Tuolumne is beautiful right now!

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QITNL

climber

Topic Author's Original Post - Jun 30, 2010 - 03:53pm PT

I returned Monday from three nights up the Cathedral Lakes trailhead. I booked the permit back in January, little did I know how drop-dead gorgeous it would be right now. Lots of snow, if you dig that sort of thing. Water everywhere, you can camp anywhere - I spent my first night at Lower Cathedral Lake, second under Tresidder Peak, third under Matthes Crest. Just made it up as I wandered around.

Here are a few shots so you can see what I'm talking about. Perhaps useful for those who are looking for snow reports. Higher-res versions and more photos can be found here:

http://www.qitnl.com/v/062510/

I'll be adding more to the album. One thing I couldn't capture was the full moon which rose each night. Stunning.

Lower Cathedral Lake:


	Credit: QITNL

Lower Cathedral Lake:


	Credit: QITNL

Tresidder Peak:


	Credit: QITNL

Cathedral Peak, Conness in background:


	Credit: QITNL

Tresidder Peak, Columbia Finger:


	Credit: QITNL

Looking SE from Tresidder:


	Credit: QITNL

Campsite under Matthes Crest:


	Credit: QITNL

Cockscomb:


	Credit: QITNL

Sunday sunset over Tuolumne Peak:


	Credit: QITNL

Climbers on Cathedral Peak, Monday June 28:


	Credit: QITNL

Close-up of climbers (they had the whole rock to themselves!):


	Credit: QITNL

HighDesertDJ

Trad climber

Arid-zona

Jun 30, 2010 - 03:55pm PT

*sigh*

TerriB

Trad climber

Sacramento, Ca

Jun 30, 2010 - 04:06pm PT

Aw man! Cathedral to themselves. We were all set to climb it Tuesday but had to cancel. That makes it even more disappointing that we didn't make it. We will be back, with the crowds, in July. I haven't climbed it before so I'm chopping at the bit! Beautiful pictures, thanks for sharing.

atchafalaya

climber

Babylon

Jun 30, 2010 - 04:08pm PT

That shot of Cathedral and Conness is stunning. Thanks for the Tr and photos. I was wondering about snow conditions out that way...

BES1'st

climber

City of Orange, CA.

Jun 30, 2010 - 04:09pm PT

Thank's great photos, and I am looking for some.

I'm also looking for a limted edition edition Ansel Adams that was
taken from the west of Half Dome with numerous lightning bolts hitting
it at the same time. I lost it in divorce.

TMJesse

Mountain climber

Olympia, WA

Jun 30, 2010 - 04:11pm PT

After seeing these, I’m about to drop dead from homesickness! Beautiful is too subtle a word. Thanks!

Mungeradomas

Gym climber

Deep State of Philosophical Mind Bending

Jun 30, 2010 - 04:13pm PT

oofa, so nice.

I predict:

it will get crowded later and have many skeetos

bluering

Trad climber

Santa Clara, Ca.

Jun 30, 2010 - 04:15pm PT

That shot of Cathedral and Conness is stunning.

I'll second that! Unique perspective too.

ron gomez

Trad climber

fallbrook,ca

Jun 30, 2010 - 04:17pm PT

It's my heaven while on earth! I always remember my FIRST sight of Tuolumne and I remember thinking...."I'll always come here for the rest of my life." Thanks for the KILLER shots and the great memories that were brought back when I saw them. Can't wait to get back up there in a couple of weeks!
Peace

the Fet

climber

Tu-Tok-A-Nu-La

Jun 30, 2010 - 04:19pm PT

Thanks for posting these.

tuolumne_tradster

Trad climber

Leading Edge of North American Plate

Jun 30, 2010 - 06:22pm PT

QITNL: WOW! Your photos are awesome. Could you share how you took these? camera, shutter speed, aperture? Any enhancement on PhotoShop?

nita

Social climber

chica from chico, I don't claim to be a daisy

Jun 30, 2010 - 06:27pm PT

QITNL, Double WOW!....Thanks for the Beautiful photos.. Love them..

edit: Hey Jaybro, Do you know if Lynne get a job at TPR?

Jaybro

Social climber

Wolf City, Wyoming

Jun 30, 2010 - 06:28pm PT

Just back, photos downloading....

Wait until Fluoride posts up, She and Cho definitely did not have Cathedral to themselves. Though they were one of the parties that made it part way out before breaking out the headlamps, they missed last call at Whoa Nellie....

Karl Baba

Trad climber

Yosemite, Ca

Jun 30, 2010 - 06:41pm PT

Great Shots!

noshoesnoshirt

climber

Arkansas, I suppose

Jun 30, 2010 - 06:45pm PT

Stunning, thanks

10b4me

Boulder climber

The End Is Near Retirement Home

Jun 30, 2010 - 06:46pm PT

that shot of Cathedral, and Conness is fantastic.

QITNL

climber

Topic Author's Reply - Jun 30, 2010 - 09:58pm PT

Gee, thanks everyone - but I'm just a shutterbug, she's a supermodel. Credit where credit is due.

My camera is just a little Canon SD800 point-and-shoot that I holster on my shoulder. It has a little wider-angle lens than similar models, you can get them on ebay for under $100.

Photoshop - yes, I'll confess - a little, guilty. But only to return the image to how it struck my eye, compensating for the camera. The contrast between sunlight and shade is off the charts in the mountains, particularly at altitude and when snow is in the picture. The eye compensates but not the digital sensor. A wee bit of Shadow/Highlight helps there, and a touch of Unsharp Mask cuts through some of the haze when distance is involved. Hope that isn't as dirty as rap-bolting. I'm just learning as I go along.

Get up there quick as you can - everything is melting fast. Lower Cathedral Lake had ice on Friday but was clear on Monday. Things are nice and quiet as the campground is still closed; though they tentatively open tomorrow. When I hit the trail on Friday, I was bothered by nary a skeeter until the last 50 feet along the road on Monday - they lit me up like a Christmas tree! The Meadow is a swamp, I got out of there fast!