Wild Basin

[Aleksandra Miesak]

I am going for a quick day hike with a few non-photographer friends to the Wild Basin area (south of RMNP) this Sunday, July 6th. Any ideas on hikes, must shoot spots? I keep getting complaints about making all my hiking trips ALL ABOUT photography so I have to pretend it's about something else... not sure what else there is? I don't think they want me to blabber about rocks and point out formations like I used to...

But anyway, tips on things to do for everyone there would be great.

Thanks,
-Aleks

[Randy Van Winkle]

Hi Aleks,

I've been up that way a few times. I have always hiked up to Ouzel Falls. Here is a shot from my site:

http://web.mac.com/randallwade/Site_...ado_II.html#17

On the way up there, is Calypso Cascades which is a really nice large cascade. I made my first large print (16x20) from a velvia slide that I took up there. Ouzel Lake is about 5 miles in and sits right at 10,000ft. Should be snow free by now.

My neighbor works for the National Park Service and said that his favorite location in the entire park is the Lion Lakes area which is in Wild Basin. However, I think they are probably a bit high up right now and I think at least 7 miles in. see description here:

http://www.protrails.com/trail.php?trailID=10

I might try to do that as a day hike later in the season.

Good Luck!

[Darren Kilgore]

Sounds like you need new friends, Aleks!

[Jon LaBass]

Darren, why do you think Aleks came to NPC?

[Aleksandra Miesak]

I definitely need some new friends that don't mind getting dragged out of bed at 4 am to shoot sunrise...

And thanks Randy for your information, it's very helpful. And your images are stunning!

[Aleksandra Miesak]

Speaking of dragging my friends all over the place... Somehow I convinced my out of town friends to drive up with me to Mt. Evans for sunset last night. I think the only reason it worked is because one of our friends is into photography. I still haven't downloaded the images but it was amazing up there! I will post some of them after work for critique.

The thing that got me reved up was one kid (with his tanned californian parents) had a brand spanking new Nikon D3 (obvuiously I was a bit jealous... ) but the really frustrating part was he was using it in Auto setting and his flash was going off!!!! I was really tempted to go over there and show him how it works for the camera's sake, but than it's very likely I would just run off with it...

Anyway, just wanted to bounce off my frustration to an audience that understands.

[Darren Kilgore]

Originally Posted by Aleksandra Miesak

I definitely need some new friends that don't mind getting dragged out of bed at 4 am to shoot sunrise...

Well, I'm out!

Nothing like using a D3 in full auto and using a flash on a mountain. Genious! Good to see they put the money to good use.

[Laurie Wendt]

Aleks, I would have surely given californian jr. a few raised eyebrow stares! Good luck finding friends willing to get up for sunrise, I've been trying for 30 years!
I always make sure I go on and on about how amazing it was and what they missed so that they feel real guilty about missing it. It doesn't really help but it makes me feel better.

[Scott Bacon]

You really can't go wrong with a day hike in Wild Basin. It's beautiful. And Randy's suggestions are spot on. Pear Lake is also a nice destination.

Be sure to give us a report on the wildflower conditions and share some pics!

[Aleksandra Miesak]

Definitely! Thanks.