Trip Report
Cabezon Evening, A Desert Sonata
Monday September 5, 2011 9:00pm
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Credit: survival
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For months I'd been planning on taking the mighty Lepton Man to Cabezon Peak.

There are many reasons it's a favorite place of mine, some of them personal.

We really had to hustle on our chores to make a successful bid for camp before sunset.

Lepton is as much of a desert rat as I am, maybe more. I KNEW he would love it out there, and that a single night out, with changing light and color would make the difference.

We were not disappointed.

As usual, I took quite a few pictures hoping for a couple keepers.



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First things first was bust out the lawn chairs and take in the local scene.

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While Lepton stared at the evening light on the summit, this began to happen behind him.

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It was so quiet and peaceful, the way certain classical pieces begin. We decided that we HAD to go for a short walk, toward that Sunset Sonata.

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They didn't all come out great, so I'm just gonna lay the good ones on you.
The vibrations grew, and the second movement came on more forcefully than the first.


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The third movement had some mellower and more somber tonal qualities.

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The fourth movement blasted a mighty crescendo.

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What a gas. I hadn't "seen" a piece of music like that in quite awhile!!

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Tomorrow's activities coming up later!!







  Trip Report Views: 3,071
survival
About the Author
survival is a big wall climber from A Token of My Extreme.

Comments
drljefe

climber
El Presidio San Augustin del Tucson
  Sep 5, 2011 - 10:10pm PT
What a sunset!!!
Nice Bruce.
Ezra Ellis

Trad climber
North wet, and Da souf
  Sep 5, 2011 - 11:35pm PT
Nice pics, love a good sunset.

Like the ATP shirt, didn't know you hung out with science geeks like me....:)
survival

Big Wall climber
Terrapin Station
Author's Reply  Sep 5, 2011 - 11:52pm PT
Thank you sir Jefe & Sir Ezra.

Yes, I hang out with science geeks. Yer lookin' at 'im!!!

It was a glorious night when the stars came out too.

The next morning was cool and cloudy. More jacket weather!

We brewed up some good coffee and headed for the hills, or THE hill.



Lepton had to have a picture of this plant. Believe it or not this plant carries the fungus that can kill Bristlecone pines hundreds of miles away.
Of course Lepton can tell you how EXACTLY it all happens, but I can't...












Not bunches of technical climbing up there, but there are some really interesting forms and textures!






The top is huge and really fun to wander around on.







Especially if you're a plant nut case...........












I got some cool light in a few spots.

























Surveying his kingdom.
this just in

climber
Justin Ross from North Fork
  Sep 5, 2011 - 11:48pm PT
Keep em coming bro, cause you sure post some good photos. The desert rats rock. Thanks survival.
survival

Big Wall climber
Terrapin Station
Author's Reply  Sep 6, 2011 - 08:45am PT
Thanks TJI!!





















We continued our hike around the entire plug.













The thunder started about now.
survival

Big Wall climber
Terrapin Station
Author's Reply  Sep 6, 2011 - 11:55am PT
No love for a humble photo thread today. Must be doing something wrong. Oh well.



Loved the forms on this boulder we came across. It wanted to go home with me, but alas it was too large and very far.....




Photodocumentation of the hike ended at this point because as Chief Humping Dog said: "Sky water increase in density."
Luckily it cleared up for the next leg of our trip to come later....





Ahhh, back into the sun!


Back later.
survival

Big Wall climber
Terrapin Station
Author's Reply  Sep 6, 2011 - 01:48pm PT

Later days dudes and dudettes!!


















































le_bruce

climber
Oakland, CA
  Sep 6, 2011 - 01:47pm PT
Thanks, Survival, for the quick trip to the Sonora. Great, great sunset pics, and the shot of your partner at the edge of the mesa looking over the desert.
this just in

climber
Justin Ross from North Fork
  Sep 6, 2011 - 02:21pm PT
Edited to keep the drama on the other threads:)
survival

Big Wall climber
Terrapin Station
Author's Reply  Sep 6, 2011 - 03:04pm PT
No worries TJI.
I edited my post and backed off.

I appreciate the gang that always visits.

Le_bruce, I think there's not too much Sonoran about it? I hear that NM, or maybe this part of NM is to be considered more transitional desert squished in by Sonoran, Chihuahuan?, Great Basin, and the Great plains in the east.
Some smart person told me that.......
lepton

climber
  Sep 6, 2011 - 10:24pm PT
On the way home, I had thought, for the first time, that New Mexico is far more beautiful than my home state. What the hell is bruce talking below? (edited so as to not offend appreciators of a great trip report.)
survival

Big Wall climber
Terrapin Station
Author's Reply  Sep 7, 2011 - 02:35am PT
Skip too ma loo ma darlin'.....
Darwin

Trad climber
Seattle, WA
  Sep 6, 2011 - 09:56pm PT


OK, I was already to chime in with "the best trip report ever", then got to the last posting. I admit, it weirds me out on so many levels. Anyway, come midwinter in Seattle, I'll still be staring at the photos of the desert.
lepton

climber
  Sep 6, 2011 - 10:25pm PT
Sorry Darwin. I thought that a little scandal would generate some interest since actual outdoor adventure doesnt seem to do much. it is an excellent trip report. But the experience was so incredible it leaves me speechless. i get a little choked up reading the TR.
survival

Big Wall climber
Terrapin Station
Author's Reply  Sep 7, 2011 - 02:38am PT
It really was a special trip for me, but I admit Darwin's post disturbs me on so many levels....
Gabe

climber
  Sep 7, 2011 - 03:51am PT
Great job! I love a couple of your photos. thanks for letting us inside.
survival

Big Wall climber
Terrapin Station
Author's Reply  Sep 7, 2011 - 12:09pm PT
Thanks Gabe, and especially DMT.

Coming from a desert rat like you that's a high compliment.

I appreciate it.
survival

Big Wall climber
Terrapin Station
Author's Reply  Sep 7, 2011 - 04:14pm PT
Thanks Ron!

Lepton and I got him so fired up that The Brave Little Toaster just did a solo ascent of Cabezon this morning!!!

Congrats Buggs!
Bowser

Social climber
Durango CO
  Sep 7, 2011 - 04:38pm PT
Awesome Survival! I love New Mexico!
BrianH

Trad climber
santa fe
  Sep 7, 2011 - 05:30pm PT
There are few things as beautiful as the desert when it's had some rain.
perswig

climber
  Sep 7, 2011 - 05:45pm PT
I think those are some of the most beautiful pics you've ever posted, Bruce (and that's saying something).

Thanks for bringing us along.
Dale
survival

Big Wall climber
Terrapin Station
Author's Reply  Sep 7, 2011 - 07:48pm PT
Thanks a million you guys.

I was really bummed that no one seemed to be getting it for awhile....

I mean, it's not Freerider with a pro photographer or something, but it is meaningful to me.

Thanks again.
survival

Big Wall climber
Terrapin Station
Author's Reply  Sep 8, 2011 - 01:10pm PT
Hoping Buggs will throw down a post here, after his solo ascent.

Lepton is a man of few words here.

Unlike when you're face to face with him..........


BWA HA HA HA Hahahahaaaa!!!




survival

Big Wall climber
Terrapin Station
Author's Reply  Dec 19, 2011 - 12:47pm PT
Thanks eKat!! How did I miss your post?

You're so awesome. I'll see you soon.
survival

Big Wall climber
Terrapin Station
Author's Reply  May 24, 2013 - 12:20pm PT
Obscure Desert Bump....
Anybody ever seen Henry Fonda in My Name Is Nobody?
This is where the opening scene was filmed!
Obscure Movie Buff Bump....
Ghost

climber
A long way from where I started
  May 24, 2013 - 12:32pm PT
I'm glad you bumped this symphony of light, cuz I missed it the first time around.

Interesting to try to imagine what drama was in the now-deleted posts, too.
Reilly

Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
  May 24, 2013 - 12:46pm PT
Interesting to try to imagine what drama was in the now-deleted posts, too.

What, did somebody take issue with Survival's use of saturation and contrast?
Bwa Ha Ha Ha Ha! I'm laughing with you! [It takes one to know one. ;-) ]
survival

Big Wall climber
Terrapin Station
Author's Reply  May 24, 2013 - 01:30pm PT
I don't even remember any drama, oops.

I guess I was thinking a decent photo TR is worthy whether it's climbing or not.

And yeah Reilly, I bump color a little, sometimes a bunch, because so much desert stuff is just flat and washed out if you don't have perfect light. Although I don't usually bump saturation up, I take gamma down instead. A better result to my eye.
They often look better.
So FU!!!! :0)
Fletcher

Boulder climber
Institute of Better Bouldering-DirtbagDad Division
  May 24, 2013 - 01:45pm PT
Wow, how did I miss this one? Love it all, good stuff as usual survival, but those sun/cloud images at the beginning are superb! Thanks!

Eric
Reilly

Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
  May 24, 2013 - 01:47pm PT
Yo mamma wears gamma boots! Just messin' with ya! Yeah, there's only
an hour or so of decent light anywhere, especially the desert where
contrast was born, eh? You gots a gud eye, bro. And if more people
knew how to adjust their mamma's gamma there'd be lots more gud pics to ogle.
survival

Big Wall climber
Terrapin Station
Author's Reply  May 24, 2013 - 02:01pm PT
And if more people knew how to adjust their mamma's gamma there'd be lots more gud pics to ogle.


Damn, that made my freekin day....

I guess nobody's seen Henry Fonda in My Name Is Nobody? OK, I'll help you out. Just watch the first few minutes. You even get to see Cabezon through a window in old Cabezon when Henry's getting ready for his shave! You also see the pyramid peak from the sunset shots right away, and the far ridge of Ignacio Chavez Wilderness!
[Click to View YouTube Video]
Leggs

Sport climber
Made in California, living in The Old Pueblo
  May 24, 2013 - 04:32pm PT
this is awesome... and serene...

survival

Big Wall climber
Terrapin Station
Author's Reply  May 24, 2013 - 07:35pm PT
Thanks Leggs.

Sometimes I just want quiet quiet quiet and open space.

Often it has little to do with climbing.
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