpg" width="482" /></a></div><p>This is what it looked like lying on my stomach and holding the camera facing downwards at the edge of the small waterfall we came to see. Years and years of moisture and cold allowed a thick carpet of moss to grow on the boulder just over the edge. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9PKsmOXIbr692Wqp2kcDO3M7Hw9HCUquTj10f9MUdBo_kptZgFYj40EVDuoAweNQcGIatxbuyxHJduWMr3vzzejA8LaoB044TosDabn3syuG3r_wbnW5gd1GgeUaQBgcMc8cnSidY2F9Z_aAieUXwVIo8xAmWg5RwNYiDBkCVtbGTti9Il6v097aY2Zct/s1600/VGF06277_edit.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9PKsmOXIbr692Wqp2kcDO3M7Hw9HCUquTj10f9MUdBo_kptZgFYj40EVDuoAweNQcGIatxbuyxHJduWMr3vzzejA8LaoB044TosDabn3syuG3r_wbnW5gd1GgeUaQBgcMc8cnSidY2F9Z_aAieUXwVIo8xAmWg5RwNYiDBkCVtbGTti9Il6v097aY2Zct/s16000/VGF06277_edit.jpg" /></a></div><p>The next day, it was raining from the moment we got up. We were on our way to see two of the biggest waterfalls in Iceland, Godafoss and Dettifoss. As you may have guessed, "foss" means waterfall in Icelandic. It was cold and rainy and windy as we walked the paths around Godafoss. I was impressed by the number of people out braving the weather. You have to expect some bad weather when visiting Iceland. In the black and white photo below, you can see a couple of people in the upper left, which helps with scale. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDXkAdRtd_D-2ua8BlYEwh86z5rJw7nQ5yXsUyWm8imQygK9bQxFiQguwLDq_tKC1ckt6zbdEYlOy6J796iZAc2MrOD__4ZvgwmCzhPaBjXFvfQ_QpsRufo7VmUrBqEfRQUklYTZjACnctpP1godsSMbz-J08oMySdODWlglA-2BhcEcqnbH4S6DTgTkJI/s1600/VGF06343_edit.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDXkAdRtd_D-2ua8BlYEwh86z5rJw7nQ5yXsUyWm8imQygK9bQxFiQguwLDq_tKC1ckt6zbdEYlOy6J796iZAc2MrOD__4ZvgwmCzhPaBjXFvfQ_QpsRufo7VmUrBqEfRQUklYTZjACnctpP1godsSMbz-J08oMySdODWlglA-2BhcEcqnbH4S6DTgTkJI/s16000/VGF06343_edit.jpg" /></a></div><p>Next, we drove up to Dettifoss, which is a thundering waterfall in a canyon, surrounded by nearly barren rocky flats. The falls throw spray high into the air, almost hiding themselves. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMVmS-bGbMTxy67Gzd7744JBaQetXE6Ya7LMRQa1lpejCXtdK30xc7RTW89QtO9eu9NuC4-Rdv0HuBS1hJKd2GwfRlgX6qU889C1fLmbtCIgJg8S-RyrtEV7Imh7GKOyUtYt7NqAGw3M6vdCqZcJayTw8QeZrWrL-mT6lbUNtZ37VubiWcmAfZxK__QncN/s1350/VGF06317-edit.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1350" data-original-width="900" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMVmS-bGbMTxy67Gzd7744JBaQetXE6Ya7LMRQa1lpejCXtdK30xc7RTW89QtO9eu9NuC4-Rdv0HuBS1hJKd2GwfRlgX6qU889C1fLmbtCIgJg8S-RyrtEV7Imh7GKOyUtYt7NqAGw3M6vdCqZcJayTw8QeZrWrL-mT6lbUNtZ37VubiWcmAfZxK__QncN/s16000/VGF06317-edit.jpg" /></a></div><p>In the photo below, you can see the river fed by the falls, flowing out of the canyon on the left.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-gX-tILSNzkF4G7eKyOXLQGbO7hVysHoXmHdIRYK54lryF79tMqXhk0QYrwa2As6hMWkaXns-B-KkDCUPBupv6YQICHWIM2JV6uiYzQAYJeAzw7o5zzAgNowBgjGsBg4xPgWh50924pSdYAEzPPfCQjYgBQjMvGdRZoXh0XiAbJiBsFEDm0MvjU8tXjGh/s1600/VGF06329_edit.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-gX-tILSNzkF4G7eKyOXLQGbO7hVysHoXmHdIRYK54lryF79tMqXhk0QYrwa2As6hMWkaXns-B-KkDCUPBupv6YQICHWIM2JV6uiYzQAYJeAzw7o5zzAgNowBgjGsBg4xPgWh50924pSdYAEzPPfCQjYgBQjMvGdRZoXh0XiAbJiBsFEDm0MvjU8tXjGh/s16000/VGF06329_edit.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Here's a short video that gives some idea of the power of the falls.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='627' height='298' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxIA6NVrXS2Fhlt039P6UX6NoljrpoUpKEcnkfX3QlJEw_QNIpGMqCg5NztttS-viiBLUZZ8qUoa7vanZKSig' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">That's the end of the second leg of the trip. More coming soon. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://fisherphotocraft.blogspot.com/2023/11/ultimate-iceland-horses-cliffs-and.html">Click here to see photos from the first leg of the trip, including the amazing Dynjandi waterfall.</a></div><p><a href="https://fisherphotocraft.blogspot.com/2023/11/ultimate-iceland-studlagil-hengifoss.html">Click here to see photos from the third leg of the trip, including Studlagil, Hengifoss, Litlanesfoss, and Heineberg Glacier Lagoon.</a> </p></div>Vick Fisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17003851466843959506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2128337933507855804.post-36654635977647067362023-11-06T12:23:00.007-05:002023-12-01T08:44:28.318-05:00Ultimate Iceland: Horses, Cliffs, and DynjandiThe icy wind nearly knocked us down as we got off the plane early on the morning of September 3 in Iceland. The day before, high winds had forced Iceland Air to cancel flights. With the wind whipping our hair in our faces, I really started to doubt my choice of time of year. But, I wanted to go on the shoulder season, between the peak summer months of midnight sun and too many tourists, and the freezing winter months when it's dark all day. At this time of year, there are fewer tourists, the days are still long, yet you still have a chance to see the Aurora Borealis. I call our trip "Ultimate Iceland" because it was two full weeks, and we covered not only the entire "Ring Road", but also went to the ends of western, northern, and eastern peninsulas, and to the edges of the Westfjords. In other words we went far beyond the Ring Road in all directions. It was great. <div><br /></div><div>As soon as we arrived, we got our rental car and started our first day of marathon driving, bypassing Reykjavik, heading up to the Snaefelssness Peninsula. Just north of Reykjavik, we started to see beautiful horses in brilliant green pastures everywhere. The advantage of planning your own trip is you can stop wherever there's something cool to see. This is especially great for a photographer like me. </div><div><br /></div><div>As you can see, there are quite a few amazing breeds of Icelandic horses. Each color combination here is a different breed. Icelandic horses have been isolated from other horses for about a thousand years now. The Norse brought over horses sometime in the late 800's or early 900's. Soon after, the Icelandic government banned the import of other types of horses. They're somewhat smaller than horses Americans are used to, but plenty large and strong enough to ride long distances on difficult terrain. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVhK15ngVTp1dbm1Unr_mhbz5YUClO4C8zQHIwVI3KZecRZpgEG6peBguEAkkPmPo0xwLujVAefnhnAZXnQcvAZpx32PRJ_gl895wN0wNWlZ3nF9kiE3c9l0jHKqIG_fy2D634KElyx4u5WZ30PIQhoiSCT8ORw3M2kO0F-vhGeBcAibL8XG5Of4bNlNCp/s1600/VGF05982_edit_1600.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVhK15ngVTp1dbm1Unr_mhbz5YUClO4C8zQHIwVI3KZecRZpgEG6peBguEAkkPmPo0xwLujVAefnhnAZXnQcvAZpx32PRJ_gl895wN0wNWlZ3nF9kiE3c9l0jHKqIG_fy2D634KElyx4u5WZ30PIQhoiSCT8ORw3M2kO0F-vhGeBcAibL8XG5Of4bNlNCp/s16000/VGF05982_edit_1600.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div>We drove all the way to the end of the Snaefellsness Peninsula to see the cliffs and the ocean there. On the way, we saw a few people walking beside a stream leading out of a mountainside, so we decided to check it out. A short hike up a hill led into a dark and narrow grotto that the stream had cut into the cliff. Every surface was covered in thick, rich, green moss. Apparently, the wet and cold environment of Iceland is perfect for this moss, because you find it in many far-flung regions of the island.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq4duJYynyOB5NCJtE8Gq0-z1D5E6I5_-TsgvVXA0g7ayGP3UMGolMbWfJLMPLXiIQuQXWq896o6fv8lM0fIG_xDDjmMrb1pWDzuctiZCSSz3ydVMIV65pifXld8BBPjp1sV42aIXLvl0aRZ4qwX1cHOQfN-CF6CxwhBq-0XtceXvycZ8Esi70Hh_kW8LJ/s1600/VGF05994_edit.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq4duJYynyOB5NCJtE8Gq0-z1D5E6I5_-TsgvVXA0g7ayGP3UMGolMbWfJLMPLXiIQuQXWq896o6fv8lM0fIG_xDDjmMrb1pWDzuctiZCSSz3ydVMIV65pifXld8BBPjp1sV42aIXLvl0aRZ4qwX1cHOQfN-CF6CxwhBq-0XtceXvycZ8Esi70Hh_kW8LJ/s16000/VGF05994_edit.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>The Arnarstapi Cliffs at the western end of the peninsula were our excuse to go exploring in this general direction. We spent a little over an hour walking on (and off) the paths around the area. When we arrived there was a group of a couple hundred Chinese tourists all wearing bright red parkas included with their tour. In this first photo, the water is rushing out from this inlet bordered by a thick layer of dark brown seaweed clinging to the rocks at the waterline. The rock is crystallized basalt, which gives it the appearance of being man-made, like giant Lego rocks. Rock like this occurs all over Iceland, and comes from magma pushing up through a glacier, and consequently being cooled extremely rapidly. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXcLoYWZ0AZLJQuEfe9D3W-JpVUKyasSUAbQlhcx3Q39hGQvys9QWVR8lK8WtYRk9cJDFbTcuud-6yoAMiqrf_D7O2v7DnJ0Y1s0hHZJUqZlE6PVBgzRWwMir2KPg8Kw1gbjY849CJjVEWPxDGeWfBCjHCLMPufu8sy8xAuWjY6AuuVV6UCmLUqax1dY3-/s1600/VGF06039_edit.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXcLoYWZ0AZLJQuEfe9D3W-JpVUKyasSUAbQlhcx3Q39hGQvys9QWVR8lK8WtYRk9cJDFbTcuud-6yoAMiqrf_D7O2v7DnJ0Y1s0hHZJUqZlE6PVBgzRWwMir2KPg8Kw1gbjY849CJjVEWPxDGeWfBCjHCLMPufu8sy8xAuWjY6AuuVV6UCmLUqax1dY3-/s16000/VGF06039_edit.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Those winds we'd encountered at the airport that morning, and that were blowing waterfalls backwards up cliffs, were still whipping up the sea - sending this wave all the way to the top of this forty foot cliff. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitjw5lWuPbS-zFfHXdaih6O1DpDi5V6SM575wHymyi6lo3j7yurCK6tN3oOvEoES_ibnelhWznR3DoVyEJ0K7_Briyys6wbDmYH0ny-vDqiPugXW8AjkXg9Y8y0NtxhhZWWrga3NfuRSvZYP1CMbttr2uQ5FDq7rtKbMrDso5f4c7wSMDbJ3lUYJ1u5BfK/s1600/VGF06047_edit_1600.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Iceland, Arnarstapi cliffs, Snaefellsness, basalt, basalt cliffs, ocean, waves, nature, wilderness" border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitjw5lWuPbS-zFfHXdaih6O1DpDi5V6SM575wHymyi6lo3j7yurCK6tN3oOvEoES_ibnelhWznR3DoVyEJ0K7_Briyys6wbDmYH0ny-vDqiPugXW8AjkXg9Y8y0NtxhhZWWrga3NfuRSvZYP1CMbttr2uQ5FDq7rtKbMrDso5f4c7wSMDbJ3lUYJ1u5BfK/s16000/VGF06047_edit_1600.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Just a little while later, we got hit by a sudden, powerful hailstorm, with fifty mile per hour winds. Luckily, we just happened to be near our car, so we were able to use if for shelter. Others weren't so lucky. It only lasted five minutes, but left the roads covered in a rapidly melting layer of white hail slush. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="363" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Jz7geOBpq3g" width="652" youtube-src-id="Jz7geOBpq3g"></iframe></div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Our destination that night was an isolated converted farm house down 40 miles of a packed gravel road, on the northern side of the peninsula, called the <a href="https://www.booking.com/hotel/is/drangar-country-guesthouse.html" target="_blank">Drangar Country Guesthouse</a>. In order to get there, we had to cross over to the northern side of the peninsula. Once on the northern side, we walked on a black sand beach and watched the wavetops being blown backwards by those powerful southerly winds.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwQUmdhDQL5X2cYqgPeibqfDGnDdq1Mb2dUSByzwxTFUBILF7j2IWOE62wPevz0f0birQaPmvVXWl3e3N8TDfaJudOYPpGFE7hEjTJswFAojR7uzyDWopgj2dcbu5wo81Y7dsfyjS-kQZAX5CnFo79prvYYbMVSG0ley17UcDrDG14Knq6c40HffRl38c3/s1600/VGF06064_edit.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Iceland, Snaefellsness, Arctic ocean, waves, wind, sea, mountains, clouds, sunset" border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwQUmdhDQL5X2cYqgPeibqfDGnDdq1Mb2dUSByzwxTFUBILF7j2IWOE62wPevz0f0birQaPmvVXWl3e3N8TDfaJudOYPpGFE7hEjTJswFAojR7uzyDWopgj2dcbu5wo81Y7dsfyjS-kQZAX5CnFo79prvYYbMVSG0ley17UcDrDG14Knq6c40HffRl38c3/s16000/VGF06064_edit.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>On the way there, we spotted a couple more horses at the outlet of an incredibly beautiful valley, with giant waterfalls at its head, and sunlight illuminating the mountains through a gap in the dark clouds. While I was taking photos of these two horses, we noticed a small herd of horses in the distance, and they were running down from the hills right toward us. Within a minute they had arrived and run in a small circle right up to the fence and stopped there. They were bored and curious and we were their entertainment. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHzhsx9n-bHE55llz7pcRwxC4c8RI8Qn8oB7x76df61fwvYvbH_RQJwn8TvaC3xoondD-lK_fdemugaaYGXPgdLeLGZGKdypkj-ltfZH9p5vCsSPiFQvtHwTv5RJFkx8MEjOT07igb77i48jRgNtkGcYecbiDV6Ouo7TTtpRmCy1xTz6H90KtQ9Lq0PzTF/s1600/VGF06088_edit.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Iceland, Icelandic horses, valley, waterfall, breeds, mane, hair, beautiful, nature, wilderness, adventure" border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHzhsx9n-bHE55llz7pcRwxC4c8RI8Qn8oB7x76df61fwvYvbH_RQJwn8TvaC3xoondD-lK_fdemugaaYGXPgdLeLGZGKdypkj-ltfZH9p5vCsSPiFQvtHwTv5RJFkx8MEjOT07igb77i48jRgNtkGcYecbiDV6Ouo7TTtpRmCy1xTz6H90KtQ9Lq0PzTF/s16000/VGF06088_edit.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Here's a video Jennifer took while I was busy trying to take the photo above.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="418" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/CV96wc8wHLs" width="503" youtube-src-id="CV96wc8wHLs"></iframe></div><br /><div>After a great breakfast at the guesthouse, we headed northwest toward the Dynjandi waterfall in the remote region few visitors get to known as the Westfjords. One of the great pleasures of traveling across Iceland is seeing one beautiful, unspoiled fjord after another, even if it's in cloudy or rainy weather.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDZD6F8K5QibMG6j5kL4-FtH5RSRBR3zzMhRNAkyZfFpzKgh2-14fA9foEurbM_ss_grrSyGl9xFwgib2FNeJx5vLFuRL0HLrUePlcF8EytO559Bf33lNEUzoy8sDrtvEKSIe6aEM861YamcBu9MFDzxBIeUungiFAZxqC9tWLBOvkMAI6wU3K2-acI1bg/s1600/VGF06123_edit.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Iceland, fjord, arctic, mountains, clouds, tundra" border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDZD6F8K5QibMG6j5kL4-FtH5RSRBR3zzMhRNAkyZfFpzKgh2-14fA9foEurbM_ss_grrSyGl9xFwgib2FNeJx5vLFuRL0HLrUePlcF8EytO559Bf33lNEUzoy8sDrtvEKSIe6aEM861YamcBu9MFDzxBIeUungiFAZxqC9tWLBOvkMAI6wU3K2-acI1bg/s16000/VGF06123_edit.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>That day, we could usually see bright sunlight, dark clouds, and rain all at the same time. This photo was taken from the top of a pass leading into the Westfjords, on a black gravel road that was under construction. We were driving on gravel roads for hours that day. I was surprised to find that we could do 80 KPH (49 MPH) on these roads, partly because of the 4WD we had been advised to rent. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrTnvcbvhaB5Fqr4tJ_gj_co6xX5ItS0PnQviojRJYIV-nogjArclklfYF5YNtyG50vyjG4XU4cMhRdIkiflN2WlQQCvzU4iqByHE0kcMXn-jgHV9aR5sg6m-qDwKBaARD2tmwGLdIW-lOCgoCvgZ7ZPZhhV01WmAdDYW2Hx-MfCzN-P0EcEJc4LB3tNPG/s1600/VGF06127_edit.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Iceland, fjord, tundra, moss, lichen, mountains, water, nature, adventure, travel" border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrTnvcbvhaB5Fqr4tJ_gj_co6xX5ItS0PnQviojRJYIV-nogjArclklfYF5YNtyG50vyjG4XU4cMhRdIkiflN2WlQQCvzU4iqByHE0kcMXn-jgHV9aR5sg6m-qDwKBaARD2tmwGLdIW-lOCgoCvgZ7ZPZhhV01WmAdDYW2Hx-MfCzN-P0EcEJc4LB3tNPG/s16000/VGF06127_edit.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div>Finally, we reached the Dynjandi falls when the sun was out. There are actually several waterfalls that follow the big one at the top. This is one of the small waterfalls below the main waterfall. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1770y02MK4KMPRgEo0T3pCBlT9JDJSG9nyn6YEHJFMqjHX5_DYbxsuMsG7Nh1CShvDJVkVxrvMkCt9leEvTZ0hQGfIy3Ml-c_dS1dPzuk-e0F7zGMyOfoX6M8cO7VhlppH1ug49I_yAg0yuQsXqq8z98TZZu8pqCkPgyYq1kvrRjpgJ8EDdnZ_V0IX8tW/s1600/VGF06140_edit.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Iceland, Westfjords, Dynjandi, waterfall, rainbow, emerald water, mountains, stream, nature, travel, adventure, wilderness, beautiful" border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1770y02MK4KMPRgEo0T3pCBlT9JDJSG9nyn6YEHJFMqjHX5_DYbxsuMsG7Nh1CShvDJVkVxrvMkCt9leEvTZ0hQGfIy3Ml-c_dS1dPzuk-e0F7zGMyOfoX6M8cO7VhlppH1ug49I_yAg0yuQsXqq8z98TZZu8pqCkPgyYq1kvrRjpgJ8EDdnZ_V0IX8tW/s16000/VGF06140_edit.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>This is a view of the big one from a distance back. There's a person at the base of the falls, along the ridge, a little to the left of center. The person looks like a small grey bump because the falls are so huge. The waterfall is over three hundred feet high, so a person is pretty small in comparison. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTb0i7ctJoZRkvwBT46VrImwMuoOnwQZcj10p636jbFIixftJCnaOK4jTj18ollhv2ERDh8R2B_-ltZttqe0OaDaxXjI7GPySy-EcWTZABWMj6GqqimJhWbVOprcyRKvG7Lt2jynCBfxxpqnJt8RezKAXQMUTXQwSlNcTVn7r0OpKB0yidhgyIDD3SKGfR/s1600/VGF06149_edit.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Iceland, Westfjords, Dynjandi, waterfall, rainbow, emerald water, mountains, stream, nature, travel, adventure, wilderness, beautiful" border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTb0i7ctJoZRkvwBT46VrImwMuoOnwQZcj10p636jbFIixftJCnaOK4jTj18ollhv2ERDh8R2B_-ltZttqe0OaDaxXjI7GPySy-EcWTZABWMj6GqqimJhWbVOprcyRKvG7Lt2jynCBfxxpqnJt8RezKAXQMUTXQwSlNcTVn7r0OpKB0yidhgyIDD3SKGfR/s16000/VGF06149_edit.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>The water is pure and beautiful close up. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyhpNViurlC-iIVBF7Nv7rNvEadKUatzoOdSJUdaEwlTKgU7dTrIA1bOrU0On_iFU5_MGkTbWyJaXaPXMmYzw9N3wsI3Zo2Gu78J9nwTJuXkF-lacl6sVg-0iowAsaWphhAPS0y8c6BGjpTWZvSnHvzPyKLXVgW5uKE4rd-cC1lbJr-VSA7pyAB1hmAv-T/s1600/VGF06174_edit.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Iceland, Westfjords, Dynjandi, waterfall, rainbow, emerald water, mountains, stream, nature, travel, adventure, wilderness, beautiful" border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyhpNViurlC-iIVBF7Nv7rNvEadKUatzoOdSJUdaEwlTKgU7dTrIA1bOrU0On_iFU5_MGkTbWyJaXaPXMmYzw9N3wsI3Zo2Gu78J9nwTJuXkF-lacl6sVg-0iowAsaWphhAPS0y8c6BGjpTWZvSnHvzPyKLXVgW5uKE4rd-cC1lbJr-VSA7pyAB1hmAv-T/s16000/VGF06174_edit.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Here's a view looking up at the falls from below. Of course, a tripod is needed for a photo like this so the water can flow while the shutter is open for one or two seconds. My camera was getting wet, as the air was full of the spray of so many falling streams colliding with one rocky shelf after another. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_BxErthCcH0Ryyr3ucS7VYXxQMzwcyjLIU0LBLvvptrOha10IRyjXfzTgh_u13lN4G3shyOOBOp14rsdpLSvPvhVmitgKeG38oua6lmyKDpmyjAdjOHgP6Bix3I3Tv_WhZe5XW6cnLICBF17wppsoh50mYmKu45Tk4B45qkyEBdtPnhw1b2d0-492qLTl/s1350/VGF06177_edit.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Iceland, Westfjords, Dynjandi, waterfall, rainbow, emerald water, mountains, stream, nature, travel, adventure, wilderness, beautiful" border="0" data-original-height="1350" data-original-width="900" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_BxErthCcH0Ryyr3ucS7VYXxQMzwcyjLIU0LBLvvptrOha10IRyjXfzTgh_u13lN4G3shyOOBOp14rsdpLSvPvhVmitgKeG38oua6lmyKDpmyjAdjOHgP6Bix3I3Tv_WhZe5XW6cnLICBF17wppsoh50mYmKu45Tk4B45qkyEBdtPnhw1b2d0-492qLTl/s16000/VGF06177_edit.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div>One of the most unusual parts of this day of travel is that we were driving on packed gravel roads. We were going into a remote part of the country that even most Icelanders never go to. So, the roads that go there aren't the greatest. They'll probably pave them in the next five to ten years, but they haven't gotten there yet. With a mid-sized four wheel drive SUV, we were able to drive on those roads at 40-45 MPH, which isn't that much below the national maximum speed limit of 55. To add a bit of humor, take a look at the view of our black SUV in the hotel parking lot when we arrived. I got a napkin and wiped off the license plate next time we drove it. As you can see, it was completely coated in mud.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIOWaeu02-AdYN5i0vudZtuWjgBZOJzAxqPWgEMa1hFOAhuVpQdHLPlk_tkOGqSHf-TgNSYXM6IoLYT40nm7lbqepKvgysJg0_vFFs8mHf5mNKKFcYVYxXy0Kljxa2lbK8msbIyoBmx0HXDIot1bwGFBtMvTcuD9LwnZx-GE38SWXjnGcFb6Udb4S3u7MC/s1220/20230904_202038.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1220" data-original-width="993" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIOWaeu02-AdYN5i0vudZtuWjgBZOJzAxqPWgEMa1hFOAhuVpQdHLPlk_tkOGqSHf-TgNSYXM6IoLYT40nm7lbqepKvgysJg0_vFFs8mHf5mNKKFcYVYxXy0Kljxa2lbK8msbIyoBmx0HXDIot1bwGFBtMvTcuD9LwnZx-GE38SWXjnGcFb6Udb4S3u7MC/w521-h640/20230904_202038.jpg" width="521" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>That's all for the first leg of the trip. </div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://fisherphotocraft.blogspot.com/2023/11/ultimate-iceland-westfjords-to-godafoss.html">Click here to see photos from the second leg, including visits to the Arctic Fox Center, Godafoss and Dettifoss, with plenty of sheep in between.</a></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://fisherphotocraft.blogspot.com/2023/11/ultimate-iceland-studlagil-hengifoss.html">Click here to see photos from the third leg of the trip, including Studlagil, Hengifoss, Litlanesfoss, and Heineberg Glacier Lagoon.</a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Vick Fisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17003851466843959506noreply@blogger.com0Q98Q+RC Arnarstapi, Iceland64.7670013 -23.611404264.737715291547062 -23.680068750781249 64.796287308452946 -23.542739649218749tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2128337933507855804.post-28751077241995351972023-03-15T12:12:00.039-04:002023-03-16T19:14:00.954-04:00Antarctica: Second and Third Gentoo Penguin Colonies<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">On this day, we visited two different Gentoo penguin colonies. There were penguin chicks with almost every parent. You can see them in most of the photos below, except the ones where the parent is rushing out to catch some fish or coming home from eating krill (tiny shrimp-like creatures that are key to the entire Antarctic food chain), squid, and fish. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Dinner time. The tongue is just as bright orange as the beak. I thought that was kind of surprising. Also, the tongue is like a cat's tongue with sharp spikes curving back towards the throat. They're called papillae, and they help with catching prey. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiigDM8-1lhEZ40ED69S4xttwJWDy-7HHRyKsm1WUA1Czb_fj39iyzJ4OJtyD5_NWGqGV7-3JPMT76c8MhzEU7QBLUJA3GveSIcmmqWaWbVyDPiRjvuL_Cu-NQcKO_Bdyfi10Yr8z7fEca-oLb17RH4iOGXTUvLqmBqrb4CRoiq5ZCaN5bu1T2QRYFQxg/s1500/VGF04824.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1001" data-original-width="1500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiigDM8-1lhEZ40ED69S4xttwJWDy-7HHRyKsm1WUA1Czb_fj39iyzJ4OJtyD5_NWGqGV7-3JPMT76c8MhzEU7QBLUJA3GveSIcmmqWaWbVyDPiRjvuL_Cu-NQcKO_Bdyfi10Yr8z7fEca-oLb17RH4iOGXTUvLqmBqrb4CRoiq5ZCaN5bu1T2QRYFQxg/s16000/VGF04824.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">A chick pushing its head into the throat of its parent to get food may be a bit disturbing, but it's nothing compared with the videos they showed during the recap presentation that night. Someone had videos of the semi-digested fish paste oozing out of the parent's throat and into the chick's mouth. Ick! In this photo, you can see the papillae (that's a fun word) on the parent's tongue in even more detail. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlxhQAgiW3mo-dWUjFvr_-eSXnT7JztIltXcv5Kvs3v-MLCfsqRNJQBqnW_pff-2_9LXxXkMsJj7kiO6Aktgz8aQKHH7WL35EODjFOWoggvubsgJBeseJBLIb-8Rus4RplmCEFdc04CcwHJow4GSdL1gJ6UFQmdKNuyLSkpvca_-QnMYaQd3VkfJ8FxA/s1200/VGF04829-crop2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlxhQAgiW3mo-dWUjFvr_-eSXnT7JztIltXcv5Kvs3v-MLCfsqRNJQBqnW_pff-2_9LXxXkMsJj7kiO6Aktgz8aQKHH7WL35EODjFOWoggvubsgJBeseJBLIb-8Rus4RplmCEFdc04CcwHJow4GSdL1gJ6UFQmdKNuyLSkpvca_-QnMYaQd3VkfJ8FxA/s16000/VGF04829-crop2.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: left;">Most of the time, the chicks seemed to be enjoying the warmth and security of a parent's belly. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOPK_W-52tpqysLlYcsSm2YjZa2lL5PaolKWPdyS_BAlKXQdbkP9i5NHD1lh05L2pwyuehCnzelTF2DbRf5mVjMLMztzZ1m6vif4o37cTC36q7xLw8O8uZtHSIyLZvX2IptdgT6AxSl2I8iAuHHm-f4bAL2Qu7NDj2Ky-dt0o56xqPBCOHa7TUZpvUAw/s1200/VGF04774.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOPK_W-52tpqysLlYcsSm2YjZa2lL5PaolKWPdyS_BAlKXQdbkP9i5NHD1lh05L2pwyuehCnzelTF2DbRf5mVjMLMztzZ1m6vif4o37cTC36q7xLw8O8uZtHSIyLZvX2IptdgT6AxSl2I8iAuHHm-f4bAL2Qu7NDj2Ky-dt0o56xqPBCOHa7TUZpvUAw/s16000/VGF04774.jpg" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">More chicks burrowing under bellies. All four of these parents have a chick under there. Fun how they're all facing the same way. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvKBjzaOucPmm4Z646v7lvX4bvTxDu6BFyDtfcHe1hhOMJzHjFrXQhUl0P3LGojFPGevsI0vpRY-D5b5lkQl77KHQoLUaoTaMA3PpujHuhus-inGuVj5GinI0_JdHa97En2JfXD1vSIfSVt1cHBKyo6qz-altRGLt7V4QiIif9WXnuGGpRj_UecOdYpg/s1500/VGF04814.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1001" data-original-width="1500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvKBjzaOucPmm4Z646v7lvX4bvTxDu6BFyDtfcHe1hhOMJzHjFrXQhUl0P3LGojFPGevsI0vpRY-D5b5lkQl77KHQoLUaoTaMA3PpujHuhus-inGuVj5GinI0_JdHa97En2JfXD1vSIfSVt1cHBKyo6qz-altRGLt7V4QiIif9WXnuGGpRj_UecOdYpg/s16000/VGF04814.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It's not just a penguin photo, it's an <i>Antarctica </i>penguin photo. The setting is as important to me as the animals. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibTlXVhr9wT6q5_DqjZChHrMUs9r_tGCxg43xdSNtBAw_x8vpoVSTHFnISml0YbDpjjPrRMD0vgSOTtkldWu76ggPYZxrkiBq6J8b3V4JpLfR1OcJtgy8CzlvvQBiZXrB-PKPDlnFiIyibv2TYY3ttAuFluhEn5JCGmRPyegvTcOuQUD62Yg_jo3Hs_w/s1500/VGF04771.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1001" data-original-width="1500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibTlXVhr9wT6q5_DqjZChHrMUs9r_tGCxg43xdSNtBAw_x8vpoVSTHFnISml0YbDpjjPrRMD0vgSOTtkldWu76ggPYZxrkiBq6J8b3V4JpLfR1OcJtgy8CzlvvQBiZXrB-PKPDlnFiIyibv2TYY3ttAuFluhEn5JCGmRPyegvTcOuQUD62Yg_jo3Hs_w/s16000/VGF04771.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Love this amazing glacier face combined with the penguins.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLwWcq72IjyIzHre4VtSX8SMAB7lVsThv-3eDQAcJ8OukT5zqDt0BlCr5BL11NRZCMemVoMfD7XZytqXDNyXlPnypFpkYr2C-pVXvMQyFq9CuE2vifknl2ZAGbibmYC_EuVeFm4ku7ThtwWs2b5Qidw8y_H6TrJGAMjewhUlr1fdtuP9Qu-XQ6lbgjcQ/s1500/VGF04873.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1001" data-original-width="1500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLwWcq72IjyIzHre4VtSX8SMAB7lVsThv-3eDQAcJ8OukT5zqDt0BlCr5BL11NRZCMemVoMfD7XZytqXDNyXlPnypFpkYr2C-pVXvMQyFq9CuE2vifknl2ZAGbibmYC_EuVeFm4ku7ThtwWs2b5Qidw8y_H6TrJGAMjewhUlr1fdtuP9Qu-XQ6lbgjcQ/s16000/VGF04873.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">That afternoon, we moved on to a different landing site. In the photo, you can see a guide standing in a Zodiac, just below a rare bit of direct sunlight hitting the glacier face. The glacier is even larger than it looks, as he's not as close to the face as it looks like in this photo. Safety demands keeping a safe distance away from glaciers, as they could calve without warning; creating a huge wave that could capsize or swamp nearby boats. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The glacier is breaking up into chunks because it's sliding over a large hump of rock underneath. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiSfWe3vKmkif3NTMgOLnm9odigqOZVDEIEpv1BiwHRhbBlC5I_AVNLgu7-q7qJzadRmXycmNaCt54lmqyS1SMjaFbWfwTmYWXda5uER6gBsimhOMuk0i2wA1n5S_oSh-nF-FIK0ftHF3wHn21DYzsKBG4FsYTb-H5yp5XqMvCmT2p2fzDC7Tt2AepHg/s1500/20230212_183431-edit.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiSfWe3vKmkif3NTMgOLnm9odigqOZVDEIEpv1BiwHRhbBlC5I_AVNLgu7-q7qJzadRmXycmNaCt54lmqyS1SMjaFbWfwTmYWXda5uER6gBsimhOMuk0i2wA1n5S_oSh-nF-FIK0ftHF3wHn21DYzsKBG4FsYTb-H5yp5XqMvCmT2p2fzDC7Tt2AepHg/s16000/20230212_183431-edit.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">This is a Weddell seal that we saw when we arrived at the next site. You can tell the difference between this and a leopard seal by the shape of the face and jaw. The lower jaw of a leopard seal is bizarrely large and deep. The Weddell seal has the cuter whisker face. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4-izJ3xBYWqNdkTFSH80tjPLdlqYUCerotKE1ZO7-xtUDK1kJtxnAabCCGY3QOLMK5nvHkOe9vZaqYUBIWoqKpl1yvAL5vNteniT-7xP5Ya1BXGoIJbjdTQflmvp3SBElqgvSeYh0ZgaMyFWJOpw5_rlipVgeZ6SxOi1X2luLhkmQHc8f8oXJS9RWzA/s1500/20230212_185042-weddell.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="1500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4-izJ3xBYWqNdkTFSH80tjPLdlqYUCerotKE1ZO7-xtUDK1kJtxnAabCCGY3QOLMK5nvHkOe9vZaqYUBIWoqKpl1yvAL5vNteniT-7xP5Ya1BXGoIJbjdTQflmvp3SBElqgvSeYh0ZgaMyFWJOpw5_rlipVgeZ6SxOi1X2luLhkmQHc8f8oXJS9RWzA/s16000/20230212_185042-weddell.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Funny how they look so comfortable lying on a lumpy bed of ice. They have no fear of the nearby people and boats. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTppujDQVksw0E7qECWV1SMDaNy3MBegWynsx5Rm6h2-0dmKrn_P0HWHlXR7CZkrXFabelJgu5J5mG4wCFYrq1mpcS2A_IICkwji5gUT-LzhrmR_UdFkLPxxAv1GO-NbgtosVJRmY8Tlp9bIfILzH0zgjZIAacv5vyvQ6afzCUZSicCtmkvOoI3xRJDw/s1500/VGF05046.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1001" data-original-width="1500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTppujDQVksw0E7qECWV1SMDaNy3MBegWynsx5Rm6h2-0dmKrn_P0HWHlXR7CZkrXFabelJgu5J5mG4wCFYrq1mpcS2A_IICkwji5gUT-LzhrmR_UdFkLPxxAv1GO-NbgtosVJRmY8Tlp9bIfILzH0zgjZIAacv5vyvQ6afzCUZSicCtmkvOoI3xRJDw/s16000/VGF05046.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">After getting a good look at this seal, and watching a Minke whale play with another Zodiac, we landed and hung out with the local penguins. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUrllvhc1CrTW0D7t2ieM80zA2HQnQbwBvC6ojve1SIOtDNASgadxhwen8pT13LkvT25sgEfh_iNwLZTKtFC9kjhiI9Kyoqu7Rb313guJvfHZ9NCMCmrd4f3SMDlW8uJOpB4wEkPrpqr0NYlONWc4gAv3KA3Z0JUH6RMeoHe6QOYteYZcE_Ula6U-6ug/s1500/VGF04850-crop3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1001" data-original-width="1500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUrllvhc1CrTW0D7t2ieM80zA2HQnQbwBvC6ojve1SIOtDNASgadxhwen8pT13LkvT25sgEfh_iNwLZTKtFC9kjhiI9Kyoqu7Rb313guJvfHZ9NCMCmrd4f3SMDlW8uJOpB4wEkPrpqr0NYlONWc4gAv3KA3Z0JUH6RMeoHe6QOYteYZcE_Ula6U-6ug/s16000/VGF04850-crop3.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">They would often decide to squawk for a few seconds. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5qMEje9Qx7Hi6EF9ZykRgOoxHmcYWThYassI5xk7kn8toVfi2dkiNqyCaPb2bv_s7i2PMf-eJvJTPDpBkimeo6wYaItoo54Id6cM3YHAQuCNlZ3eCi80XWIj5J6BkBrWEWbw7vIQqwsR99jpJxMgj072ZozU78IPU5dpvw3Kuuj4_LMiroBeeW8yWKw/s1500/VGF05070.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1001" data-original-width="1500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5qMEje9Qx7Hi6EF9ZykRgOoxHmcYWThYassI5xk7kn8toVfi2dkiNqyCaPb2bv_s7i2PMf-eJvJTPDpBkimeo6wYaItoo54Id6cM3YHAQuCNlZ3eCi80XWIj5J6BkBrWEWbw7vIQqwsR99jpJxMgj072ZozU78IPU5dpvw3Kuuj4_LMiroBeeW8yWKw/s16000/VGF05070.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I saw them point their beak to the sky quite a few times also. Maybe they're just stretching their necks. I like the water and glacier in the background. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGERvYSIqOhyZTen4nBFi4lSxofGJJdhpbMNM9T_cVKooXS-GGW60oWj7NrADzeXqVOHUSGQE6zo1o-hF2MslVh9SAhSd4hGV_qfYzeFVPCnmi_Y1VjzGSA8HdQc9QTdcvZwAfX7XJN_mFV4M1V0aOgA4vS342doDd8nngIkwnVgHNp7Zn7Z6zvItMDQ/s1200/VGF05051.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGERvYSIqOhyZTen4nBFi4lSxofGJJdhpbMNM9T_cVKooXS-GGW60oWj7NrADzeXqVOHUSGQE6zo1o-hF2MslVh9SAhSd4hGV_qfYzeFVPCnmi_Y1VjzGSA8HdQc9QTdcvZwAfX7XJN_mFV4M1V0aOgA4vS342doDd8nngIkwnVgHNp7Zn7Z6zvItMDQ/s16000/VGF05051.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Coming home from fishing. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4QzMGlU6utVeDC9YV7DrEKkkBcMTXJq-4QekVyf8CWBcfHHQM_gMfUmXsg5lD6rXMEctoEtTdM7CDxer7cUn626ZKT7hpX4S9VYrVotD8JzimSDp3MQivY4MDC6rkJB04ZFKe-z6R_EWqG5D3qjy8WNdiPiSdERpxe5DMKctV36Q7jzhrJjqcceYmEw/s1199/VGF05103.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1199" data-original-width="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4QzMGlU6utVeDC9YV7DrEKkkBcMTXJq-4QekVyf8CWBcfHHQM_gMfUmXsg5lD6rXMEctoEtTdM7CDxer7cUn626ZKT7hpX4S9VYrVotD8JzimSDp3MQivY4MDC6rkJB04ZFKe-z6R_EWqG5D3qjy8WNdiPiSdERpxe5DMKctV36Q7jzhrJjqcceYmEw/s16000/VGF05103.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnS6aBp3X0Nn1mkH9yy74fFYoclthiYeSmIB2XHJFsK5HO_TUlekuXk64eSOXA9FYZ2C5bjC7coRdCARyoycVHCf03PgqxsCTm8VL9ZJApfUgTUsQMcvXyTQTDyB-JEYmHB3k9y-nB18DTXDnYfZYlLxT_YUMzzQb-RxqcFFORu-SvWIPpWUAcrx6DOg/s1500/VGF04803.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1001" data-original-width="1500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnS6aBp3X0Nn1mkH9yy74fFYoclthiYeSmIB2XHJFsK5HO_TUlekuXk64eSOXA9FYZ2C5bjC7coRdCARyoycVHCf03PgqxsCTm8VL9ZJApfUgTUsQMcvXyTQTDyB-JEYmHB3k9y-nB18DTXDnYfZYlLxT_YUMzzQb-RxqcFFORu-SvWIPpWUAcrx6DOg/s16000/VGF04803.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Here's a quick video of a couple of penguins on one of the many penguin highways at the colony. Once a few penguins take the same path, the snow and ice are compacted, which makes it easier to walk there. After that, more and more take the same path until it turns into a highway they all like to take. These guys were so cute. You can hear me reminding someone to give them room (as the guides had told us to) because everyone gets so excited to see a penguin coming so close that they often end up standing right in the path of the poor confused penguin. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Also audible in the background - the otherworldly sound of all the penguins doing their various cries, . </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="1044" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/WljE0tUSShM" width="1259" youtube-src-id="WljE0tUSShM"></iframe></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We saw this whale on the way out of the bay. You can see the roiled water where another whale dove a second before. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6KUflfUH_WCRf7Lgs9ur941UxGxRitb3I8Bd0byfCb8BiNKT01Cyavlyve0HPGypYHP7AMyZxeUn9XMRvJzooVJOX-m-fKDb2hKdGhEEyLXPa-2C51zhWWdL7XM5d12PfF6ncoNAtAJNo-YFxbMMRtcsSqcOwxYs5NLI6mdnSneU30dJuOtu8QQsp3Q/s1500/VGF04947.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1001" data-original-width="1500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6KUflfUH_WCRf7Lgs9ur941UxGxRitb3I8Bd0byfCb8BiNKT01Cyavlyve0HPGypYHP7AMyZxeUn9XMRvJzooVJOX-m-fKDb2hKdGhEEyLXPa-2C51zhWWdL7XM5d12PfF6ncoNAtAJNo-YFxbMMRtcsSqcOwxYs5NLI6mdnSneU30dJuOtu8QQsp3Q/s16000/VGF04947.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>Links to other Antarctica posts:</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://fisherphotocraft.blogspot.com/2023/02/arriving-south-of-antarctic-circle.html">First Antarctica post, including video of the epic 80 MPH storm we lived through.</a></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://fisherphotocraft.blogspot.com/2023/03/antarctica-heading-north-through-gullet.html">Second Antarctica post, with spectacular icebergs in the sun.</a> </div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://fisherphotocraft.blogspot.com/2023/03/antarctica-through-gunnel-and-gullet.html">Third Antarctica post, about passing through the narrow channel called the Gullet.</a><br /><p><a href="https://fisherphotocraft.blogspot.com/2023/03/antarctica-gentoo-penguin-colony.html">Lots more penguin photos.</a></p></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p></p>Vick Fisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17003851466843959506noreply@blogger.com0374MC77C+X2-67.5850609 -66.7299645-80.455781062878813 -101.8862145 -54.714340737121191 -31.573714499999994tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2128337933507855804.post-4505702599331969292023-03-10T15:06:00.012-05:002023-03-15T13:57:33.550-04:00Antarctica: Gentoo Penguin Colony<p><br /></p><p>Our penguin colony excursion was amazing, if eye-watering. We could smell it from the Zodiac long before we landed. Once we arrived on shore, you simply had to try to block it out of your mind, which wasn't always easy. Happily, the sounds and activities all around made for compelling distractions. Parent and chick below. I wouldn't say "mother and chick" because the mother and father share responsibilities for the chick. They alternate minding the chick and going for food. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKX1ycuhJxE1teaanQGnfA-yw0AwYiRp8wNAcXqMt19iHE3CggSdGy0shk2thaOjQ6D9acEJBiz1z5xcHZzKAkHzqFbmGfxciYPAdUXSK5erDtKB-laKE8KmIgEPKqCcg1J-sradPwqKNZPjkF6YClW8cuJB6ouQfmXh7DJvunKH2haXWl68Bs2oTuMA/s1500/VGF04420.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1001" data-original-width="1500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKX1ycuhJxE1teaanQGnfA-yw0AwYiRp8wNAcXqMt19iHE3CggSdGy0shk2thaOjQ6D9acEJBiz1z5xcHZzKAkHzqFbmGfxciYPAdUXSK5erDtKB-laKE8KmIgEPKqCcg1J-sradPwqKNZPjkF6YClW8cuJB6ouQfmXh7DJvunKH2haXWl68Bs2oTuMA/s16000/VGF04420.jpg" /></a></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDBqQqEJtxs1WTMOec-Rt2UZb2uVMdqUREljDqQHS44ID8HpgJS5Suefz7q4cwzhhWJQWHMbs7Vw14gYH-JG_rv69rQXVcVJPst-ikiUT_laKCtkSACs2Igow3H_KX_pOThk_MfDH1M0mpalophITQ101s72PTxxsbjzD1B1ovEPJ71j0NR8FH7IqT9w/s1200/VGF04375.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDBqQqEJtxs1WTMOec-Rt2UZb2uVMdqUREljDqQHS44ID8HpgJS5Suefz7q4cwzhhWJQWHMbs7Vw14gYH-JG_rv69rQXVcVJPst-ikiUT_laKCtkSACs2Igow3H_KX_pOThk_MfDH1M0mpalophITQ101s72PTxxsbjzD1B1ovEPJ71j0NR8FH7IqT9w/s16000/VGF04375.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p>This is how the colony looked as we approached. The hard blue ice of the glacier, exposed by wind, fractures, and melting, can be seen in the back. The middle ground is snow with red and yellow algae growing in it, while the penguins are perched mainly on the black bedrock in the foreground. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiocy6fF2Y0PaZXCIuXDmra7SzudFa1TkIWsofd223yEwoZlZYLsXSY_4l7x-zUijT2xeQwKzXHw-IfQH4u17uZ1ADutFzsbE7K4PnOBXpFmOlPKkQApn2mo6Sq9HCSWGxFp2n7spmojBU83QvPZ5wDJP8IGpWgINw69o-0WKsEHxZkSh4UWPqMReiBNQ/s1500/VGF04194.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1001" data-original-width="1500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiocy6fF2Y0PaZXCIuXDmra7SzudFa1TkIWsofd223yEwoZlZYLsXSY_4l7x-zUijT2xeQwKzXHw-IfQH4u17uZ1ADutFzsbE7K4PnOBXpFmOlPKkQApn2mo6Sq9HCSWGxFp2n7spmojBU83QvPZ5wDJP8IGpWgINw69o-0WKsEHxZkSh4UWPqMReiBNQ/s16000/VGF04194.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Three families of penguins, with the left parent feeding the juvenile by regurgitation. </div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_3WnDl3zXFtppaJiRQFjWiklYC8GiliP_P3IzyPaXw5B0zNbHJzxQpm38es8GK99PZjHZmb7Xt2lz8H30-ZMryeB66A0b_nsZrK5Qk5zyiivu9B1UzsVRChaWRGzcCVEzWJtnAtbfZock_5QqsgxfsX9zLfoeTWcs5RgDJCAmtnXmAeSrL0sQN58ChA/s1500/VGF04387.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1071" data-original-width="1500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_3WnDl3zXFtppaJiRQFjWiklYC8GiliP_P3IzyPaXw5B0zNbHJzxQpm38es8GK99PZjHZmb7Xt2lz8H30-ZMryeB66A0b_nsZrK5Qk5zyiivu9B1UzsVRChaWRGzcCVEzWJtnAtbfZock_5QqsgxfsX9zLfoeTWcs5RgDJCAmtnXmAeSrL0sQN58ChA/s16000/VGF04387.jpg" /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></a></div>I think he got tired and decided to rest. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgACDEvgVUFyMllI3nAB5yj5FRR6vZJFmlmpyj6P7a0YsJOACK9FiePLdmn1IZDNcHRb4nlLiY1CtTd6AC1Jim8EA8RxgYUcvzbN69GwXD9Kan_l487uyOaChtPzl2bx48AYApUK44BdTATfGIZV3yD2zOLPwAhUlCSxRslLExqjV6AvnlzceROjPRajg/s1500/VGF04337.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1001" data-original-width="1500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgACDEvgVUFyMllI3nAB5yj5FRR6vZJFmlmpyj6P7a0YsJOACK9FiePLdmn1IZDNcHRb4nlLiY1CtTd6AC1Jim8EA8RxgYUcvzbN69GwXD9Kan_l487uyOaChtPzl2bx48AYApUK44BdTATfGIZV3yD2zOLPwAhUlCSxRslLExqjV6AvnlzceROjPRajg/s16000/VGF04337.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Jennifer got this great shot with her phone. </div><div> </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0aSDwETrR3iJEp80zBSbGoDUR9rLRp1kpOD6ummLfGDQBvlGnd135KeLaAt_3UsM9KuJN25GQhQs3PnECsBEf44Fg0G-1KDS6oGMlnnnJQzBnViCCQz0iWa4anIrb6N_Y5_eqBPijhuFwRjsv7j_uWczwXO6he90PoVN0ECHxYiUWaL3CY01MwXyJfQ/s1792/original_71710361-5ddd-4a11-a4c1-f0a42af7659b_PXL_20230212_140631840_2%20(1).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1660" data-original-width="1792" height="592" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0aSDwETrR3iJEp80zBSbGoDUR9rLRp1kpOD6ummLfGDQBvlGnd135KeLaAt_3UsM9KuJN25GQhQs3PnECsBEf44Fg0G-1KDS6oGMlnnnJQzBnViCCQz0iWa4anIrb6N_Y5_eqBPijhuFwRjsv7j_uWczwXO6he90PoVN0ECHxYiUWaL3CY01MwXyJfQ/w640-h592/original_71710361-5ddd-4a11-a4c1-f0a42af7659b_PXL_20230212_140631840_2%20(1).jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Whenever they walk on land, they look like they can barely keep their balance, but I saw them do some pretty tough maneuvers jumping from rock to rock. Didn't see any fall over. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqb0Tbu1u-zHTK4_CC_qH5ZO9Gj6uqLMVWqybUKpNQzSPJKROoS8WaexNExsnipB3UmRU1lX9ebZo7kCQzTI3TbE5srVj0TcHNTdcwpGdS6uzYT7Wi9BPOOnIlszQEyYijZkU70mGmhFRbEeJEZ0HjGWjsEl7S7WR2Qk8CXVL_i8nUjMcLjKNZ0jpwDA/s1500/VGF04343.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqb0Tbu1u-zHTK4_CC_qH5ZO9Gj6uqLMVWqybUKpNQzSPJKROoS8WaexNExsnipB3UmRU1lX9ebZo7kCQzTI3TbE5srVj0TcHNTdcwpGdS6uzYT7Wi9BPOOnIlszQEyYijZkU70mGmhFRbEeJEZ0HjGWjsEl7S7WR2Qk8CXVL_i8nUjMcLjKNZ0jpwDA/s16000/VGF04343.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>The uneven feathers are a sign of molting, when they get new feathers. Penguin molting is called "catastrophic molting" because it happens all over the whole body at once, which is unusual. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7tgHsBdP0ccAG5l3Hu0GRYXRRHMvF3BfoP8H6vxYlZ0PpkJ4wnD2SKvP-tuLwrWYWRUNQqSa4OB9mPUSVddVRZmyKtvep9ZVORd7-sPBrwi2OR17y4G086_D_TuZUhNCIOOGz7ndaW-TZ-DfMypHT1tLqOv9qjgxEZ2x47kfJh7fUBe_8xiPAnkvYpg/s1200/VGF04346.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7tgHsBdP0ccAG5l3Hu0GRYXRRHMvF3BfoP8H6vxYlZ0PpkJ4wnD2SKvP-tuLwrWYWRUNQqSa4OB9mPUSVddVRZmyKtvep9ZVORd7-sPBrwi2OR17y4G086_D_TuZUhNCIOOGz7ndaW-TZ-DfMypHT1tLqOv9qjgxEZ2x47kfJh7fUBe_8xiPAnkvYpg/s16000/VGF04346.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Two parent-child pairs in this one. I like how the one on the right has a rock to add to his or her nest. Also, I love that mountain in the back. No rock is visible. It completely lost the battle with snow and ice. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtqq65DMW4MFETRgELgA200YBJOge2s5pCYJvfKuOPBFt6GYoogvMsGp7yZPRHJLWWcyw7rvdGJ11I1hTHvxElQN5DOeuaLp1hvuDPk-OiEkMqNNVogBzqRXLJ-r7WVZkc-qHmA1nmx1lss_PEujQVo1SXEp29o6EFR-HYFW-lSWLSxvqka3YCptJC8w/s1200/VGF04358.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtqq65DMW4MFETRgELgA200YBJOge2s5pCYJvfKuOPBFt6GYoogvMsGp7yZPRHJLWWcyw7rvdGJ11I1hTHvxElQN5DOeuaLp1hvuDPk-OiEkMqNNVogBzqRXLJ-r7WVZkc-qHmA1nmx1lss_PEujQVo1SXEp29o6EFR-HYFW-lSWLSxvqka3YCptJC8w/s16000/VGF04358.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Most of the chicks were nearly full size, as we were there in late Antarctic summer, meaning the chicks hatched months ago. <br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii-fSxB0Iyc1E2DOXZAaU1sElsrcpktHLJFb5UVvggBZt36yHEAy3Ob9Tmx5Q3G4YOesGix4csvCysLqzZ9ll8AUKKDA4YiaREkQZd53jaBbeul4YpeiClIrr65XP4UHuaeHXrG_PvfVg6dRzhYFutgNoCecUkbKTD3tTawhNXdIeHfSF87338OdZPoA/s1200/VGF04379-crop.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii-fSxB0Iyc1E2DOXZAaU1sElsrcpktHLJFb5UVvggBZt36yHEAy3Ob9Tmx5Q3G4YOesGix4csvCysLqzZ9ll8AUKKDA4YiaREkQZd53jaBbeul4YpeiClIrr65XP4UHuaeHXrG_PvfVg6dRzhYFutgNoCecUkbKTD3tTawhNXdIeHfSF87338OdZPoA/s16000/VGF04379-crop.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It was gray and cold, with a tiny bit of rain, during our visit to this Gentoo penguin colony. Gentoos have a red beak and a white mark on the head behind the eyes. Watching all these penguins in the cold rain made me question my concept of comfort. This was some of the best weather they see all year: a bit of sunlight and relatively warm temperatures. In fact, since their blubber keeps them perfectly comfortable in near-freezing water, they may think of 35 degrees Fahrenheit as too damned hot. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh092YC-4PAw5w7ucFeKGrU7H5MnOfDjz2qUvGVw-VpwE5jSGJ4HyUmedmqmRr-u4C5NUtiGvujbC1O5v15qi1OyRhTawHdSPa_HyADnHpeEakRPnfJGPKZUVu3thjfBzfeQ-Lhxz5ptpKC1CdkAFgYpCBilgfoWdKp6TW_nw2Z6JXBAjfged7rErueDA/s1500/VGF04397.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh092YC-4PAw5w7ucFeKGrU7H5MnOfDjz2qUvGVw-VpwE5jSGJ4HyUmedmqmRr-u4C5NUtiGvujbC1O5v15qi1OyRhTawHdSPa_HyADnHpeEakRPnfJGPKZUVu3thjfBzfeQ-Lhxz5ptpKC1CdkAFgYpCBilgfoWdKp6TW_nw2Z6JXBAjfged7rErueDA/s16000/VGF04397.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>Penguin Rock Band - with the vocalist up front, the awkward adolescent molting, the lazy guy lying down, and the thoughtful one staring at the sea in back. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWHDV-Fj19sV6lXeUzbG4JnuiHCxVuE7HijaYBCU2cCtu74QXLJPZ3vxsQspjo0Y0lJ0B3-rUwyJJRpVcaxL65SopConeeuSYc7LKCJSoa832SsBV3evlLeVn3E2iqB1xksM8WtBM-2qQY-6nfFZhqKG64oIYog9_cX2qMP0-5cSDl8Po1oCLuplHAAA/s1000/VGF04427.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWHDV-Fj19sV6lXeUzbG4JnuiHCxVuE7HijaYBCU2cCtu74QXLJPZ3vxsQspjo0Y0lJ0B3-rUwyJJRpVcaxL65SopConeeuSYc7LKCJSoa832SsBV3evlLeVn3E2iqB1xksM8WtBM-2qQY-6nfFZhqKG64oIYog9_cX2qMP0-5cSDl8Po1oCLuplHAAA/s16000/VGF04427.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Sometimes they seemed to get a burst of energy and just start flapping their wings and wagging their tail wildly. This one's tail is wagging so fast it's just a blur. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTGGjqLPNEFZIukm2oLyf1TUKJMwriFcQer9yr29aKc8k9Ibc4XxW_qmRk5Spx_nAODZ__qVsFvLRc6PtNkQ1C8gKXywd7ng9SIzcAQuUQ0XD9vubRcRgMlS0MC4AVpcSu4aLDeBH5Gdxnxt-ARRTs98wwKszjBUISgq0EMyZB9VFJSrMkr2EN8Z2UBw/s1000/VGF04429.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTGGjqLPNEFZIukm2oLyf1TUKJMwriFcQer9yr29aKc8k9Ibc4XxW_qmRk5Spx_nAODZ__qVsFvLRc6PtNkQ1C8gKXywd7ng9SIzcAQuUQ0XD9vubRcRgMlS0MC4AVpcSu4aLDeBH5Gdxnxt-ARRTs98wwKszjBUISgq0EMyZB9VFJSrMkr2EN8Z2UBw/s16000/VGF04429.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>At first I didn't like the red, green, and yellow algae spoiling the perfect blue of the ice, but then I started to like the variety of color it provides. Some might accuse me of thinking in terms of what it looks like in photos before anything else. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr4WQdedkJzUn5VfsWgaWiPkuwStn0Zv3NpIxJzCbBqTgEcs8FBlgfJjALEw2RhzJLY_rwvrZnI6Cz0a-Qzjdwd0qC9wmNFhuxA5IyIVb4XfzEJeaHM9aEwRUEKFAKfo9pQc7J0jVAiDwdZBG3Jexk3Ez2M6DGX-BT825MbrxZCHyD_3Ai-HhffgCQRw/s900/VGF04440-crop1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr4WQdedkJzUn5VfsWgaWiPkuwStn0Zv3NpIxJzCbBqTgEcs8FBlgfJjALEw2RhzJLY_rwvrZnI6Cz0a-Qzjdwd0qC9wmNFhuxA5IyIVb4XfzEJeaHM9aEwRUEKFAKfo9pQc7J0jVAiDwdZBG3Jexk3Ez2M6DGX-BT825MbrxZCHyD_3Ai-HhffgCQRw/s16000/VGF04440-crop1.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>The glacier face may appear close in this photo, but is about a mile away. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLFYrB77xZEufvD4m2PZp7OvFmI2POQzgSc7OtX_FzW3DJxxXdmoTQN9Qrf-TQkZrUD62PZNnB710IzkgM94M78s7pbrQe7NUMp5L_COVc5-lysLbKDFG6FSd8kIoXKEG11oM2ZUq0_JyLvxM7cnRaQWEryZlvGxvFg75RgjlX7miOhzKa_0EImQriWQ/s1500/VGF04455.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1001" data-original-width="1500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLFYrB77xZEufvD4m2PZp7OvFmI2POQzgSc7OtX_FzW3DJxxXdmoTQN9Qrf-TQkZrUD62PZNnB710IzkgM94M78s7pbrQe7NUMp5L_COVc5-lysLbKDFG6FSd8kIoXKEG11oM2ZUq0_JyLvxM7cnRaQWEryZlvGxvFg75RgjlX7miOhzKa_0EImQriWQ/s16000/VGF04455.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I feared this guy would slip or trip, but he knew what he was doing. He even hopped up onto a higher rock and one point. Not bad. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnnfHyU5p_lOoXkvjsxu05j-GwNmvqxw6qeuyp0atFs-ElUE67GLWPi5LmKtvBnUueEXrnUri0J5dFmPVOPyKWxjMATlpx0WY3OmY8EMqhEGFQY5kF0C5n4udJyxTGHpWsstM-kK7RkrJo2lXI53Byhfigy2yMiERbpvcsW12DLuzmZu-GtcrNcgHWAw/s1500/VGF04467.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1001" data-original-width="1500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnnfHyU5p_lOoXkvjsxu05j-GwNmvqxw6qeuyp0atFs-ElUE67GLWPi5LmKtvBnUueEXrnUri0J5dFmPVOPyKWxjMATlpx0WY3OmY8EMqhEGFQY5kF0C5n4udJyxTGHpWsstM-kK7RkrJo2lXI53Byhfigy2yMiERbpvcsW12DLuzmZu-GtcrNcgHWAw/s16000/VGF04467.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Can't resist that insane deep glacier ice. We're seeing a cross section of the compacted hard ice that's usually buried under snow. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhMfJ1JxCNJznkq5kPLD34Y82dqOdkA6SEuyO4ytAPxQeIvvmc15uUHcRvnY6oaV7RtmaS9kFzaFNnFN7RGTdYi6pFl2QtekRf78nSSzUzUkxQTTEdFRxyRVlLUkfiyBciUnEEstU1dy5pHMy6PZepI1Q54ZhpXGhiButs7rpuyxiSngZrQlMrR2P9GA/s1500/VGF04486.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1001" data-original-width="1500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhMfJ1JxCNJznkq5kPLD34Y82dqOdkA6SEuyO4ytAPxQeIvvmc15uUHcRvnY6oaV7RtmaS9kFzaFNnFN7RGTdYi6pFl2QtekRf78nSSzUzUkxQTTEdFRxyRVlLUkfiyBciUnEEstU1dy5pHMy6PZepI1Q54ZhpXGhiButs7rpuyxiSngZrQlMrR2P9GA/s16000/VGF04486.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Here's a short video from Jennifer of penguins on a "penguin highway." It's sort of like deer trails. It's easier to walk on packed snow, so after a few go the same way, the rest continue using the same path, until it gets packed into a groove that becomes a trail used by the whole colony. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="843" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/eiho3SjzKdw" width="1014" youtube-src-id="eiho3SjzKdw"></iframe></div><br /><div>A couple of short videos of penguins porpoising. I'm no videographer yet. Anyway, it's tough to figure out where they're going to surface next! </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="842" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/0CrjGCBLGO0" width="1013" youtube-src-id="0CrjGCBLGO0"></iframe></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="898" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/BuvXcotPnII" width="1081" youtube-src-id="BuvXcotPnII"></iframe></div><div><br /></div><div>That's all the penguins for this post, but a couple more fun things from that day. These are from later the same evening. We saw whales on a regular basis. I wonder what these waters would have looked like back in the late 1800's, when there were still millions of whales. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8lU1Djc90HmfJXeLOYqR1RbXWlw7-Nmak229JqYCbEMUfNaiHg35d3XP0hGh3tMh1nWvxrY_2lgKEyvE9g-KPECiVfapeYYJ8jq-68tjFTaTK9vbnoudnfiodE_5ia47KCP599Yyb-AVGErdgyKG9fWf0kQFfCF0KDZIYNhLlPZ7MVDUIflm-444EYg/s1500/VGF04609.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1001" data-original-width="1500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8lU1Djc90HmfJXeLOYqR1RbXWlw7-Nmak229JqYCbEMUfNaiHg35d3XP0hGh3tMh1nWvxrY_2lgKEyvE9g-KPECiVfapeYYJ8jq-68tjFTaTK9vbnoudnfiodE_5ia47KCP599Yyb-AVGErdgyKG9fWf0kQFfCF0KDZIYNhLlPZ7MVDUIflm-444EYg/s16000/VGF04609.jpg" /></a></div><div><br />A couple of short videos of whales diving.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="747" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/mTLR0bZeazQ" width="899" youtube-src-id="mTLR0bZeazQ"></iframe></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="774" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/SF0UI9NoM6c" width="931" youtube-src-id="SF0UI9NoM6c"></iframe></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>Something we chose NOT to do - the Polar Plunge - see the guy in midair? We were amazed at how many people chose to do it. They had a tether on, plus two guides in a Zodiac ready for rescue. In the closer Zodiac, a ship photographer in an orange life vest was taking photos. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcfM-I0kKsc226ODKImqhH52ka2pix036IL8TTffk7NmSBAbabUMXT5F0h4TjIX4NuxtmpKv4M2XF3lKJ_Fw0_iFPGMOwER1WMQZn0kg5KZ-YHRfRnIH_ZM7jpxElb-d1xqYLaO2ZNCdA3X4BeXjnUi0VYz1CuVydcb_UkKYAPjU8vjdCir9tUAQDAMw/s1500/VGF04661.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1001" data-original-width="1500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcfM-I0kKsc226ODKImqhH52ka2pix036IL8TTffk7NmSBAbabUMXT5F0h4TjIX4NuxtmpKv4M2XF3lKJ_Fw0_iFPGMOwER1WMQZn0kg5KZ-YHRfRnIH_ZM7jpxElb-d1xqYLaO2ZNCdA3X4BeXjnUi0VYz1CuVydcb_UkKYAPjU8vjdCir9tUAQDAMw/s16000/VGF04661.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>In this photo, guides were out practicing cold water rescues when a whale passed by. There were several whales working this bay that night. This provides a hint of the relative sizes of the whale, the people, and the glacier behind. If you're looking at this on a phone, you'll probably need to zoom in. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQEZajQBiguznYkXuX70q8xp-ucbhxkAg-p9usv-Ue3922Cv_T0Tsn5yjB3n-HISkFZ90jTCgj-BliaXvlwoC1iKlSQJrt-Mw_K6Fy6qAWsSk8jjuv2aHGbL0jYmKd6w6gZW4Lt_DGFDOp5Xr3wfH6kvIPJTtOjA2QBgHRLLYk6FBvXUnHREh0GzKQrQ/s1500/VGF04679.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1001" data-original-width="1500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQEZajQBiguznYkXuX70q8xp-ucbhxkAg-p9usv-Ue3922Cv_T0Tsn5yjB3n-HISkFZ90jTCgj-BliaXvlwoC1iKlSQJrt-Mw_K6Fy6qAWsSk8jjuv2aHGbL0jYmKd6w6gZW4Lt_DGFDOp5Xr3wfH6kvIPJTtOjA2QBgHRLLYk6FBvXUnHREh0GzKQrQ/s16000/VGF04679.jpg" /></a></div><br />That's it for the first penguin post! <div><br /></div><div><a href="https://fisherphotocraft.blogspot.com/2023/03/antarctica-second-and-third-gentoo.html">Click here for even more penguin photos, plus videos in the next post.</a> <div><br /></div><div><a href="https://fisherphotocraft.blogspot.com/2023/02/arriving-south-of-antarctic-circle.html">Click here for my first Antarctica post, including video of the epic 80 MPH storm we lived through.</a></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://fisherphotocraft.blogspot.com/2023/03/antarctica-heading-north-through-gullet.html">Click here for my second Antarctica post, with spectacular icebergs in the sun.</a> </div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://fisherphotocraft.blogspot.com/2023/03/antarctica-through-gunnel-and-gullet.html">Click here for my third Antarctica post, about passing through the narrow channel called the Gullet.</a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><br /></div><br />Vick Fisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17003851466843959506noreply@blogger.com1374MCJV4+MH-67.5557597 -66.3936018-80.513848599132174 -101.5498518 -54.597670800867817 -31.2373518tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2128337933507855804.post-13169671995176796932023-03-07T18:00:00.010-05:002023-03-16T08:18:15.198-04:00Antarctica: Through the Gunnel and Gullet<p>The night after the storm, the ship turned north to pass through The Gunnel and the Gullet. These are two narrow channels between Adelaide Island and the Antarctic continent. They're often blocked by sea ice or icebergs, but we were fortunate to be able to get through. This meant the ship was close to icebergs and glaciers on both sides at times. One of the expedition staff explained that the ship had access to up-to-date satellite photos of the area to check if there were too many icebergs before venturing in that direction.</p><p>I can't get over these two-hundred foot towers of ice that looked like they could fall at any minute. Towers of glacier ice like this are called "seracs", but usually they're the size of houses, not office buildings. I love the way the ice looks like it's been sliced perfectly smoothly just to the right of the seracs, as if by a giant with a knife. It's amazing how the slight blue tint in the cracks is intensified by blue reflecting on blue. </p><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimmFbFew50-bgbXTeqxWETID-VWuiXInw4C2I_boPO3OXTp6Ats3PY5AJPfN6oTMxg9bdWPPUGUJkRnf0kwLXOvin1B6kH5VpoimYaEWvHiLk2oEt-cCz_fqwCJK7EW8uOrJNjH_wO6yBboIHpIukuW4TWkZL3NRaxI7JLfTvTEJAYVpBqQKOULjj7sA/s1500/VGF03898.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="Antarctica excursion, glacier, iceberg, ocean, adventure travel, wilderness, remote, cold, blue ice, snow, Quark Expeditions" border="0" data-original-height="1001" data-original-width="1500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimmFbFew50-bgbXTeqxWETID-VWuiXInw4C2I_boPO3OXTp6Ats3PY5AJPfN6oTMxg9bdWPPUGUJkRnf0kwLXOvin1B6kH5VpoimYaEWvHiLk2oEt-cCz_fqwCJK7EW8uOrJNjH_wO6yBboIHpIukuW4TWkZL3NRaxI7JLfTvTEJAYVpBqQKOULjj7sA/s16000/VGF03898.jpg" /></a></div><p>I loved being so close to the glaciers and icebergs. Here's Jennifer with a giant glacier behind her, with snow on the deck from the night before. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYEbQFSLi4U8lnJUlzqdATGDCGVVTnLUHyFjcvnZSiHwARKdIVb7yEA8Sn__GLGH99bldFXBmUx9XJLBWs9XGY0m-Z3W8blbBGuHnsZtXHIzpocDKaJquMxxmyEoTfnLcChWKnfpUYxEnZ2dobE8iOl-NKWHeaj1zFOb3uRohNXIzASWUKG8ReGM4zuA/s1799/VGF03839-JenniferBackDeck.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="Antarctica excursion, glacier, iceberg, ocean, adventure travel, wilderness, remote, cold, blue ice, snow, Quark Expeditions" border="0" data-original-height="1799" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYEbQFSLi4U8lnJUlzqdATGDCGVVTnLUHyFjcvnZSiHwARKdIVb7yEA8Sn__GLGH99bldFXBmUx9XJLBWs9XGY0m-Z3W8blbBGuHnsZtXHIzpocDKaJquMxxmyEoTfnLcChWKnfpUYxEnZ2dobE8iOl-NKWHeaj1zFOb3uRohNXIzASWUKG8ReGM4zuA/s16000/VGF03839-JenniferBackDeck.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Here's a photo that gives a sense of how close we were to the icebergs. Notice how the water looks so green where light reflects back up from the underwater parts of the iceberg. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp_pORbNu8ZoUZTViOneLj4dQfaZds-VDeiw8mmcngNY3c_cKzMiWQPz_Jff5rX8Ld5I7lIcUO8bj3uV8FHebc17-R33ThlLi8tpMJkBtp_nfRxiczfUmjuPBEhPsqWvUr5CMzHl_rjlAXqFplojX_0BVfGm_tmj3e-7ZXgz8GpMm4jMsEQ15e1AoOdA/s1500/VGF03907.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Antarctica excursion, glacier, iceberg, ocean, adventure travel, wilderness, remote, cold, blue ice, snow, Quark Expeditions" border="0" data-original-height="1001" data-original-width="1500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp_pORbNu8ZoUZTViOneLj4dQfaZds-VDeiw8mmcngNY3c_cKzMiWQPz_Jff5rX8Ld5I7lIcUO8bj3uV8FHebc17-R33ThlLi8tpMJkBtp_nfRxiczfUmjuPBEhPsqWvUr5CMzHl_rjlAXqFplojX_0BVfGm_tmj3e-7ZXgz8GpMm4jMsEQ15e1AoOdA/s16000/VGF03907.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I finally figured out what glacier ice looks like - fractured obsidian. It's denser and harder than typical ice because it's compacted over tens, hundreds, or even thousands, of years. The massive amount of weight of all the snow and ice above squeezes the air bubbles out. Air bubbles are white, so when they are removed, the faint blue color becomes stronger. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4WVuIdlDVfCKSzkQhaJElLtzeBfq5HDu4p-mCaYeYkKOuKriY8EQ-FEId3RnvjM4sTFZxLdCEFCvKV4V-xX36eNytqkC8OlHUmEeqRxLYPX3mEyNqlpsenQ5eftLtnbJQ0O5kYc6aegNtG40FauOK3fKSd-YLezCxKej3KRoDwTVkOQl2m6WyBKu7Aw/s1500/VGF03913.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Antarctica excursion, glacier, iceberg, ocean, adventure travel, wilderness, remote, cold, blue ice, snow, Quark Expeditions" border="0" data-original-height="1001" data-original-width="1500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4WVuIdlDVfCKSzkQhaJElLtzeBfq5HDu4p-mCaYeYkKOuKriY8EQ-FEId3RnvjM4sTFZxLdCEFCvKV4V-xX36eNytqkC8OlHUmEeqRxLYPX3mEyNqlpsenQ5eftLtnbJQ0O5kYc6aegNtG40FauOK3fKSd-YLezCxKej3KRoDwTVkOQl2m6WyBKu7Aw/s16000/VGF03913.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>I love this one, because it's so clear that the bottom 90 percent of this iceberg is compacted glacier ice, with the less compacted snow making up the icing on the cake. I'm guessing this snow was deposited on the iceberg after it broke off. Amazing! <div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4bIMC0JMJtH3TzoZGwYeuDuDyVSRDoMSqt4z9V5aKvEzgayxLQQ1GkcwouUK3_fLe0-KpZv9bz_qrUt1tmhRM_hCLnKlZzNaP6GFTBoMRMn7l9tOZVozkLYk7yzT0j1p-QNmQTBucoLcykkqyhAx8zfwkPfpxiZ3jmBk3tDBjxvvg980A_wBOm8oqeQ/s1500/VGF03934_edited-1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Antarctica excursion, glacier, iceberg, ocean, adventure travel, wilderness, remote, cold, blue ice, snow, Quark Expeditions" border="0" data-original-height="1001" data-original-width="1500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4bIMC0JMJtH3TzoZGwYeuDuDyVSRDoMSqt4z9V5aKvEzgayxLQQ1GkcwouUK3_fLe0-KpZv9bz_qrUt1tmhRM_hCLnKlZzNaP6GFTBoMRMn7l9tOZVozkLYk7yzT0j1p-QNmQTBucoLcykkqyhAx8zfwkPfpxiZ3jmBk3tDBjxvvg980A_wBOm8oqeQ/s16000/VGF03934_edited-1.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>One of the first times I got a halfway decent shot of a whale. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdYb71SrpxEtafcNQETi-L4TaggChYOogPl_D77J_JbXE9Zg3V8mGumiRrL6MXeQtPGd-_A0whzq3eujWXjnU3d8MN4GFMHGEeJWlxmNCXlU5w4lhmLDTCymyngcftXXnGQ9T_3vhMw2VIxNPuA2nwAq-_nF-JF5GLf0rq-CRAyYEK8mmLSajbzIPrOA/s1500/VGF03961.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Antarctica excursion, glacier, iceberg, ocean, adventure travel, wilderness, remote, cold, blue ice, snow, Quark Expeditions, whale, humpback, wildlife" border="0" data-original-height="1001" data-original-width="1500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdYb71SrpxEtafcNQETi-L4TaggChYOogPl_D77J_JbXE9Zg3V8mGumiRrL6MXeQtPGd-_A0whzq3eujWXjnU3d8MN4GFMHGEeJWlxmNCXlU5w4lhmLDTCymyngcftXXnGQ9T_3vhMw2VIxNPuA2nwAq-_nF-JF5GLf0rq-CRAyYEK8mmLSajbzIPrOA/s16000/VGF03961.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Again, not the greatest whale photo, but you can see there are two together here. Their fins are clearly visible at center left and center right. It was pretty common to see two together. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpgvAwHDQQBeEavhXVJlCF_pXndxKZnTeyvZ78UsZhLt-64ycJ0VnzhfpzPhKjVvUScXP2Rskhn6fjUhl1PivK17qV_DWu9oVsF38J_IHjnq05pO1MIbhDp0ubtFeyLVR2QP44vj-ko8dFaVxptpe2X63tWzHn0D_zy775r7Sy1CEYzzQ_C4it9QSfXw/s1500/VGF03968.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Antarctica excursion, glacier, iceberg, ocean, adventure travel, wilderness, remote, cold, blue ice, snow, Quark Expeditions, whale, humpback, wildlife" border="0" data-original-height="1001" data-original-width="1500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpgvAwHDQQBeEavhXVJlCF_pXndxKZnTeyvZ78UsZhLt-64ycJ0VnzhfpzPhKjVvUScXP2Rskhn6fjUhl1PivK17qV_DWu9oVsF38J_IHjnq05pO1MIbhDp0ubtFeyLVR2QP44vj-ko8dFaVxptpe2X63tWzHn0D_zy775r7Sy1CEYzzQ_C4it9QSfXw/s16000/VGF03968.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Probably my best crashing wave shot. This wave is likely about fifty to sixty feet high. I took lots, but you never know when a big one is coming until it's too late. So, you get a lot of duds. Pretty pleased with this one though. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEVRqD0xrISSHKsLVNHhEBBw6rLovdqfXPoLfuWuTEpS_mVd9swnFnU8rK1k88UJW2NbsXQQiuIk9EzC2UItLbLbnfTjr7HlcEG2MlPxWbe-VLCq4SXbk1ARhaEG1sL3tNfZ8Afwb6UUHHY4a6yDl-xJP30SIzlYtDnedQ7tHnIMNPGmcKfhP_wZiorw/s1500/VGF04077.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Antarctica excursion, glacier, iceberg, ocean, adventure travel, wilderness, remote, cold, blue ice, snow, Quark Expeditions" border="0" data-original-height="1001" data-original-width="1500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEVRqD0xrISSHKsLVNHhEBBw6rLovdqfXPoLfuWuTEpS_mVd9swnFnU8rK1k88UJW2NbsXQQiuIk9EzC2UItLbLbnfTjr7HlcEG2MlPxWbe-VLCq4SXbk1ARhaEG1sL3tNfZ8Afwb6UUHHY4a6yDl-xJP30SIzlYtDnedQ7tHnIMNPGmcKfhP_wZiorw/s16000/VGF04077.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This is sea ice. Each year, the sea ice breaks up and melts during the spring and summer, and then starts to refreeze every winter. This will all form into a solid sheet of ice covering many square miles around the coast during winter. The captain said he's seen a change over the years. When he arrives in November (which is spring), there is usually less sea ice than years ago. Satellites have been used to photograph and study the extent of Antarctic sea ice since 1978. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinWpFgRHUDDfleXxumDJHOOXiBqBxQh-rILE1E3RPK-juZt--YlcdFfbGKSF8XPViAZUK-jFMXBsXsqPohE4W-HMgcvgi3B29C6tQryyFume56Wi7nbrzTheUBgukc8E9WD47vQ2e7IcAsCw_Jw17O526qlmuqSMPGJuzh_HJIq9Sq9gSOWcbXZPNMBA/s1500/VGF04133.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Antarctica excursion, glacier, iceberg, ocean, adventure travel, wilderness, remote, cold, blue ice, snow, Quark Expeditions" border="0" data-original-height="1001" data-original-width="1500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinWpFgRHUDDfleXxumDJHOOXiBqBxQh-rILE1E3RPK-juZt--YlcdFfbGKSF8XPViAZUK-jFMXBsXsqPohE4W-HMgcvgi3B29C6tQryyFume56Wi7nbrzTheUBgukc8E9WD47vQ2e7IcAsCw_Jw17O526qlmuqSMPGJuzh_HJIq9Sq9gSOWcbXZPNMBA/s16000/VGF04133.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Some sea ice and where some of it came from - breaking up glaciers and icebergs. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1_bJBHFxVZWhW9c2k215xD8uYH6V8gec_U452xGVg4vtRf9MO6Bf4--SZvxj3qjHipUYqER57sv5vmN9kze0pRMGAE6YqUA9c-_rRZ7MSuXZwWWoZsKlRQR3WD7yoUMTpawjEksgSiHdpw_L7Y6_3YM1-hTZCvesEDKzL6uN2MZVIZsOOF01S1ZydhA/s1500/VGF04159.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Antarctica excursion, glacier, iceberg, ocean, adventure travel, wilderness, remote, cold, blue ice, snow, Quark Expeditions" border="0" data-original-height="1001" data-original-width="1500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1_bJBHFxVZWhW9c2k215xD8uYH6V8gec_U452xGVg4vtRf9MO6Bf4--SZvxj3qjHipUYqER57sv5vmN9kze0pRMGAE6YqUA9c-_rRZ7MSuXZwWWoZsKlRQR3WD7yoUMTpawjEksgSiHdpw_L7Y6_3YM1-hTZCvesEDKzL6uN2MZVIZsOOF01S1ZydhA/s16000/VGF04159.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I like the lighting on this one, with the dark sky behind the white and light blue iceberg. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHS_aAICEefuey_HdOBdFKOvCSL3E248Ii8EO9mXIOQQc2oPF3BjMwJnkCG24LRKhv91fd81oe5v_OYXnRLRuvHR1ZDJQ5qe-v0VLI8E0aMxHkgqjcmE5CUUz_dyh3XAemwbgRScAfaGox57X_E5kM7hhlf6SJCD7nRExmAacfz_9lnYuX_Bi9Emycng/s1500/VGF04163.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Antarctica excursion, glacier, iceberg, ocean, adventure travel, wilderness, remote, cold, blue ice, snow, Quark Expeditions" border="0" data-original-height="1001" data-original-width="1500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHS_aAICEefuey_HdOBdFKOvCSL3E248Ii8EO9mXIOQQc2oPF3BjMwJnkCG24LRKhv91fd81oe5v_OYXnRLRuvHR1ZDJQ5qe-v0VLI8E0aMxHkgqjcmE5CUUz_dyh3XAemwbgRScAfaGox57X_E5kM7hhlf6SJCD7nRExmAacfz_9lnYuX_Bi9Emycng/s16000/VGF04163.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div>OK - I know a lot of people may be getting tired of icebergs, but don't worry - penguins are next.</div><div><br /></div><div>Links to more Antarctica photography (plus a few videos)...</div><div><br /></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><a href="https://fisherphotocraft.blogspot.com/2023/03/antarctica-second-and-third-gentoo.html">Antarctica penguin photos and videos.</a></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://fisherphotocraft.blogspot.com/2023/03/antarctica-gentoo-penguin-colony.html">Even more penguin photos, and a couple of videos.</a></div><div><br /></div><div><div><a href="https://fisherphotocraft.blogspot.com/2023/03/antarctica-heading-north-through-gullet.html">Incredible Antarctica iceberg photography.</a></div></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://fisherphotocraft.blogspot.com/2023/02/arriving-south-of-antarctic-circle.html">Fascinating Antarctica photos and a video of a storm from my first post.</a></div></blockquote><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Vick Fisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17003851466843959506noreply@blogger.com0374MR3MM+5C-67.1670434 -66.916404-80.044274766997574 -102.072654 -54.28981203300242 -31.760154000000007tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2128337933507855804.post-83385374985878236312023-03-02T17:49:00.016-05:002023-03-15T12:22:23.272-04:00Antarctica: Northbound Between Adelaide Island and the Antarctic Peninsula<p>After being buffeted by hurricane force winds all night south of Adelaide Island off the coast of the southern Antarctic Peninsula, the ship turned north, searching for, but failing to find, anywhere with mild enough winds to allow us to go on a Zodiac excursion. We just continued heading north all day. </p><p>Icebergs are like natural sculptures to me. Each tells a story of how it came to have its shape. This one has been melting and getting smoothed out for a long time, but it fractured more recently, exposing sharp edges again. These icebergs are so large, and the air and water here is so consistently near or below freezing, they can take years to melt. </p><p><i>If the photos are too large to fit on your monitor, you can click any one for a popup gallery, and scroll with left and right arrow keys.</i> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe-QuwZRO7ylP4JkxScHzEdVV29PicJY6bCPiCcUatuobwgN5Ts_Hggb78EH_tAmH4z2P5Tip1Sd25MuDelFyyuD8XsdvUn8zaiUUuKmp618B_GI-3POr0QEPkQAE7NL7TuDqPek1wK3Y7Hs9FbREKWNSF2vQzSAqIyLI0eL1j9D55Gjjsy26KBw-ktA/s1300/VGF03560.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtggGrctvljMz4kZ6J-_i2mlqkQHLwrW02smv-p-2t3DypH11Nii_l0CE8id-W7hP3_RDEJdJoQh2f757sFeO0Sm153h6pVy8n9ib8FJZdcI98UcjnWW0eHDaLcGJukZTVrapGJU__mK94uKf7jbsNDIVtn464SofSL2Le3glCxXpk7MQZbc_2_1i9sw/s1500/VGF03703.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1001" data-original-width="1500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtggGrctvljMz4kZ6J-_i2mlqkQHLwrW02smv-p-2t3DypH11Nii_l0CE8id-W7hP3_RDEJdJoQh2f757sFeO0Sm153h6pVy8n9ib8FJZdcI98UcjnWW0eHDaLcGJukZTVrapGJU__mK94uKf7jbsNDIVtn464SofSL2Le3glCxXpk7MQZbc_2_1i9sw/s16000/VGF03703.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>Some of the icebergs are the size of several city blocks. It's hard to comprehend the scale without something man-made in the photo. I liked the cloud formations in this one. I think the higher white ones may be borderline lenticular clouds, shaped by unique weather conditions of the region. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="867" data-original-width="1300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe-QuwZRO7ylP4JkxScHzEdVV29PicJY6bCPiCcUatuobwgN5Ts_Hggb78EH_tAmH4z2P5Tip1Sd25MuDelFyyuD8XsdvUn8zaiUUuKmp618B_GI-3POr0QEPkQAE7NL7TuDqPek1wK3Y7Hs9FbREKWNSF2vQzSAqIyLI0eL1j9D55Gjjsy26KBw-ktA/s16000/VGF03560.jpg" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This photo is a closer view of the iceberg above. For some unknown reason, I am absolutely fascinated with these beautiful, immense structures with a mass and solidity rivaling rock, yet are made of water. Their size, textures, shapes, and of course, many shades of blue make me happy for some unexplainable reason. I get an indefinable thrill just being in their presence. I want to be near them. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVpf6ORPwZnc-wZYRzT9GJNAAgwYGv0UE_ivnmf3G5xUOLahCLtsIoQh4L3yTMdaWOWImJoY44FiThILD6dMsy3IbtGuzJWBonIhMQBwIXpYY8EIFM3drybxsOhkTY4WJYuDsaHp-XjCOn5eelp-rnELgOdJuJUVq51sQzd8gjT6rLPQIzOYaRnLI6Kg/s1300/VGF03566.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="867" data-original-width="1300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVpf6ORPwZnc-wZYRzT9GJNAAgwYGv0UE_ivnmf3G5xUOLahCLtsIoQh4L3yTMdaWOWImJoY44FiThILD6dMsy3IbtGuzJWBonIhMQBwIXpYY8EIFM3drybxsOhkTY4WJYuDsaHp-XjCOn5eelp-rnELgOdJuJUVq51sQzd8gjT6rLPQIzOYaRnLI6Kg/s16000/VGF03566.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>I love how you can see the edge of the glacier halfway up this mountain, where there used to be thick layers of ice that broke off and fell into the sea and became icebergs. It's also cool how the top of the mountain in the rear just fades into the mists created by the cold and wind and altitude. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHro20QDxq35bPcVw8hky80HLoYGb4g8Spd2wO2czKFJks87Ak0_63HQefeQ2gJ8nQvnlW-w5L4x09ueeLNbwwy8-IHS9cMbdDtuHfMmthVoD20u4rJL-R2vlj3wjr4c9Y-uSYzyd2UT1T2xyIDmyP_IdUctqUe2wzWvcMABtKDoYTLXYpQp5_kuibsQ/s1300/VGF03588.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="876" data-original-width="1300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHro20QDxq35bPcVw8hky80HLoYGb4g8Spd2wO2czKFJks87Ak0_63HQefeQ2gJ8nQvnlW-w5L4x09ueeLNbwwy8-IHS9cMbdDtuHfMmthVoD20u4rJL-R2vlj3wjr4c9Y-uSYzyd2UT1T2xyIDmyP_IdUctqUe2wzWvcMABtKDoYTLXYpQp5_kuibsQ/s16000/VGF03588.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This is an example of a tabular iceberg. These icebergs form when a land glacier extends out into the sea a long distance before the tides flex up and down enough to finally break it free from the mother glacier. They float away, but may end up hitting the bottom and remain in one place until they melt enough to float again. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGPKUKCwa3fuVFWTb1sLrOQEjTiPKIfPpmmdETRWQ2zmvUD4KU4oqllZ4Ry9qU9hBr0OktPt-DWsFcDjEFS0HEf_5mc6Pt0WPiiRUxJtPhkCC_w5JwPkBk1EBIzPIp7S8t1E_pozMXAIChLNoEr6Opkzwqg_3etTZYEoEOeDYbwf1w48VmWOAocmuRsw/s1300/VGF03593.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="867" data-original-width="1300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGPKUKCwa3fuVFWTb1sLrOQEjTiPKIfPpmmdETRWQ2zmvUD4KU4oqllZ4Ry9qU9hBr0OktPt-DWsFcDjEFS0HEf_5mc6Pt0WPiiRUxJtPhkCC_w5JwPkBk1EBIzPIp7S8t1E_pozMXAIChLNoEr6Opkzwqg_3etTZYEoEOeDYbwf1w48VmWOAocmuRsw/s16000/VGF03593.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We started to see whales as we headed through this passage. Almost all of the whales we saw were humpback whales. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3nxObdXBgWIAGW3oMHY5ncvuxr8IQUBCRfJ4BAOqm_n5tN522jDrl8zr3pSf-Y02IL2sN1P25X45sQIL2GHfW_418tilyvBkI7lIiHcQfWUvfgMlpNsXjDMsU2jnG9a6BHll8Dgq4N46tAkkfCSCVxw0q4lcYid0tISBA0fKDQBgWijCxTtEME5pTqg/s1300/VGF03606.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3nxObdXBgWIAGW3oMHY5ncvuxr8IQUBCRfJ4BAOqm_n5tN522jDrl8zr3pSf-Y02IL2sN1P25X45sQIL2GHfW_418tilyvBkI7lIiHcQfWUvfgMlpNsXjDMsU2jnG9a6BHll8Dgq4N46tAkkfCSCVxw0q4lcYid0tISBA0fKDQBgWijCxTtEME5pTqg/s1300/VGF03606.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><img border="0" data-original-height="867" data-original-width="1300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3nxObdXBgWIAGW3oMHY5ncvuxr8IQUBCRfJ4BAOqm_n5tN522jDrl8zr3pSf-Y02IL2sN1P25X45sQIL2GHfW_418tilyvBkI7lIiHcQfWUvfgMlpNsXjDMsU2jnG9a6BHll8Dgq4N46tAkkfCSCVxw0q4lcYid0tISBA0fKDQBgWijCxTtEME5pTqg/s16000/VGF03606.jpg" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>Just wow. The smooth lower part of this one is amazing. Yet, the top shows how it was rough it was before the waves started to wear down the edges. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf-JC0Gjq7421Z9HlUlOCVbqU-XxOiQjTgq1WVCmnSaL_TdidFRO9LUtFU1Mo4wzWmvDMsSf7aeov7nxjvMDyPrAvsa4mY_nozQMTB3vcC70LXoXC_sZrK2UkOVzDgQelRvwryJfoU96geGawTbUl0cJ5j0K6_jBQ5Ddfq1vhq2198YJy2bf2VzEFcbA/s1300/VGF03621.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="867" data-original-width="1300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf-JC0Gjq7421Z9HlUlOCVbqU-XxOiQjTgq1WVCmnSaL_TdidFRO9LUtFU1Mo4wzWmvDMsSf7aeov7nxjvMDyPrAvsa4mY_nozQMTB3vcC70LXoXC_sZrK2UkOVzDgQelRvwryJfoU96geGawTbUl0cJ5j0K6_jBQ5Ddfq1vhq2198YJy2bf2VzEFcbA/s16000/VGF03621.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This is one iceberg, with a gap at the surface. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbtu_DiWlFlgbyuqQmapCYs7grFv78iMUfWaM4D5C2d9Qqn_hjCeqWhzj5GeYeoatSnjFtIIKyOejPLzp9X1sv-jY7fVv-_d-JTnEhlqg_A8C3kEu58f3MYzO46lTVg_S71acEWeYgzJziTzNmgJeZiNbkpLiInIfS4S0xOB9Klv_F9rIq33ESuTEEdA/s1300/VGF03651.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="867" data-original-width="1300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbtu_DiWlFlgbyuqQmapCYs7grFv78iMUfWaM4D5C2d9Qqn_hjCeqWhzj5GeYeoatSnjFtIIKyOejPLzp9X1sv-jY7fVv-_d-JTnEhlqg_A8C3kEu58f3MYzO46lTVg_S71acEWeYgzJziTzNmgJeZiNbkpLiInIfS4S0xOB9Klv_F9rIq33ESuTEEdA/s16000/VGF03651.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Some icebergs have this strange pattern that looks like the result of melting water running down the surface. This one shows the incredible deep, clear blue that we saw everywhere we went. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSihMWfBGGpq2ei2nnMQ1-F-rsrw3ftvl3uzkx6pZ8mtW7Y4BBDF__KIVoKGRBJ8U7OtxCpF7QJWZWkT-GFOzg2akQuEt3K9IvKJB91WvUf4Y8taEsXzmQxBwTTSVKlMDqFjECPt-i-tGSCbjfgtEJ0xVEzl1MhXwZD0fO0VJTG8AvDjzU-hhL6Sxk5A/s1300/VGF03690.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="876" data-original-width="1300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSihMWfBGGpq2ei2nnMQ1-F-rsrw3ftvl3uzkx6pZ8mtW7Y4BBDF__KIVoKGRBJ8U7OtxCpF7QJWZWkT-GFOzg2akQuEt3K9IvKJB91WvUf4Y8taEsXzmQxBwTTSVKlMDqFjECPt-i-tGSCbjfgtEJ0xVEzl1MhXwZD0fO0VJTG8AvDjzU-hhL6Sxk5A/s16000/VGF03690.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>This was likely one giant iceberg, and may even still be one giant iceberg. Another tabular one that used to be the "tongue" of a glacier. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyJNXQT7wff1Up7l09nQXh9eKE-8qAuOoop4dCI-HP2wyFUzQpiei5jK0A5G_XBF7ejKMEGANryn6dWZ17Ds9hYFq6kijOMC0hzWyAswFtBRJ-cIFypa7EVBt1sAKp5odAmAHde4YOt9yYBgUXdR2pQLhe59ybs6nU1rIiUKJox-k4vvbEr_QKuYCLug/s1500/VGF03711.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1001" data-original-width="1500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyJNXQT7wff1Up7l09nQXh9eKE-8qAuOoop4dCI-HP2wyFUzQpiei5jK0A5G_XBF7ejKMEGANryn6dWZ17Ds9hYFq6kijOMC0hzWyAswFtBRJ-cIFypa7EVBt1sAKp5odAmAHde4YOt9yYBgUXdR2pQLhe59ybs6nU1rIiUKJox-k4vvbEr_QKuYCLug/s16000/VGF03711.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This one looks like it is actually land, like a cliff at the edge of the land. Like they're the white Cliffs of Moor in Ireland, or something. This was one of the few times we had sunlight on the trip. Sadly, it was cloudy, raining, or snowing for almost all of our trip. But, this is to be expected when you're traveling to the bottom of the earth. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilOVbd9re16dAXFvyOwVtnEaNp6qJd9KH9NEOMwy0oDnnK_Tb-Jb2NCZ-2PHaMNI1btTIK7OIJzJv2sR6jW1B9OyGQpoAjiNiU9kIV8nqfaQ5DsmVLq4oEffVUiq8VVwyXJaLzRyGMEVTQlsD4eTxouFtACfghRTOJ0lLYU23XqdOAY2tBYd3hO_D5JA/s1500/VGF03734.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1001" data-original-width="1500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilOVbd9re16dAXFvyOwVtnEaNp6qJd9KH9NEOMwy0oDnnK_Tb-Jb2NCZ-2PHaMNI1btTIK7OIJzJv2sR6jW1B9OyGQpoAjiNiU9kIV8nqfaQ5DsmVLq4oEffVUiq8VVwyXJaLzRyGMEVTQlsD4eTxouFtACfghRTOJ0lLYU23XqdOAY2tBYd3hO_D5JA/s16000/VGF03734.jpg" /></a></div><p>Many more photos to come, but this was a great day. I promise there will be penguins eventually! </p><p><a href="https://fisherphotocraft.blogspot.com/2023/02/arriving-south-of-antarctic-circle.html">Click here to see my first set of Antarctica photos, including the storm video.</a></p><p><a href="https://fisherphotocraft.blogspot.com/2023/03/antarctica-through-gunnel-and-gullet.html">Click here for the third set of Antarctica photos, with more stunning icebergs and glaciers.</a></p><p><a href="https://fisherphotocraft.blogspot.com/2023/03/antarctica-gentoo-penguin-colony.html">Click here for the the fourth set - penguins, penguins, penguins!</a></p><p><a href="https://fisherphotocraft.blogspot.com/2023/03/antarctica-second-and-third-gentoo.html">More penguins at two more sites.</a> </p>Vick Fisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17003851466843959506noreply@blogger.com2374PJ328+G9-67.3987118 -65.934016599999993-82.264352265031434 -101.09026659999999 -52.533071334968568 -30.777766599999993tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2128337933507855804.post-60511007512180436302023-02-27T11:58:00.015-05:002023-03-15T13:57:49.243-04:00Arriving South of the Antarctic Circle<p>I've wanted to visit Antarctica ever since watching TV documentaries about it when I was a child. Traveling there as a tourist used to be impossible. Then, a few scientific ships built to resist collisions with iceberg fragments were converted for touring. I wanted to go in those days, but it never happened. I wanted to feel like an explorer going into uncharted territory, but it's too late for that now. We are living at the dawn of mass tourism to Antarctica. Several companies have recently built luxurious ships capable of handling the ice and weather there. We put down our deposit in the month of February 2020. A couple of COVID-infested years later, we were finally able to take the trip we'd planned for so long.</p><p>The World Explorer, operated by <a href="https://www.quarkexpeditions.com/">Quark Expeditions</a>, can accommodate about 170 passengers and has about 45 crew members, including captain, operations staff, expedition guides, dining room and "hotel" workers, and more. This is an expedition ship, as opposed to a cruise ship, which means it carries a small enough number of passengers to allow for landings. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8YMlUvAdd7Q1jEdOH1g1VdCRAABAFZ3IvhiG4cFMk_5Q2ho8lowxPx_XqwtzUayS9B0sQ0EWjZohpjj_kuvdgxBMGNHG-2je5_wR59qAmtzkIglgCAijKBHrHbPkyW3v0yokMwXfDnqP-lM5VRiW44fjcaJ3kp38Z8gkKTVov124Mhu3K5Xj33RH6xw/s4000/20230205_152336.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8YMlUvAdd7Q1jEdOH1g1VdCRAABAFZ3IvhiG4cFMk_5Q2ho8lowxPx_XqwtzUayS9B0sQ0EWjZohpjj_kuvdgxBMGNHG-2je5_wR59qAmtzkIglgCAijKBHrHbPkyW3v0yokMwXfDnqP-lM5VRiW44fjcaJ3kp38Z8gkKTVov124Mhu3K5Xj33RH6xw/w640-h288/20230205_152336.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>Antarctica is a continent larger than the continental United States that is not owned by any country or individual. The <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antarctic_Treaty_System" target="_blank">Antarctic Treaty</a>, first agreed in December 1959, was the culmination about fifteen years of arguments among great power nations after WWII. The treaty is an agreement among a large group of nations, including Chile and Argentina, which are the closest countries to Antarctica, that no country should claim any part of the continent as territory. </p><p>Since we had heard the weather is often so bad that it's unsafe to try to get off the ship, we decided on a longer trip that crossed the Antarctic Circle (the latitude below which there are sometimes 24-hour days and nights). This would give us more days where we might have a chance to hop on the Zodiacs. </p><p>From the town of Ushuaia, at the southern tip of South America, ships take two full days to cross the Drake Passage. This area is the only latitude on earth where wind and sea can circle the entire planet with no interruption by land. This results in frequent high seas. We had moderate seas during the crossing, with the ship rolling enough to make walking a little challenging, but nothing violent. </p><p>Despite the reasonableness of the Drake Passage crossing, the captain informed us that a powerful storm was chasing us. On the third day we arrived south of the Antarctic Circle. It was a relief to see land for the first time in three days. During the day, the wind was between forty and sixty miles per hour. We had some good views from the awesome wraparound interior/exterior observation deck of the ship. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw1LxCxH__z5Ic_8Nsm3xQNjOmIerp9qWO0nkh9pdQUz3m4QCQKJVSU-WXZjSQPFPX8kUVMvzrpNUps6MSCrjK2Z4IOHk5QUNmuIAGrC58vzITplDzAWLxyOaSFZqFQ-yHWpp793KwmYv-NUmQKS0huRdOp8v_FkEEQy_2cAhJu6XJLdlIYNI7WNYGYA/s4000/20230208_213904.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw1LxCxH__z5Ic_8Nsm3xQNjOmIerp9qWO0nkh9pdQUz3m4QCQKJVSU-WXZjSQPFPX8kUVMvzrpNUps6MSCrjK2Z4IOHk5QUNmuIAGrC58vzITplDzAWLxyOaSFZqFQ-yHWpp793KwmYv-NUmQKS0huRdOp8v_FkEEQy_2cAhJu6XJLdlIYNI7WNYGYA/w640-h288/20230208_213904.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>During dinner, the wind continued to increase. The ship was rocking so much that you had to put your hands out to the sides to grab the walls or rails in case you stumbled. At dinner, we heard a few dishes slide off tables and smash on the floor. After dinner, the sustained winds were over eighty miles per hour, and the ship would lean far to one side and then slowly roll the other way. Our ship was further south than any other ship by quite a distance, so our group was truly alone. No rescue nearby if something went wrong. I started to wonder if a storm like this was normal. Here's a video taken from inside our room, looking out from our balcony. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='1185' height='675' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyziXiDTuijD1znvf9lNYe22eLuDJEDonXG18aP3B9e8FoqqFqTmPP2AJSCJWAQWa2K8uthzr66o91OneC02A' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><p>Click here to see high quality video: <a href="https://vimeo.com/802725400" target="_blank">Antarctica Storm video</a><br /></p><p>The storm turned out severe enough to force the captain to stay at the helm all night. The ship's instruments recorded gusts of 130 MPH. We found out this was the worst storm he, or any of our expedition guides, had ever experienced. So, it really was as bad as I'd started to wonder the night before! Glad we didn't freeze in Antarctic waters! </p><p>The next day, the winds were still a sustained thirty-plus MPH, so we couldn't get off the ship. Instead, we headed north, vainly hoping for better weather. But, at least we could see the continent. As we made our way north, we started to see our first full-fledged icebergs. Notice the spray from the huge wave breaking on the iceberg. </p><div><i>If photos are too large to fit on your monitor, you can click any one for a popup gallery, and scroll with left and right arrow keys.</i> <br /><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHIP7cz0WyzD4HbR_iYo8riS4_FZ5MKLAWb5w0sULRkq3i0F18TbgWcNOPd_Vs1Z94q7-5vpv4O-QhpgP5G8rhfS5pCtD2Y7PLUr-e7-nO36aiM6lfqhucIi43ksqUWjbFHdvLP2IbMJqMNhIKE7sGmMkVRbvYCBqg0_eYysUUZzKJr-NOSt5xyLvt-w/s1600/VGF03430.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1082" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHIP7cz0WyzD4HbR_iYo8riS4_FZ5MKLAWb5w0sULRkq3i0F18TbgWcNOPd_Vs1Z94q7-5vpv4O-QhpgP5G8rhfS5pCtD2Y7PLUr-e7-nO36aiM6lfqhucIi43ksqUWjbFHdvLP2IbMJqMNhIKE7sGmMkVRbvYCBqg0_eYysUUZzKJr-NOSt5xyLvt-w/s16000/VGF03430.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This one has a really rough texture - it may not be very old. It hasn't had time to melt or smooth out. You can see where the original top was - on the left end, where it just appears as smooth white snow. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh9HH69sfQAtsj7sY8L3uviQ_SF696V3AoQ1D2PwdPDjqrgVK-uX-7XsiX0knCoG2x1HncYDs3CHuX46F4sNlC-Dt_nWn8GlYEDPf0gxW7Sn8yd3COhY5fojNZM-DfMYVfojPTAmvvW95UIFYX_L0NpZTFvw7KwdtSL-kVQ5BcrFZHcQh8s5rj2B4qfw/s1600/VGF03439.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh9HH69sfQAtsj7sY8L3uviQ_SF696V3AoQ1D2PwdPDjqrgVK-uX-7XsiX0knCoG2x1HncYDs3CHuX46F4sNlC-Dt_nWn8GlYEDPf0gxW7Sn8yd3COhY5fojNZM-DfMYVfojPTAmvvW95UIFYX_L0NpZTFvw7KwdtSL-kVQ5BcrFZHcQh8s5rj2B4qfw/s16000/VGF03439.jpg" /></a></div><p>This one really looks like a swirly ice cream cone, especially the top. These shelves form as the iceberg rests in the sea and melts and turns, and the water action melts one area until it turns again. This thing is probably a hundred feet high. It was towering over us. And of course, it may be as much as nine hundred feet below the surface. Many like this are too large to float, so they rest on the bottom until they can shrink. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFLNOQmsGqKsBVNrykKhptvuaCGw5MYzkZxNx6by5Mh-eJQq7IYGWlhjfYqeHKm_UNGYtKMy_ywXgcnlFF1CQtcNkHVP-P7MHPU_jzMkmkirWGa3t2gESEkUzcUU1XrSH4Hps2IwbQXNkURTtS5i7jCQh9O19jT_lJFO-0oY-xCJieOf6DNd-Z8WPa8Q/s1600/VGF03485.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFLNOQmsGqKsBVNrykKhptvuaCGw5MYzkZxNx6by5Mh-eJQq7IYGWlhjfYqeHKm_UNGYtKMy_ywXgcnlFF1CQtcNkHVP-P7MHPU_jzMkmkirWGa3t2gESEkUzcUU1XrSH4Hps2IwbQXNkURTtS5i7jCQh9O19jT_lJFO-0oY-xCJieOf6DNd-Z8WPa8Q/s16000/VGF03485.jpg" /></a></div><p></p><p>This is the edge of a glacier, and the bluer, caved in area is where one or a few massive icebergs calved off into the sea. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUMxKdxZ2Mf0Noj75tqvTC6RVTD6l1WUkcfLUyNKpSdrOwv8TkNGrbAQVIxLmMS3XcPLvxm3DlcczRLHQfYVAYbya94MXNDMstam0IaLFtdJNdXX7z2JpdWgS5xmNldc24jWvyn3q3k3-77Xc5bdmH8wNNk1mNdqJZurG2QNw2I-9TuWI9ffKYKrfcQg/s1600/VGF03508.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUMxKdxZ2Mf0Noj75tqvTC6RVTD6l1WUkcfLUyNKpSdrOwv8TkNGrbAQVIxLmMS3XcPLvxm3DlcczRLHQfYVAYbya94MXNDMstam0IaLFtdJNdXX7z2JpdWgS5xmNldc24jWvyn3q3k3-77Xc5bdmH8wNNk1mNdqJZurG2QNw2I-9TuWI9ffKYKrfcQg/s16000/VGF03508.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>The only place we saw black rock was where the mountains were too steep for snow to stick. I loved how this glacier is fracturing into hundreds of seracs standing in rows, and they're all so blue and clean. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH8ssNOA8mqwKl-rQKFFABtvsVfFT4TnPg9YmHirywr5X-tRsdnMy1P0jSErkqyclieEa7xExaziSgcMWkZwlK5BfC2Yv9DXov0JDmSp_im5rN_0d6mmQI-gZqhBIeV1AtR6rCCB3Qo8TocQMMT7a-W1yPcfjL3bLUnXgKjGsfqPVQKZTk-ECNUC_oqg/s1600/VGF03521.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH8ssNOA8mqwKl-rQKFFABtvsVfFT4TnPg9YmHirywr5X-tRsdnMy1P0jSErkqyclieEa7xExaziSgcMWkZwlK5BfC2Yv9DXov0JDmSp_im5rN_0d6mmQI-gZqhBIeV1AtR6rCCB3Qo8TocQMMT7a-W1yPcfjL3bLUnXgKjGsfqPVQKZTk-ECNUC_oqg/s16000/VGF03521.jpg" /></a></div><p>So many textures on the surface of this huge iceberg, caused by a combination of fracturing, sea water, sun, wind, and melting. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCxs0VE0JcFA2abSZuNXWhUQbl9OM7W7vawnYDlGa6szZzBnd336t5k9stTSrneNNQgQE1Gu4OV3k31NgwqdUAI5ylW42EaIOyDJX-qpYjCKJpT2Fe9vFRQT_1teqQktU1vCxFRlqICPnTOO5w325X1lqicN-u0zudmrNqlmkUOaSA_MvC6QTCwYIG4A/s1600/VGF03529-1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCxs0VE0JcFA2abSZuNXWhUQbl9OM7W7vawnYDlGa6szZzBnd336t5k9stTSrneNNQgQE1Gu4OV3k31NgwqdUAI5ylW42EaIOyDJX-qpYjCKJpT2Fe9vFRQT_1teqQktU1vCxFRlqICPnTOO5w325X1lqicN-u0zudmrNqlmkUOaSA_MvC6QTCwYIG4A/s16000/VGF03529-1.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>A closer view of this intricate one. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_FkvGj1ijqsvo8tWiGSBhrDR6Unbe8ZmtperKkN_2df1Kz_-2Gm0Kp7X5zkdstfxvLodtdTUwBq5iwb3toDu8q9xT1qrF9282fz-9KE65EaWTGCGkeZ5j6f7689OPuf_EsL6qSZD0-Vll2v-fgyuBxo6iPsrDUD619fSXEKoOtqERjnQvKyJbsHvutw/s1600/VGF03534.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_FkvGj1ijqsvo8tWiGSBhrDR6Unbe8ZmtperKkN_2df1Kz_-2Gm0Kp7X5zkdstfxvLodtdTUwBq5iwb3toDu8q9xT1qrF9282fz-9KE65EaWTGCGkeZ5j6f7689OPuf_EsL6qSZD0-Vll2v-fgyuBxo6iPsrDUD619fSXEKoOtqERjnQvKyJbsHvutw/s16000/VGF03534.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Detail of a different iceberg </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilJsiVH0kaZ1JPDkubIIZLqcGUIXkiMsXoWXD3OCaBBI5KvqTiOXMyriebXeVY8AHUkoqC7pEduqm27yU7tIgSXBacQLuDwHdxk445wdwcKjCUuHOBgLLBqgMSM7swWmNMXFo5ZRJPKLgDVqsCdAQX8evlrTAgRgf0mUDqy-iBuVRQzy9hdBPAivhEEQ/s1600/VGF03536.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilJsiVH0kaZ1JPDkubIIZLqcGUIXkiMsXoWXD3OCaBBI5KvqTiOXMyriebXeVY8AHUkoqC7pEduqm27yU7tIgSXBacQLuDwHdxk445wdwcKjCUuHOBgLLBqgMSM7swWmNMXFo5ZRJPKLgDVqsCdAQX8evlrTAgRgf0mUDqy-iBuVRQzy9hdBPAivhEEQ/s16000/VGF03536.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I looked out my balcony window and saw this group of seals lounging on an iceberg. One of the two on the left turned his head to look at our ship, but the rest didn't even bother. There is a trail of blood coming from the one at the far right. I wish I knew the story behind that. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI-d2oK6-OO8elbWy-eC1uZQzPVyC6k2gCrKR1-2qVtCXCW0e0zG8N2frdNHHiFkSsf7MsXDC4nC58qe9yL39GsIN1SymwwJ9yO-_P4opls2iE6IEmHSJxzE1F-N3KFFV-aGxNI02I7p-NYOSLLCMfBXE_aalfUROuIwPKlVZdpfCfryXqWAI7ZvqVrQ/s1400/VGF03542-sm.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="934" data-original-width="1400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI-d2oK6-OO8elbWy-eC1uZQzPVyC6k2gCrKR1-2qVtCXCW0e0zG8N2frdNHHiFkSsf7MsXDC4nC58qe9yL39GsIN1SymwwJ9yO-_P4opls2iE6IEmHSJxzE1F-N3KFFV-aGxNI02I7p-NYOSLLCMfBXE_aalfUROuIwPKlVZdpfCfryXqWAI7ZvqVrQ/s16000/VGF03542-sm.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: left;">So many icebergs are like sculptures - as if there is some kind of intention behind their shapes. I like the colors of dark sky, snow-covered mountain, and greenish water in combination with the striations of blue within the glacier ice itself. </span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinoO9EOBt8M0Tu_TlK5doogTl87ImJXff5LtVRkTpvdk6wH-MMKBehtpNVbJYXN9rqybGWcFKO-A55OrhuXKPFLZ9Lg5y6msMEjiAikc8ghMY8Di_Mv_NFt4_JX648jWb-pF2oloOkJC8fTmhe_j5A4wn-y3UFWMKIloWh7smKp9QT0Nn3jcdELDASHA/s1600/VGF03546.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinoO9EOBt8M0Tu_TlK5doogTl87ImJXff5LtVRkTpvdk6wH-MMKBehtpNVbJYXN9rqybGWcFKO-A55OrhuXKPFLZ9Lg5y6msMEjiAikc8ghMY8Di_Mv_NFt4_JX648jWb-pF2oloOkJC8fTmhe_j5A4wn-y3UFWMKIloWh7smKp9QT0Nn3jcdELDASHA/s16000/VGF03546.jpg" /></a></div><p><a href="https://fisherphotocraft.blogspot.com/2023/03/antarctica-heading-north-through-gullet.html">Click here to see my second Antarctica post, with even more photos of spectacular icebergs, glaciers, and at least one whale.</a> </p><p><a href="https://fisherphotocraft.blogspot.com/2023/03/antarctica-through-gunnel-and-gullet.html">Click here for the third set of Antarctica photos, with more stunning icebergs and glaciers.</a></p><p><a href="https://fisherphotocraft.blogspot.com/2023/03/antarctica-gentoo-penguin-colony.html">Click here for the the fourth set - penguins, penguins, penguins!</a></p><p><a href="https://fisherphotocraft.blogspot.com/2023/03/antarctica-second-and-third-gentoo.html">More Gentoo penguins, at two different sites.</a></p></div></div>Vick Fisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17003851466843959506noreply@blogger.com0375Q879W+7F-66.681778 -64.7037776-78.094454600203079 -99.8600276 -55.269101399796909 -29.547527599999995tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2128337933507855804.post-13965503174036396032022-10-20T10:57:00.003-04:002022-10-23T14:42:05.565-04:00Haute Route Hiking in the Alps: Pas de Chèvres and Arolla<p>This is the fourth article about our Wilderness Travel Haute Route hike. Links to the other three articles are provided at the end. This article covers the hike over the Pas du Chat and the Pas de Chèvres, and then a day hike from Arolla village to the foot of the Arolla glacier. </p><p>Minutes after we left the Prafleuri hut and started climbing toward our first pass of the day, we passed this ibex. This was the least shy of all the ones we saw. He continued foraging as our entire group hiked past within 50 feet. This is a phone photo, so not so sharp, but better than nothing. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo-mNGJlDKStDNzFaE-KzDYnawuPQ8sepTVifdDJZkweuIdcFIDpURwZMqLRe71kHq5xNdR8dc8OriREUbV0jHxY9fRb6nqx6WcdmN0B8iG8Tz8k51DDdgPreLFvPgGq0Ox2ll00rMf-FHxIqTQ32kNHm8uf9gcx45-_-f7o6xHNyx58iVuVTb2m8jSg/s1800/20220804_072121.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Ibex, Swiss Alps, Switzerland, mountains, hiking, outdoors, Prafleuri Refuge" border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1375" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo-mNGJlDKStDNzFaE-KzDYnawuPQ8sepTVifdDJZkweuIdcFIDpURwZMqLRe71kHq5xNdR8dc8OriREUbV0jHxY9fRb6nqx6WcdmN0B8iG8Tz8k51DDdgPreLFvPgGq0Ox2ll00rMf-FHxIqTQ32kNHm8uf9gcx45-_-f7o6xHNyx58iVuVTb2m8jSg/w488-h640/20220804_072121.jpg" width="488" /></a></div><p>As soon as we reached the first small pass of the day, we could see the massive Lac de Dix. It took a couple of hours of hiking to get around to the upper end, where we would start ascending to the Pas de Chat and the Pas de Chèvres. There's a big thing about the cows in this area - they're almost all cows, and they <b>do </b>have horns. There is a regional cow fight event every year, and it's a big deal to have the winning cow. These cows near the lake spontaneously started sparring right in front of us. They would scrape the ground with a front hoof, then charge one another. The fighting stirred up a big dust cloud. There was a big bare patch of earth there, worn down by their many fights. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMtyJVKDQdmhAft2wtjKZNPj8ATW8LLWD0wkMX-UrID58GBsV_dqC6e_JlOX5T3RhMQxa_PsfQe_hhFY43W5fXea5igKkSBmHoRg_M0i3vu5E6oCho57yF80mCFcsA30WbN2e_vnNGnjySeVU9lLOFEspMmOlQ5dl3pw__C-4X1GWmkxm_80I_PJGc9w/s1600/VGF02644-copyright.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Swiss Alps, Switzerland, cows, fighting cows, trails, mountains, hiking, outdoors, Lac de Dix" border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMtyJVKDQdmhAft2wtjKZNPj8ATW8LLWD0wkMX-UrID58GBsV_dqC6e_JlOX5T3RhMQxa_PsfQe_hhFY43W5fXea5igKkSBmHoRg_M0i3vu5E6oCho57yF80mCFcsA30WbN2e_vnNGnjySeVU9lLOFEspMmOlQ5dl3pw__C-4X1GWmkxm_80I_PJGc9w/s16000/VGF02644-copyright.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p>After another hour of hiking, we reached the Pas du Chat (Cat's Pass). We crossed this huge glacial runoff stream near the pass. A bridge is required because it's almost always too powerful and dangerous to cross on foot. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7EFjokNa-ESVTypIBZd-HSTxfq7d7Y689GV6ykVXWgRnRfZZCa7P93-yG-WQaVGvxkTD2NJLRjDHpLN6VAk-eLyI8yi_WtvNtsA_gMiTiWKrais5zITjGFpuPCoqGLcoOWsivsOf8mkiAxXtb-NG5rh0izV_neNaZXADLJJLOqvL7Md6ClaJIzb4xgQ/s1600/VGF02722-edit-crop-copyright.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7EFjokNa-ESVTypIBZd-HSTxfq7d7Y689GV6ykVXWgRnRfZZCa7P93-yG-WQaVGvxkTD2NJLRjDHpLN6VAk-eLyI8yi_WtvNtsA_gMiTiWKrais5zITjGFpuPCoqGLcoOWsivsOf8mkiAxXtb-NG5rh0izV_neNaZXADLJJLOqvL7Md6ClaJIzb4xgQ/s16000/VGF02722-edit-crop-copyright.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p>After the bridge, we crossed a flat marshy area, and then started to ascend on a lateral moraine (pile of rocks hundreds of feet high pushed aside by a glacier over many years). Here we are picking our way along the rocks, looking forward to the smoother trail up ahead. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO66sVO8wdhDSmKyJweSZiFjnSZs9kZZcuLOhoR6ekyywZMGFbrsG5jZhFQERhql-JBX34EZ4S4KXy2JeXToMXJGxyK35ciulj-eDs3hPk08Iy0L1iKeTbBHaydFmNhT9RPGPLpJ5eoj6rJdjttTa2aNav51KInhAyaZELz5P2vOKHUJjK8jttN1_tfg/s1600/VGF02746.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Pas de Chèvres, Swiss Alps, Switzerland, mountains, hiking, outdoors, glacier" border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO66sVO8wdhDSmKyJweSZiFjnSZs9kZZcuLOhoR6ekyywZMGFbrsG5jZhFQERhql-JBX34EZ4S4KXy2JeXToMXJGxyK35ciulj-eDs3hPk08Iy0L1iKeTbBHaydFmNhT9RPGPLpJ5eoj6rJdjttTa2aNav51KInhAyaZELz5P2vOKHUJjK8jttN1_tfg/s16000/VGF02746.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This is after over an hour of steep climbing. The climbing is almost over. There's a sense of anticipation as we near the Pas de Chèvres, which requires going up a series of steel ladders bolted into the mountainside. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG9Z2pDsihfSsvFnqQ1evDLfxW1oM3GBaXbfHFBTkVbudsfX9Ug-Iq7u0dDQFtregJ_vYEDkm3Jb0TszthsN9tT2VeLhMMUJl9RZAyqPBnVfa2k9rGQ1CV6i-S0GUDMNHf3lJTcxu9d-H57sc4Ih29rIhRGbeLG0l-uJ0noDkU7IqEL5lbClwRjz_0xQ/s1600/VGF02755-copyright.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Pas de Chèvres, Swiss Alps, Switzerland, mountains, hiking, outdoors, glacier" border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG9Z2pDsihfSsvFnqQ1evDLfxW1oM3GBaXbfHFBTkVbudsfX9Ug-Iq7u0dDQFtregJ_vYEDkm3Jb0TszthsN9tT2VeLhMMUJl9RZAyqPBnVfa2k9rGQ1CV6i-S0GUDMNHf3lJTcxu9d-H57sc4Ih29rIhRGbeLG0l-uJ0noDkU7IqEL5lbClwRjz_0xQ/s16000/VGF02755-copyright.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p>I've always loved the serpentine shape of the flow of the glaciers down a valley, and this is a great one. It really illustrates how the glacier moves like water, but too slowly to see. I also love how there is a ridge of ice, several hundred feet thick, in the upper center of the photo, to the left of the peak. You have to look carefully, as it almost blends in with the sky. The rocky area in the middle of the two streams of ice (bottom center) is really deceptive, as it's actually a thin layer of rock, with glacier underneath. One of the members of my group used topo maps to determine that this is Mont Blanc de Cheilon. There are a few different Mont Blancs de something in the Alps, but there is only one called simply Mont Blanc. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe86X7yam01_2c-erDXg9ar8Ka6dtr1WliH0v9QGxh-fwcNGu7Fi9b5EGZKiOdNtrwvoRmtZbtNS5t9QtkTSuwKoD4YjtYUQpCd21G-JxNgUzjPHK7zMgJPEYhdZEHOvXQrUtBnQSRwnJz4473VYg_uvLO-w-D56Liw2z1dZJZ8aOEvWkzLKGmJIXCRA/s1600/VGF02734-contrast.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe86X7yam01_2c-erDXg9ar8Ka6dtr1WliH0v9QGxh-fwcNGu7Fi9b5EGZKiOdNtrwvoRmtZbtNS5t9QtkTSuwKoD4YjtYUQpCd21G-JxNgUzjPHK7zMgJPEYhdZEHOvXQrUtBnQSRwnJz4473VYg_uvLO-w-D56Liw2z1dZJZ8aOEvWkzLKGmJIXCRA/s16000/VGF02734-contrast.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>Here's the view looking back the way we came. The gigantic Lac de Dix, the one with the fighting cows, looks small from this distance. It's the small patch of light gray water in the upper center of the photo. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNU0GY_O2QBLmst7Lh-iBDhKGCwUaLObZxmoOqCzq-fvuDMliOKthvVwmnEPZ58qoridJ-g8kuK1mKb0tigbbOMXNJnTOSKQhvHT5DRRye4C_4SIoZ0q5o5mLay43Q-jO04dwNgLRivKvJv-zu70uXkaurD5rC4Jkh7Xiw6H3giCLQTQSRJPd4ZGTRiA/s1600/VGF02767.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Pas de Chèvres, Swiss Alps, Switzerland, mountains, hiking, outdoors, Lac de Dix, glacier" border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNU0GY_O2QBLmst7Lh-iBDhKGCwUaLObZxmoOqCzq-fvuDMliOKthvVwmnEPZ58qoridJ-g8kuK1mKb0tigbbOMXNJnTOSKQhvHT5DRRye4C_4SIoZ0q5o5mLay43Q-jO04dwNgLRivKvJv-zu70uXkaurD5rC4Jkh7Xiw6H3giCLQTQSRJPd4ZGTRiA/s16000/VGF02767.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p>The approach to the ladders up to the pass was so steep they had added chains to hang onto. There was another group in front of us, and they were already going up the ladders as we worked our way across the chains. This was one of only a couple of other groups we saw, and we were only near them at the pass. The trail was never crowded. The ladders can be seen in the upper left corner of the photo. </p><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzS3r3dAW8gTqjynKiNuMui6-YydamyyZUqXZj-5o1zXeiX7g8TExS_7a86TpykxJPtvl9hYRlzFvvuGW-ZN8OJPqNhjtYo6so12br5GmGh3KJ6NE_U8qmuUF07HVesBA5E76-Hn5Ra4Ey2UZCiv2n1Tlb6tUVKtaOSRm58Rs99mZj3OEFj1oecvdfUQ/s1600/VGF02776.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Pas de Chèvres, Swiss Alps, Switzerland, mountains, hiking, outdoors, Lac de Dix, glacier" border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzS3r3dAW8gTqjynKiNuMui6-YydamyyZUqXZj-5o1zXeiX7g8TExS_7a86TpykxJPtvl9hYRlzFvvuGW-ZN8OJPqNhjtYo6so12br5GmGh3KJ6NE_U8qmuUF07HVesBA5E76-Hn5Ra4Ey2UZCiv2n1Tlb6tUVKtaOSRm58Rs99mZj3OEFj1oecvdfUQ/s16000/VGF02776.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table>This is a cropped view of the above photo, where you can see four steel ladders, with platforms between them, plus one of the older ladders in the lower right. The rear part of the group up on the platform is enjoying the scenery while they wait for the others in their group to climb the ladders. </div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5i2Ti9aGadvtO0xb9UMRK86Xb47x2t-KsdOTI6PJ1oPx4xG_wXScIKw2FHcLJIsWeAELH6Blx8kiIeEptAxLT9qFFDqiGSkCZty8w4OnAbDfDLfCFSy-F6tQTeVPDND1DNHrAxsOGAKLccPpcR413Dk5H64iEEEle8622mJpi3sTPKyBtXS2KVej5tA/s1200/VGF02776-close-crop.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Pas de Chèvres, ladders, Swiss Alps, Switzerland, mountains, hiking, outdoors, Lac de Dix, glacier" border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5i2Ti9aGadvtO0xb9UMRK86Xb47x2t-KsdOTI6PJ1oPx4xG_wXScIKw2FHcLJIsWeAELH6Blx8kiIeEptAxLT9qFFDqiGSkCZty8w4OnAbDfDLfCFSy-F6tQTeVPDND1DNHrAxsOGAKLccPpcR413Dk5H64iEEEle8622mJpi3sTPKyBtXS2KVej5tA/s16000/VGF02776-close-crop.jpg" /></a></div><p>Here's how it looked once I made it to the top and saw Carol coming up behind me. If you're looking at this on a computer screen (as opposed to a phone), you'll be able to see a group of people going one at a time across the chains below. From this altitude, Lac de Dix is a bit more visible in the background (upper center of photo). </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ1cbM549vk4-YBd6F9aAKbwo_LqOOL_farb-zuO59ScQdp3Rsl6ZZqdLfrW1GNNDzjwtXJaQB4LFCbHAahvCeuVctot01S3vIhTbYFzUeZf2dFyTsz7948h9rsMyePCeeTVksIA3XyBuS1cHgSAIkT6OoNLobdqF7RNhyXioOQhFRmLKyy3ufgmku0w/s1600/VGF02779.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Pas de Chèvres, Swiss Alps, Switzerland, mountains, hiking, outdoors, Lac de Dix, glacier" border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ1cbM549vk4-YBd6F9aAKbwo_LqOOL_farb-zuO59ScQdp3Rsl6ZZqdLfrW1GNNDzjwtXJaQB4LFCbHAahvCeuVctot01S3vIhTbYFzUeZf2dFyTsz7948h9rsMyePCeeTVksIA3XyBuS1cHgSAIkT6OoNLobdqF7RNhyXioOQhFRmLKyy3ufgmku0w/s16000/VGF02779.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p>One of the reasons I love hiking is the feeling when I reach a new viewpoint, and a vast new landscape is revealed. The Alps didn't disappoint! </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpZ3j6-wkdCeAAs9RtBmb4tWaDqOSLsz93VdqsbXReZN0iuXg0tqD3LM-cFYCNCdZfr3RUUxOnvxDY3DbyCR2wJB6t7jgy5LDLE-GjFOGdBbHxAvrgfTnoHFmCmxx_yzPd0Qs8AtCCfNc4i3HmgaBf-ZNkpQJAXJ0llz4pfr1AYlTHMMmKCz1VnxElWw/s1600/VGF02791.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Pigne d'Arolla Swiss Switzerland mountains altitude hiking outdoors" border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpZ3j6-wkdCeAAs9RtBmb4tWaDqOSLsz93VdqsbXReZN0iuXg0tqD3LM-cFYCNCdZfr3RUUxOnvxDY3DbyCR2wJB6t7jgy5LDLE-GjFOGdBbHxAvrgfTnoHFmCmxx_yzPd0Qs8AtCCfNc4i3HmgaBf-ZNkpQJAXJ0llz4pfr1AYlTHMMmKCz1VnxElWw/s16000/VGF02791.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p>After the pass, we started down the other side toward the tiny village of Arolla. We were hiking past a massive, steep glacier spilling into the next valley. The mountain the glacier is on is Pigne d'Arolla, and the glacier itself is Tsijiore Nouve. What a strange name. Not even sure which language that is. As with all of the other glaciers, there are large areas along its course where the glacier has melted away, exposing barren rock. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDLT-Il-sdvm7gZTt94FXjEzczz5N_O9nBbacnwr1cdLxpBi0LYtjNmD4TfcY5fJiKbHs5ZkdQbDzNN7IjU7HW3Z08NbXr1g2nKnQQhfgwje8aLATnQ9OxHMryvZQAVxktIvRC-5UEIgJfhF7AuAJUZZi37b5VHVlih4oPjulXLwrwWZfG-3aMPImCTA/s1600/VGF02812.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Pigne d'Arolla mountain peak glacier Tsijiore Nouve Swiss Switzerland hiking outdoors" border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDLT-Il-sdvm7gZTt94FXjEzczz5N_O9nBbacnwr1cdLxpBi0LYtjNmD4TfcY5fJiKbHs5ZkdQbDzNN7IjU7HW3Z08NbXr1g2nKnQQhfgwje8aLATnQ9OxHMryvZQAVxktIvRC-5UEIgJfhF7AuAJUZZi37b5VHVlih4oPjulXLwrwWZfG-3aMPImCTA/s16000/VGF02812.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p>A closer view. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtgvNmkiYi2fIIcJqCC5Fqp6VNIt1az8ovBGvj2DQN0Z1KLiJL4Kx42cGywGhE4VpnqIIXQM5SMr1vxKlwTVV1Pn4DN9qm9A6tvxYZ-Lammg_-UbvPYA8PIetsq_KhTcgtTT1zK5NiHR3z78sGUQM0V8wFJdcYNcfJGN2IDBFmbvAS3F-U3zd_GvdIYA/s1313/20220804_142811-edit.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Pigne d'Arolla mountain peak glacier Tsijiore Nouve Swiss Switzerland hiking outdoors" border="0" data-original-height="716" data-original-width="1313" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtgvNmkiYi2fIIcJqCC5Fqp6VNIt1az8ovBGvj2DQN0Z1KLiJL4Kx42cGywGhE4VpnqIIXQM5SMr1vxKlwTVV1Pn4DN9qm9A6tvxYZ-Lammg_-UbvPYA8PIetsq_KhTcgtTT1zK5NiHR3z78sGUQM0V8wFJdcYNcfJGN2IDBFmbvAS3F-U3zd_GvdIYA/s16000/20220804_142811-edit.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p>That afternoon, we arrived at a lone hotel surrounded by forest, with views across the valley to more mountains with "tooth" in their names, and the same glacier looming over us. We all rushed to take our hot showers and change into fresh clothes. </p><p>The next day, we skipped the town tour and went on a short day hike up to the foot of a different glacier, the Glacier d'Arolla. The hike went down through the town to the stream, and them back up along the stream. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_BilK9OCPAriGBOtbGAF3J1P2kkB7kcIwt6yFZtwMKPjYv6u2nKtiEW-A7f0qDKKr8aCp5q_USPdduxuvURfgYBL-nHUg4fNwkOA7ioV43nVjK8bWTqyzNzLO4nxiWJpDXrpGoLf6hLOumwlxuIOwe6RG3eWG8N6GZscvh40H16-i27HHBDcVEKwUUQ/s1600/VGF02840.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Borgne d'Arolla Switzerland Alps Swiss hiking outdoors stream water boulder forest" border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_BilK9OCPAriGBOtbGAF3J1P2kkB7kcIwt6yFZtwMKPjYv6u2nKtiEW-A7f0qDKKr8aCp5q_USPdduxuvURfgYBL-nHUg4fNwkOA7ioV43nVjK8bWTqyzNzLO4nxiWJpDXrpGoLf6hLOumwlxuIOwe6RG3eWG8N6GZscvh40H16-i27HHBDcVEKwUUQ/s16000/VGF02840.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>The waterfall coming off of the glacier was really huge. We hiked past the signs that said "don't go past this sign" to get this close. We were the only people there until we turned around to leave. The rocky area near the foot of the waterfalls is actually ice covered in rock. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiodul8iSGwyqaiAWPW8isPf4qeVc_2V3ZLGfiFaOgkIoBocxuwKkSrLibCDcO96X-SB69Hu7LyJE6PSqtcbpRJdwGCoP9Ha6sXW4Z_CSWeyCaaQ7p4E8_hilvn-958sO89YynLpoJ-K7bJOKsTVm_LLxz2Qsc9Tv6kzVpun58DFoMahkS1c_13juf0SA/s1200/VGF02849.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Arolla Glacier Waterfall Switzerland Alps mountain hiking outdoors" border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiodul8iSGwyqaiAWPW8isPf4qeVc_2V3ZLGfiFaOgkIoBocxuwKkSrLibCDcO96X-SB69Hu7LyJE6PSqtcbpRJdwGCoP9Ha6sXW4Z_CSWeyCaaQ7p4E8_hilvn-958sO89YynLpoJ-K7bJOKsTVm_LLxz2Qsc9Tv6kzVpun58DFoMahkS1c_13juf0SA/s16000/VGF02849.jpg" /></a></div><p></p><p>Here's a six-second video of the waterfall. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/LS8JrtC4bGw" width="320" youtube-src-id="LS8JrtC4bGw"></iframe></div><br />This picture shows the ice under what is at first glance just a jumble of rock. At the top of the photo is the surface of dry rock, and in the middle is where the ice under the rock has cracked and melted, opening up an ice cave. The ice above this cave entrance looked to be about sixty feet thick. I wanted to go closer, but common sense prevailed. There's no announcement before the next ice cave cracks open, or this one collapses. We knew the ice was being weakened by one of the hottest European summers in the last two hundred years.<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIYRcFj3gE2LWT00D2ziw2ksGjGIE5CNJiZO7saUtVDhdNUTgYM5tFD4Qk6Q0ZXYAHzo4kHpgoTVyxiQ2MVjje_LD5Gx30KsjvmA7uVChr9hyFVCZY_JLkN4fZm48E-tSIGr3Ohe4V9hbS_QjCewA7HKcQSLhPNfcYflAqVep3xa4ZlUwQFB8xknEKLQ/s1590/20220805_105450-glacier-d-arolla-ice-cave.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="716" data-original-width="1590" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIYRcFj3gE2LWT00D2ziw2ksGjGIE5CNJiZO7saUtVDhdNUTgYM5tFD4Qk6Q0ZXYAHzo4kHpgoTVyxiQ2MVjje_LD5Gx30KsjvmA7uVChr9hyFVCZY_JLkN4fZm48E-tSIGr3Ohe4V9hbS_QjCewA7HKcQSLhPNfcYflAqVep3xa4ZlUwQFB8xknEKLQ/s16000/20220805_105450-glacier-d-arolla-ice-cave.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p>On the way back, we found the trail had been occupied by a flock of sheep. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV3jrnsMx-q15Msyf-TouCH_RTpTkvzS8_x3Jgtn-C_T0wcQbaWWaTVrYUrG2ZHmfN8l7fkvnjCf32WZnGMwrstt5UgpTFS1GwRuwiWOYBjFgfS2-R2279bnGhl0_9pvd01Txrwp7ZNLPOU7cyuCF4jUsaEF2bCWJy9V9rRO7_X40qoppOViaBOyrzqg/s1200/VGF02874-copyright.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Sheep in Arolla Valley Swiss Alps Mountains Outdoors Hiking Forest" border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV3jrnsMx-q15Msyf-TouCH_RTpTkvzS8_x3Jgtn-C_T0wcQbaWWaTVrYUrG2ZHmfN8l7fkvnjCf32WZnGMwrstt5UgpTFS1GwRuwiWOYBjFgfS2-R2279bnGhl0_9pvd01Txrwp7ZNLPOU7cyuCF4jUsaEF2bCWJy9V9rRO7_X40qoppOViaBOyrzqg/s16000/VGF02874-copyright.jpg" /></a></div><br />That's all for this post. Next up are the hikes from Arolla to Grimentz, and our last day of hiking approaching Zermatt. </div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://fisherphotocraft.blogspot.com/2022/09/haute-route-hiking-in-alps-mont-fort-to.html">Click here for photos of the first few days hiking from Chamonix.</a> </div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://fisherphotocraft.blogspot.com/2022/08/haute-route-hiking-in-alps-hiking-over.html">Click here for photos of the hike over the Fenetre d'Arpette.</a></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://fisherphotocraft.blogspot.com/2022/09/haute-route-hiking-in-alps-mont-fort-to.html">Click here for photos of the hike from Mont Fort refuge to Prafleuri refuge.</a> </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Vick Fisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17003851466843959506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2128337933507855804.post-80567120502924352062022-09-04T10:46:00.010-04:002022-10-20T10:58:55.436-04:00Haute Route Hiking in the Alps: Mont Fort to Prafleuri HutAfter the first few days of hiking, we reached the Mont Fort Hut. The hike to Mont Fort goes through a couple of rural towns, so a bit more civilized areas. Walking right out of the hotel in Champex around 6:45 AM, we passed Lake Champex.<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhALwp9mJiwOFen6qViAzDbgic95OorbQU3seB6UPVLXI-eslUCIfFFWFoZEgZAP7lpPtS3MskdvBRGUdhz8n3lHmLcSWT38cEmgpp2SsRtVp6DaBQln1JkT7E99MnzpSiv0RFnKB3evuwq8GpjFXOUIax5C8EgpOPAo6QVQxd3zSoH6ZNoWPLP3lLQ7Q/s1600/VGF02311-lake-champex-copyright.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhALwp9mJiwOFen6qViAzDbgic95OorbQU3seB6UPVLXI-eslUCIfFFWFoZEgZAP7lpPtS3MskdvBRGUdhz8n3lHmLcSWT38cEmgpp2SsRtVp6DaBQln1JkT7E99MnzpSiv0RFnKB3evuwq8GpjFXOUIax5C8EgpOPAo6QVQxd3zSoH6ZNoWPLP3lLQ7Q/s16000/VGF02311-lake-champex-copyright.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div><div>A little while later, we came up on some goats with their kids. This is a classic example of aerial perspective, which was first used in art by Leonardo DaVinci. He used to mock other artists who painted with the same color of green for trees in the distance as trees in the foreground. </div><div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdZ26wR_uqPXNuJfxySepGVZxa46gzCrZbEe2z5tlICIoweLat60dqZO9xKfDdW7vkgFcX32CnlqWnkEfonZrYF-xCSWQZnY3S8wmH4bB6dMxaHLiDu23B4QiH_CdiD0HdrRKoq1OSFTXue8Ij6Nl1pALvLv9xvc0KH78LAt6KjINhuK2-wsL0Dv78Qw/s1600/VGF02329-goats-crop-copyright.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdZ26wR_uqPXNuJfxySepGVZxa46gzCrZbEe2z5tlICIoweLat60dqZO9xKfDdW7vkgFcX32CnlqWnkEfonZrYF-xCSWQZnY3S8wmH4bB6dMxaHLiDu23B4QiH_CdiD0HdrRKoq1OSFTXue8Ij6Nl1pALvLv9xvc0KH78LAt6KjINhuK2-wsL0Dv78Qw/s16000/VGF02329-goats-crop-copyright.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div>They were curious and came close to the (potentially) electrified fence to take a closer look at us. We saw these electric fences everywhere, but never got shocked. They were just colorful nylon ribbons connected to a car battery, maybe. Most of them weren't on. But the animals learned to steer clear of them from times when they had been on. He looks very dashing with that stylish collar. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCzgCsPjwEt9Qs4MOyeY35Eh12e2NUMf-U34AiyXTyLgZE75Oblp2vOiZyrQUTEXRKh4JCJ6_SknsOQCyg3fKXCUjwsXcn2gUBbaRFbJMRP0yPRd_d8Fc9dWFUrMSQ-MTSxvyXugYoGyk1YqrZF8O9mje6TAS2vYIKBBJq7CsMWH5-bEtO9h4s14bSMQ/s1200/VGF02365-goaty-mcgoatface.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCzgCsPjwEt9Qs4MOyeY35Eh12e2NUMf-U34AiyXTyLgZE75Oblp2vOiZyrQUTEXRKh4JCJ6_SknsOQCyg3fKXCUjwsXcn2gUBbaRFbJMRP0yPRd_d8Fc9dWFUrMSQ-MTSxvyXugYoGyk1YqrZF8O9mje6TAS2vYIKBBJq7CsMWH5-bEtO9h4s14bSMQ/s16000/VGF02365-goaty-mcgoatface.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>On the hike from the ski (and mountain biking) town of Verbier to the Mont Fort hut, we had early views of the a high mountain with a big glacier called Gran Combin. Huge bunches of these purple flowers were growing wild wherever we hiked on this trip. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxM5PXwCSkqt3D7FK_ldBzAfBHQclk-z7vQ373PEX6NZnjestCUDoURIFa0OtQA4NrbinzY6BA65v6Cp7uRAN0cSwNqJ5dy8LdGaqE1qfN8AWzIb2WmWI67x3jIioT3svmBWpISA0Wsul8AaYFpaycbE_p1ohH7ejUjYzPUnYvL_-9_fHToenUn83L0g/s1200/VGF02395-gran-combin-before-mont-fort.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxM5PXwCSkqt3D7FK_ldBzAfBHQclk-z7vQ373PEX6NZnjestCUDoURIFa0OtQA4NrbinzY6BA65v6Cp7uRAN0cSwNqJ5dy8LdGaqE1qfN8AWzIb2WmWI67x3jIioT3svmBWpISA0Wsul8AaYFpaycbE_p1ohH7ejUjYzPUnYvL_-9_fHToenUn83L0g/s16000/VGF02395-gran-combin-before-mont-fort.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>The next morning, we started probably the hardest day of the hike. There were three passes. I think we got going by 6:30 in the morning to be sure we had enough time. The stay in Mont Fort included a big dinner with good food and wine, and six-person bunk bed rooms. They had only four shared showers. The showers had a timer that lasted only two minutes. But, it turned out there was lots of water pressure and hot water, and the timer didn't count if you turned off the water. So, it really wasn't an issue at all. </div><div><br /></div><div>This is the view looking back at Mont Fort after about ten minutes of hiking. This whole area is used for skiing in winter. They have snow makers built into the mountain in case there's not much snow, which happens more often these days.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFQl9nBSJ-Y6rsqn7JNpwKsBp12-VO3ftecZdOJXkNVjTWH7ux0MnlzIuH3KEXjcoXCkXXY4cfTo-BrzrXzaK6faNzuXeDueNSfUOtqUou1E4oCkKV3-ZDZqhaNBJnuNrDnW-kb02IqfzXjLNd7ck6KYEWnEksptpljjeUmWqxKkkSFRmlAcqyJNKtVQ/s1600/VGF02425-leaving-mont-fort.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Swiss Alps, Haute Route, hiking, outdoors, wilderness, mountains, nature, beauty, rivers, tree line, altitude, big sky, valley, trail, Prafleury, Mont Fort, mountain hut, cabane, montaigne, randonner, valle" border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFQl9nBSJ-Y6rsqn7JNpwKsBp12-VO3ftecZdOJXkNVjTWH7ux0MnlzIuH3KEXjcoXCkXXY4cfTo-BrzrXzaK6faNzuXeDueNSfUOtqUou1E4oCkKV3-ZDZqhaNBJnuNrDnW-kb02IqfzXjLNd7ck6KYEWnEksptpljjeUmWqxKkkSFRmlAcqyJNKtVQ/s16000/VGF02425-leaving-mont-fort.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div>There were two ways to go from Mont Fort, around or over. Our group chose to go straight up and over the steep, rocky pass. It turned out there was still some hard-packed snow left in the shadows. It wasn't too slippery. In the photo, Jennifer is closest, then Robyn, Jeff stopped to take a photo, and his wife Mary working her way up. <div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFvgntjyjwGM5k5kzX8fPF3Ib-3BC6OVW2YhbeMSTqV9BXlj8hnin1x_7ztEzyDy-lQPnpcnz5eS-3lO97ixxsTNKqXpf-zwMrw4WTxlk-casnGixzdkau59L-gIQwlxg3BnWYxYfVkdNXUt9L8Q20_Y_zynNsCR50Os1JNDLTtS0MsARlRXAgWXXdaw/s1200/VGF02443.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="glacier, melting, rocky, Swiss Alps, Haute Route, hiking, outdoors, wilderness, mountains, nature, beauty, rivers, tree line, altitude, big sky, valley, trail, Prafleury, Mont Fort, mountain hut, cabane, montaigne, randonner, valle" border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFvgntjyjwGM5k5kzX8fPF3Ib-3BC6OVW2YhbeMSTqV9BXlj8hnin1x_7ztEzyDy-lQPnpcnz5eS-3lO97ixxsTNKqXpf-zwMrw4WTxlk-casnGixzdkau59L-gIQwlxg3BnWYxYfVkdNXUt9L8Q20_Y_zynNsCR50Os1JNDLTtS0MsARlRXAgWXXdaw/s16000/VGF02443.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><div>In this area, our guide Dan told us we needed to stay fifteen feet apart and stay silent, so we could hear if any rocks started to fall towards the group. We had all heard about a tragic incident in Italy earlier a few weeks before, where ice holding the rocks on the side of the valley melted, and released a rockslide.</div><div><br /></div><div>Mont Fort is way below at this point. That's Greg, then Larry, with Benee coming up behind. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUP3ujEM-XyVxP6ZRxdcgl2Aaew0t2Pn4wg4KJA2tAwlSrMHaeUJ-nRk7X-iQ4bS1VA8cLKd-yX6_Np12OP7QoL4ZsbxlZ-yc3cKTI0MK2ST6ZHMpPfxQzFE8ovVvarrdYCmcNrkcl-Vkj_m2wEdmuxpkOwwfx3rG9x-ZCJQzsdHhynJU_0LB4MCuKtA/s1600/VGF02452-ice-above-mont-fort.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="glacier, Swiss Alps, Haute Route, hiking, outdoors, wilderness, mountains, nature, beauty, rivers, tree line, altitude, big sky, valley, trail, Prafleury, Mont Fort, mountain hut, cabane, montaigne, randonner, valle" border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUP3ujEM-XyVxP6ZRxdcgl2Aaew0t2Pn4wg4KJA2tAwlSrMHaeUJ-nRk7X-iQ4bS1VA8cLKd-yX6_Np12OP7QoL4ZsbxlZ-yc3cKTI0MK2ST6ZHMpPfxQzFE8ovVvarrdYCmcNrkcl-Vkj_m2wEdmuxpkOwwfx3rG9x-ZCJQzsdHhynJU_0LB4MCuKtA/s16000/VGF02452-ice-above-mont-fort.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div>It got very rocky for a while. Even with the painted trail blazes it wasn't easy to see which way to go. Just before this picture, Carol slipped and split her lip on a rock that was near face level (it being so steep there). After that happened, our guide Dan came back to help. Here he is helping others find the best way through. You can get an idea of how steep it is by the way Larry (blue jacket) is standing. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhELSpsIcVq6UCAaoLfZ3lmwQ6GKfRgt9AjHPqdUXkOEeZpDu2kT5BJkMQOiM4fiIVrd-bn0w-bY0JxWED66JqH57z1bVjYRZaaRpwhATos6p0j4I-jlguUWD7t4ioooCqL8UbiOWx1gg4IjovTBhMpH_S6oD85dv-zPT9QOadKrFhnCLIRiKkhFT1E8g/s1200/VGF02455-dan-shows-the-way.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="glacier, Swiss Alps, Haute Route, hiking, outdoors, wilderness, mountains, nature, beauty, rivers, tree line, altitude, big sky, valley, trail, Prafleury, Mont Fort, mountain hut, cabane, montaigne, randonner, valle" border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="808" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhELSpsIcVq6UCAaoLfZ3lmwQ6GKfRgt9AjHPqdUXkOEeZpDu2kT5BJkMQOiM4fiIVrd-bn0w-bY0JxWED66JqH57z1bVjYRZaaRpwhATos6p0j4I-jlguUWD7t4ioooCqL8UbiOWx1gg4IjovTBhMpH_S6oD85dv-zPT9QOadKrFhnCLIRiKkhFT1E8g/s16000/VGF02455-dan-shows-the-way.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Soon after, we finally emerged into the sunlight as we reached the pass. Here are Robyn, Mary, Larry, and Greg in the home stretch. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3q8kDvIjpZWWiJ99k_jcesQtgloTmTKq069XgCDX1rj0p7lnaEACPwEo8_Duup49yT-hSVidDip1QWSBLcs7r5JIz_qxgySiZHLgqxIOmEbH9A1GVyK3s2rh8nuc49odD_mXC-moSVscUNdB3uQwjgap1RceuBmCj9XX7j7OmWdCv82WS8ksxYI87CA/s1600/VGF02458-first-pass-after-mont-fort.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="glacier, Swiss Alps, Haute Route, hiking, outdoors, wilderness, mountains, nature, beauty, rivers, tree line, altitude, big sky, valley, trail, Prafleury, Mont Fort, mountain hut, cabane, montaigne, randonner, valle" border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3q8kDvIjpZWWiJ99k_jcesQtgloTmTKq069XgCDX1rj0p7lnaEACPwEo8_Duup49yT-hSVidDip1QWSBLcs7r5JIz_qxgySiZHLgqxIOmEbH9A1GVyK3s2rh8nuc49odD_mXC-moSVscUNdB3uQwjgap1RceuBmCj9XX7j7OmWdCv82WS8ksxYI87CA/s16000/VGF02458-first-pass-after-mont-fort.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>After hiking down the other side of the pass and toward our second pass, we had this view of Gran Combin, with it's glacier, on the far side of the valley. This is the same mountain we saw on the way into Mont Fort the previous afternoon. You can see a meltwater lake just below, on our side of the valley. When we left lunch, we went the opposite direction from all that, uphill toward our second pass of the day. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_ce3fwq9hIV_-aZRGJxwNDrbH35AYb4zZnbx255XMOeeTT4DHzMWlCztU__jBXayayIRcWdrN5uJA--yv1gu152K77pHBfY8M0kOpCDR-wHTwdZ-ytGz9KD-bhkchafX12baPeU_t6wQLaQDLWEtL6GCbW1-iOtlMh5tLDzNQBYSSAL8PNzZ0XjcTYg/s1600/VGF02464-grand-combin.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="glacier, Swiss Alps, Haute Route, hiking, outdoors, wilderness, mountains, nature, beauty, rivers, tree line, altitude, big sky, valley, trail, Prafleury, Mont Fort, mountain hut, cabane, montaigne, randonner, valle" border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_ce3fwq9hIV_-aZRGJxwNDrbH35AYb4zZnbx255XMOeeTT4DHzMWlCztU__jBXayayIRcWdrN5uJA--yv1gu152K77pHBfY8M0kOpCDR-wHTwdZ-ytGz9KD-bhkchafX12baPeU_t6wQLaQDLWEtL6GCbW1-iOtlMh5tLDzNQBYSSAL8PNzZ0XjcTYg/s16000/VGF02464-grand-combin.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div>Almost to the second pass of the day. Chris and Benee in the lead there, with Robyn third. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEpU6ptX7cwoBdmo_B9ZQMrt9UWIZCReHZkCEYi699SiXtU1g9Tkn6Ewwl6iio4C5JudVvOhbW317QL2KGjdZj182lND60AQFwWaAFjbkhYk5bkjl2bA9a9tSi4kbc7ISE8RuSNOWa9JkLNqwsOPVKkoRhbCK3U5sN38eWP6mW3j5PibK8qRRg0WG0yg/s1600/VGF02476.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="glacier, Swiss Alps, Haute Route, hiking, outdoors, wilderness, mountains, nature, beauty, rivers, tree line, altitude, big sky, valley, trail, Prafleury, Mont Fort, mountain hut, cabane, montaigne, randonner, valle" border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEpU6ptX7cwoBdmo_B9ZQMrt9UWIZCReHZkCEYi699SiXtU1g9Tkn6Ewwl6iio4C5JudVvOhbW317QL2KGjdZj182lND60AQFwWaAFjbkhYk5bkjl2bA9a9tSi4kbc7ISE8RuSNOWa9JkLNqwsOPVKkoRhbCK3U5sN38eWP6mW3j5PibK8qRRg0WG0yg/s16000/VGF02476.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div>As we came up over the second pass, we saw this ibex sitting in the sun on some rocks. We only saw about four of these in all the days we were in the Alps. I saw "only" because a family hiking the same route said they had seen about fifty ibex hanging around the Prafleuri hut at dawn two years before. They had close up pictures. I was very jealous. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir1cNtVvTUhQu7BDj23yUVvk73B0bCLLFWI-EMIMJe-16bHInJPe-4M2xEtguO0SPnuVMoGbTYtnarW_tJ4vWliOoMbzUSZT3cZorKmRR41ole9h6llk2QChfoDvRoicSs8htNRG7zFdQDjwO06c75KMmIpBTNhqEX_jl_TjiKT2jDREb7J1OBTB_pWA/s1600/VGF02494-ibex-copyright.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="wildlife, ibex, Swiss Alps, Haute Route, hiking, outdoors, wilderness, mountains, nature, beauty, rivers, tree line, altitude, big sky, valley, trail, Prafleury, Mont Fort, mountain hut, cabane, montaigne, randonner, valle" border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir1cNtVvTUhQu7BDj23yUVvk73B0bCLLFWI-EMIMJe-16bHInJPe-4M2xEtguO0SPnuVMoGbTYtnarW_tJ4vWliOoMbzUSZT3cZorKmRR41ole9h6llk2QChfoDvRoicSs8htNRG7zFdQDjwO06c75KMmIpBTNhqEX_jl_TjiKT2jDREb7J1OBTB_pWA/s16000/VGF02494-ibex-copyright.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>We had a stream crossing on the way to the next pass. The water was from the nearby melting glacier, so it was ice cold. Since it was over a foot deep in places, we all took off our boots and socks and crossed it barefoot. The water quickly froze my feet, so the rocks on the bottom were pretty painful! One of my biggest photographic failures of the trip - you see me in the foreground, panicking and stuffing my camera and phone away before I even took a single photo of the crossing. Luckily, Benee had the presence of mind to take this one. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicGGA4Dh9YVCuIfKEgxyvgNnV5sHBQY_i4qyIqAslwMWWhXaP02nbMyUNxBvBeae0iVDA0zdJpB-7pWxNeHpNyrycJ43P-1mXCZAdeNgCIs4cNTHn5EWhRrtySgzbGF0aHrdTnXpBrKi6xK89UGl_FHEUth52yA65E-mbytQqyBWEw_m476J3omGEWRA/s1024/IMG-20220904-benee-stream.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicGGA4Dh9YVCuIfKEgxyvgNnV5sHBQY_i4qyIqAslwMWWhXaP02nbMyUNxBvBeae0iVDA0zdJpB-7pWxNeHpNyrycJ43P-1mXCZAdeNgCIs4cNTHn5EWhRrtySgzbGF0aHrdTnXpBrKi6xK89UGl_FHEUth52yA65E-mbytQqyBWEw_m476J3omGEWRA/s16000/IMG-20220904-benee-stream.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>Anyway, we finally made it to the Prafleuri Pass. The signs have times of how long the Swiss authorities expect each hike to take. Our group was always somewhat slower than those times, and we were moving at a good pace. Those times are if you hike fast, and don't stop for water or snacks. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgbqxkVYfew7utzAO7QkHmftUUzazjj37mG9CeYWHV8YNUALNVocmGkIoFzEnkExtX-s64GR_ZnPMhchA-czSxwWyOmbYtZHlDU0GWI8VGQfuTVZAPSS4FvlvnMABfQgPjsjDelxuHU8qp6OMugpKgTsqTcQExYMqVTqfaN8bgminG6sgGcaGM7TSzvA/s1200/VGF02596-jennifer-at-col-de-prafleury.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="moutain pass, sign, beautiful hiker, Swiss Alps, Haute Route, hiking, outdoors, wilderness, mountains, nature, beauty, rivers, tree line, altitude, big sky, valley, trail, Prafleury, Mont Fort, mountain hut, cabane, montaigne, randonner, valle" border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgbqxkVYfew7utzAO7QkHmftUUzazjj37mG9CeYWHV8YNUALNVocmGkIoFzEnkExtX-s64GR_ZnPMhchA-czSxwWyOmbYtZHlDU0GWI8VGQfuTVZAPSS4FvlvnMABfQgPjsjDelxuHU8qp6OMugpKgTsqTcQExYMqVTqfaN8bgminG6sgGcaGM7TSzvA/s16000/VGF02596-jennifer-at-col-de-prafleury.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div>The view from this pass was great. I believe that's the Prafleuri Glacier taking up much of the scene.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxeNXOAISHACoQdX86W15T_nK06qC9cocEaqjmLmFjU6GymaBmoC5HU4A8x0IU9vYxKpu46yS4OEa3zL1o9uuyT-qwtOZbn_gn-Lq71YpWqywj0sGfMZ5w5fOzjK8jkmRKdEt4_I2LbShOVOB_6gFgs4IYbbkFtXUWb16MGNWU2xMvPenNn7slpXC_QQ/s1600/VGF02581.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="glacier, receding, melting, Swiss Alps, Haute Route, hiking, outdoors, wilderness, mountains, nature, beauty, rivers, tree line, altitude, big sky, valley, trail, Prafleury, Mont Fort, mountain hut, cabane, montaigne, randonner, valle" border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxeNXOAISHACoQdX86W15T_nK06qC9cocEaqjmLmFjU6GymaBmoC5HU4A8x0IU9vYxKpu46yS4OEa3zL1o9uuyT-qwtOZbn_gn-Lq71YpWqywj0sGfMZ5w5fOzjK8jkmRKdEt4_I2LbShOVOB_6gFgs4IYbbkFtXUWb16MGNWU2xMvPenNn7slpXC_QQ/s16000/VGF02581.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>This was the view on the way down from the pass. The hut we're hiking to is out of sight in the valley in the lower right of the photo. </div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMrNMC8QvovxSJlrIU0U0IO6UOQPvKwevfHv4jn93IsJL_v2I0lRTcCmjIWSgKqaD3svrD9Dih4bi8CAAQukM43fk1sx4_sqxb8djPyA8YRQDKIhn7KtL2udwCdF4cRDmhRECFK7FuLGslWZQBxRVlw903tURduLnx44Ilzl23gs3uchsJbtCnuP60nQ/s1600/VGF02608.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="glacier, receding, melting, Swiss Alps, Haute Route, hiking, outdoors, wilderness, mountains, nature, beauty, rivers, tree line, altitude, big sky, valley, trail, Prafleury, Mont Fort, mountain hut, cabane, montaigne, randonner, valle" border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMrNMC8QvovxSJlrIU0U0IO6UOQPvKwevfHv4jn93IsJL_v2I0lRTcCmjIWSgKqaD3svrD9Dih4bi8CAAQukM43fk1sx4_sqxb8djPyA8YRQDKIhn7KtL2udwCdF4cRDmhRECFK7FuLGslWZQBxRVlw903tURduLnx44Ilzl23gs3uchsJbtCnuP60nQ/s16000/VGF02608.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>On the final part of the hike, we had to cross the alluvial plain, where the water draining from the glacier created a valley of braided streams and sandbars. In winter this would be usually be snow-covered, and in spring, there would be raging rivers of melting snow. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDTRHw7aA830WAdOXdHlegIOe3CeApFPWZLePiSNzKCJXF_qeyuRqHVMbya_LCgWmlXk4U-5-R6eIDyqwyZuBC45qCTwr9N0xyldcZ_lCku4Yk8XTRVGEuEm_LeIeJmeMcEXohTGHRxH9HRFjvGSsfrY41eFXFmX0ABJBuNxfR6xsOwfWYivsMn1dzOw/s1600/20220803_145445-1600w-copyright.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Swiss Alps, Haute Route, hiking, outdoors, wilderness, mountains, nature, beauty, rivers, tree line, altitude, big sky, valley, trail, Prafleury, Mont Fort, mountain hut, cabane, montaigne, randonner, valle" border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDTRHw7aA830WAdOXdHlegIOe3CeApFPWZLePiSNzKCJXF_qeyuRqHVMbya_LCgWmlXk4U-5-R6eIDyqwyZuBC45qCTwr9N0xyldcZ_lCku4Yk8XTRVGEuEm_LeIeJmeMcEXohTGHRxH9HRFjvGSsfrY41eFXFmX0ABJBuNxfR6xsOwfWYivsMn1dzOw/s16000/20220803_145445-1600w-copyright.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div>This is a closeup of a beautiful sandbar created of fine stone particles created by the grinding of billions of tons of glacial ice across the valley floor. These fine particles are deposited along the stream bottom as the water travels down the valley. Branching like this reminds me how the same patterns are seen different places in nature. Leonardo DaVinci remarked on it in his notebooks; about how these are like the branches of a tree, the delta of a river, and veins in humans and animals. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiK9y_Shu6Zc9ZviuGJlt3q_CLBqLNhLkdSo-aHRR8EmLyj3r1p7Uxn4jTmE-q9mk_GBiRgeAOwWILsMwMLy6dUmK-J_dwF722noUvPAGONsj-pDWc1TLsx4qkDKAi4qSZfNCWYOMZwwVJ1ELEFfYKWCUAcg2SR8edwF0nCZgwMCWboN-MfTioeVpXiA/s1600/VGF02617-glacial-silt.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="glacial runoff, artistic nature, river, stream, silt, deposit, tributary, braided, green" border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiK9y_Shu6Zc9ZviuGJlt3q_CLBqLNhLkdSo-aHRR8EmLyj3r1p7Uxn4jTmE-q9mk_GBiRgeAOwWILsMwMLy6dUmK-J_dwF722noUvPAGONsj-pDWc1TLsx4qkDKAi4qSZfNCWYOMZwwVJ1ELEFfYKWCUAcg2SR8edwF0nCZgwMCWboN-MfTioeVpXiA/s16000/VGF02617-glacial-silt.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div>Late that afternoon, we made it to the Prafleuri mountain hut. At this one, the entire group of fourteen of us stayed in one large room, with beds laid out on either side of an aisle down the middle, like in an orphanage, except there was no space between the beds. You had to crawl off the end of your mattress to avoid stepping on the person lying next to you. When you're deep in the mountains, a warm bed and a hot meal with a glacial waterfall as backdrop is pretty good. I was too exhausted to bother, but Benee took this photo of our room.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWm-9dEXJZ8MkRWh8prkfnmIVEi14kjhTWvlKIccA2Ljr61VEnCwNwWtZbz2zFB6JTS0cNDG7cVFsBhMYk22H5hufQEoj84qtG2___ZtqitOJ5bIwMjhhNmR7_ebvI3O1oywBaWHQCjY-p41TJ_SJwV1ml0tKkMYD-ot593yx6YERVLosyWtlPRvLW-Q/s1024/IMG-20220904-benee-dorm.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWm-9dEXJZ8MkRWh8prkfnmIVEi14kjhTWvlKIccA2Ljr61VEnCwNwWtZbz2zFB6JTS0cNDG7cVFsBhMYk22H5hufQEoj84qtG2___ZtqitOJ5bIwMjhhNmR7_ebvI3O1oywBaWHQCjY-p41TJ_SJwV1ml0tKkMYD-ot593yx6YERVLosyWtlPRvLW-Q/s16000/IMG-20220904-benee-dorm.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div>That's all for our epic Mont Fort to Prafleuri hut hike. This is the third post on our Haute Route hiking trip in the French and Swiss Alps. </div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://fisherphotocraft.blogspot.com/2022/08/haute-route-hiking-in-alps-from-chamonix.html">Click here to see photos from our first two hikes.</a></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://fisherphotocraft.blogspot.com/2022/08/haute-route-hiking-in-alps-hiking-over.html">Click here to see our hike over the Fenetre d'Arpette.</a></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://fisherphotocraft.blogspot.com/2022/10/haute-route-hiking-in-alps-pas-de.html">Click here to see the hike past Lac de Dix, over Pas de Chèvres, and around Arolla.</a></div><div><br /></div><div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div></div></div>Vick Fisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17003851466843959506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2128337933507855804.post-90789922254759436842022-08-27T10:54:00.004-04:002022-10-20T11:00:04.540-04:00Haute Route Hiking in the Alps: Hiking over Fenetre d'ArpetteAfter <a href=" https://fisherphotocraft.blogspot.com/2022/08/haute-route-hiking-in-alps-from-chamonix.html" target="_blank">our first two days of moderate hiking</a>, it was time for a big one - the Fenetre d'Arpette, which involved a lot of miles, a lot of hours, a lot of altitude, and long, steep stretches with no real "trail" at all.<div><br /></div><div>The first hour of the hike is flat along the Triente River, which is meltwater from the Triente Glacier. You could see the glacier up at the head of the valley from the very start. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn1T4IHr96hNb1My34fiHnuQZ4UPDT4nIrOPxR7ElDIKbYfGHk5Q_0sGsLtvdeVcEk1AlI2g-ryV1x4tLmptmS7w6jAR_ccgV-ApLwmUFIMV40NFFqyLSx6ULdRhOYn0ml9pe79i8KbU01_MwLKw2lcMLayACI5eOBwpwhxwPCLziew9YuPoBkywUdxw/s16000/VGF02063-arpette-glacier-from-below-copyright.jpg" /></div><br /><div>I enjoyed the sound of the water over the rocks and around the boulders. It was early enough in the morning that the sun hadn't reached the valley floor.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg7ZXpdFE793AHJ_3SyfpunNI96_w8qGDky5CDRmybDSPebQIYmQfmGyy5-osNhSXJxgn6oKqrJeyie0GhqCpB7ijcYNFbkNakHVJjjDL3oPreItpIF88F6dTlmC4pNYPnHCjc573nTcE6J5hFMU5IAmCM4gL8eCS7aH4X1i0QX2reTEIkymoZALsr5A/s16000/VGF02068-arpette-glacier-stream-copyright.jpg" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">These rivers come from melting ice from the glacier. Notice the large area of dry rock. That's where the glacier used to be. The glacier has been melting in summer much faster than it's been replenished by new snow in winter for the last thirty years or so. Thousands of towns and cities around the world rely on meltwater rivers like these for water. What will they do once the glaciers have melted away? </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihl0EaTB437LOEVToOk-aCR1NZQjsYna_0zAa1sH1RVgTnjPryGovKc-tZ9hStV2eeibQmOJ93Ezw6jYatFA-oJFa_TRFyVAwteurl7rT1qaT9hVeSASxiLWpeJPhgLrrv0iGNIh4foFA_DL4GWYvX7nCl97jM2B5lUsxCzqibP2d-5XaxrPPkd-zFfQ/s1200/VGF02101-arpette-glacier-and-streams-copyright.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihl0EaTB437LOEVToOk-aCR1NZQjsYna_0zAa1sH1RVgTnjPryGovKc-tZ9hStV2eeibQmOJ93Ezw6jYatFA-oJFa_TRFyVAwteurl7rT1qaT9hVeSASxiLWpeJPhgLrrv0iGNIh4foFA_DL4GWYvX7nCl97jM2B5lUsxCzqibP2d-5XaxrPPkd-zFfQ/s16000/VGF02101-arpette-glacier-and-streams-copyright.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Years ago, a landslide destroyed the trail, so they put in a rope to hang onto while crossing this slanted muddy area. You can't see it in this photo, but this hillside just drops straight down hundreds of feet. Fun! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCnXh2H3RyevfvnRSTyWrPQZPlR5bnW7DJRUIEVHQZGd1uuvmsUmxMO8f2lWCmBOywYwpa8Hx8cwTelBLQE8uijX0tCdoPqcuRl4iCQdQv6jE-10KSxJR6-xEzgjVkeC8h2MVn7ybHqbQGDvUIwFx8aJ8cn_X60FMr8mQ9vv2-dI0TFIF6AvPV8z0Oww/s1600/VGF02110-landslide-rope-copyright.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCnXh2H3RyevfvnRSTyWrPQZPlR5bnW7DJRUIEVHQZGd1uuvmsUmxMO8f2lWCmBOywYwpa8Hx8cwTelBLQE8uijX0tCdoPqcuRl4iCQdQv6jE-10KSxJR6-xEzgjVkeC8h2MVn7ybHqbQGDvUIwFx8aJ8cn_X60FMr8mQ9vv2-dI0TFIF6AvPV8z0Oww/s16000/VGF02110-landslide-rope-copyright.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">After another hour of steep hiking, we were getting higher up and closer to the rivers and the glacier. You could hear the sound of the roaring waterfalls the whole time. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga4L9Kopt2djypjph_uk8xz8qcwNouMM4DhndOrJdP40iIe_gJLyMW3aB2GHcz2XUeYwpJQ7PY4aRaXZBtuWDuUiDk8-Zv8hUCWCHFG5oSg8xQs9FvSJc6NvGoTJq4o38APRA0ScFFeEqcO6dP0sDggafZNZEwfQamxiRvrpomMSNSVCB10fUe_OvqCg/s1600/VGF02122-arpette-glacier-close-copyright.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga4L9Kopt2djypjph_uk8xz8qcwNouMM4DhndOrJdP40iIe_gJLyMW3aB2GHcz2XUeYwpJQ7PY4aRaXZBtuWDuUiDk8-Zv8hUCWCHFG5oSg8xQs9FvSJc6NvGoTJq4o38APRA0ScFFeEqcO6dP0sDggafZNZEwfQamxiRvrpomMSNSVCB10fUe_OvqCg/s16000/VGF02122-arpette-glacier-close-copyright.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Here's a short video of a closeup of the larger waterfalls of meltwater. Crazy how much water is coming off of this glacier every second. Sadly, youtube has murdered the quality of this video, but this at least give you an idea of how powerful this one is, and it's only one of several draining off all day and night. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='916' height='761' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyAFpS2-N3NfBW77-4U-eLJl3SraGU0KPRa4u6J_5CuNT_KD_F6su-Lo4nkE50afCAyC5N_O9eahPVVQI1WaA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">For the last hour or so, the trail was steep enough that you could use your hands sometimes, and turned into nothing but rocks in places. If you're looking at this on a computer screen, you'll be able to see seven other hikers coming down the trail from above. The Fenetre d'Arpette, the top of the pass and high point of the hike, is over the ridge in that dip at the upper right corner. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyNxq0NAA8jMc2kg3aiGYtfWFkQLyZuorX9Ves1LMMAxj0ZNsZ8TaecY3kL9381GJB9NJJvRt2zRY9KtV9Zn6EcviFzRjgfDgAl7CQ5UOXHuKfVFUmROQIvKHJR3ZDzUVGoT6KFqeXFWCJ5N2hD0HlCHKXTt-a_iF7XFtlVDU3Ys2dTmlpNe_jJXV_SQ/s1600/VGF02152-approach-to-arpette-copyright.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyNxq0NAA8jMc2kg3aiGYtfWFkQLyZuorX9Ves1LMMAxj0ZNsZ8TaecY3kL9381GJB9NJJvRt2zRY9KtV9Zn6EcviFzRjgfDgAl7CQ5UOXHuKfVFUmROQIvKHJR3ZDzUVGoT6KFqeXFWCJ5N2hD0HlCHKXTt-a_iF7XFtlVDU3Ys2dTmlpNe_jJXV_SQ/s16000/VGF02152-approach-to-arpette-copyright.jpg" /></a></div><br /> </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Here's the receding "tongue" of the glacier up close. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfDi1fvFDHFEfh2tNLCq4W9sPZo2yTYYZcv8xEfylWbD4Xp5dX9yFrXEnNcHJLqMvxrjW0VspP3oq6sQKtMDjpBFO8q3KAjymJ7JKykxH-dT0j8Ek27-sKrA6XFOXmROI6WO0sZSeKHmT5pDUfr4_2Ekv4LKVqEBV76P01sFugZzEDvV4yR0ONlHxEKg/s4000/20220801_103510.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="677" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfDi1fvFDHFEfh2tNLCq4W9sPZo2yTYYZcv8xEfylWbD4Xp5dX9yFrXEnNcHJLqMvxrjW0VspP3oq6sQKtMDjpBFO8q3KAjymJ7JKykxH-dT0j8Ek27-sKrA6XFOXmROI6WO0sZSeKHmT5pDUfr4_2Ekv4LKVqEBV76P01sFugZzEDvV4yR0ONlHxEKg/w1504-h677/20220801_103510.jpg" width="1504" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We're high up enough to see the glacier and its meltwater streams from the side now.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwIS7hNPWjS0zvNMP2Tp0-VLWpmA8qqrRkVXtBpbssLnUruO713CJmFGjips5hH_IS28O6LU2TBYa8dvFGtBzV31lxteEZqi6x98fZqCuzdckM8CM86SO5aVy80-P5yrc1zCfILV0LAqDUUK7cQ72BLWmHsRE252aQf_HcyXyDRb9-r4gHb51swiwPuw/s1600/VGF02131-arpette-glacier-high-up-copyright.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwIS7hNPWjS0zvNMP2Tp0-VLWpmA8qqrRkVXtBpbssLnUruO713CJmFGjips5hH_IS28O6LU2TBYa8dvFGtBzV31lxteEZqi6x98fZqCuzdckM8CM86SO5aVy80-P5yrc1zCfILV0LAqDUUK7cQ72BLWmHsRE252aQf_HcyXyDRb9-r4gHb51swiwPuw/s16000/VGF02131-arpette-glacier-high-up-copyright.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Nearly there.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicErtwrFKeyZHixWcQy6ZWO5AnIUkqidoAif1hSxDBRWXX72BV21SOgaNQ2r_WQzNmKLICDhX4gR1NYdClk-GdhxFE6S72k1MP8zG1tqS1PT_C5zRKZUEuCir-DKeoDBXpCVpPWsrBVjl3lZ6y6_yUSZz-OauOspfsFu2UILfLnIr_dXIUEZP9x_lkRw/s1200/VGF02158.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicErtwrFKeyZHixWcQy6ZWO5AnIUkqidoAif1hSxDBRWXX72BV21SOgaNQ2r_WQzNmKLICDhX4gR1NYdClk-GdhxFE6S72k1MP8zG1tqS1PT_C5zRKZUEuCir-DKeoDBXpCVpPWsrBVjl3lZ6y6_yUSZz-OauOspfsFu2UILfLnIr_dXIUEZP9x_lkRw/s16000/VGF02158.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">A couple of closer views. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUNMKsPVgbmJ2puwdqZTQWNmw8Sq5tcsJVofhQSnhAS4k3amv1-jA3qg4rGFLRt4UKnKfA7-Dj6UaxqmjZlz_sDSqvKo4hUhExb_6x2HUQwo9DDVXE6eQew5SO5SElb8Qxop1MxMF_6j39N3sPu_71bf5Bmr_Hh6iq_A2hZqUaw8S7_jz8JUu8V_0Uog/s4000/20220801_123621.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUNMKsPVgbmJ2puwdqZTQWNmw8Sq5tcsJVofhQSnhAS4k3amv1-jA3qg4rGFLRt4UKnKfA7-Dj6UaxqmjZlz_sDSqvKo4hUhExb_6x2HUQwo9DDVXE6eQew5SO5SElb8Qxop1MxMF_6j39N3sPu_71bf5Bmr_Hh6iq_A2hZqUaw8S7_jz8JUu8V_0Uog/w1064-h478/20220801_123621.jpg" width="1064" /></a></div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I really wanted to go hike closer to all that ice. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb1vFPyEKYES5yNWH2pI1-pFa5f3dohYOrVFng9Lm-_VrUufjLPWumERSfmjuWPZ3CqcOq6ijS0brA9K7mqLvYLte88JAFLJj7kNNWe_AoehHdMqWy3U7-KrlrXx26khtulA4zZt1si7AfO9AcLTvremPcaaSe5Z1luJ-cqHDwjxmbory5NRQb4QsWuw/s4000/20220801_124544.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb1vFPyEKYES5yNWH2pI1-pFa5f3dohYOrVFng9Lm-_VrUufjLPWumERSfmjuWPZ3CqcOq6ijS0brA9K7mqLvYLte88JAFLJj7kNNWe_AoehHdMqWy3U7-KrlrXx26khtulA4zZt1si7AfO9AcLTvremPcaaSe5Z1luJ-cqHDwjxmbory5NRQb4QsWuw/w1066-h480/20220801_124544.jpg" width="1066" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Finally, made it to the "window." It never ceases to amaze what a huge new view you get by taking those last few steps to the top. A whole new series of valleys and ridges we hadn't seen until now. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">All the way up and down the trail, there were trail runners. Of course, they're not running like on a flat surface, but they're hopping and dodging up and down the trail as fast as they can. Some people do the same trail over and over and time themselves, trying to get their best time. Of course, there are even races across the mountains every once in a while, with extreme athletes completing a series of connected trails like this one in the time it took us to do just one. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The way down is right here in front of us, but it's so steep going down that we couldn't see it. When people started hiking down, they disappeared from view after only a few steps. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy5bVCSFsEiFJ-61ASVexVG9G0PbuUjWP9kGbllKQYOsgHYGdxk4GGWD4FRCX1Tk6Xal3V4_ZKxRzf6GupXIPawBbo45QzmG0EH0qfHDY3Vsgzi0AmYPnVupvF39AfO4sB9Lyu4Lq0QYBG8ZLvE9cXFlnUnRwUuerHDig97O1PZNYs-djLG4RB0ajDKw/s4000/20220801_133554.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="479" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy5bVCSFsEiFJ-61ASVexVG9G0PbuUjWP9kGbllKQYOsgHYGdxk4GGWD4FRCX1Tk6Xal3V4_ZKxRzf6GupXIPawBbo45QzmG0EH0qfHDY3Vsgzi0AmYPnVupvF39AfO4sB9Lyu4Lq0QYBG8ZLvE9cXFlnUnRwUuerHDig97O1PZNYs-djLG4RB0ajDKw/w1065-h479/20220801_133554.jpg" width="1065" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The first hour or so on the trail down was steep, dry dirt mixed with sliding and rolling rocks. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEJWUu-7VkwSUK-yeZmMIrlUtOlU-k6iiOgfNP4JTXQ9QITEGABgMq-Vnh9mb9QaHvwMqkT8Glw_awG_aQA52pOntkxQWERkxU2-aW3GTbtdjp5t96yUFXyAcdEV8i6egHnWdqLD231djQZ8qKKA0CFNTNAYTHFvlECT9Fv-5vTXo8SWKk_6O8cvaQew/s1200/VGF02272-descent-from-arpette-copyright.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEJWUu-7VkwSUK-yeZmMIrlUtOlU-k6iiOgfNP4JTXQ9QITEGABgMq-Vnh9mb9QaHvwMqkT8Glw_awG_aQA52pOntkxQWERkxU2-aW3GTbtdjp5t96yUFXyAcdEV8i6egHnWdqLD231djQZ8qKKA0CFNTNAYTHFvlECT9Fv-5vTXo8SWKk_6O8cvaQew/s16000/VGF02272-descent-from-arpette-copyright.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">If you squint, you can see four groups of hikers scattered along the trail leading down. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho9vZAHJ-9QnCe3dmubxXYiPZ0P0hOt7IUTUWWCsFyDOYPXIUTsUU5veXRSE5il8JpLy83qEKe88DQBmNnUxd7c5pj56wL5UkZuvFgwUbrPlz_4ECDbIbBCySBN4p7qQg0Py075Qg8s_RgKs_S3JpU3wVRqxo_GmglEN_6MQEL8-aH1b3kFC8BGVK75w/s2466/20220801_142717.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: right;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2466" data-original-width="1800" height="829" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho9vZAHJ-9QnCe3dmubxXYiPZ0P0hOt7IUTUWWCsFyDOYPXIUTsUU5veXRSE5il8JpLy83qEKe88DQBmNnUxd7c5pj56wL5UkZuvFgwUbrPlz_4ECDbIbBCySBN4p7qQg0Py075Qg8s_RgKs_S3JpU3wVRqxo_GmglEN_6MQEL8-aH1b3kFC8BGVK75w/w605-h829/20220801_142717.jpg" width="605" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Our guide Mike working his way down. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxkPL0DCl_1U9Go_0WkRURHClCSzsv3jVglscDJxAM9XSup5mzRgX1fKFCibe0ZayTmCKUKMdnKJzBjdvrD8POnnvTLMaT8TGwhG7_cs7JhnoXsiwFIuWBTTPilYxVhcVzkyCsjpCfZmbzmxXIm1loXvr6sT_N43VJKgvclCWSB97K-uHuRsi6vvswPQ/s1200/VGF02266-mike-on-the-rocks-copyright.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxkPL0DCl_1U9Go_0WkRURHClCSzsv3jVglscDJxAM9XSup5mzRgX1fKFCibe0ZayTmCKUKMdnKJzBjdvrD8POnnvTLMaT8TGwhG7_cs7JhnoXsiwFIuWBTTPilYxVhcVzkyCsjpCfZmbzmxXIm1loXvr6sT_N43VJKgvclCWSB97K-uHuRsi6vvswPQ/s16000/VGF02266-mike-on-the-rocks-copyright.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">A brief rest on the way down. You can see some other hikers picking their way across the boulders in the background. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNCxEsgzXHo1gAANEXW2G7mKaQH_o-lP-6vS0Beuji91EAUCWLTr5lLnCtQ21Bt1NntFlfgqwwBhE6pqMXPCUI8iAY5N6Eu17aIAXC7BgohEpS05m8q72ZQr26X6NIQh9AzPqE4NoB3CLEzz2LUwkSn_sXuJJYslr6RJGmisCrGyo4vRZJ-HlLRpJPPA/s1600/VGF02254-descent-from-arpette.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNCxEsgzXHo1gAANEXW2G7mKaQH_o-lP-6vS0Beuji91EAUCWLTr5lLnCtQ21Bt1NntFlfgqwwBhE6pqMXPCUI8iAY5N6Eu17aIAXC7BgohEpS05m8q72ZQr26X6NIQh9AzPqE4NoB3CLEzz2LUwkSn_sXuJJYslr6RJGmisCrGyo4vRZJ-HlLRpJPPA/s16000/VGF02254-descent-from-arpette.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">After an hour picking our way between boulders, it seemed like we must be getting near the bottom. In fact, we were only a third of the way down. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwV4wLj6ghD-QTy9-0b3UMkLi3D6I1vdYMDm0SK0sKbfH6GrTojNgn7MidHBUaxajc-XJrFx9TqInk0L6xXqb7b67qgIHRnaPSDfKkXZPk0rx-0bxPcDk0H8GJuKWb_JBDWhNRMUmVJOsb_WctrEYugyCmnOi_zKSHDfdWori1Fjn3Mk-rYuVQODtryw/s1600/VGF02281-jennifer-arpette-descent.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwV4wLj6ghD-QTy9-0b3UMkLi3D6I1vdYMDm0SK0sKbfH6GrTojNgn7MidHBUaxajc-XJrFx9TqInk0L6xXqb7b67qgIHRnaPSDfKkXZPk0rx-0bxPcDk0H8GJuKWb_JBDWhNRMUmVJOsb_WctrEYugyCmnOi_zKSHDfdWori1Fjn3Mk-rYuVQODtryw/s16000/VGF02281-jennifer-arpette-descent.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>OK, that's the last of the photos for this hike. <div><br /></div><div><a href="https://fisherphotocraft.blogspot.com/2022/08/haute-route-hiking-in-alps-from-chamonix.html">Click this for a link to our first two hikes.</a> </div><div><br /></div><div><span style="color: #0000ee; text-decoration-line: underline;">Click here to see the hike after that, from the Mont Fort mountain hut to the Prafleury mountain hut.</span></div><div><span style="color: #0000ee; text-decoration-line: underline;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #0000ee; text-decoration-line: underline;"><a href="https://fisherphotocraft.blogspot.com/2022/10/haute-route-hiking-in-alps-pas-de.html">Click here to see our hike past Lac de Dix, over the Pas de Chevres, and into Arolla.</a></span></div><div><span style="color: #0000ee; text-decoration-line: underline;"><br /></span></div><div><br /></div>Vick Fisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17003851466843959506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2128337933507855804.post-39249015571438676842022-08-25T16:30:00.010-04:002022-10-20T11:00:32.865-04:00Haute Route Hiking in the Alps: From Chamonix<p>Over ten days in early August 2022, we hiked about 95 miles through the Alps, climbing up and over at least one mountain pass every day. The trip was planned by <a href="https://www.wildernesstravel.com/">Wilderness Travel</a>, with fourteen hikers, eight of whom were a group of friends linked by our distant past at Rice University in Houston, Texas. Wilderness Travel rated the trip a 5+, and there were days we climbed over 5000 vertical feet, or were out on the trail for nine and a half hours, but it was all worth it for the camaraderie and the views. </p><p>Our first day was a checkout hike from Chamonix up the opposite side of the valley from Mont Blanc, which meant we could return to the our hotel in Chamonix after the hike. The views up and down the valley toward Mont Blanc and surrounding mountains were great. It was warmer than usual, but clear and sunny. </p><p>After less than an hour, we were up out of the trees. We were spread out on the trail, with some sprinting ahead, and others taking their time enjoying the views. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIy18BNSAKhN3XV5sNqVlzv1kbflBYRwiygXWR7arq6FfFQrwqDzKeJTcR-JXb3Ayhvuc_dlMQaDiqKqlBHtTPoMeU7MKaWDWq_OnjvpuBONjEE7il_8WhId4lBDtso13xeGMWM0-u-lw0LdvQyHayv976Xi_7qfQEk2y6zjVl4kgxMflXQlgb6dAlXg/s1600/VGF02002-Robin-first-day.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIy18BNSAKhN3XV5sNqVlzv1kbflBYRwiygXWR7arq6FfFQrwqDzKeJTcR-JXb3Ayhvuc_dlMQaDiqKqlBHtTPoMeU7MKaWDWq_OnjvpuBONjEE7il_8WhId4lBDtso13xeGMWM0-u-lw0LdvQyHayv976Xi_7qfQEk2y6zjVl4kgxMflXQlgb6dAlXg/s16000/VGF02002-Robin-first-day.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div>A short while later, we found out there were steel ladders on this hike. Climbing a ladder focuses the mind a bit. Don't want to mess up the rest of the trip with a fall on the first day! Only one person in this photo is from our group. The rest are other hikers. This was the busiest hike of the trip, as you could do it as a day trip from Chamonix. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioJrJ0GCqf0Uuj0JU6NxAVEJJ3xAhXGt82u6LHmJYPjVBPfv0QDSPkvnjcMuKuBHycXAPLQ_hXKaT4ptDEGcvt2a7NP6GMXrPul6HGxeOv8qbYoIfh8U32ZTB0C1JwrxI0YPpKyaFocOwZEBPTe_Xj7e3ExKUSJVndWYdR8nUJQVgxK9q3gak_qS33OA/s1200/VGF02017-jennifer-ladder-copyright.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioJrJ0GCqf0Uuj0JU6NxAVEJJ3xAhXGt82u6LHmJYPjVBPfv0QDSPkvnjcMuKuBHycXAPLQ_hXKaT4ptDEGcvt2a7NP6GMXrPul6HGxeOv8qbYoIfh8U32ZTB0C1JwrxI0YPpKyaFocOwZEBPTe_Xj7e3ExKUSJVndWYdR8nUJQVgxK9q3gak_qS33OA/s16000/VGF02017-jennifer-ladder-copyright.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p>There were multiple sets of ladders along this stretch of the hike. Notice the woman standing at the very top of the photo, in amongst the trees. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOZaMFUVOkMpjEJMkmFWcrnFkdAnDtXiXd00ojXMQ4wNT5ikP3I7e6xVtQb3Iqjnx2cj5weFz6Cw9Vuzi__EqNX__FevP1vaNu5yQkCb0YFcuFVT4sE4xbBm8UEzdWCdIxN7tOx5P_p6afjruO5VMntBLrWl1E33kEgzBL8kApgqwk2kOgbvUDWxRNjQ/s1200/VGF02010-jennifer-ladder-small-copyright.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOZaMFUVOkMpjEJMkmFWcrnFkdAnDtXiXd00ojXMQ4wNT5ikP3I7e6xVtQb3Iqjnx2cj5weFz6Cw9Vuzi__EqNX__FevP1vaNu5yQkCb0YFcuFVT4sE4xbBm8UEzdWCdIxN7tOx5P_p6afjruO5VMntBLrWl1E33kEgzBL8kApgqwk2kOgbvUDWxRNjQ/s16000/VGF02010-jennifer-ladder-small-copyright.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><p>The rocky valley behind Jennifer is the Mer de Glace, i.e., "the sea of ice." After years of melting, it's more like the sea of boulders. The glacier used to reach down to the valley. The grinding action of billions of tons of glacier slowly sliding down the valley gouged out the valley down to the bedrock, so nothing grows there, yet. The white mountain to the right is Dent du Geant (Giant's Tooth). Many, many Alps are named "something tooth." </p></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqfgfr3l5zf03YZ_O43M_1fl5BOJOg0p-vQyUuqt7cDlvn-v0kz4omVbRcQI-yLSolva_YrCYX08XKZu766a5cwwanWqNF9qu8FnD8pT5NOaXl-SmvYo_z1Z4XI_q22YFWkKIlS60fhD3ppqaWLV0N8xXN2hVWQr7wkTplzAG6UKSgNre9Tf0XAEKkyg/s1600/VGF02022-jennifer-chamonix-valley-copyright.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqfgfr3l5zf03YZ_O43M_1fl5BOJOg0p-vQyUuqt7cDlvn-v0kz4omVbRcQI-yLSolva_YrCYX08XKZu766a5cwwanWqNF9qu8FnD8pT5NOaXl-SmvYo_z1Z4XI_q22YFWkKIlS60fhD3ppqaWLV0N8xXN2hVWQr7wkTplzAG6UKSgNre9Tf0XAEKkyg/s16000/VGF02022-jennifer-chamonix-valley-copyright.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div>The peaks were just visible through the clouds. The glaciers are still thick at the highest altitudes, because they are deepest there, and have the lowest temperatures and the most snow. <div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZl4asi32diN8yernZDEL32MGjrOhJIW7l1H7rlxMEQK5Q_KlJgewv5fbBHw_N8dZ7KeZWOCPq-BTvuAd5jOKN0ZQMwBr82Cjt6AP4lf5kAvMpy0JuYLFjG-wChKgPlXthEIZ6fDhRF8kJCYSPBZwoob4cHy54RJ_MoCYC5T-uWGOoZiL2Ul5yu_PjsA/s1600/VGF02034-mont-blanc-massifs-copyright.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZl4asi32diN8yernZDEL32MGjrOhJIW7l1H7rlxMEQK5Q_KlJgewv5fbBHw_N8dZ7KeZWOCPq-BTvuAd5jOKN0ZQMwBr82Cjt6AP4lf5kAvMpy0JuYLFjG-wChKgPlXthEIZ6fDhRF8kJCYSPBZwoob4cHy54RJ_MoCYC5T-uWGOoZiL2Ul5yu_PjsA/s16000/VGF02034-mont-blanc-massifs-copyright.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p>These peaks are part of the Mont Blanc massif, just to the north of it. As the air flows up the sides of the mountains, it cools down and the moisture condenses into clouds. You can see the tree line in the lower right, where the green plants stop, leaving nothing but rock and ice and snow above.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNCm1TOr_62-MEggrL9n0cB10GNUgYkHgziVFgYlCffULweCk4AecQULF-SL9XCH8YML8Ucx6Jl1RQsMaYz8zsyuFj2hJG6RC1ceYIEcZDeGs_rTkmFhMDbxo7fh3KzuECouQ9lu7j5aCfV8KaWq0CpltKDm17hfvdoOnKnF-q3u5xuxwGobfpNsHptw/s1600/VGF02036-mont-blanc-massif-peaks-copyright.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNCm1TOr_62-MEggrL9n0cB10GNUgYkHgziVFgYlCffULweCk4AecQULF-SL9XCH8YML8Ucx6Jl1RQsMaYz8zsyuFj2hJG6RC1ceYIEcZDeGs_rTkmFhMDbxo7fh3KzuECouQ9lu7j5aCfV8KaWq0CpltKDm17hfvdoOnKnF-q3u5xuxwGobfpNsHptw/s16000/VGF02036-mont-blanc-massif-peaks-copyright.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p>The crazy thing about this checkout hike was that the soles of my boots started to detach at the toe. After a lot of hand-wringing, and discussion with the guides, I decided I had to buy new boots. I thought this was a recipe for disaster, but the assured me that, if you get synthetic boots instead of leather, you won't have a break in period and it will be fine. I got the new boots at one of the many hiking equipment shops in Chamonix, and it all turned out fine in the end. </p><p>The next day, we headed out of this valley and over the Col de Balme. A col means a mountain pass in French. This pass would take us over the Swiss border. This path was to the left (north) of the peaks in the photos above. Here we are rising up out of the valley. The path was very steep for the first hour and a half or so. On the far right side of the photo, you can see a similarly steep path zigzagging up the far side of the valley. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTPcY1U_6TWj74JXnSYNCaeCyFwwgK87tVj1FIpiJPQj9bm0uDt1tuXvoc89Hfy1NArCuROswuf2ico5cqG_XouNKFGyb0Jg65ddgvF5OR8JrXkdUyMBLR7pBoOsPI-WMulljbyazJU4xTIYBKq3npBDErezpDNhdAwME0F-fGMZ1J3TiX0V2Gf4S-aQ/s1600/VGF02043-D2-Robin-ColDeBalme-start.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTPcY1U_6TWj74JXnSYNCaeCyFwwgK87tVj1FIpiJPQj9bm0uDt1tuXvoc89Hfy1NArCuROswuf2ico5cqG_XouNKFGyb0Jg65ddgvF5OR8JrXkdUyMBLR7pBoOsPI-WMulljbyazJU4xTIYBKq3npBDErezpDNhdAwME0F-fGMZ1J3TiX0V2Gf4S-aQ/s16000/VGF02043-D2-Robin-ColDeBalme-start.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>This is a view of the same Mont Blanc massif from the north, standing not far from where the photo above was taken. The tree line is even more obvious in the lower left of this one. I guess it should really be called the plant line, flora line, or tree line. A few plants survive quite a bit above the trees. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3BZRYNdk0Sa-tJGKun9JA18F6rxKKLCksUbCifShoOxpjzPTilkS34oYyaj-6mCCUktNLAm0EmsBBEPicFF76JkrNB0ECQuWBKAbYvUgpR4hCNUhs3ElzdU3zGzDURgx646eKgLnISl_lOBCm5deT3Vk0e_Kg4H3Tqrh2HvdeMpR59dxTrytupqCN8Q/s1280/VGF02047-mont-blanc-massif-end-on.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="854" data-original-width="1280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3BZRYNdk0Sa-tJGKun9JA18F6rxKKLCksUbCifShoOxpjzPTilkS34oYyaj-6mCCUktNLAm0EmsBBEPicFF76JkrNB0ECQuWBKAbYvUgpR4hCNUhs3ElzdU3zGzDURgx646eKgLnISl_lOBCm5deT3Vk0e_Kg4H3Tqrh2HvdeMpR59dxTrytupqCN8Q/s16000/VGF02047-mont-blanc-massif-end-on.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>As we neared the Col de Balme, a last look back over the valley below Mont Blanc, with a surprisingly large amount of development near Chamonix. Again, we had a warmish but clear and sunny day. This was one of the hottest European summers in the last hundred years. The cool mountain air we'd been hoping for was warmer and more humid than usual, but still pleasant. </div><div><br /></div><div>The funny thing is, another guy on the trip had his boots fail on his way up this mountain, so he had to run back to town and buy new boots just like I did the night before! </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvQ5e1SJxENdCCkmpq86GBImIO_-XjV3eXn_1tm_j5KBxSqw1CJo3hXrEGhFd3BJ38qqj-RoGf98sO5K7ZU_PZJd6lI-uyhovBE9D8rJrTMH-Py0DJ-Ix5WQK7YCn3eUPvp21I44BKu4UG8hJu-scqtbEwXTJiqo2vrJg1jr14Ag6121Ki5dGMOnUuHA/s1600/VGF02049-chamonix-valley-copyright.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvQ5e1SJxENdCCkmpq86GBImIO_-XjV3eXn_1tm_j5KBxSqw1CJo3hXrEGhFd3BJ38qqj-RoGf98sO5K7ZU_PZJd6lI-uyhovBE9D8rJrTMH-Py0DJ-Ix5WQK7YCn3eUPvp21I44BKu4UG8hJu-scqtbEwXTJiqo2vrJg1jr14Ag6121Ki5dGMOnUuHA/s16000/VGF02049-chamonix-valley-copyright.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div>We had a great lunch stop at the Refuge de Col de Balme. This was the view to the east from our picnic table. That's Switzerland, as we were practically sitting on the border. The next couple of hours, we hiked around the bend, and all the way down that valley. </div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGtT_twYavtbB8C8NjyxP46OUMB0zOg-5ZMRIGWzG5Y761cvfpd757KWp6wApa_9l1zHqvb11D56Ip9SIgsewKQFZDMl-sfNSdhk3OcaWE7gLWEmLRRBS3OnVX3Sx0DbkiVWLA3_XUQ6fSBMlOy_o_xzIMLEHtbKYN2xBYOYPgBFZ4qbBvCPDDKadJzQ/s1200/VGF02050-view-from-coldebalme-copyright.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGtT_twYavtbB8C8NjyxP46OUMB0zOg-5ZMRIGWzG5Y761cvfpd757KWp6wApa_9l1zHqvb11D56Ip9SIgsewKQFZDMl-sfNSdhk3OcaWE7gLWEmLRRBS3OnVX3Sx0DbkiVWLA3_XUQ6fSBMlOy_o_xzIMLEHtbKYN2xBYOYPgBFZ4qbBvCPDDKadJzQ/s16000/VGF02050-view-from-coldebalme-copyright.jpg" /></a></div><br />Here's the view as we headed down the valley toward Forclaz. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtWv9U4y1Gr-r4n_PWm-yZJYmhK9DHLls7zz4n1hjD1d02mkpxyJJBRV_yp2v2rWkhWdJgjQ3DuLzVsllyCODmayTpJlmx8pfcu0iroujRFHk384qgMwDFTP4ZyDuDdKQMAhEwGMDWtaA-u1-Qzsmc487egAXtgY6OYUTYDF_scBLpYO7jTR6KS836BQ/s1600/VGF02053-way-to-Forclaz-copyright.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtWv9U4y1Gr-r4n_PWm-yZJYmhK9DHLls7zz4n1hjD1d02mkpxyJJBRV_yp2v2rWkhWdJgjQ3DuLzVsllyCODmayTpJlmx8pfcu0iroujRFHk384qgMwDFTP4ZyDuDdKQMAhEwGMDWtaA-u1-Qzsmc487egAXtgY6OYUTYDF_scBLpYO7jTR6KS836BQ/s16000/VGF02053-way-to-Forclaz-copyright.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>That night, we had dinner on the patio of our little mountain hotel. It was basic, but had good food and showers in the rooms. We appreciated showers in the rooms more and more as the days passed and we got to more basic accommodations deeper in the mountains. After dinner, we watched the sun set on the Triente Glacier. Another glacier that our guides had seen much further down the valley twenty years ago. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7wCFlc2S2cLheGDgwj_DcZCh8khisa1PlbM7_0woDEXOMz00to0dWhAa9UkxLWRz57DLX8cG1cmcTzPV9bGRvcj7y8Lm9U4BGA6cgWkTK3yLHJCujVfTFxUrzmnd1YJ8zt6Plh4Zq_PTYjvhG4ZvelkYwnXIX_yyavqJ8gFNzBe3FNp1zpo-WOgm0QQ/s1280/VGF02056-arpette-glacier-sunset.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="854" data-original-width="1280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7wCFlc2S2cLheGDgwj_DcZCh8khisa1PlbM7_0woDEXOMz00to0dWhAa9UkxLWRz57DLX8cG1cmcTzPV9bGRvcj7y8Lm9U4BGA6cgWkTK3yLHJCujVfTFxUrzmnd1YJ8zt6Plh4Zq_PTYjvhG4ZvelkYwnXIX_yyavqJ8gFNzBe3FNp1zpo-WOgm0QQ/s16000/VGF02056-arpette-glacier-sunset.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div>The next day, we would be hiking up that valley to the altitude of the bulk of that glacier, then take a sharp left to cross the Fenetre d'Arpette, a pass with very steep and rough terrain on both sides. My next post is all about that hiking over that "fenetre" (French for "window"). It's called that because it's a narrow opening between two valleys. </div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://fisherphotocraft.blogspot.com/2022/08/haute-route-hiking-in-alps-hiking-over.html">Click here to check out the photos from that hike.</a> </div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://fisherphotocraft.blogspot.com/2022/09/haute-route-hiking-in-alps-mont-fort-to.html">Click here to see the hike after that, from the Mont Fort mountain hut to the Prafleury mountain hut.</a></div><p><a href="https://fisherphotocraft.blogspot.com/2022/10/haute-route-hiking-in-alps-pas-de.html">Click here to see our hike past Lac de Dix, over the Pas de Chevres, and into Arolla.</a></p></div>Vick Fisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17003851466843959506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2128337933507855804.post-90696966526392297272022-01-09T08:33:00.002-05:002022-01-09T09:29:00.012-05:00Yellowstone National Park Mammoth Springs, Grizzlies, and More<p>I'd heard of Mammoth Springs many times over the years, and seen some kind of boring photos, so I wasn't that excited about visiting, but I ended up being really impressed. As we did every morning, we were out of bed by 6:30 (which was 8:30 Eastern time), and ended up being the first among a few to arrive. It was the perfect time of day, as the springs face east, and the sun was just coming up. <br /></p><p>In this section, a cascade of pools formed one after the other. The water trickles all the way down from one pool to another, depositing tiny amounts of minerals. This has been going on since before the Egyptians were building pyramids. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjxUHKtkBxViJTt24WmnsEKv3Q7dSY1JrUIFHFuD4y3fAw7VS9lp7ZvNErz-MylFSwzxYAA3AxmjzswMM5EvSryQjWptTIHKvq2F1MyoxockrbAO5YO3zU5pmHAgPrchbHwHkhNZWGYqKLShlWY5RDe41iL-Amn4NKw9hdq-WTLYGfi-Zrujrz_6mz_vQ=s1280" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Mammoth Hot Springs in Yellowstone National Park" border="0" data-original-height="854" data-original-width="1280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjxUHKtkBxViJTt24WmnsEKv3Q7dSY1JrUIFHFuD4y3fAw7VS9lp7ZvNErz-MylFSwzxYAA3AxmjzswMM5EvSryQjWptTIHKvq2F1MyoxockrbAO5YO3zU5pmHAgPrchbHwHkhNZWGYqKLShlWY5RDe41iL-Amn4NKw9hdq-WTLYGfi-Zrujrz_6mz_vQ=s16000" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Over thousands of years, the mineral-laden water has formed intricate patterns in stone. It's hard to comprehend how many layers there are. This shows one small section with around eighty layers. </div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgQDa-JD9w7XvnslcgZVINk0YbIZ0IVD4xci3wfNgobVlHSLjDyJjW5yggnsC5Evtd_riZiHvJOrFQlhn5VRM4MxJWHfPJKNT_NzeDUaKhGOSOHU6uUdF4blSRz7zpRhJWbWOwMltP7UXNHHwWh92pYXUSsZvwJsqzilh-_B0SIEJDed_GhTbCu1HYv7A=s1280" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Mammoth Hot Springs in Yellowstone National Park" border="0" data-original-height="854" data-original-width="1280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgQDa-JD9w7XvnslcgZVINk0YbIZ0IVD4xci3wfNgobVlHSLjDyJjW5yggnsC5Evtd_riZiHvJOrFQlhn5VRM4MxJWHfPJKNT_NzeDUaKhGOSOHU6uUdF4blSRz7zpRhJWbWOwMltP7UXNHHwWh92pYXUSsZvwJsqzilh-_B0SIEJDed_GhTbCu1HYv7A=s16000" /></a></div><div><br /></div>You can see even more, and more colorful, layers in this one.<div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjGeU92X1nCJNtCt54_0RfNx7NQrGfDdoDzTWviwbJ6g7YLYR12sVNAPHxxm_s--pqXh08X_NA1GzU6dkvRKhIqLD_vfi1oY-ofXKkCgjlEM4_nKpsR4VSQwrPFiGi4KAppFvAA7s0thbBehox7jz7Qt5T8TUv4tdT4kLaRR3vLRkGG1Ey3qLPS6XimNA=s1280" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Mammoth Hot Springs in Yellowstone National Park" border="0" data-original-height="854" data-original-width="1280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjGeU92X1nCJNtCt54_0RfNx7NQrGfDdoDzTWviwbJ6g7YLYR12sVNAPHxxm_s--pqXh08X_NA1GzU6dkvRKhIqLD_vfi1oY-ofXKkCgjlEM4_nKpsR4VSQwrPFiGi4KAppFvAA7s0thbBehox7jz7Qt5T8TUv4tdT4kLaRR3vLRkGG1Ey3qLPS6XimNA=s16000" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>The best section was the last we reached along the many wooden pathways among the springs. This is the largest vertical face of any springs we saw. It was still early in the morning and cold, so there was a lot of steam. </div></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEho9Tts89SvC7avBgJbVNYIRGU6-xGqRqtZBuPwlxHc-pNBqaa2JjIau6q4Ltmzgn5vtFFGizjHVSu1R8gEGlfgw-gAwe6cMKhos8dh6klLANRTUPVkDuP1MxRlofi2hbKGWa1iA_n_2knR3qaAGZKWotI8QwUBmt_DPQ9dPqM0qzeJqgdih315LG8d0Q=s1000" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Mammoth Hot Springs in Yellowstone National Park" border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="667" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEho9Tts89SvC7avBgJbVNYIRGU6-xGqRqtZBuPwlxHc-pNBqaa2JjIau6q4Ltmzgn5vtFFGizjHVSu1R8gEGlfgw-gAwe6cMKhos8dh6klLANRTUPVkDuP1MxRlofi2hbKGWa1iA_n_2knR3qaAGZKWotI8QwUBmt_DPQ9dPqM0qzeJqgdih315LG8d0Q=s16000" /></a></div><p>Another from the same area, at the top of the big face of the springs. This is the source for the water that trickles down the biggest face of Mammoth Springs.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj6OjayDlFAGKOgbmj50Chu14w4ICAvq2USoTQcgkhYoWr7Q2I6tz7OC5N2AXp8jIjjrKP4xVYZ3QvIkL-6MeBsFfjWa_4pDNEk3M54sf2HdMbvFve2Fnhz7LlV_g8oiWBD_BTOurs6IEO7PQYD9cA8W6vwA4SS0kFcKXUSS2R9MzW4595cxRENrI7DNw=s1280" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Mammoth Hot Springs in Yellowstone National Park" border="0" data-original-height="854" data-original-width="1280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj6OjayDlFAGKOgbmj50Chu14w4ICAvq2USoTQcgkhYoWr7Q2I6tz7OC5N2AXp8jIjjrKP4xVYZ3QvIkL-6MeBsFfjWa_4pDNEk3M54sf2HdMbvFve2Fnhz7LlV_g8oiWBD_BTOurs6IEO7PQYD9cA8W6vwA4SS0kFcKXUSS2R9MzW4595cxRENrI7DNw=s16000" /></a></div><p>Here is the largest face of the springs. The whole hill we've been walking on is the accumulation of thousands (millions?) of years of trace amounts of sediments in the spring water hardening into these shapes as it flows up from below, then downhill. A little like an extreme case of hard water in your home plumbing. I love the pure white, which is all stone - probably calcium.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhS_UvKBQgnfvwTdywPgEUL_3wkiuGNWjr23-roiCqY_eV4iKp4-8jRhGQ7HsXE8KZ5X0sWKJxQQN7yT3oW57um3MmY_EdDxLbeIu5QLCtoWxJs9uRCCHpOOh51i_mpGauThaoB42TDorCBpWpgOkcSvHyZac6VWDZ-bWcQ8E2Y1sU0uezrfpjLlMbfSQ=s1280" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Mammoth Hot Springs in Yellowstone National Park" border="0" data-original-height="854" data-original-width="1280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhS_UvKBQgnfvwTdywPgEUL_3wkiuGNWjr23-roiCqY_eV4iKp4-8jRhGQ7HsXE8KZ5X0sWKJxQQN7yT3oW57um3MmY_EdDxLbeIu5QLCtoWxJs9uRCCHpOOh51i_mpGauThaoB42TDorCBpWpgOkcSvHyZac6VWDZ-bWcQ8E2Y1sU0uezrfpjLlMbfSQ=s16000" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This is a closeup view of the same face. I love how the rock has formed into intricate diamond crisscross patterns. The pure white is amazing. </div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEirnxC7grhYmRyehqa7wG_WKjPoQ0_1BrugN48L9gCz3MovX4pzJIAow65Uwk4kmPnoDsXv8M2rVGn2nHz2wiep1OqozG-eZFiRFhdic-0XeUYXTCU9yREC1vJLI86rSOsN8tlhPYAyaf8_-KE7jmHdjhKrpYnHoD5lalgNZT6DOLGugwlSfb22csp9Tw=s1280" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Mammoth Hot Springs in Yellowstone National Park" border="0" data-original-height="854" data-original-width="1280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEirnxC7grhYmRyehqa7wG_WKjPoQ0_1BrugN48L9gCz3MovX4pzJIAow65Uwk4kmPnoDsXv8M2rVGn2nHz2wiep1OqozG-eZFiRFhdic-0XeUYXTCU9yREC1vJLI86rSOsN8tlhPYAyaf8_-KE7jmHdjhKrpYnHoD5lalgNZT6DOLGugwlSfb22csp9Tw=s16000" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Here the cold air hits the hot water of the springs.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi-QSfwjMfF8uczS6_fgXC2Uvr6lK9SU1Z_IbBPdjLbtX74u-6FydTsUNYi_5IrDTrU39SOlecUSvWH9F6CYfMUmkpnuhLBkqH1D8MXLhdasgQS0uM8G77S8-_wOb5o2elpSM7_f9yg7BMuryFw9LtiBg48pNXgySfNiu1ocdDNXZaIjhvU6DbITlsD1A=s1280" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Mammoth Hot Springs in Yellowstone National Park" border="0" data-original-height="854" data-original-width="1280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi-QSfwjMfF8uczS6_fgXC2Uvr6lK9SU1Z_IbBPdjLbtX74u-6FydTsUNYi_5IrDTrU39SOlecUSvWH9F6CYfMUmkpnuhLBkqH1D8MXLhdasgQS0uM8G77S8-_wOb5o2elpSM7_f9yg7BMuryFw9LtiBg48pNXgySfNiu1ocdDNXZaIjhvU6DbITlsD1A=s16000" /></a></div><p>Wildlife seems to be doing really well in Yellowstone National Park. Of all the animals we saw, the bison ignored people more than any other. They just didn't care. You've probably seen those films and photos where the bison just walk across the road right in front of cars. That did happen to us - a big traffic jam just because there was a herd split across both sides of the road, and every once in a while one or a few would decide they wanted to cross. </p>We got closer than the recommended distance on foot a couple of times. I swear it wasn't on purpose! They just pop up out of the woods, and there you are, too close together. This one was taken leaning out of the car window. <p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhwE5zizcfVhtmTl4fBl9LgEJPGo8n8B_u8YVfOifF4OoBsT-nPV7-pbyJ-5eojXhhzkiBXFdca7_2K7SrBobg0eHVLPy40j-xPDGvte6no6iPGUbDHPpBgU9SFYn6k2p8MC3B0cVaQP9mC6DkHqEREtdLF3vQ8LdeyzKeXIxh5KH6eIzxc-0sSqc916w=s1280" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Grazing bison in Yellowstone National Park" border="0" data-original-height="853" data-original-width="1280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhwE5zizcfVhtmTl4fBl9LgEJPGo8n8B_u8YVfOifF4OoBsT-nPV7-pbyJ-5eojXhhzkiBXFdca7_2K7SrBobg0eHVLPy40j-xPDGvte6no6iPGUbDHPpBgU9SFYn6k2p8MC3B0cVaQP9mC6DkHqEREtdLF3vQ8LdeyzKeXIxh5KH6eIzxc-0sSqc916w=s16000" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><p>This time, we were on foot and ended up closer than we should have been. We felt a little safer being up on a wooden walkway a foot off of the ground, but probably shouldn't have. That railing ends right in front of me, so there was nothing between us and him except one step up. We waited a few minutes for him to move a little further away, but instead he just came up until he was practically touching the walkway. So, we ended up turning around. Second time on the trip when we had to detour due to wildlife. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEitYhBs3DxdxVJ1Q9jBVTsC1A_IVo1uk6REBCDQVsuYR71nRiVzqDvTLwJTmaQy5njmrrX29oW1TySAir0g4jwnQ4lpXIqntIkmQ_bYYwmd0dGvoGaMPI7gYm23YD262KDDCSu_XpqDHM3riuszljDtYS9zFu94p0WRS2oiOtlrgHVWU8naXqnQncAbqA=s980" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Close to a bison in Yellowstone National Park" border="0" data-original-height="980" data-original-width="980" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEitYhBs3DxdxVJ1Q9jBVTsC1A_IVo1uk6REBCDQVsuYR71nRiVzqDvTLwJTmaQy5njmrrX29oW1TySAir0g4jwnQ4lpXIqntIkmQ_bYYwmd0dGvoGaMPI7gYm23YD262KDDCSu_XpqDHM3riuszljDtYS9zFu94p0WRS2oiOtlrgHVWU8naXqnQncAbqA=s16000" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: left;">We saw black bears a few times on the trip. Twice, there were two black bears together in a single tree. The first time, the tree was right beside the road, and the rangers had set up orange cones directing all traffic into the other lane and were standing along the road every fifty feet waving people along telling us not to stop. So, no photos that time. The second, they were pretty far off the road, so we were able to stop and watch for a while. People said the mother likes to do this so any predators have to go through her to get to her cub. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj6ViCFXpICYyiCEc71vk5HyemDtYu8nqCTwjxtQ5sET1LFt8Bzg8sqakcv1azju1a9FpY_1lr8rct2RzbXrrhRBFnzA7t_043wUrI-GJV871HZEUeXApJ901uF7eFooiMWuBgtXfVHKwG_C7P7muXCRDfYi8aOAo4bCiMORNsAEyR_hU2uvaJAbkXrRg=s900" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Black bear mother and cub resting in a tree at Yellowstone National Park" border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj6ViCFXpICYyiCEc71vk5HyemDtYu8nqCTwjxtQ5sET1LFt8Bzg8sqakcv1azju1a9FpY_1lr8rct2RzbXrrhRBFnzA7t_043wUrI-GJV871HZEUeXApJ901uF7eFooiMWuBgtXfVHKwG_C7P7muXCRDfYi8aOAo4bCiMORNsAEyR_hU2uvaJAbkXrRg=s16000" /></a></div><br /><p>Finally, near the end of the trip, we got to see grizzlies near the lake. Grizzlies are also known as brown bears. That's actually a more correct name for them, apparently. But grizzly sounds so much better! These were pretty far from the road, so we were always at a safe distance. And there were quite a few people stopped to watch. Three of them had tripods set up with very long lenses. If I lived in a place where wildlife was that plentiful, I'd definitely get one of those lenses! This first photo shows the mom and her cub together. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhRhVZ-Bo0KLXzvZGyfNbkQYoDqA9EF_PuCBhKDlUQ8ODPepbpk6nJ7SOzBkWzFPCdMjPoKYMy33YBI5CQxvjD9hSE44aaOK1ikV0qAyDQ-U1SqbyhZ0goYbPylT5TkBc6HaDxfVG8X5gWzW9OSrosHUH31woHgaGXe6WW0yC1TnfKwJwOR1X5INLNa1Q=s1212" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Grizzly bear mother and cub foraging in Yellowstone forest" border="0" data-original-height="1212" data-original-width="808" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhRhVZ-Bo0KLXzvZGyfNbkQYoDqA9EF_PuCBhKDlUQ8ODPepbpk6nJ7SOzBkWzFPCdMjPoKYMy33YBI5CQxvjD9hSE44aaOK1ikV0qAyDQ-U1SqbyhZ0goYbPylT5TkBc6HaDxfVG8X5gWzW9OSrosHUH31woHgaGXe6WW0yC1TnfKwJwOR1X5INLNa1Q=s16000" /></a></div><br /><p>The cub.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhkY83T8gj1_OaY8gTPnKz5tmOMSuZjmId05GGlAdbDPMeVzH8azs7XUnQMfT5jhNR1660W3zEYs4YAkUQCWh8GIiYBJBbDJ3mmq_sXGQGO_I1rxSQr_Gd5pCJMURm6brU9OpWXWwUd3ouQU5iexLCxkcBNBR7K_RP6xT0ueM0gVNf_ulHA-7O-CPrdSA=s1077" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Grizzly bear cub foraging in Yellowstone forest" border="0" data-original-height="1077" data-original-width="718" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhkY83T8gj1_OaY8gTPnKz5tmOMSuZjmId05GGlAdbDPMeVzH8azs7XUnQMfT5jhNR1660W3zEYs4YAkUQCWh8GIiYBJBbDJ3mmq_sXGQGO_I1rxSQr_Gd5pCJMURm6brU9OpWXWwUd3ouQU5iexLCxkcBNBR7K_RP6xT0ueM0gVNf_ulHA-7O-CPrdSA=s16000" /></a></div><br /><p>The cub again. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhzqIrFPq9ZNNkLWAt6g8qhzdXUZb5uRNPECgYeP3cwJz-daqkuqEp1qM7ZownhXFiVfR9U-zTZHdfhQVb2jCkjc0w0HjGfedSx9Jx-JFvEDLqoEu8bdt2v6yUD0ivqvPUyk42g3Jg6HmyVxinAd73Vzj51mcKrkNdm8QJnXnOi2WAT8OYJm-fJkpENPA=s1061" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Grizzly bear cub foraging in Yellowstone forest" border="0" data-original-height="1061" data-original-width="708" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhzqIrFPq9ZNNkLWAt6g8qhzdXUZb5uRNPECgYeP3cwJz-daqkuqEp1qM7ZownhXFiVfR9U-zTZHdfhQVb2jCkjc0w0HjGfedSx9Jx-JFvEDLqoEu8bdt2v6yUD0ivqvPUyk42g3Jg6HmyVxinAd73Vzj51mcKrkNdm8QJnXnOi2WAT8OYJm-fJkpENPA=s16000" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I think this is the mom. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhzJQQRM4uFBGJc3P5B4zDsFFC_BdLzCrbeRDeKqEbYnZyBR-0qdQ3eNxFHlqXiuPw9ZWW6EQn0yP_XmkGeCxLoV9Xl0kOTJynxIMGT4pcLP1Z_HWCaV397pLTlvC2JLFaWZZZpkFipr9soXQLc0QzmdYQwaL3AW2Slej9cxqbEfQlaru7zodYF_J1p1g=s937" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Grizzly bear mother in forest" border="0" data-original-height="625" data-original-width="937" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhzJQQRM4uFBGJc3P5B4zDsFFC_BdLzCrbeRDeKqEbYnZyBR-0qdQ3eNxFHlqXiuPw9ZWW6EQn0yP_XmkGeCxLoV9Xl0kOTJynxIMGT4pcLP1Z_HWCaV397pLTlvC2JLFaWZZZpkFipr9soXQLc0QzmdYQwaL3AW2Slej9cxqbEfQlaru7zodYF_J1p1g=s16000" /></a></div><br /><p>That was pretty exciting. You never know if you'll get to see a grizzly, so we felt really lucky. </p><p>After four photo essays, we finally reached the end of this trip. Thanks for reading to the end. Hope you enjoyed! </p><p>The previous three posts cover the beautiful and amazing waterfalls, canyons, springs, geysers, and very close up moose we saw on the trip. Here are the links to those posts:</p><p><a href="https://fisherphotocraft.blogspot.com/2021/10/grand-teton-national-park.html">Grand Teton National Park Mountain Lakes, Bears, and Moose<br /></a></p><p><a href="https://fisherphotocraft.blogspot.com/2021/12/geysers-and-grand-canyon-of-yellowstone.html">Yellowstone Geysers and Grand Canyon</a></p><p><a href="https://fisherphotocraft.blogspot.com/2021/12/yellowstone-national-park-springs-and.html">Yellowstone Springs and Waterfalls</a></p><p><br /></p><br /><p><br /></p></div>Vick Fisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17003851466843959506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2128337933507855804.post-42224480405417063742021-12-03T11:51:00.005-05:002022-01-08T14:21:22.790-05:00Geysers and Grand Canyon of Yellowstone National Park<p>I'd never heard of the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone until we got there. I knew there was a huge and amazing waterfall in the park, but didn't know an amazing bonus canyon came with it. The photo below shows the Lower Falls, which created the deeper part of the canyon. It's called the Lower Falls, because there is another waterfall only a mile or so upstream on the same river, called Upper Falls.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9cvG0_Oebw0/Yaky4khHsxI/AAAAAAAAPtA/2i-HtaIvJ1E6VnoTEHrG3aGnnkDZnEwfwCNcBGAsYHQ/s1280/VGF01049-lower-falls-small-copyright.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Copyright 2021 Vick Fisher Yellowstone National Park spring geyser nature wilderness vivid colorful water" border="0" data-original-height="854" data-original-width="1280" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9cvG0_Oebw0/Yaky4khHsxI/AAAAAAAAPtA/2i-HtaIvJ1E6VnoTEHrG3aGnnkDZnEwfwCNcBGAsYHQ/s16000/VGF01049-lower-falls-small-copyright.jpg" /></a></div><br />We spent a few days hiking both sides of the canyon, and visiting both falls. At the Upper Falls, they have a platform right next to the falls. There is a short, steep downhill hike, called Brink of Lower Falls, to the viewing platform. If you look at the upper right corner, you'll see a person looking out over the falls from the brink. This helps give a sense of scale to the scene. <p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uJAXwz1a8xE/YakzzWFaZiI/AAAAAAAAPtI/bgBJx9SLtQs0ZYeAbW5R732H97al0KXKACNcBGAsYHQ/s900/VGF01049-lower-falls-zoom-small.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Copyright 2021 Vick Fisher Yellowstone National Park spring geyser nature wilderness vivid colorful water" border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="598" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uJAXwz1a8xE/YakzzWFaZiI/AAAAAAAAPtI/bgBJx9SLtQs0ZYeAbW5R732H97al0KXKACNcBGAsYHQ/s16000/VGF01049-lower-falls-zoom-small.jpg" /></a></div><p>Standing on the platform, it's a thrill to see the water rushing over the brink while feeling the rumbling sound in your chest. These next three photos are some of my favorites of the trip. I love how the individual drops of water catch the sun's rays in the closer part of the photo, the green tint to the water, and how it looks like an explosion of water in slow motion. I love the shapes formed by the water as it plummets hundreds of feet, and the way the sun illuminates the water from the inside. I these would look amazing printed six feet high, mounted side by side on a huge wall in a luxury hotel. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xqOfvfoeBJc/Yak1L4PJ-hI/AAAAAAAAPtg/OKcjK9_7qWwbvqBOm5xk-aGCAOpbNX9jQCNcBGAsYHQ/s1000/VGF01126-lower-falls-small-copyright.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Copyright 2021 Vick Fisher Yellowstone National Park spring geyser nature wilderness vivid colorful water" border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="667" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xqOfvfoeBJc/Yak1L4PJ-hI/AAAAAAAAPtg/OKcjK9_7qWwbvqBOm5xk-aGCAOpbNX9jQCNcBGAsYHQ/s16000/VGF01126-lower-falls-small-copyright.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EWJNckbQkhw/Yak1L7sjQaI/AAAAAAAAPtc/ZLcTb-pPyFQZBIQYiEQT859GQge1_XzDQCNcBGAsYHQ/s1000/VGF01122-lower-falls-closeup-small-copyright.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Copyright 2021 Vick Fisher Yellowstone National Park spring geyser nature wilderness vivid colorful water" border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="667" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EWJNckbQkhw/Yak1L7sjQaI/AAAAAAAAPtc/ZLcTb-pPyFQZBIQYiEQT859GQge1_XzDQCNcBGAsYHQ/s16000/VGF01122-lower-falls-closeup-small-copyright.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PW36fKSlW2I/Yak1LruRiCI/AAAAAAAAPtY/Ol1WadkP0tAb23ugYAJeUzU62tXP8F82wCNcBGAsYHQ/s1000/VGF01129-lower-falls-small-copyright.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Copyright 2021 Vick Fisher Yellowstone National Park spring geyser nature wilderness vivid colorful water" border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="667" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PW36fKSlW2I/Yak1LruRiCI/AAAAAAAAPtY/Ol1WadkP0tAb23ugYAJeUzU62tXP8F82wCNcBGAsYHQ/s16000/VGF01129-lower-falls-small-copyright.jpg" /></a></div><p>This is an early morning view looking downstream from Inspiration Point. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-juFP9eUq0jc/Yak8ZU5fdNI/AAAAAAAAPuk/PfKDudVX31kRx_0a65a-wsC5uNtWaM3EACNcBGAsYHQ/s1280/VGF01084-yellowstone-grand-canyon-dawn-small-copyright.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Copyright 2021 Vick Fisher Yellowstone National Park spring geyser nature wilderness vivid colorful water" border="0" data-original-height="854" data-original-width="1280" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-juFP9eUq0jc/Yak8ZU5fdNI/AAAAAAAAPuk/PfKDudVX31kRx_0a65a-wsC5uNtWaM3EACNcBGAsYHQ/s16000/VGF01084-yellowstone-grand-canyon-dawn-small-copyright.jpg" /></a></div><p>Here's another view of the Lower Falls from a trail along the south side of the canyon. The viewing platform for the Brink of Lower Falls is there. There is a softer type of rock underneath right where the falls starts, that's what created the falls. It started out flat, but the water wore away this softer rock much faster than the harder rock further upstream. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fYxAq5eEt8U/Yak6kgwuDOI/AAAAAAAAPuU/W8K8F8qWDh83CvO_romWL19sDRbonc8bgCNcBGAsYHQ/s1280/VGF01171-lower-falls-from-south-small-copyright.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Copyright 2021 Vick Fisher Yellowstone National Park spring geyser nature wilderness vivid colorful water" border="0" data-original-height="854" data-original-width="1280" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fYxAq5eEt8U/Yak6kgwuDOI/AAAAAAAAPuU/W8K8F8qWDh83CvO_romWL19sDRbonc8bgCNcBGAsYHQ/s16000/VGF01171-lower-falls-from-south-small-copyright.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div><p>A view of more of the canyon. We spent every evening watching the sunset from somewhere along the north rim or the south rim. It's only a few minute drive to all the viewpoints along the canyon from Canyon Village. </p><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Copyright 2021 Vick Fisher Yellowstone National Park spring geyser nature wilderness vivid colorful water" border="0" data-original-height="854" data-original-width="1280" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3XjPszxRwoA/Yao-v4DjY4I/AAAAAAAAPvA/4EvS2S0tXeMJf1jCN66FA_Tzny-S3FypwCNcBGAsYHQ/s16000/VGF01046-yellowstone-grand-canyon-river-small-copyright.jpg" /><br /></div><div><br /></div>This is the view while standing on the brink of the Upper Falls. Upper Falls are about a mile upriver from Lower Falls. <div><br /><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-90wI1759Hww/Yak7QF73cAI/AAAAAAAAPuc/3v1aEL-dPq46JOCNIW9DPQFYaU9zKrLZQCNcBGAsYHQ/s1280/VGF01092-yellowstone-upper-falls-brink-small-copyright.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Copyright 2021 Vick Fisher Yellowstone National Park spring geyser nature wilderness vivid colorful water" border="0" data-original-height="854" data-original-width="1280" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-90wI1759Hww/Yak7QF73cAI/AAAAAAAAPuc/3v1aEL-dPq46JOCNIW9DPQFYaU9zKrLZQCNcBGAsYHQ/s16000/VGF01092-yellowstone-upper-falls-brink-small-copyright.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3XjPszxRwoA/Yao-v4DjY4I/AAAAAAAAPvA/4EvS2S0tXeMJf1jCN66FA_Tzny-S3FypwCNcBGAsYHQ/s1280/VGF01046-yellowstone-grand-canyon-river-small-copyright.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div><p>We also spent time chasing geyser eruptions in Upper Geyser Basin. We were fortunate to be in the right place at the right time to see two geysers that don't erupt quite as often or as reliably as Old Faithful. Here's Beehive Geyser erupting. Some people stood right in the shadow of the spray and got soaking wet just for fun. The brilliant rainbow was a great surprise. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bqGXZRKq-2o/YapA8zRChII/AAAAAAAAPvQ/VFdfWV4RW48ASHo2Rjj8imZinDGN5QPZQCNcBGAsYHQ/s1280/VGF01334-yellowstone-beehive-geyser-small-copyright.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Copyright 2021 Vick Fisher Yellowstone National Park spring geyser nature wilderness vivid colorful water" border="0" data-original-height="854" data-original-width="1280" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bqGXZRKq-2o/YapA8zRChII/AAAAAAAAPvQ/VFdfWV4RW48ASHo2Rjj8imZinDGN5QPZQCNcBGAsYHQ/s16000/VGF01334-yellowstone-beehive-geyser-small-copyright.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><p style="text-align: left;">Same eruption of Beehive Geyser, without the people and walkway. </p></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Re_DMTcMIWs/YapA83A_xWI/AAAAAAAAPvM/tYcxbKAMdCUPavEsHTgJFx7899bV23fMACNcBGAsYHQ/s1000/VGF01326-beehive-geyser-small-copyright.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Copyright 2021 Vick Fisher Yellowstone National Park spring geyser nature wilderness vivid colorful water" border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="667" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Re_DMTcMIWs/YapA83A_xWI/AAAAAAAAPvM/tYcxbKAMdCUPavEsHTgJFx7899bV23fMACNcBGAsYHQ/s16000/VGF01326-beehive-geyser-small-copyright.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><p style="text-align: left;">Here's Old Faithful erupting. They post a schedule in the visitor center, accurate to plus or minus about five minutes. There was a crowd of a few hundred waiting to see it. It lasts about a minute or so. </p><div><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2C9gKZ3ebNk/YapA8zVK90I/AAAAAAAAPvI/XnJC8ArTmZcCSCP04GzKTVkZLrE5hF6ngCNcBGAsYHQ/s1000/VGF01353-old-faithful-small-copyright.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Copyright 2021 Vick Fisher Yellowstone National Park spring geyser nature wilderness vivid colorful water" border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="667" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2C9gKZ3ebNk/YapA8zVK90I/AAAAAAAAPvI/XnJC8ArTmZcCSCP04GzKTVkZLrE5hF6ngCNcBGAsYHQ/s16000/VGF01353-old-faithful-small-copyright.jpg" /></a></div></div><p>Some of the pools around the geysers and springs have thick mats of bacteria in amazingly vivid colors. </p><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gCrg6b4JC1U/YapDlbwlpUI/AAAAAAAAPv4/UutqAyW7DhgTAqoDDl6sHeztKCw_OBl5QCNcBGAsYHQ/s1280/VGF01359-spring-small-copyright.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Copyright 2021 Vick Fisher Yellowstone National Park spring geyser nature wilderness vivid colorful water" border="0" data-original-height="854" data-original-width="1280" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gCrg6b4JC1U/YapDlbwlpUI/AAAAAAAAPv4/UutqAyW7DhgTAqoDDl6sHeztKCw_OBl5QCNcBGAsYHQ/s16000/VGF01359-spring-small-copyright.jpg" /></a></div></div><p>A great example of the colorful mats of thermophilic bacteria. This is the area surrounding Grand Geyser. Yes, the color is really like that in person. </p><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oYXj7aD_ygs/YapDlQD9USI/AAAAAAAAPv0/7WOmJLT4KrEfId5qvjD_5Ral4f9N06tGgCNcBGAsYHQ/s1000/VGF01364-orange-bacteria-mat-small-copyright.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Copyright 2021 Vick Fisher Yellowstone National Park spring geyser nature wilderness vivid colorful water" border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="667" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oYXj7aD_ygs/YapDlQD9USI/AAAAAAAAPv0/7WOmJLT4KrEfId5qvjD_5Ral4f9N06tGgCNcBGAsYHQ/s16000/VGF01364-orange-bacteria-mat-small-copyright.jpg" /></a></div></div><p>Grand Geyser is the largest <i>predictable </i>geyser in the park, though the prediction time window is over two hours. You need to be patient or lucky to get to see it. We were a little of both. We decided to do the wonderful five mile hike around the area while waiting. On that five mile hike, we got to see the fantastic Morning Glory Spring. You can really see deep down into this one. The colors are thick mats of thermophilic bacteria. "Thermophilic" is just a generic term for "heat loving" bacteria that thrive in this extremely hot water all summer, and even during the incredibly cold Wyoming winters. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-62X3iSa2phA/YapCqC_n17I/AAAAAAAAPvo/E6jhZYaI2cA_CGzQQvAaQPA9WqMSOxlvACNcBGAsYHQ/s1280/VGF01376-morning-glory-small-copyright.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Copyright 2021 Vick Fisher Yellowstone National Park spring geyser nature wilderness vivid colorful water" border="0" data-original-height="854" data-original-width="1280" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-62X3iSa2phA/YapCqC_n17I/AAAAAAAAPvo/E6jhZYaI2cA_CGzQQvAaQPA9WqMSOxlvACNcBGAsYHQ/s16000/VGF01376-morning-glory-small-copyright.jpg" /></a></div><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nSvZ71BjVEg/YapCqL4PmQI/AAAAAAAAPvk/4ICNhnXeK68Jn4JAVqxZPsX9dSr5krkeACNcBGAsYHQ/s1280/VGF01372-morning-glory-small-copyright.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Copyright 2021 Vick Fisher Yellowstone National Park spring geyser nature wilderness vivid colorful water" border="0" data-original-height="854" data-original-width="1280" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nSvZ71BjVEg/YapCqL4PmQI/AAAAAAAAPvk/4ICNhnXeK68Jn4JAVqxZPsX9dSr5krkeACNcBGAsYHQ/s16000/VGF01372-morning-glory-small-copyright.jpg" /></a></div><p>After the hike, we went back to the visitor center for lunch. The rangers stopped everyone on the trail due to an angry bison. We had to wait a while for him to calm down, then give him a wide berth. Finally Grand Geyser erupted. The eruption lasted a few minutes, and had a false start with a few smaller jets of water, and then a couple of false endings too, where it stopped, then shot way up again. That was a lot of fun. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1KIQ3qKh5pU/YapA9Cof8LI/AAAAAAAAPvU/WIk-5j-720oh6HIlq54SVzS8ZX6TR1PvwCNcBGAsYHQ/s1000/VGF01390-grand-geyser-small-copyright.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Copyright 2021 Vick Fisher Yellowstone National Park spring geyser nature wilderness vivid colorful water" border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="667" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1KIQ3qKh5pU/YapA9Cof8LI/AAAAAAAAPvU/WIk-5j-720oh6HIlq54SVzS8ZX6TR1PvwCNcBGAsYHQ/s16000/VGF01390-grand-geyser-small-copyright.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p><a href="https://fisherphotocraft.blogspot.com/2021/12/yellowstone-national-park-springs-and.html">Click here to see the first part of our trip, with lots of incredibly vivid springs, and great waterfalls. </a></p><p><a href="https://fisherphotocraft.blogspot.com/2021/10/grand-teton-national-park.html">Click here to see the few days before that when we hiked around Grand Teton National Park. </a></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p></p></div></div>Vick Fisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17003851466843959506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2128337933507855804.post-73407924235557754082021-12-02T11:01:00.008-05:002022-03-17T10:20:52.484-04:00Yellowstone National Park Springs and Waterfalls<p>Yellowstone is so large, it has parts in Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming. During our visit over this summer, we stayed at the Canyon Village area. We had to drive for over an hour just to get to the start of some of our hikes. Before visiting in person, I had the impression there were a few amazing springs and a few amazing geysers in the park, and that was it. I didn't realize that there are so many of both, spread out all over the park, that after a while, you start to lose track and they start to get mixed up in your mind. You might think to yourself, "Was that incredible blue spring the Silex Spring or the Sapphire Spring?" This one is definitely the Sapphire Spring, but don't worry, Silex Spring comes later. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fWJKxvYrn08/YajW7g7mOjI/AAAAAAAAPrI/ibzKouKvJ2g-0BI5_XaJDyOoHq5oyYQbQCNcBGAsYHQ/s1280/VGF00916-sapphire-spring-small-copyright.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Yellowstone National Park spring water colorful Copyright Vick Fisher 2021" border="0" data-original-height="854" data-original-width="1280" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fWJKxvYrn08/YajW7g7mOjI/AAAAAAAAPrI/ibzKouKvJ2g-0BI5_XaJDyOoHq5oyYQbQCNcBGAsYHQ/s16000/VGF00916-sapphire-spring-small-copyright.jpg" /></a></div><p>The water is perfectly clear, so you can see deep down into the water and the mesmerizing color. Steam constantly wafts off of the water's surface, obscuring the view, and briefly warming the cold morning air as it drifts over you. I had to take one photo after another, trying to time the shot to match a second when it cleared just enough to get a good view of the water. This color is called cyan, and the color comes from bacteria called cyanobacteria. According to the park guides, <a href="https://www.nps.gov/yell/learn/nature/thermophilic-bacteria.htm" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">different types of bacteria live in different temperatures of water</a>. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ss-U80KR96Q/YajW9imgSwI/AAAAAAAAPrM/niUvcgeInYcmoAJleKHJNWRNRkrQRHm9QCNcBGAsYHQ/s1280/VGF00920-sapphire-spring-small-copyright.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Yellowstone National Park spring water colorful Copyright Vick Fisher 2021" border="0" data-original-height="854" data-original-width="1280" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ss-U80KR96Q/YajW9imgSwI/AAAAAAAAPrM/niUvcgeInYcmoAJleKHJNWRNRkrQRHm9QCNcBGAsYHQ/s16000/VGF00920-sapphire-spring-small-copyright.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div>We arrived around 7:30 in the morning, and we were practically the only ones there, except for a bison here and there. The bison never once even looked at us. They just kept on grazing as if we weren't even there. <br /><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fO1x5Q0PNb4/YajbH233E3I/AAAAAAAAPrY/LEV9M_HcUHEwVKHxQFlTp5lbhf57qdhLACNcBGAsYHQ/s1280/VGF00907-bison-small-copyright.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Yellowstone National Park spring water colorful Copyright Vick Fisher 2021" border="0" data-original-height="853" data-original-width="1280" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fO1x5Q0PNb4/YajbH233E3I/AAAAAAAAPrY/LEV9M_HcUHEwVKHxQFlTp5lbhf57qdhLACNcBGAsYHQ/s16000/VGF00907-bison-small-copyright.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Another spring, this time with orange, yellow, and green bacterial mats giving it color. To keep people safe from breaking through the hard, but thin, rock crust in these fields of springs, visitors are asked to remain on raised wooden walkways. There've been a few visitors who died, or were badly scalded, when they decided to hop off the walkway for a selfie, and broke through the thin layer of rock, sinking into the boiling pool underneath. </div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jGL9ynGkRoI/YajcYKcYX2I/AAAAAAAAPrk/MgxrzqxL0cMLIVshMHnRDDmtmJt_MjfwACNcBGAsYHQ/s1280/VGF00926-small-copyright.jpg"><img alt="Yellowstone National Park spring water colorful Copyright Vick Fisher 2021" border="0" data-original-height="854" data-original-width="1280" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jGL9ynGkRoI/YajcYKcYX2I/AAAAAAAAPrk/MgxrzqxL0cMLIVshMHnRDDmtmJt_MjfwACNcBGAsYHQ/s16000/VGF00926-small-copyright.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div>The springs above were along our short hike to see Mystic Falls, shown below. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IPqWqgXZXJE/YajddgTD9fI/AAAAAAAAPrs/Kmd_miA2RO4OezMea_5_HFcZDDMI9FBrQCNcBGAsYHQ/s1349/VGF00943-mystic-falls-edit-small-copyright.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Yellowstone National Park spring water colorful Copyright Vick Fisher 2021" border="0" data-original-height="1349" data-original-width="900" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IPqWqgXZXJE/YajddgTD9fI/AAAAAAAAPrs/Kmd_miA2RO4OezMea_5_HFcZDDMI9FBrQCNcBGAsYHQ/s16000/VGF00943-mystic-falls-edit-small-copyright.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>After that quick hike, we headed to Fairy Falls. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tOpNqonfeEc/YajgVe69WWI/AAAAAAAAPr8/w4JshXHYNjIU7eRkYrz_cACv8k-V1C4ZwCNcBGAsYHQ/s1000/VGF00966-fairy-falls-small-copyright.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Yellowstone National Park spring water colorful Copyright Vick Fisher 2021" border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="667" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tOpNqonfeEc/YajgVe69WWI/AAAAAAAAPr8/w4JshXHYNjIU7eRkYrz_cACv8k-V1C4ZwCNcBGAsYHQ/s16000/VGF00966-fairy-falls-small-copyright.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div>Another view of Fairy Falls, showing how it has gouged a grotto out of the cliff over thousands, if not millions, of years. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nzAxeUOCWOE/YajgihGIqgI/AAAAAAAAPsA/7XLkihRLSugt7nccSxgsH8YQx2T2i1sZgCNcBGAsYHQ/s1280/VGF00963-fairy-falls-small-copyright.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Yellowstone National Park spring water colorful Copyright Vick Fisher 2021" border="0" data-original-height="854" data-original-width="1280" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nzAxeUOCWOE/YajgihGIqgI/AAAAAAAAPsA/7XLkihRLSugt7nccSxgsH8YQx2T2i1sZgCNcBGAsYHQ/s16000/VGF00963-fairy-falls-small-copyright.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div>The hike to Fairy Falls passes by one of the most incredible sights in the park, Grand Prismatic Springs. It's easy to understand why this was one of the most crowded places in the park. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bY3nP3aNUf4/Yajgxj8QIcI/AAAAAAAAPsE/qbU-KTzGoEsepTwRHuFlGQO4VYM9qNCQwCNcBGAsYHQ/s1280/VGF00979-grand-prismatic-spring-copyright.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Yellowstone National Park spring water colorful Copyright Vick Fisher 2021" border="0" data-original-height="853" data-original-width="1280" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bY3nP3aNUf4/Yajgxj8QIcI/AAAAAAAAPsE/qbU-KTzGoEsepTwRHuFlGQO4VYM9qNCQwCNcBGAsYHQ/s16000/VGF00979-grand-prismatic-spring-copyright.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As mentioned above, the colors come from different types of bacteria, each of which prefers slightly different water temperatures and conditions. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nqPK7XPe0Es/YajgxhWDbCI/AAAAAAAAPsM/EqYq-SLAc-QBlpGKg54PBLogdn8DruxjACNcBGAsYHQ/s1280/VGF00982-grand-prismatic-spring-small-copyright.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Yellowstone National Park spring water colorful Copyright Vick Fisher 2021" border="0" data-original-height="854" data-original-width="1280" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nqPK7XPe0Es/YajgxhWDbCI/AAAAAAAAPsM/EqYq-SLAc-QBlpGKg54PBLogdn8DruxjACNcBGAsYHQ/s16000/VGF00982-grand-prismatic-spring-small-copyright.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Notice the black lines along the ground. These are tiny stone walls, from a quarter of an inch to an inch high, formed randomly over centuries, by minerals in the water sticking together as the water that wells up out of the spring flows down the surrounding gentle slope. They've created a whole series of shallow terraces. The water slowly fills and overflows each terrace one by one on its way down the slope. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-m43TeZ4NwDg/Yajgxo_dN5I/AAAAAAAAPsI/nbeCf0eMSTsGqA7wCwaoaqTzRZgySuocgCNcBGAsYHQ/s900/VGF00984-small-copyright.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Yellowstone National Park spring water colorful Copyright Vick Fisher 2021" border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="900" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-m43TeZ4NwDg/Yajgxo_dN5I/AAAAAAAAPsI/nbeCf0eMSTsGqA7wCwaoaqTzRZgySuocgCNcBGAsYHQ/s16000/VGF00984-small-copyright.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>This was a small spring beside Firehole Road. It's so clear and bright, it looks like there are lights inside it. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aL35TvnscoY/YajjnD1TJVI/AAAAAAAAPsg/W5V-cnUgUYoTfakfueLu6QTLYunwHnQ3QCNcBGAsYHQ/s900/VGF00991-crop-firehole-drive-small-copyright.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Yellowstone National Park spring water colorful Copyright Vick Fisher 2021" border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="900" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aL35TvnscoY/YajjnD1TJVI/AAAAAAAAPsg/W5V-cnUgUYoTfakfueLu6QTLYunwHnQ3QCNcBGAsYHQ/s16000/VGF00991-crop-firehole-drive-small-copyright.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Across the main road from Firehole is Fountain Paint Pots, where we saw Spasm Geyser, named for the spasmodic way it constantly spits up steam and water. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pq60YJRL2c4/YajjqjJd3lI/AAAAAAAAPsk/RIqMrcPUulEvnQCDATed7BKPSBnSm7zGwCNcBGAsYHQ/s1280/VGF01020-fountain-paint-pots-spasm-geyser-small-copyright.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Yellowstone National Park spring water colorful Copyright Vick Fisher 2021" border="0" data-original-height="854" data-original-width="1280" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pq60YJRL2c4/YajjqjJd3lI/AAAAAAAAPsk/RIqMrcPUulEvnQCDATed7BKPSBnSm7zGwCNcBGAsYHQ/s16000/VGF01020-fountain-paint-pots-spasm-geyser-small-copyright.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Also at Fountain Paint Pots, we saw Silex Spring, one of the most beautiful in the park. Large and deep, with stark white along the outer edge, and more of that amazingly clear water that allows us a peak into the underworld. It makes me want to dive in and explore the waterways underneath. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yX0Ch4sOQjI/YajjuwBjTRI/AAAAAAAAPso/fCorTijoE3MnH_RVzNmVuwOSBBXoJI0XgCNcBGAsYHQ/s1280/VGF01035-silex-spring-small-copyright.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Yellowstone National Park spring water colorful Copyright Vick Fisher 2021" border="0" data-original-height="854" data-original-width="1280" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yX0Ch4sOQjI/YajjuwBjTRI/AAAAAAAAPso/fCorTijoE3MnH_RVzNmVuwOSBBXoJI0XgCNcBGAsYHQ/s16000/VGF01035-silex-spring-small-copyright.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div>One more amazing spring, this one sits just beside Yellowstone Lake. It's hard to believe just how many different types of natural beauty Yellowstone has in one place. </div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dXre0f_9PPY/YajlomcGuzI/AAAAAAAAPs4/V5f8vLoD3aQuRRLH6VQfTUTWvS8TsfujwCNcBGAsYHQ/s1280/VGF01532-spring-by-lake-small-copyright.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Yellowstone National Park spring water colorful Copyright Vick Fisher 2021" border="0" data-original-height="854" data-original-width="1280" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dXre0f_9PPY/YajlomcGuzI/AAAAAAAAPs4/V5f8vLoD3aQuRRLH6VQfTUTWvS8TsfujwCNcBGAsYHQ/s16000/VGF01532-spring-by-lake-small-copyright.jpg" /></a></div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://fisherphotocraft.blogspot.com/2021/10/grand-teton-national-park.html">Click here to see photos from the few days before this, when we were in Grand Teton National park.</a> </div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://fisherphotocraft.blogspot.com/2021/12/geysers-and-grand-canyon-of-yellowstone.html">Next up, we'll take a tour of the geysers and Grand Canyon of Yellowstone, including looking at the famous Lower Falls from close up and far away. </a> </div><div><br /></div><div>Finally, we'll take a look at the wildlife, including deer, bison, black bears in trees, and grizzlies, AKA brown bears. </div><div><br /></div>Vick Fisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17003851466843959506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2128337933507855804.post-61658033241453579442021-10-22T15:31:00.005-04:002022-03-17T10:22:16.275-04:00Grand Teton National Park<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I was really surprised at how quickly we saw wildlife when we arrived at Grand Teton National Park this last September. We ran into this deer eating the leaves of bushes by the side of the road on our very first drive in the park. He kept an eye on me as I tried to get a few photos that weren't blocked by tree branches or leaves, but he never backed away from me. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FN4LjRlhfmY/YXLfk4wfhCI/AAAAAAAAPZc/Eb8p8WcNi_kLeFkACUUYl4Ev02UQtdvKQCLcBGAsYHQ/s900/VGF00612edit-crop-deer-small-copyright.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="600" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FN4LjRlhfmY/YXLfk4wfhCI/AAAAAAAAPZc/Eb8p8WcNi_kLeFkACUUYl4Ev02UQtdvKQCLcBGAsYHQ/s16000/VGF00612edit-crop-deer-small-copyright.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Of course, you can tell he's a "he" by his antlers. Notice how they look red. That's because they're covered in drying blood, but there was no gruesome murder. Rather, as you can see in the photo below, the "felt" that covers the antlers when they first grow is peeling off. The felt is the gross stuff hanging down between his ear and his eye. It's like a skin that has peeled back off of the new grown antlers and is hanging by a thread, soon to fall off. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wO2sbkk0c0o/YXLfkO6P07I/AAAAAAAAPZQ/lz61SHlk0CQq1zMRye5Duggk_AShj5sbgCLcBGAsYHQ/s900/VGF00604-edit-crop-deer-small-copyright.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="600" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wO2sbkk0c0o/YXLfkO6P07I/AAAAAAAAPZQ/lz61SHlk0CQq1zMRye5Duggk_AShj5sbgCLcBGAsYHQ/s16000/VGF00604-edit-crop-deer-small-copyright.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It was only when I saw so many of these deer on this trip that I finally looked up the difference between antlers and horns. Horns are more solid bone that grows a little each year, whereas antlers are made of a honeycomb of bone. Antlers are shed each year, only to grow back the next year. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><img alt="Grand Tetons Buck Copyright Vick Fisher 2021" border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="600" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iXWcqA8Br1o/YXLfld1QVNI/AAAAAAAAPZk/FrsGPYEB9Ngyi9looMH8F0pwgj5B6zsbgCLcBGAsYHQ/s16000/VGF00617-edit-crop-deer-small-copyright.jpg" /><span style="text-align: left;"><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Caught him mid-chew in this photo. Pretty funny. You can see the bright blood on the antlers, and the peeling "felt", in this one too. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iXWcqA8Br1o/YXLfld1QVNI/AAAAAAAAPZk/FrsGPYEB9Ngyi9looMH8F0pwgj5B6zsbgCLcBGAsYHQ/s900/VGF00617-edit-crop-deer-small-copyright.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ih1FLs88mjQ/YXLflM9mPrI/AAAAAAAAPZg/La9aQkgurbgXG-aLVduOJDX18K8fLcetgCLcBGAsYHQ/s900/VGF00614-edit-crop-2-small-copyright.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Grand Tetons Gape Mouthed Buck Copyright Vick Fisher 2021" border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="600" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ih1FLs88mjQ/YXLflM9mPrI/AAAAAAAAPZg/La9aQkgurbgXG-aLVduOJDX18K8fLcetgCLcBGAsYHQ/s16000/VGF00614-edit-crop-2-small-copyright.jpg" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Cascade Canyon, which extends behind the area of Hidden Falls away from Jenny Lake along the bottom of a valley, was our first hike. Even though it's a valley, it's around 7500' and there's over a thousand feet of elevation gain on the hike. This photo was taken early in the morning, like around 7AM. We had to get to the parking lots early for our hikes, as the park was pretty busy. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EU-YeNnMKZs/YXLfl58YLvI/AAAAAAAAPZo/WpVx83igl_wOzv8QSxreZPcXTNX4p-ihgCLcBGAsYHQ/s900/VGF00627-edit-crop-small-copyright.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="600" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EU-YeNnMKZs/YXLfl58YLvI/AAAAAAAAPZo/WpVx83igl_wOzv8QSxreZPcXTNX4p-ihgCLcBGAsYHQ/s16000/VGF00627-edit-crop-small-copyright.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The very early part of our hike up Cascade Canyon passed these falls, called Hidden Falls. There weren't too many people there at that time of day. By the time we were on our way back from the top of Cascade Canyon, this place was a mob scene, with crowds of people gathered all around, including some who had climbed up the lower part of the falls seen here. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xR9z4pZPI-I/YXLfmQCJqeI/AAAAAAAAPZs/29Nq_oSwJV4MQznzPNLXnp9T3TxmyRyhACLcBGAsYHQ/s900/VGF00650-hidden-falls-small-copyright.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Grand Tetons Hidden Falls Copyright Vick Fisher 2021" border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="600" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xR9z4pZPI-I/YXLfmQCJqeI/AAAAAAAAPZs/29Nq_oSwJV4MQznzPNLXnp9T3TxmyRyhACLcBGAsYHQ/s16000/VGF00650-hidden-falls-small-copyright.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></span></div><p style="text-align: left;">Part way up the valley, a woman coming down the trail from the head of the valley told us there was a bull moose near the trail up ahead. We'd already seen one, but he'd been walking away from us, so we only saw his butt as he went into the bushes. We were a little worried and excited to see what we would encounter ahead. </p><p style="text-align: left;">As we hiked further up the trail, we saw two people stopped and staring at something we couldn't see. It turned out to be this guy. All of us knew we were way closer than we were supposed to be, but he had decided to camp out only fifteen feet from the hiking trail. We finally decided to walk past him quietly, while pausing for a couple of photos along the way. We were relieved he didn't seem too interested in us. We couldn't have outrun him if he decided he was annoyed with us. </p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TvnN44tgeEk/YXLoRox6dWI/AAAAAAAAPaE/XeAS6iuH0bYBGKI1_JeHYWHmoQYuU8RDgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1280/VGF00678-edit-crop-moose-small-copyright.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Bull Moose Resting the Shade beside Cascade Canyon Trail Copyright Vick Fisher 2021" border="0" data-original-height="854" data-original-width="1280" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TvnN44tgeEk/YXLoRox6dWI/AAAAAAAAPaE/XeAS6iuH0bYBGKI1_JeHYWHmoQYuU8RDgCLcBGAsYHQ/s16000/VGF00678-edit-crop-moose-small-copyright.jpg" /></a> </p><p style="text-align: left;">On the way back down from the head of the valley. we came upon this young doe crossing the trail. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-O6QxNx1DroY/YXLoYOTOs6I/AAAAAAAAPaI/vGnQzxYKzTsCFFVs_MJM7aqtVvYw7OdDACLcBGAsYHQ/s1280/VGF00696-deer-doe-small-copyright.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Grand Tetons Doe on the Cascade Canyon Hiking Trail Copyright Vick Fisher 2021" border="0" data-original-height="853" data-original-width="1280" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-O6QxNx1DroY/YXLoYOTOs6I/AAAAAAAAPaI/vGnQzxYKzTsCFFVs_MJM7aqtVvYw7OdDACLcBGAsYHQ/s16000/VGF00696-deer-doe-small-copyright.jpg" /></a></div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Here is a typical view looking up Cascade Canyon - soaring rocky mountains on all sides, with a beautiful stream along the valley floor, fed by occasional long, thin waterfalls snaking down the canyon sides. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5LbDpzW8Dl0/YXQaq3U6bfI/AAAAAAAAPcE/RuZ_Q1lbWiYG1MwLrzMo5-IoVZkGutdNwCLcBGAsYHQ/s900/20210905_092628-small-copyright.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="405" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5LbDpzW8Dl0/YXQaq3U6bfI/AAAAAAAAPcE/RuZ_Q1lbWiYG1MwLrzMo5-IoVZkGutdNwCLcBGAsYHQ/s16000/20210905_092628-small-copyright.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And then we ran into a group of people murmuring about a bear just ahead on the trail. We couldn't see him at first, then we saw him leaving. The only photos I could get were of his butt as he ambled away.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-59jli-sQXAE/YXMCIpuD1iI/AAAAAAAAPac/R6dgbXpBMdQ0E2sA2LP8c4VulDCR62uAgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1280/VGF00717-black-bear-crop-small-copyright.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Grand Tetons Black Bear Butt Copyright Vick Fisher 2021" border="0" data-original-height="854" data-original-width="1280" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-59jli-sQXAE/YXMCIpuD1iI/AAAAAAAAPac/R6dgbXpBMdQ0E2sA2LP8c4VulDCR62uAgCLcBGAsYHQ/s16000/VGF00717-black-bear-crop-small-copyright.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: left;">This is a panoramic view of Jenny Lake, with all of the main peaks in the background. </span></div></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"> </span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hT722gWuG-A/YXLfked0pII/AAAAAAAAPZU/uapLHey73hwUbvxkCVQN-IWCfZmeRc1xQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1280/20210911_172042-small-copyright.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Grand Tetons Lake Jenny Panorama Copyright Vick Fisher 2021" border="0" data-original-height="342" data-original-width="1280" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hT722gWuG-A/YXLfked0pII/AAAAAAAAPZU/uapLHey73hwUbvxkCVQN-IWCfZmeRc1xQCLcBGAsYHQ/s16000/20210911_172042-small-copyright.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The next day, we got up around 6:15 to do the hike to Amphitheater Lake. The hike is quite demanding, at around 10 miles round trip, with a steady climb the entire time, ending up with a 3000' altitude gain. There were other hikers around for the first hour or so of this hike, but most others turned onto a side trail to a lower lake, leaving us with more peace and quiet. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: left;">In between two switchbacks of the trail, we saw this guy eating some of his favorite leaves. We passed below him just before a switchback, and then passed just above him shortly after the switchback. The felt is clearly visible on his antlers. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XuRpBzbA2DY/YXMLsuVu9rI/AAAAAAAAPbg/cuUUTE0qQcIpwpmND_vPsBWIF52Ho2qNwCLcBGAsYHQ/s900/VGF00759-young-buck-edit-crop-900x900-copyright.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Young Buck Deer Grazing Grand Tetons Copyright Vick Fisher 2021" border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="900" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XuRpBzbA2DY/YXMLsuVu9rI/AAAAAAAAPbg/cuUUTE0qQcIpwpmND_vPsBWIF52Ho2qNwCLcBGAsYHQ/s16000/VGF00759-young-buck-edit-crop-900x900-copyright.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><span style="text-align: left;">The great thing about the Amphitheater Lake hike is that you get an extra lake thrown in with the deal, named Surprise Lake. Shortly before arriving at Amphitheater Lake, you come to this lake, which is fed by a small outlet stream of the lake just above. We had this lake to ourselves most of the twenty or so minutes we spent there. Two other couples came by, but didn't stay long. We walked all the way to the low point you see in the photo - on the far side of the lake, and looked over the edge there, where this lake drains into a steep valley with cliffs on one side. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MJaopH376Cs/YXLodlpYo0I/AAAAAAAAPaM/07aiFnYKXk4T19rzcxGrdUPVWHq2pkGkgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1280/VGF00777-surprise-lake-edit-small-copyright.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Surprise Lake Grand Tetons Copyright Vick Fisher 2021" border="0" data-original-height="854" data-original-width="1280" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MJaopH376Cs/YXLodlpYo0I/AAAAAAAAPaM/07aiFnYKXk4T19rzcxGrdUPVWHq2pkGkgCLcBGAsYHQ/s16000/VGF00777-surprise-lake-edit-small-copyright.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Finally, after constant climbing for over two hours, we reached our destination. This photo was taken by Jennifer. I know because I'm visible in the lower right side, fiddling with my camera while sitting on a boulder. This was an amazing view and we had it all to ourselves for a short time before a few others came through. It was never even a little crowded though. We sat on that boulder you see me on while we ate our lunch, watching the wind create ripples in the lake, and seeing mountain peaks all around. That was a high point, physically and metaphorically. I'll never forget it. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dHcWp4PYuos/YXLfkfsTLGI/AAAAAAAAPZY/yMV43PgEUxYOtSoshsHjikhJRm6mw_37QCLcBGAsYHQ/s1280/IMG-20210912-WA0000-grand-tetons-amphitheater-lake-small-copyright.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Amphitheater Lake Grand Tetons Copyright Vick Fisher 2021" border="0" data-original-height="387" data-original-width="1280" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dHcWp4PYuos/YXLfkfsTLGI/AAAAAAAAPZY/yMV43PgEUxYOtSoshsHjikhJRm6mw_37QCLcBGAsYHQ/s16000/IMG-20210912-WA0000-grand-tetons-amphitheater-lake-small-copyright.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Below is a closeup of the mountain in the top center of the panorama above. That looks pretty tough to climb. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5sz-gRJ4KDg/YXMFINFSv1I/AAAAAAAAPao/oKwptuTIF3wk7zApzK3-mAbHh2-QvaTcwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1280/VGF00812-craggy-tetons-small-copyright.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Grand Tetons" border="0" data-original-height="854" data-original-width="1280" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5sz-gRJ4KDg/YXMFINFSv1I/AAAAAAAAPao/oKwptuTIF3wk7zApzK3-mAbHh2-QvaTcwCLcBGAsYHQ/s16000/VGF00812-craggy-tetons-small-copyright.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Later that day, we took a drive and found this view of the Grand Tetons from the north looking south. This was a surreal landscape, as there is normally a lake here, but it had receded by miles due to the severe multi-year drought the region has been suffering from. The haze in the air comes from all the wildfires in Oregon, California, and other states. Several people told us we were lucky, as the smoke has been so thick that there was no view of the mountains at all for days on end just before we arrived. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BATz5GT84m8/YXMGZec4I9I/AAAAAAAAPaw/qpYx6eA47Xg5eeta30wgC621XluZo-gYQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1280/VGF00737-crop-small-copyright.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Drought-stricken Lake Jenny with Grand Tetons" border="0" data-original-height="390" data-original-width="1280" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BATz5GT84m8/YXMGZec4I9I/AAAAAAAAPaw/qpYx6eA47Xg5eeta30wgC621XluZo-gYQCLcBGAsYHQ/s16000/VGF00737-crop-small-copyright.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The last day in the park, we drove over to Schwabacher Landing, which is a good place to see the mountains reflected in a small part of Snake River. This is pretty far off the beaten track, so there weren't too many people there. At first, there was really nothing to see but three real-life beaver dams blocking up the fifty foot-wide river. We took a walk along the river to check out these beaver dams, and then turned around to go back to the car. Just as I turned around, I saw a huge bull moose come walking out of the woods only fifteen feet in front of me. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vjnJklfOsmM/YXMH1C5vhpI/AAAAAAAAPa4/R5EbipGezMg8IN27PeLgAgbN5DprlyIHwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1280/VGF00844-moose-edit-crop-small-copyright.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Grand Tetons Schwabacher Landing Bull Moose at the River" border="0" data-original-height="877" data-original-width="1280" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vjnJklfOsmM/YXMH1C5vhpI/AAAAAAAAPa4/R5EbipGezMg8IN27PeLgAgbN5DprlyIHwCLcBGAsYHQ/s16000/VGF00844-moose-edit-crop-small-copyright.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: left;">I was shocked, and I think he may have been surprised as well. He looked at me, but then continued down to the water, which was right there, as we'd been walking along the water's edge. In the photo above, you can see one of the beaver dams in the background. Those beavers are strong! Look at the size of the logs they dragged onto the dam. </span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IQQZQBIWpg8/YXMIB4lye4I/AAAAAAAAPbE/g6PbL2xnIswOjKobQgc4etz9OVizA_IlACLcBGAsYHQ/s1280/VGF00841-moose-edit-crop-small-copyright.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Grand Tetons Schwabacher Landing Bull Moose" border="0" data-original-height="860" data-original-width="1280" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IQQZQBIWpg8/YXMIB4lye4I/AAAAAAAAPbE/g6PbL2xnIswOjKobQgc4etz9OVizA_IlACLcBGAsYHQ/s16000/VGF00841-moose-edit-crop-small-copyright.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: left;">Jennifer and I backed up and watched as he drank from the stream. We couldn't get back to our car without passing right behind him, so we stayed and watched. He stopped drinking and looked up at us every once in a while. It was clear he knew we were there. I was really nervous, since we had nowhere to run, as the water was only a foot deep and there was nothing but flat land with tall grasses behind us. </span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lTGt9eZ7P-c/YXMIB5iHiLI/AAAAAAAAPbA/2770Pip3Gx8hYp_Gq4intm0o0zPvTdlzACLcBGAsYHQ/s1280/VGF00854-moose-edit-crop-small-copyright.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="854" data-original-width="1280" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lTGt9eZ7P-c/YXMIB5iHiLI/AAAAAAAAPbA/2770Pip3Gx8hYp_Gq4intm0o0zPvTdlzACLcBGAsYHQ/s16000/VGF00854-moose-edit-crop-small-copyright.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As if one weren't enough of a shock, about two minutes later, another bull moose emerged from the same spot in the woods and joined the first in drinking from the river. This was an amazing situation, as this was one of the few times we were the only people around while in the presence of huge wild animals. It was thrilling. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZSACi6j__yM/YXMIB-sEhhI/AAAAAAAAPa8/cCxriAu3FQIZNeEkcER3FSm2M3J2qYJzQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1280/VGF00871-moose-edit-crop-small-copyright.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Grand Tetons Schwabacher Landing Bull Moose in the River" border="0" data-original-height="854" data-original-width="1280" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZSACi6j__yM/YXMIB-sEhhI/AAAAAAAAPa8/cCxriAu3FQIZNeEkcER3FSm2M3J2qYJzQCLcBGAsYHQ/s16000/VGF00871-moose-edit-crop-small-copyright.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">After they were both done drinking, the slightly smaller one faced off in front of the first one, then they lowered their horns and started pushing against each other for several minutes. They didn't make any noises, and the movements were always slow and careful, not fast or aggressive. I still don't understand what they were thinking while doing all of this. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-O10GaWz1NwU/YXMICXlnK7I/AAAAAAAAPbI/2x0e8hoOPucF0q075H-XB95xIKsi1RoDACLcBGAsYHQ/s1280/VGF00887-two-moose-edit-crop-small-copyright.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Grand Tetons Schwabacher Landing Bull Moose in the River" border="0" data-original-height="854" data-original-width="1280" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-O10GaWz1NwU/YXMICXlnK7I/AAAAAAAAPbI/2x0e8hoOPucF0q075H-XB95xIKsi1RoDACLcBGAsYHQ/s16000/VGF00887-two-moose-edit-crop-small-copyright.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Here's a short video of their contest.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/KMcBKc_69X0" width="320" youtube-src-id="KMcBKc_69X0"></iframe></div><br /><p></p><div><a href="https://fisherphotocraft.blogspot.com/2021/12/yellowstone-national-park-springs-and.html">Next on this trip, we got to see the springs and waterfalls of Yellowstone National Park.</a></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://fisherphotocraft.blogspot.com/2021/12/geysers-and-grand-canyon-of-yellowstone.html">Other times, we had some adventures with geysers and the Yellowstone Grand Canyon.</a> </div>Vick Fisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17003851466843959506noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2128337933507855804.post-59871224777287939142020-12-12T12:02:00.001-05:002020-12-12T15:15:41.667-05:00Woodpeckers, Chickadees, and Titmice<p>So, the plural of titmouse is titmice, right? Yes, we have lots of titmice in our backyard, along with blue jays, cardinals, a couple of types of woodpeckers, doves, house finches, and chickadees. </p><p>Here's one of a dove and a blue jay sharing the feeder at the same time. Both are keeping an eye on the guy with the camera. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TxHdsN7XndY/X9TcvxgjRQI/AAAAAAAAMaE/B00uss1VZOkqG-TaOM267MsCVcuLyjsrwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1400/VGF00261-crop-small-copyright.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="933" data-original-width="1400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TxHdsN7XndY/X9TcvxgjRQI/AAAAAAAAMaE/B00uss1VZOkqG-TaOM267MsCVcuLyjsrwCLcBGAsYHQ/s16000/VGF00261-crop-small-copyright.jpg" /></a></div><p>I like this airborne dove shot. I didn't realize how colorful they can be. The pose reminds me of religious imagery of a dove coming down to bring peace on earth. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yw-QOebHjvc/X9TdUCmR4aI/AAAAAAAAMaM/SrBShVWJTVcuzBpC6u8fAgJj_XhES4xEwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1400/VGF00266-crop-edit-small-copyright.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="933" data-original-width="1400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yw-QOebHjvc/X9TdUCmR4aI/AAAAAAAAMaM/SrBShVWJTVcuzBpC6u8fAgJj_XhES4xEwCLcBGAsYHQ/s16000/VGF00266-crop-edit-small-copyright.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p>We get to see these tufted titmice just about every day. You can see how titmice have a yellow edge just under the front of their wings. This one is sharp enough that you can see the white window frames of our house reflected in its eye. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pV1skyf-Ye4/X9TeqlZWa6I/AAAAAAAAMag/_8U7rGi1VaUSRa72vFH-WJuVqwPP7mZIgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1200/VGF09720-titmouse-edit-crop-copyright-small.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pV1skyf-Ye4/X9TeqlZWa6I/AAAAAAAAMag/_8U7rGi1VaUSRa72vFH-WJuVqwPP7mZIgCLcBGAsYHQ/s16000/VGF09720-titmouse-edit-crop-copyright-small.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p>Another tufted titmouse. I like that you can see the feathers interweaving on his chest. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IFKlj1RTTJE/X9TgZqbU_eI/AAAAAAAAMas/VnhmZFzbZxIewg5wjLUl-U-ksbeijC5JQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1521/VGF09731-crop-titmouse.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1521" data-original-width="1014" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IFKlj1RTTJE/X9TgZqbU_eI/AAAAAAAAMas/VnhmZFzbZxIewg5wjLUl-U-ksbeijC5JQCLcBGAsYHQ/s16000/VGF09731-crop-titmouse.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p>This is a bird I'd seen for years, but never realized it wasn't a species I didn't know about. Sometimes, when seeing it from the front, I would think it was a robin. Other times, when seeing it from the back, I would think it was a sparrow. But the size is too small for a robin, and the color is red, not the orange of a robin, and the red extends to his head also. It's a house finch. We're learning so much from having a bird feeder! </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ojU7l6jra6Y/X9ThkXaCCkI/AAAAAAAAMa8/v9ng958Iqdo7eHcs3MkAW6JkGTsv3zixwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1125/VGF09754-house-finch-crop-edit-small-copyright.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="750" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ojU7l6jra6Y/X9ThkXaCCkI/AAAAAAAAMa8/v9ng958Iqdo7eHcs3MkAW6JkGTsv3zixwCLcBGAsYHQ/s16000/VGF09754-house-finch-crop-edit-small-copyright.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p>Sometimes, we get a double-feature at the bird-feeder. A tufted titmouse and a house finch sharing here. The house finch is not sharp, so not a good photo - but I just wanted to show them hanging out together. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NJb2xM_GWL4/X9TiZS0ih3I/AAAAAAAAMbM/MDoee01PMAsfOKig6-wQh1Aq8VWuvqo7gCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/VGF09763-titmouse-house-finch-crop-edit-small.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Vick Fisher Red-Bellied Woodpecker Arlington Virgina" border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NJb2xM_GWL4/X9TiZS0ih3I/AAAAAAAAMbM/MDoee01PMAsfOKig6-wQh1Aq8VWuvqo7gCLcBGAsYHQ/s16000/VGF09763-titmouse-house-finch-crop-edit-small.jpg" title="Vick Fisher Red-Bellied Woodpecker Arlington Virgina" /></a></div><br /><p>The chickadee is a tiny bird, about two-thirds the size of a sparrow. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-B739GGwx0nk/X9T0gU65ybI/AAAAAAAAMb0/VnPsMU2Utkcd4higoPu3SNjyQTZoNBeJgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1470/VGF00328-chickadee-crop-edit.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Vick Fisher Chickadee Arlington Virginia" border="0" data-original-height="1470" data-original-width="980" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-B739GGwx0nk/X9T0gU65ybI/AAAAAAAAMb0/VnPsMU2Utkcd4higoPu3SNjyQTZoNBeJgCLcBGAsYHQ/s16000/VGF00328-chickadee-crop-edit.jpg" title="Vick Fisher Chickadee Arlington Virginia" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>Here's the largest woodpecker we see in our neighborhood. The red-bellied woodpecker is not very red-bellied. Even the guidebooks say the name is a little confusing. There is a little bit of red on his belly, but I would have guessed he'd be called a red-headed woodpecker. Also, we read the male's head is more covered in red as it ages. A couple of our friends pointed out how he has a sunflower seed from the feeder in his mouth. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-a3UlYCaMLE4/X9Ty-Nmr1lI/AAAAAAAAMbo/Anhz5Z0kxhAZDUb-Wu82ts8lgEBa7xXKwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1428/VGF00148-red-headed-woodpecker-crop-copyright.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1428" data-original-width="1428" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-a3UlYCaMLE4/X9Ty-Nmr1lI/AAAAAAAAMbo/Anhz5Z0kxhAZDUb-Wu82ts8lgEBa7xXKwCLcBGAsYHQ/s16000/VGF00148-red-headed-woodpecker-crop-copyright.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p>Finally, a type of woodpecker not much larger than a sparrow. I'd never heard of these before. They live near us, but they don't come to the feeders very often. We've seen a couple of them together a few times. It's called a downy woodpecker. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8-fBsqn7oF0/X9TxerReh6I/AAAAAAAAMbc/dh5VBWuHIvcla7ZwlU2Q4w5-Ay6rD5mCACLcBGAsYHQ/s1200/VGF09780-downy-crop2-edit-copyright-small.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8-fBsqn7oF0/X9TxerReh6I/AAAAAAAAMbc/dh5VBWuHIvcla7ZwlU2Q4w5-Ay6rD5mCACLcBGAsYHQ/s16000/VGF09780-downy-crop2-edit-copyright-small.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Vick Fisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17003851466843959506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2128337933507855804.post-73029124327877634412020-10-26T18:38:00.001-04:002020-10-26T18:38:19.820-04:00Backyard Hawks, Nuthatches, and More, in the Time of COVIDLike a lot of people during COVID, we've put up bird feeders in our backyard to make staying at home a little more fun. We were really surprised to see several types of birds we'd never noticed before. It's been fun, and we're thinking of getting more into it. So far, I've spent less than an hour total out there with my camera with the big lens and tripod . <div><br /></div><div>This first one is one of our favorite discoveries, the nuthatch. We get two of these at a time sometimes. They're smaller than a sparrow, and have to jockey for position to get any food. The sparrows try to crowd them out. They're pretty brave. Sometimes, they'll come to the feeder even when we're sitting right next to it having lunch out on our patio. <div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Nsr9kpMSBR8/X5cRxfIpgmI/AAAAAAAAMCQ/1yATuU5O6AQ5HkwWqjp841EU92MZdiabACLcBGAsYHQ/s1157/VGF00025-crop-nuthatch001-copyright.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Nuthatch on bird feeder" border="0" data-original-height="1157" data-original-width="1157" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Nsr9kpMSBR8/X5cRxfIpgmI/AAAAAAAAMCQ/1yATuU5O6AQ5HkwWqjp841EU92MZdiabACLcBGAsYHQ/s16000/VGF00025-crop-nuthatch001-copyright.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Just your everyday cardinal. We get a lot of cardinals, both male and female. It seems to me that cardinals are not as red all over as they used to be when I was a kid. Or maybe it's just the ones that come to our feeders. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aIeuXdswI-A/X5cRzhzVhvI/AAAAAAAAMCU/jA4VfPCfNG0Zw5Nj4EsfQfa4MbcSZ9pqACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/VGF00037-crop-cardinal-vibrant-copyright-small.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Cardinal on bird feeder" border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aIeuXdswI-A/X5cRzhzVhvI/AAAAAAAAMCU/jA4VfPCfNG0Zw5Nj4EsfQfa4MbcSZ9pqACLcBGAsYHQ/s16000/VGF00037-crop-cardinal-vibrant-copyright-small.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>A sparrow comes in for a landing. I can't remember if the cardinal chased him away or not. </div><div><br /></div><div>After being around these birds long enough, not only do you start recognizing the sounds some of them make, but you even start to notice how they make different sounds when they're angry or distressed. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xQYOMxgdyBc/X5cR2hwMoUI/AAAAAAAAMCY/XzGPr1CcGUoMtiwh5Mve_BDYMl9fvdr5ACLcBGAsYHQ/s1571/VGF00038-crop-cardinal-house-finch-small-copyright.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1571" data-original-width="1048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xQYOMxgdyBc/X5cR2hwMoUI/AAAAAAAAMCY/XzGPr1CcGUoMtiwh5Mve_BDYMl9fvdr5ACLcBGAsYHQ/s16000/VGF00038-crop-cardinal-house-finch-small-copyright.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>More birds in motion. I'll have to start trying more airborne shots. Sparrows often crowd onto the feeder four or five at a time, with others attempting to land right on top of them. They often get in pecking matches, even when there's enough room for all of them. Silly birds! </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BqjmiMh7Fjk/X5cR9pPXyPI/AAAAAAAAMCc/x9pKIQsQSvQ74WlMEISsVieX-qzN75cqQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/VGF00045-crop-sparrow-motion-lighten-small-copyright.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BqjmiMh7Fjk/X5cR9pPXyPI/AAAAAAAAMCc/x9pKIQsQSvQ74WlMEISsVieX-qzN75cqQCLcBGAsYHQ/s16000/VGF00045-crop-sparrow-motion-lighten-small-copyright.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>This is a Carolina Wren. He landed on one of our patio table chairs. This one is not quite sharp - I grabbed the camera hand-held for this one. These birds have only shown up a few times, so I was anxious to get any photo at all of him. <br /><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lBXuaYguesU/X5dLEBMTM8I/AAAAAAAAMD8/N1lSZZ3KaVQGuml3XOS0mGD0ynwYFwG7QCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/VGF00078-crop-carolina-wren-small-copyright.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lBXuaYguesU/X5dLEBMTM8I/AAAAAAAAMD8/N1lSZZ3KaVQGuml3XOS0mGD0ynwYFwG7QCLcBGAsYHQ/s16000/VGF00078-crop-carolina-wren-small-copyright.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>This hawk landed on the broken branch high up in the tree next door last week, while we were out on the patio eating lunch. This is really rare. I'm a huge fan of birds of prey, so I'm always on the lookout for them. I've seen them every few months, but they rarely land anywhere that I can see them well, or stay there long enough for me to get the camera. This guy lingered for quite a while, and spread out his tail. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-e5cLYGOIWNA/X5cSn7GnTAI/AAAAAAAAMDI/dL2RisHy-5QY7C3oELcWVCESgNVPVbjpACLcBGAsYHQ/s1571/VGF00106-crop-unknown-hawk-small-copyright.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Broad-winged hawk" border="0" data-original-height="1571" data-original-width="1048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-e5cLYGOIWNA/X5cSn7GnTAI/AAAAAAAAMDI/dL2RisHy-5QY7C3oELcWVCESgNVPVbjpACLcBGAsYHQ/s16000/VGF00106-crop-unknown-hawk-small-copyright.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I wondered whether he may have been attracted to our vicinity by all the little birds feeding on our feeders. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7iB1ImWOkHg/X5cSsBUcKuI/AAAAAAAAMDM/jmbmC9625ioN6kmmNkXge4kAjDrJ7A1hQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1559/VGF00099-crop-unknown-hawk-small-copyright.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Broad-winged hawk perched on a branch" border="0" data-original-height="1559" data-original-width="1040" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7iB1ImWOkHg/X5cSsBUcKuI/AAAAAAAAMDM/jmbmC9625ioN6kmmNkXge4kAjDrJ7A1hQCLcBGAsYHQ/s16000/VGF00099-crop-unknown-hawk-small-copyright.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div>I think it's a broad-winged hawk, but I wouldn't mind hearing from experts out there who might be more sure. My whole life, I've mostly seen red-tailed hawks, but this one didn't have any reddish tint at all. <br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yduygZKQ0t0/X5dK44Z46DI/AAAAAAAAMD4/1A-GcDh9ze85hER5n5wYmzBACkDLzWjeQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1571/VGF00101-crop-unknown-hawk-2-small-copyright.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1571" data-original-width="1048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yduygZKQ0t0/X5dK44Z46DI/AAAAAAAAMD4/1A-GcDh9ze85hER5n5wYmzBACkDLzWjeQCLcBGAsYHQ/s16000/VGF00101-crop-unknown-hawk-2-small-copyright.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div>Another great bird I haven't managed to get a photo of yet is the chickadee. We've seen them plenty of times at the feeders, but never when I've had the camera ready. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /></div>Vick Fisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17003851466843959506noreply@blogger.com0621 N Illinois St, Arlington, VA 22205, USA38.8739605 -77.12570769999999238.867278605721388 -77.134290768847649 38.880642394278617 -77.117124631152336tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2128337933507855804.post-18101494520194295952020-03-07T17:04:00.000-05:002020-03-08T13:53:08.032-04:00Snorkeling Belize's Barrier Reef - Photos and VideosHere are a few photos from our visit to Belize. We based our snorkeling trips off of Ambergris Caye. which is one of the more populated and developed islands of Belize. We both agreed five days was too much time there, but we got to see some pretty cool stuff on the days we could arrange snorkeling trips.<br />
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We did three snorkeling trips and got to see a dolphin and a manatee while still in the boat also. The snorkeling trips were to marine preserve areas within an hour's boat ride from San Pedro, which is the main town on Ambergris Caye (pronounced "key").<br />
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It sounds dramatic to say we went swimming with sharks, but these nurse sharks are bottom feeders who like to suck up bits of food from the bottom. There were lots of fleshy pale white tourists in the water, but they never took a bite. The guides like to call out "OK shark bait, who's ready to get in the water." Or, "These sharks are especially attracted to pink and blue toenails!"<br />
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The sharks are attracted to the boats by food they put in, but I never saw the food. I don't think it was bloody meat chum like you'd expect when fishing. I kind of chased a couple of them to get closer. But, the closest I got was by accident when one cruised right behind me, so I didn't even notice it until its tail almost hit me in the face. Looks like this one is trying to decide if I'd taste good.<br />
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Here are a few types of coral and some nice fish.<br />
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We were really lucky the water was so clear. When the wind is strong, as it was the next day, the wave action stirs the sand up into the water and it gets cloudy. I loved these blue-trimmed ones. Need to remember the names of these fish! Some diver friends of mine surely know.<br />
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These fish sort of surrounded this big rock on the bottom. I guess trying to blend in.<br />
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Here's an Eagle Ray - one of a few that we saw on the trip. A bit more rare than the Stingrays.<br />
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You probably won't be able to see a thing in this photo if you're looking on your phone. Shakes fist at people looking at my super-detailed photos on a tiny screen! But there's a camouflaged sting ray right in front of your face there. Actually, he's not even all that well hidden.<br />
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Only saw a few of this type. Love their pale blue color.<br />
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The view when the sharks, rays, and fish gathered around the boat.<br />
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I was really impressed with how large sting rays are! These things are 3-4 feet wide. It was a little scary. Didn't want to step on one by accident and get stung!<br />
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Here are a few videos, 25-seconds or less each.<br />
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<br />Vick Fisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17003851466843959506noreply@blogger.com0Ambergris Caye, San Pedro, Belize17.929291205624423 -87.959425414616917.445194705624424 -88.6048724146169 18.413387705624423 -87.3139784146169tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2128337933507855804.post-58751761852627429692019-08-17T13:43:00.002-04:002019-08-18T13:42:58.552-04:00Galapagos Islands Photos and Videos, Part 3<div style="text-align: left;">
More photos and videos from the Galapagos Islands, including sea lions, marine iguanas, land iguanas, and cute little Galapagos penguins. The last video of the sea lion mother and pup has us all laughing.</div>
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This is the view from the top of the small volcanic Bartholome Island. In the distance is mostly lava fields and lava cones. In the middle distance on the right is tall and sharp Pinnacle Rock. Our guide James told us the Americans used it for artillery target practice at the time of World War II. I'm not sure that made any real impact on how it looks though.<br />
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We found this mother and pup when we landed on Puerto Egas on Santiago island that also had the big land iguanas, herons, gulls, and the wrongly-named fur seals (they're actually a type of sea-lion. We spent a long time hanging around with these two. At one point, mom rolled over on her stomach, and the pup started complaining loudly and trying to nuzzle under to get more milk. They didn't mind a group of 16 standing there watching them for quite a while. Right there with them were pelicans, crabs, and lizards as well. </div>
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Across from Bartholome was a fantastic, sandy beach. We had one of our favorite experiences of the trip while we were there. A group of four Galapagos penguins came along the beach, hunting little fish in the very, very shallow water at our feet. They came right in front of us, and came back and forth along the beach several times. Here are a couple short videos of them.<br />
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Here's one of the most colorful land iguanas we saw. Land iguanas are solitary. You never see big groups of them, like the smaller marine iguanas. </div>
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Speaking of big groups, we walked along the beach on this part of Fernandina and saw several groups of marine iguanas sprawled out like this, literally piled on top of each other, and crawling over each others' heads and backs. All the time pretty much silently, except when they snort out excess salty water from their noses. It was funny to watch them do that. It was sort of like a sudden sneeze of water rocketing out. </div>
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Cormorants on this island have no predators. Over time, their wings have evolved to be smaller and smaller, until they've become flightless. Our guide said they may gradually evolve into something like penguin flippers. We saw a few nesting couples along the beach here. The mom stays home, incubating the eggs and fixing up the nest, while dad goes out and brings home the seaweed for the nest, as well as fish to regurgitate. In this photo, we were lucky enough to catch the mom stand up and shuffle around just long enough to see her eggs. </div>
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Jennifer got this great video of a mother and sea lion pup playing in the lava tubes. This had us all laughing. </div>
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<span style="text-align: left;">The north end of Isabella, which is a broken volcanic caldera. Most of the rim has collapsed under the water in the last few million years, but this part of the curved crater remains. </span></div>
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This was right about the time we passed over the equator. We all took photos of the navigation system, showing latitude of 0.000. Pretty amazing. The captain slowed down the boat so we could all get a look. At first, I only got a picture as we passed up to 0.001 latitude, so he backed up the boat just enough for me to take a picture at 0.000! See the GPS? If you're looking at this on your darn phone, turn it sideways! </div>
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Adios Galapagos! </div>
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One more from our first night. That was a spectacular one. </div>
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This is the third in a series about our trip. </div>
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<a href="https://fisherphotocraft.blogspot.com/2019/08/galapagos-animal-photos-part-1.html">Click here for the first, with a lot of great bird photos, as well as a nice land iguana, and more sea lions.</a> </div>
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<a href="https://fisherphotocraft.blogspot.com/2019/08/galapagos-photos-and-videos-part-2.html">Click here for the second, which is all about snorkeling, with underwater photos and videos of sea turtles, fish, and marine iguanas.</a> </div>
Vick Fisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17003851466843959506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2128337933507855804.post-90892137305482931182019-08-10T11:59:00.000-04:002019-08-10T11:59:27.248-04:00Galapagos Photos and Videos, Part 2<div style="text-align: center;">
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Here are more photos (and videos) from our Galapagos trip. This time, they're mostly water-related. We went snorkeling most days on the eight-day trip. The water was as cold as 61 degrees Fahrenheit. That's <i><b>cold</b></i>! We did have wet suits, but as the name implies, you get wet. So getting in was quite a shock every time, as ice cold water streamed down your back, and into the suit along your wrists and ankles. Happily, once we put our masks in the water and started looking around, we would be distracted from the cold pretty quickly. </div>
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Thanks to my friend Rob, who lent me his underwater point-and-shoot camera. I loved it. My first time taking photos underwater. Almost everywhere we snorkeled, we ended up seeing lots of sea turtles, very close up. </div>
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Rob's camera could also take video. In one spot, we were literally surrounded by sea turtles feeding on algae on the bottom. It wasn't very deep at all, and you had to be careful not to run into one turtle swimming past behind you while watching another turtle. </div>
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I love how gracefully they "fly" through the water. They do look like they're flying.</div>
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On Fernandina Island, the sea turtles share the area with huge colonies of marine iguanas.</div>
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Marine iguanas evolved in the Galapagos to take advantage of the plentiful underwater algae. Since they're cold-blooded reptiles, they warm up on black lava beaches, then slip into the cold water to graze. They can stay down for up to an hour at a time, eating algae off the lava bottom. Here's one who's just entered the water on his way to diving down. They swim with their arms and legs dangling loosely, and undulate their whole body and tail to move through the water. </div>
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Here the turtles and iguanas share the same area. This iguana swam right toward me like I wasn't even there. I got a little worried he was going to run right into me. </div>
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Here's an iguana munching on the algae on the bottom. </div>
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Another flying turtle vid. It's so hard to hold the camera steady, since the waves are washing you back and forth all over the place.<br />
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A couple of other underwater shots. This is a cool-looking fish called the heiroglyphic hawkfish. Great name for a cool fish. </div>
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We saw schools of these yellow-tailed sturgeon fish wherever we snorkeled. </div>
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There were lots of big starfish, almost a foot across. I loved the pattern on this one. Looks almost futuristic and sci-fi to me. Like it's displaying the polygons of a 3D model of a starfish. </div>
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This is the second article on the trip. <a href="https://fisherphotocraft.blogspot.com/2019/08/galapagos-animal-photos-part-1.html">Click here to see the previous article, with fun photos of birds, sea lions, and iguanas.</a> </div>
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Vick Fisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17003851466843959506noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2128337933507855804.post-33314184367644806432019-08-03T16:59:00.001-04:002019-08-10T20:22:30.192-04:00Galapagos Animal Photos, Part 1We had a great trip to the Galapagos Islands in July 2019. We stayed on a boat for eight whole days, while they took us from one island to the next. We had two or three hiking, kayaking, or snorkeling excursions every day.<br />
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Before we even got on the boat, we had to walk out the pier to get on the zodiacs that would ferry us to our home on the water for the next seven nights. We passed this mother and child on the pier.<br />
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Our very first night on the boat, before we even left harbor, we were treated to the best sunset of the whole trip. This is my favorite kind of sunset, where there are plenty of nicely shaped clouds, and the sun gets under them and lights them up from below at a low angle that only catches the edges, leaving the rest blue. If you're thinking these colors are too enhanced, take a look at the pale blue between the oranges and the lower right corner, where everything's still in shadow. Yes, it was even more impressive in real life. And it lasted a good while.<br />
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By the way, if you're looking at this on your phones, as many of you do, these pictures are almost all in landscape format, so turning your phone sideways will really help you see them better.<br />
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For our first hike, we stopped on Seymore Norte, a tiny island packed with most of the really famous types of birds the Galapagos Islands are known for. We passed frigate birds, their nests, and their babies every fifty feet on the trail. They paid us no attention.<br />
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Our fantastic guide, James, told us it takes the males multiple days to get their throats this puffed up. The females are looking for the sexiest puffed up throats they can find. This sure seems like a case of sexual selection working against natural selection! But, at least they don't have to worry about predators attacking them while they're in this state, since there are no frigate bird predators in the Galapagos Islands. </div>
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Amidst all the hubbub about the frigate birds, our group walked right past this nest without even seeing this cute little Galapagos dove nesting in her cactus. Jennifer happened to notice the nest just as the group had moved on to see a huge land iguana another fifty feet down the trail.<br />
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Minutes later, we came across this guy, about two and half feet long, hanging out under his cactus. On this island, each big male land iguana sort of "owns" a cactus, which is the home base of his territory. Just as James said, there would only ever be one of these guys at any given cactus we passed. </div>
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Love the colors and textures on this guy.<br />
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Only meters away from our land iguana pal, we came upon this cactus finch, flitting around, and munching on the insides of this prickly pear. This type of finch evolved to be able to get past the cactus' defenses.<br />
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I tell you, I think they choose this island to go to first because it really wows you right off the bat. I don't think we ever saw this many types of animals in one place again for the rest of the trip, unless you count underwater, where we saw a great variety several times snorkeling. This is a yellow warbler. This is really the only bird in the islands with spectacularly-colored feathers. He came and landed on this bush while we were right there, and hopped back and forth on the branches. He moved so quickly, I ended up with a bunch of blurry shots and a few sharp ones. <br />
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And now we come to the famous blue-footed boobies. Of course, they sell all sorts of T-shirts with sayings like "I saw boobies" and "I love boobies" in the few towns in the Galapagos. We saw lots of them, on multiple islands. Having a group of 16 people traipse past wasn't enough to get this one to move.<br />
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This juvenile is halfway between down and feathers. I guess that's the mother in back.<br />
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The Galapagos certainly didn't disappoint. This is a great example, where just a bit further down the trail, we ran into these two blue-footed boobies right when the male was doing his mating dance to impress the female. </div>
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Here she's warming up to his proposal.<br />
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Mutual appreciation society, as they mirror each other's dramatic poses. We'd seen documentaries with this exact dance in them, and here it was right in front of us.<br />
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On our way back, we passed a bunch of sea lions resting on the beach. I think that's a frigate bird chick in the rear.<br />
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We think that might be Daphne Major island in the background, the one whose finch population has been the studied for the last thirty years. This study is discussed in great detail in the book <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/125286.The_Beak_of_the_Finch">The Beak of the Finch, A Story of Evolution in Our Time</a>. We'd been reading that book in preparation for the trip, on the recommendation of our friend Julie.<br />
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We saw lots of pairs of sea lions in this affectionate napping arrangement during the trip. Often one would rest a flipper on the side of the other.<br />
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A frigate bird female in her nest.<br />
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Goodbye North Seymour. This sea lion was pretty close to the spot where the Zodiac boats dropped off visitors, but the sound of the outboard motor didn't disturb him. We were the only group on the island the whole time we were there. The Ecuadorans are managing the Galapagos beautifully. In almost all cases, we were the only group in the area wherever we went. Other groups might be departing just as we arrived, or they might arrive just as we departed, but rarely were two groups on land at the same time. We really had the place to ourselves. No big crowds or competition for a view anywhere the whole trip. That was great.<br />
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This is the first of a few posts on our trip. Hope you enjoy!<br />
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<a href="https://fisherphotocraft.blogspot.com/2019/08/galapagos-photos-and-videos-part-2.html">Click this sentence to see my second post of mostly underwater shots.</a><br />
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<br />Vick Fisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17003851466843959506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2128337933507855804.post-61828417740772950642019-07-12T21:38:00.003-04:002019-07-12T21:38:20.640-04:00Utah's Canyonlands National Park, Islands in the Sky SectionThe Islands in the Sky section of Canyonlands didn't have many hikes of any length. We drove to various areas, and took a few short hikes. I assume the park is called Islands in the Sky because you're sort of on a giant mesa, with cliffs thousands of feet high all the way around. Everywhere you go, you have great views looking out over canyons, with mountains a hundred miles away.<br />
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There are no rails anywhere along this hike, and there are thousand-foot plus drops all the way. Makes for great views, but be careful!<br />
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Canyonlands is certainly an appropriate name for this place. This is a canyon inside a canyon. I really love the sharp edges of the canyon, and how they're outlined with white rock. Almost like an artist trying to emphasize an edge. </div>
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Another canyon in a canyon. A view that goes on for a hundred miles, as promised. I also love the way the shrubs have spaced themselves fairly evenly in the foreground. I assume the spacing is caused by the amount of water available. <br />
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What's the name for a formation like this? Not quite a mesa. More like a tower or a castle. </div>
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This arch created a frame for an incredible view of the canyons and snow-capped mountains way beyond. It's close to parking, and swarmed with visitors. I had to dodge and weave constantly to avoid getting photo-bombed. <br />
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Wow. <br />
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An infinity of canyons. Settler caravans looked on this view and despaired. <br />
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If you enjoyed these, please take a look at my other posts from our hiking trip to Moab, Utah. <br />
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<a href="https://fisherphotocraft.blogspot.com/2019/06/arches-national-park-hikes-utah-2019.html">Arches National Park, Part 1</a><br />
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<a href="https://fisherphotocraft.blogspot.com/2019/06/arches-national-park-utah-2019-part-2.html">Arches National Park, Part 2</a><br />
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<a href="https://fisherphotocraft.blogspot.com/2019/07/hiking-photos-from-utahs-canyonlands.html">Canyonlands National Park, The Needles Section</a><br />
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<br />Vick Fisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17003851466843959506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2128337933507855804.post-16150294136154641312019-07-12T21:15:00.001-04:002019-07-12T21:38:54.334-04:00The Needles Section of Utah's Canyonlands National ParkWe visited Canyonlands National Park at the beginning of June. The park is so big that there are different sections with different entrances that must be over 70 miles apart. The entrance to the Needles section is about an hour and a half drive from Moab, and the entrances to the Islands in the Sky section is about a half hour from Moab in the other direction.<br />
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We went to The Needles first. It's far from any development, so there are very few visitors compared with Arches National Park. On our hike, we saw a total of maybe twenty people over a four hour period, which is really nice. Several of those were folks who had spent the night and were on their way out with their camping gear. Needles is characterized by this white layer of rock that forms rounded caps on columns of red rock all over the park. This photo shows a tiny sample of the thousands everywhere. </div>
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The rocks are all very layered, created by sediment settling out of a sea here many millions of years ago. The white rock is a harder layer than the others, so that's why it's resisted being eroded away longer than the red,forming these caps and sheltering the other red rock underneath, which leads to the columns. </div>
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This was the best view we saw on the Chesler Park trail. This made for a great shady place to hvae lunch while looking out over this great view. A couple of crows came and sat on a ledge and waited for us to finish lunch so they could scrabble for crumbs afterward. They were very persistent. They sort of acted like they might be a couple, as they would take off together and coast around in a circle, then land back on the same ledge and walk back and forth. </div>
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In this one, these white mushroom top shapes are made of the white rock that is harder than the red. You can see some layers of white rock in the ridge standing behind the mushrooms in the front. This is a closer view from nearly the same spot as the photo above. </div>
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So many layers visible in this rock. </div>
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All the different textures make this one good for a black and white version. </div>
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A whole area of these mushroom columns has fallen over sideways here. </div>
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This crow arrived soon after we pulled up to our second hike of the day. I dropped a crumb on the ground when I stood up from the car. He was on the car, and then on the crumb within seconds of us stepping away. </div>
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This was about a one and a half hour hike, which gave some great views for the effort. </div>
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I really loved all the trees out there. Many of them look dead, but aren't. Unfortunately, this tree is actually dead. The ones that are alive still have at least one green branch. In the lower left of this photo, you can see a huge exposed root of this tree. I love how it's such a twisted spiral, which was actually pretty common. Somehow these trees manage to survive in really dry, rocky places. I must have taken a hundred pictures of gnarled old trees on all the hikes in Utah. </div>
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That's all for The Needles section of Canyonlands National Park. Next up, <a href="https://fisherphotocraft.blogspot.com/2019/07/utahs-canyonlands-national-park-islands.html">the Islands in the Sky section of Canyonlands</a>. </div>
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If you liked these, you can also check out the <a href="https://fisherphotocraft.blogspot.com/2019/06/arches-national-park-hikes-utah-2019.html">first set of photos from Arches National Park</a>, and the <a href="https://fisherphotocraft.blogspot.com/2019/06/arches-national-park-utah-2019-part-2.html">second set of photos from Arches National Park</a>. </div>
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Vick Fisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17003851466843959506noreply@blogger.com0