p.1 #10 · A guide to digital mountain climbing photography
Well, I have always done some hiking as a kid, from as far as I can remember, so I already had an idea of how to survive in the mountains. I then went through rock climbing, starting about three years ago, and started going up higher and higher stuff until you could really call it mountaineering. I also took a 12 days intro to mountaineering course in the Alaska range which did a lot to teach me the basics. But it's really all about getting out there and doing it, preferably with somebody experienced enough that you are likely to come back
p.1 #11 · A guide to digital mountain climbing photography
I would say that a three year journey from walking in rocky areas to climbing the Andes is pretty unusual! Out of curiousity, how old are you? (I am 44, and wondering when I will have the time to pursue something like this, with a 2 year old daughter, and if I will still be strong enough when I have the time ).
p.1 #12 · A guide to digital mountain climbing photography
carstenw wrote:
I would say that a three year journey from walking in rocky areas to climbing the Andes is pretty unusual! Out of curiousity, how old are you? (I am 44, and wondering when I will have the time to pursue something like this, with a 2 year old daughter, and if I will still be strong enough when I have the time ).
Not necessarily unusual, I think, many of the skills can be acquired quite fast, then it's all a matter of getting the experience without being killed in the dangerous first few years. With the right mix of ambition and humility, you can achieve a lot in a fairly short time.
I just turned 25, so I know I will never be a world class rock climbing athlete (you need to start very young, like many other sports), but mountaineering is different and requires mental toughness and great endurance more than pure physical abilities, which is why people of all ages can be very successful mountaineers. Though you probably will never have your face on cover of a magazine, you can very well become a good alpinist and have a great time in the mountains starting at 45 or even later.
p.1 #13 · A guide to digital mountain climbing photography
How do you manage toting all of that gear along with the 25-pound set of balls you must have to deal with those mountain faces? I got ill just looking at some of the climbers!!! Amazing stuff.
p.1 #15 · A guide to digital mountain climbing photography
Alex,
If you notice a lot of hit statistics coming from San Diego, CA, I'm spreading your link around to all my (much more talented) climbing buddies. Loved your photos, your ambition and might have to take my "big" camera up mountain climbing myself. I have brought it up some non-technical peaks (San Jacinto a few weeks back) but nothing "tough" as of yet.
Good luck on your studies, photography and climbing!
p.1 #16 · A guide to digital mountain climbing photography
alexandrebuiss wrote:
...you can very well become a good alpinist and have a great time in the mountains starting at 45 or even later.
Easily. I've climbed 265 peaks in the Canadian Rockies and I'm 35 years old, but I personally know of many guys who started alpine climbing in their 40's and summited some extremely impressive mountains! A classic example around here is Don Forest who didn't start until he was 40:
(I should add that the key to continuing this stuff when you're older is a strict workout routine and / or going out every weekend! Alpinism is a very demanding athletic activity - and most of it is in thin air too!)
p.1 #18 · A guide to digital mountain climbing photography
Alex,
Great photos and thanks for sharing your experiences and knowledge.
These high alpine mountain images are always inspiring and I still remember seeing the IMAX Everest movie and wondering how they got those large cameras most of the way up.
Good thing you don't have any Zeiss lenses as there is no way to take off and put back on their lens caps with gloves on. I can barely put them on with bare hands.
BTW, how many days do your two batteries normally last in such cold weather?
p.1 #19 · A guide to digital mountain climbing photography
@wayne: the way they carried the cameras was simple: they used sherpas. David Breashears isn't the worst offender, but altitude movies and documentaries tend to have a very bad track record of giving credit to the sherpas without whom they wouldn't have any footage.
Regarding lens caps, I have stopped using them entirely, relying on lens hoods instead. I only put the caps on for air travel or when I know I won't be using the camera for a while.
The thing about cold is that as soon as you rewarm the battery, it goes back to normal capacity, so it doesn't really have much of an impact as long as I have a warm spare one. On my D90, one battery is usually two to three days of heavy use in the mountains, which I think is a really good performance. On the Nepal trip, I had a total of four as I was worried about not finding external power, but I could easily have done with only three.
).
Loved your photos, your ambition and might have to take my "big" camera up mountain climbing myself. I have brought it up some non-technical peaks (San Jacinto a few weeks back) but nothing "tough" as of yet.