p.1 #1 · Sierra Portfolio/North Palisade from Rambaud Creek
The first time I saw this picture was on a trip down the Black Divide. I was into climbing the peaks on the Divide, which I did and on the last day of the trip my wife Nancy and I walked into this scene. We set up camp on a small ridge over looking the Kings River. The Palisades were a jagged line out to the east. The lake was only a couple acres in size and it was fringed with beautiful Whitebark pine. Behind us the north face of Devils Crag 1 loomed over the stream leading into the lake. I walked to the west to see if there was something else as striking as what I was looking at. I also wanted to walk into the scene. There were zero clouds in the sky. A sunset was out of the question and I was not going to be satisfied with an earth wedge photo.
Our friend Will Cryljenko met us at our camp. I had convinced Will that a traverse of the Devil's Crags was a good idea. It wasn't. We had to be way too careful because of the loose rock. The reward is that we did the second ascent of most of the Crags. Sixty years after the first ascents. We ended up retreating down the west side of the Crags and crashing back to camp in the dark to a very worried Nancy.
We took one day to hike the twenty six miles back to the trailhead.
I immediately planned another ten day trip to this spot. This was easily one of the best campsites I had ever been to in the Sierra. I convinced friends Bob McGavren and Dan Whitmore to join me on a climbing adventure in September. It took us two days to bust back to the Black Divide. I walked back to my tripod holes and watched as promising clouds started to glow over the Palisades. The moment I had been waiting for happened. F 32, 12 seconds. I bracketed one more exposure and the light was over.
Our custom on these Boy trips was to have an adequate supply of whiskey. I had my celebratory share.
p.1 #3 · Sierra Portfolio/North Palisade from Rambaud Creek
Dale
Thanks for the compliment. I would trim and clone film clips for a final print. But for now I just want to share my pics with a larger community than my film boxes. I'm working on another book that will tell the stories from the nascent modern outdoor experience. I was there for the hard core 70-80s climbs in Yosemite Valley and Tuolumne Meadows. I'm sure a lot of us were there for the Kelty pack, 60/40 parka, Optimus stoves, waterproof matches, and the tube tent. In addition to 4x5 cameras, changing film, Tiltall tripods. No internet, no GPS, no Goretex. There's a transition there that haas upended the way we view the world.
So the film borders harken back to a time slipping away.
p.1 #4 · Sierra Portfolio/North Palisade from Rambaud Creek
I see, I kind of like it now that I know why. Did you have the privilege to see Robbins or Chouinard climb, or had they moved on by then? Im very jealous, that must of been a wonderful time at Yosemite before the crowds swelled. I still use my MSR multi fuel stove I bought in the mid 80s.
p.1 #6 · Sierra Portfolio/North Palisade from Rambaud Creek
Thanks Brian.
My generation was the Stonemasters/Yosemite Uprising crowd. I climbed a number of first ascents with Galen Rowell in the High Sierra. These climbs were not Galen's idea though. He had moved onto adventures in Asia, and although he loved the Sierra his energies had diversified.
Robbins and Chouinard had moved on when I started climbing in 1976. I was well aware of their talent and they were certainly phantom mentors. I did climb with John Bachar and more recently with Peter Croft if those names mean anything to you. Vern Clevenger and I were climbing partners for a decade. At the time we set the world speed climbing record on the Nose and Salathe Wall on El Capitan. Maybe the fourth one day ascent of the Nose and second of the Salathe. As a matter of fact one day after the first one day climb of the Salathe.
The time slipping away is strange for me. It's not hard to imagine drone photography changing our photo world, among other things, in the very near future. Why hike up that remote canyon in the Eastern Karakorum when you can send up the drone. Carry a camera. Why bother. Just shoot drone video.
I'm afraid the day is just about here. Sad for me.
p.1 #7 · Sierra Portfolio/North Palisade from Rambaud Creek
Hey Claude,
That sounds like a super sweet location. I like the light in this, and great job on getting back in there with better conditions.
Time does seem to slip away faster then it comes, thanks for sharing some of these memories of times that many of us recall personally, and for others its a history lesson of a time they perhaps can't even relate too.
p.1 #8 · Sierra Portfolio/North Palisade from Rambaud Creek
Claude, thank you for sharing both your images and stories with the FM community. As a young photographer, I am far removed from the world that you knew but I treasure the ability to learn more about that way of life. With technology becoming more and more prominent and overwhelming, I often find myself wondering if the past was a better world, quieter and more peaceful.
p.1 #9 · Sierra Portfolio/North Palisade from Rambaud Creek
Claude,
Beautiful capture. As someone that has had a deep love and reverence for the high Sierra for many years, I enjoyed reading about your exploits and the backstory of the image. Thanks for sharing.
p.1 #12 · Sierra Portfolio/North Palisade from Rambaud Creek
The glowing light created unforgettable atmosphere. Fantastic shot and knowing that you got it on film is extra special these days.
As far as drone photography I think it is already here. Recently I was watching some people on top of the mountain doing some drone shooting and the drone itself was getting more attention that spectacular sunset and scenery. People are forgetting about experiences and memories and those can't be replaced with any toy.
p.1 #13 · Sierra Portfolio/North Palisade from Rambaud Creek
ckcarr wrote:
Hey Claude, have you watched that documentary on the Stonemasters on Netflix that they've been showing?
I don't think so unless that's Valley Uprising. I liked the uprising portrayal but as with all those its a limited impression and one the glamorizes the time, place and people. The heroics of youth. This was really a bunch of dropouts thinking about themselves 24/7. Myself included!
p.1 #14 · Sierra Portfolio/North Palisade from Rambaud Creek
ArturS wrote:
The glowing light created unforgettable atmosphere. Fantastic shot and knowing that you got it on film is extra special these days.
As far as drone photography I think it is already here. Recently I was watching some people on top of the mountain doing some drone shooting and the drone itself was getting more attention that spectacular sunset and scenery. People are forgetting about experiences and memories and those can't be replaced with any toy.
Amen.
I drove over Conway Summit last fall. The colors were great! but the line up of cars was something I had never seen before. Hundreds of people whipping out of their cars doing what I call the drive by shooting. Onto North Lake. It's a different world out there.
p.1 #15 · Sierra Portfolio/North Palisade from Rambaud Creek
ArturS wrote:
The glowing light created unforgettable atmosphere. Fantastic shot and knowing that you got it on film is extra special these days.
As far as drone photography I think it is already here. Recently I was watching some people on top of the mountain doing some drone shooting and the drone itself was getting more attention that spectacular sunset and scenery. People are forgetting about experiences and memories and those can't be replaced with any toy.
Ah yes...but can't the same be said for photogs that are buried into their camera missing the atmosphere as the sun sets? Aren't cameras just more toys?
p.1 #16 · Sierra Portfolio/North Palisade from Rambaud Creek
chez wrote:
Ah yes...but can't the same be said for photogs that are buried into their camera missing the atmosphere as the sun sets? Aren't cameras just more toys?
For me at least a camera is a means to an expression and my head buried under a dark cloth was one of intense awareness. No doubt some miss the moment looking at what they've "captured" but there's no doubt that others are clicking the shutter as a way to savor the moment.
