Mount Rainier Visitor Statistics, National Park Service.

I consider Mt Rainier National Park to be one of our top 7 national parks.  By 2009 NPS statistics it is the 66th most visited location in the National Park System (out of ~362).  17th of National Parks.  That is remarkably far from the top for such an impressive park.  This is however one of the reasons that I love Mt Rainier!

I think that this speaks volumes about the character or our park.  In league with Denali, Yosemite, Grand Teton, and Rocky Mountain National Parks, Rainier is certainly one of the more daunting parks to explore.  AND it is going to get tougher, as aggradation continues and the roads through the park are closed even more often.  For me the idea of inaccessibility creates Mt Rainier's allure, and it is one of the aspects that drove me to become a climber and guide.  I wanted to be closer.

Wallace Stegner on the value of wilderness...

"We simply need that wild country available to us, even if we never do more than drive to its edge and look in."

To look into the wild is to look inward.  The questions that our body feels when we look out into what might as well be outer space or another planet are the same questions that our body feels when we question the meaning of life.  The next time you look at Mt. Rainier think of all the places on the mountain that have never felt a human foot, and what your connection to that place is.  Become aware of the value of having wild places like The Mountain as a resource for your heart and your growth.  And be glad that even though our species has a knack at loving things to death, This Mountain will always keep us at a distance, the way an objective mentor must.

Adam

Kilimanjaro Climb and Safari 2010, International Mountain Guides.

2010 schedule update.

I will be leading the International Mountain Guides Kilimanjaro Climb and Safari in June, 2010.  There are still spaces available at the time of this writing.  Contact me or check out http://www.mountainguides.com/kilimanjaro.shtml for more information.

Adam

Photoluck Returns

OK OK Stop asking everyone!  Here it is.  Photoluck is returning.  New time, same place, same deal.  Photolucks will happen on select Thursdays this fall.  See the schedule in the right hand column of this blog for the select dates and times.

....Breathe....Learn from others....Set goals....Reflect....Recharge....explore creativity.....share your intent....Grow with your photography and have a good time.

Come share your images at our weekly Photoluck Dinner.  Bring a digital file(s) of your favorite picture(s) and your dinner/beverage of choice (just your own), we'll do the rest.  Bring your spouse (they have to bring a photo too) and pass this on.

204 National Park Highway (that's 2nd street to you locals), Morton, WA. 98356.

Adam

Phil Ershler's 25th Everest Anniversary

Eric Simonson and George Dunn have written a wonderful tribute to Phil Ershler's 25th Everest Anniversary.   October 20, 2009 marks 25 years since Phil made the first American ascent of the North Face of Everest.  Read more about it here.

Phil was and is a great mentor to me.  He gave me my first gig as an international mountain guide and continues to be an inspiration and an advisor.

Thanks Phil!

Adam

Landslide closes section of SR 410 Chinook Pass

Just got back from a great two week tour with the family.  The "Adventure Truck" took us safely through Utah, Oregon, Idaho and Eastern Washington.  The fall colors were spectacular and we visited some world class wineries and restaurants.  On our way home we noticed that SR 410, Chinook Pass access to Tipsoo lake has been closed by a landslide.  For more information about the closure, read here.

While we were gone MRIP received it's CUA to operate in Mt. Rainier National Park in 2010.  So the dates posted on the website are now official.  A reminder for those of you that attended the Landscape Photography 101 workshop at the 2009 Rainier Arts Festival.  You can receive $100 off any regularly scheduled Master Class, if you sign up before October 31st, 2009.

Adam

Capture Mount Rainier, a guide to landscape photography in Mt. Rainier National Park.

Need some basic tips for making great landscape images? I've recently posted a free PDF download titled Capture Mount Rainier, a guide to landscape photography in Mt. Rainier National Park.

Nothing overly detailed here, just a short primer to help you get started. Enough to give you a little inspiration, a little technical guidance, and some locations.

You can download the article here.
I look forward to traveling with you.
Adam

50th anniversary poses new challenges for Serengeti

By Wolfgang H. Thome, eTN Africa | Aug 22, 2009
 
The Serengeti National Park just celebrated its half century anniversary amid reports on the growing challenges for the national park by human encroachment, demands for concessions by lodge developers and increased tourist traffic into the park.
Unlike in the Masai Mara Game Reserve, the Kenyan extension to the Serengeti ecosystem, there are substantially less lodges and tented camps located in the Serengeti, a standard wildlife conservationists intend to maintain for the long term benefit of the park

Click here for the rest of the story.

Mount Rainier Flight Photos

We had a great evening flying around Mount Rainier.

Adam. Checking out the scene.


The approach.... looking good.


Tahoma Glacier, Sunset Amphitheater and the Puyallup Glacier at sunset.

Thanks Jenni!

Flying off into the sunset.

Mount Rainier Flight

Tonight IMG Guide Jenni Fogle is flying us around Mount Rainier! We plan to take off around 7:30 and shoot in the late light. The weather forecast looks good and we are really looking forward to it.

Jenni flies KC-135’s and Global Hawks for the Air Force Reserve and is a climbing guide in Alaska, Washington, and California.

I can't wait!
Adam

Travel Portraits, “Another Reason To Visit The Himalayas, and East Africa.”

Need some basic tips for making great travel portraits? I've recently posted a free PDF download titled Travel Portraits, “Another Reason To Visit The Himalayas, and East Africa.”

Nothing overly detailed here, just a short primer to help you get started. Enough to give you a little inspiration (and bravery) to make portraits of strangers, and a little technical guidance. It's broken down into 3 sections:

• Part 1 “The Approach”
• Part 2 “Equipment”
• Part 3 “Making the Image”

You can download the article here.
I look forward to traveling with you.
Adam