The fireworks in DC are always pretty magical with the monuments as a backdrop, but this year the weather was perfect, too. I was pleased to capture more of the motion, depth and dimension of the fireworks this year, not just the lesser dimensional blasts.
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We’ve all seen the photos of a hiker out on a precipice, dangerously close to a ledge, witnessing a vista from a spot that’s presumably taken hours to reach. It’s what all hikers and outdoor enthusiasts dream about—myself included.
I love encouraging people to get off the couch or outside exploring but I fear the ubiquity of the person on a precipice photo makes some complacent about their preparation to reach these spots and is encouraging faster deterioration of fragile geological sites.Each summer season sees many accidents at national parks and monuments—in so many cases people underestimate the dangers or damage they might cause.
The infamous shots of Horseshoe Bend are a perfect example.In and of itself it’s not a very strenuous place to reach. If you’re in average good health and can walk a mile this is an easy walk from a nearby parking lot.Yet, people die there because they are distracted, careless about the dangers, and careless about dressing properly.
On a recent sunrise visit to Horseshoe Bend I watched as a young woman approached a raw section of the rim—without a railing—wearing a flimsy, leather soled sandal.This red rock ledge is covered in fine sand and pebbles on top hard flat rocks offering a perfect spot for viewing and photos, but also a perfect potential for slipping.It was a damp, thirty-some degree morning with a steady, brisk wind that makes one move stiffly.There are sections with a railing and there are sections without.This young woman stood near the rim without a railing to take her selfie, back to the edge, obviously cold, and sure enough one of her feet slipped away from her.She was lucky because she slipped away from the edge.All I could do was shake my head and be grateful I hadn’t just watched her fall to her death—something I’m sure I couldn’t handle.
Similarly while I was climbing down from Angel’s Landing at Zion National Park a few years ago, I witnessed parents standing behind as their twelve, or so, year-old daughter slid down an embankment on her bottom and jumped off to a landing less than two feet wide, facing a shear drop off into a canyon over 1,000 ft down, wearing a basic pair of worn sneakers.If she had misjudged the landing, slipped ever so little, caught an edge on the rock face or done anything that caused her to need more room for a landing she would have been gone.There was no precaution in her movement.
She might have also taken someone with her as she grasped for anything when she realized she was falling. Stupid, careless, thoughtless, reckless, I feel.Even if she had the proper shoes this was an eye bulging situation to witness.Again, I was thankful, as were the others watching in terror with me, that we hadn’t just witnessed the death of this young girl.It’s almost as if the chains and railings give visitors a false sense of safety, and that folks are sure there will be protections or warning signs—even where the dangers are glaringly obvious.In that case, I’m not even certain the parents recognized the situation they had allowed to occur.(I can’t even bring myself to call it a tragedy averted because, to me, a tragedy is something you don’t or can’t see coming.This was an obvious and unnecessary risk.)
And as for those who climb out upon overhangs, I know it makes for a great photo, but remember you’re standing on a natural ledge in the process of natural erosion.One day it will fall, and are you sure you want to cause it to fall. Do you wish to go with it?In many cases it seems there is no regard for the places and their preservation. There is an insatiable need to possess them—not just witness them. The least you can do is wear appropriate shoes. Sneakers and basic athletic shoes are intended for pavement or prepared surfaces, as a rule. There is a great deal of engineering and design behind a good hiking shoe–really. It’s not any different than buying tires for your car, except it’s you getting your feet trail ready. Call ahead and talk to park officials or search online sites that provide a preview of conditions and logistics, so you know what to expect. Yes, it takes time. Yes, it will make the experience better.
Here’s the thing, National park visitation has spiked in the last six years, and the number of park rangers patrolling has declined along with their budgets. Keep these statistics in mind from Steve Sullivan, Permits Program Manager at the Grand Canyon, as you take a ledge or head out on an unfamiliar trail: each year at the Grand Canyon alone the National Park Service engages on average to 297 search and rescues, and 1,067 emergency service responses.In May of 2016, on a single day there were over 1,000 people attempting some version of a rim-to-rim hike.For every park visitor, nationwide, there is 1 park ranger for every 180,000 visitors, according to National Park Service data.They are overburdened and under funded and the current administration doesn’t appear to have any regard or remedy for improving those stats.
You’ve probably heard the camping motto “Leave no trace.” meaning there should be no trace you visited—no trash, nothing left behind.No trace can also include creating a situation where visitors disregard risks and need to be rescued or evacuated.It’s a drain on a National Park system that’s already struggling to manage.Please think and plan ahead before you visit a park, and take precautions all the way down to the shoes you choose to wear.
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Many slot canyons in America’s southwest have been hidden, spiritual gems kept close and private in the Native American cultures where they are frequently found. A sense of spirituality and church are common and understandable as one walks through gazing upward at the architectural design of wind, water and time—just as a tourist in a large cathedral anywhere in the world might experience. Navajo guides recount stories of tribal hunting, celebrations, rituals and using the canyons as retreats during travel, as well as storms of nature and man. The church parallels continue as visitors contemplate the way sunlight filters in against the sandstone walls, coloring and decorating the spaces every bit as much as any stained-glass window. Visitors linger to watch the mood and light change as the places of dark and light move.
I had the pleasure of visiting two slot canyons near Page, Arizona this year. The first was the high profile and well-worn Lower Antelope Canyon and the second, Canyon X, only open to the public since 2016–an amazing fact to me–millions of years in the making and to be among the first, relatively speaking, to see it. Both of these slot canyons are the by-products of the same 18 mile stream known as Antelope Creek near Lake Powell.
Lower Antelope Canyon offered more sultry, sensual shapes at almost every head turn. Some of my shots from Canyon X reminded me of medical micro photography with the abrupt changes in texture and wear.
It’s worth reminding everyone that the forces that continue to forge these grand caverns of red rock can and will gobble up a patron or guide who fails to respect the powers that be. Just as the Mid-Atlantic region is experiencing changing weather patterns, recently this area has experienced a lot of rain and snow. Over the years, many have made the mistake of underestimating the potential power within these canyons, which is simultaneously creative and destructive.
Please support and help preserve our public lands and natural treasures. #FindYourPark amydoherty.zenfolio.com
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What started as a crazy Grand Canyon notion among an assorted group of empty nesters, mid-lifers, one twenty-something, and an eleven-year-old from Northern Virginia became a collective reality, and a substantial Southwestern adventure accomplishment for me and my son back in 2014.
All I wanted to do was take my youngest child–on the precipice of becoming a teenager–on a memorable, somewhat significant trip. In all honesty, I had never heard of hiking the Grand Canyon from rim-to-rim, and I certainly never imagined doing it in one day. The more conventional experience is to hike down to the famed Phantom Ranch, spend a night or two camping at the bottom of the canyon, and then hike out to the North Rim. Instead, we were going to hike from one rim to the other in one day
Ranging in age from 11 to 62, our group of 15 men and women, and one child hiked the rim-to-rim in 2014. This undertaking includes 23.4 miles, 11.5 hours, 7 miles down the South Rim, 9 miles across, and 7 vertical, winding miles up and out to the North Rim. Weather conditions can make any crossing experience vastly different and more-or-less extreme from one day to the next.
Entering Cedar Ridge
This isn’t a hike recommended by park rangers, I assume because hikers so frequently misjudge hydration and fitness needs even for the shorter hikes, and become stranded. Indeed, not long after we attempted this hike the National Park Service made similar hiking groups acquire a Special Use Permit in order to attempt a rim-to-rim in a group of this size. You’ll see online that some websites specifically discourage rim-to-rim hiking, while others promote ultra-style, rim-to-rim-to-rim runs of the canyon, and the like. All I can tell you is, as we began our ascent up to the North Rim, we passed a tiny helipad, and minutes later a small aircraft took off with a woman who had reportedly broken her ankle. The risks and logistics are real, and the rescues difficult, not guaranteed, and expensive.
That said, we too had a new hip in the group, knees that needed replacement, tendinitis, tight IT Bands, lower back issues, poison ivy, and blisters. In fact, my son had been rushed to an urgent care after landing in Phoenix two days earlier because of a sudden ear infection. So, while we were a tough, conditioned group–most of whom met via a 6a.m., all-year-round, outdoor, boot camp–we had plenty of potential health issues that could have become an issue at any point.
An Early Start
The day of the hike started at 4:40 AM when we all met outside our South Rim cabins to catch the shuttle to the South Kaibab Trailhead, the shorter, but more steep way down. It was an ideal 38˚F. We were told no water is guaranteed on these trails until you hit the bottom, so everyone carries their own. We paused at the start of the trail in the company of other hiking groups heading out for adventures of their own.
Along the South Kaibab Trail of the Grand Canyon.
By the time we reached the bottom the temperature could reach 90˚F or higher, but we were lucky and these extreme conditions didn’t materialize on this late May day. However, there was a little lightning as we hiked, another regular threat, but it stayed well in the distance. (Distance being a relative term on foot and within the Grand Canyon.) We each also carried a change of clothes and toiletries for when we reached the North Rim Lodge, which seemed more like a dream as the day progressed and the miles underfoot accumulated.
Hiking within the canyon, lightning in the distance.
We marveled at the awesome natural spectacle of the early morning canyon, the tips of the layered, red rock walls painted with a warm glow of sunlight as our feet and toes hammered down the well-traversed, sometimes stepped trail, spattered by mule dung and giant, puddles of vaporizing mule urine that by the time we reached the North Rim functioned as smelling salts for at least one in the group–me. I can only imagine how more intense this smell would have been on a hot day.
As we descended, the excitement grew as we caught the first glimpses of the distant, calm, emerald green portion of the Colorado River we would soon cross on the heavy gauge wire and plank suspension bridge.
We stopped and ate the boxed lunches at Phantom Ranch, which we’d pre-arranged via the National Park Service system. Some of us soaked our feet in the super cold water of the nearby stream, which was a mistake I would later regret.
Soaking my feet mistake.
Rain, thunder and lightning could not dampen the group spirit as we headed towards our last break at the encampment called Cottonwood early in the long 5400 foot climb up the North Kaibab Trail. The average grade is 21%. We took only two extended breaks during the day to eat and use the rustic, hole in the ground bathroom facilities, and limited our time at these spots. We wanted to finish in daylight, but were prepared with headlamps if we didn’t make it in time. We nibbled on trail mix and various incarnations of jerky. We continued to be amazed by the grandeur of the canyon at every turn, but more and more our gazes remained on our feet, and the strikes of the hiking poles getting deeper as we began the long climb out.
As the Day Wore On
While we stopped and posed for photos frequently on the way down, this activity became an unnecessary use of valuable time and energy on the climb out. I had developed a few blisters, and the pounding of my toes within shoes not quite sized right had started taking a toll. At least that was the slightly dehydrated thinking that was going through my brain. The camera mounted on my forehead was beginning to chafe the skin as it bounced up and down, but that pain was nothing compared to the one manifesting in my feet and thought process. I had long since packed away my Nikon D7000. I took only two photos on the climb out, while being chided by the climber sporting a new hip for not taking in all the scenic points behind me. I was in too much pain. Plus, I failed to dry my feet completely after soaking them in the stream earlier, which spurred the hot spots developing. During some relentlessly steep stretches and endless switchbacks my breathing sounded as if I had just completed a series of wind sprints. “I was in better than average shape.” I was saying to myself, “And this climb is kicking my ass!” Thinking back, I was probably carrying too much water and too much camera gear, AND had spent too much time making sure my son was eating and drinking enough.
Me as I finally saw the end.
Grand Canyon North Rim Cabin
In the end, it was the 11-year-old and twenty-something who finished first, youth and two days of antibiotics working their magic, I tell myself. The rest of us finished in small clusters, grateful for the chance, the place, the cool temperatures, and the camaraderie. We had all done it! We had successfully hiked the Grand Canyon from rim-to-rim in one day.
We spent a glorious night at the North Rim Lodge. I couldn’t tell you what I ate that night. The dining room overlooks the canyon. We could see the lights of the South Rim as nighttime came. My son fell asleep at dinner, the table served as his pillow. We woke the next morning to the full scale glory of a sunrise at the Grand Canyon’s North Rim.
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These places face a growing threat–economically and environmentally. The Grand Canyon was officially protected and preserved 100 years ago so that future generations can enjoy it. We must remember we aren’t the first, and we shouldn’t be the last to see it and experience it.
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You never know what will come of your friendships with neighbors. In the fall of 2002, my husband, children and I moved into a home in Northern Virginia which backed up to a much older, Antietam, farm house with trellis anchored flowers growing up the white siding layered with generations of paint. For years we heard about our neighbor’s home in Captiva, Florida. Last year we travelled with her to St. Louis for the total eclipse, and this year we dared to ask if we could see her Captiva home.
In July, I spent a week exploring this property with my family, and enjoying the benefits of the Gulf to inlet sized property–a rarity these days in Captiva, as most of the lots have been broken into smaller parcels. We could fish, kayak or paddle board off the back dock, and as we did, had a Manatee and a Dolphin swim within an arm’s length of the dock. My son and niece were thrilled at the sighting, and so was I. In nearly thirty years of visiting Florida, I hadn’t taken the time to go see these trusting, docile creatures nearly decimated by boaters, pollution, and development.
Resident Osprey on the property.
If that wasn’t enough of a treat, we also were privileged to have a family of Osprey living on manmade, nesting pedestals high in the tree line. All day long we were witness to their pattern of eating on a shaded dead branch of a large laurel in the front, over the driveway, and then napping within the shade of the huge Banyan tree out back. We were also privy to their privy, if you will. They are fairly impressive in this activity, as well, if you think of it as a type of spitting contest. Couldn’t help but get a photo of this!
This was just the beginning of the intrinsic and natural beauty we witnessed while staying in the circa 1949 Florida style home, which had a certain Frank Lloyd Wright simple, humble, sensibility to its design. Thankfully, it wasn’t posh, but it was comfortable, practical, and nostalgic. Each bedroom had a private bath, as well as a screened common area and family room.
The pièce de résistance was a mature Banyan tree in the rear of the property, so large you could only really appreciate the size of its canopy from the water off the back. At night, lit by landscape lights, it was the centerpiece and visible from most all rooms. Had I not stubbed my toe badly on the first day, I would have climbed up to see what views might exist from high in its branches. Though, the giant Banana Spiders with equally large webs were an substantial deterrent to that climb. I’ve read they are relatively non-aggressive. No one ventured beyond the first level of branches.
Across the inlet off the dock on the rear of the property is Buck Key Preserve which is a kayaker’s dream with a sizable cove and at least one canal maintained by the Army Corp of Engineers. The cove was frequently used as safe harbor for small craft during several coastal storms through the years. There’s even an abandoned boat in there that ran aground during a storm and the owner just ended up living there for some period of time. You can still see his reclining chair.
The canal is also safe harbor for many of the exotic birds that inhabit the area. It’s a great spot for photographers and bird watching, or a great place to escape the Sun for a while. Just down the road is another treasure for biking and bird watching. Ding Darling State Wildlife Refuge hosts many exotic species of birds including the Roseate Spoonbill.
There was concern about Red Tide in the area during my visit, but we didn’t notice it near the house. On the beach we did notice a number of dead blow fish washing up and even a dead sea turtle. There was also word of a dead whale down the beach on Sanibel Island.
A Photographers Dream
From a photographers point of view it was overflowing with worthy material–as long as you brought your bug spray and can endure some heat. I got a rude welcome when I went out for my first sunrise on the dock and neglected to put some on. I didn’t make that mistake again, but suffered with the bites from that one morning for a while. I could have easily filled my days with just photographing the Osprey, but that would have meant I missed so many other shots. During any point of the day the light on the Banyan tree changed and highlighted different features.
I’ll be back in Captiva to enjoy the canals of Buck Key and the wildlife in and around it. This is one of those areas you visit and remember why we protect land from overdevelopment and certain animals threatened by development. On the beach, the nests of many sea turtles were marked for protection. These areas and these animals are priceless and deserve continued protections under the Endangered Species Act.
Periodically, I teach a travel photography class at the REI, Tysons Corner, VA. The class is free but space is limited, so please reserve your spot by going to the Classes and Events area of the REI website. Don’t have a date for the next class, but I will announce it here well in advance.
If you’re interested in the class, please do me a favor and follow me on Facebook or Instagram, @PawproMedia. Thanks so much!
In my next post, I’ll focus on a recent trip to the Alps and the Tour du Mont Blanc, a.k.a #TMB.
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On the road this weekend to North Carolina–Wilmington and Wrightsville Beach area. Sunday morning photos from the trip. A little #MondayMotivation
On a more local, professional side, just finishing up a little photo project for Cushman and Wakefield on a freshly renovated commercial property in Tysons Corner.
Five years ago I was part of a winning 11 person team supporting a rookie cyclist in Race Across America (#RAAM), a 12 day bicycle race across the United States. This race is often called the toughest bicycle race in the world because it’s non-stop, 30% longer than the Tour de France and completed in nearly half the time. I can attest to the rigor of this event on the athlete and the team as a whole.
Tuesday, June 13, 2017 cyclists, including the cyclist I supported, will head out again from Oceanside, CA on the RAAM course heading to Annapolis, MD. The overall winner will cross in around 8 days, which is still astounding to me. So, what’s it like to RAAM, you ask?
In my RAAM experience I was along for the ride, a one person media team, to document the experience through video and photographs, and build an audience by way of social media posts for the charity (Hopecam) for which we raced night and day. I really didn’t know anyone on the team well. We raised over $300,000. We had three support vehicles–two minivans and an RV. We also had a medic, nutritionist, a bike mechanic, and a massage therapist–most of us volunteered our time. We slept and ate when we could, and shared beds as practical strangers. There was little conflict, a lot of sweat and smelly feet, one instance of leaving behind a team member at a convenience store, no booze, a few good laughs, and everyone on their best behavior. Near the completion of the race, fractures in the team caused by personality and generational conflicts and exhaustion were beginning to show, but the finish line was so close and our race going so well, no one dared to diminish his chances. We all could see the finish line., and an end to our forced companionship.
At the end, our cyclist, finished tenth overall and first place in his age group, a resounding success as most rookies do not even finish this race. It can’t be understated how important the role of the support team is in this event. No competitor can complete this race alone, no matter how well he or she trains. If the team falls apart, so does the racer.
I’ve been on many teams in my lifetime as a youth and adult athlete and media professional, a parent and a family member. These worlds are all strikingly similar in this way. I know how to be a good team member. I might even say I have been on so many teams and become so accustomed to sacrificing myself to such a great extent that I have a hard time being without a team and focusing just on my interests.
As the race unfolded, I saw each team member go through his or her ups and downs–myself included. Exhaustion affects people in different ways–bad decisions, irritability, mistakes, etc. Many a time I internally lamented not being allowed access to the racer or the follow vehicle to have constant opportunities to videotape the cyclist especially at sunrise and sunset. I thought this was a pretty critical mistake for this team’s effort–especially from a PR perspective. Shots were missed as a result. Moments were missed that would certainly have been useful. At times I was asleep when I should have been awake which was unavoidable given the scale of this race. I could have fought for the access, but I didn’t. What would this have done to the team, I thought to myself? Would it have put me at odds with the team leader and the cyclist who were weary of the nuisance of video anyway.
At times, I couldn’t think clearly enough to edit the segments. I was doing the work of three or four people–shooting, interviewing, voicing, writing, editing, uploading, and disseminating. After a while I worried I was getting the same shots over and over, and I was but that’s what was happening. For large spans I had no cellular signal to upload. I produced over thirty short videos during the nearly two weeks of the race. During stretches I was awake over 48 hours, and conversely sound asleep with four or five people coming and going from the room where I slept. I thank God I hadn’t seen the movie No Country for Old Men as I often was forced to go to sleep with motel doors unlocked so crew members could come and go as needed.
At some point during the race, I knew I had gained the trust and respect of my fellow crew members for my ability to function on so little sleep, to maintain a positive and upbeat attitude, and to remain neutral and avoid conflict. At one point, someone even pointed out that they weren’t certain whose side I would be on in a conflict developing between the younger and older members of the crew. When asked, I didn’t really answer the question. I made a joke. The fact is, I didn’t agree with every decision, I didn’t like everyone–young and old, but I focused on the job to be done and did it. This is what it’s like to be in the midst of RAAM.
Good luck to all RAAM cyclists, but most of all good luck to all of your crew members. Be safe, be kind, be generous. Remember cyclists, you couldn’t do this without your crew. They are your biggest muscle that will get you through this endeavor, OR they can become the cramp or saddle sore that brings you to a halt if you forget their value.
Just two evenings now until the Exposed DC Photo Show. Thursday evening, March 9, 6PM in DC is the opening where 43 images will be on display–all winners of the 2017 annual event. My photo of the enormous Harvest Moon last fall is what helped me find a spot among the winners. Additionally there are great shots from the Women’s March on Washington, the Inaugural events, and other street shots. I loved one photo of the National Harbor Ferris Wheel at dusk, and I’m particularly fond of the photos of fellow winner Ellie Van Houtte.
A limited number of framed prints will be available for purchase by all of the winning photographers. I do have other photos from the evening of the Harvest Moon in the works.
I’ve long had an internal debate about the best ways to provide the service of highlight reels to high school athletes and their families looking to garner attention from college recruiters. I see families who don’t know where or how to start the process, while others spend hundreds or more without any plan for how to utilize it. I’ve also seen flashy highlight reels with irrelevant or lackluster material that may prove detrimental to an athlete’s first impression.
By far the biggest problem is obtaining, gathering and maintaining a selection of clips which truly highlight a player’s ability. Many families stress or lose interest in producing a video because of the time and expense of going through game footage to find usable clips or paying someone else to do it. As a video professional I am very aware of how time consuming the process can be. Add to it, saving the clips and keeping them organized for several years adds another level of difficulty that dissuades many families.
In an effort to streamline the process of saving and organizing clips over a one, two, or three year period, I have decided to offer a flat rate archiving feature. For $175.00 a year, I will organize and store up to 20 identified video clips (:10 sec each or less) for use later in a highlight reel. When the time comes to produce a highlight reel your clips are all in one place ready to be edited together. There is no obligation to use Pawpro to edit the final highlight video from the archived footage.
In the end, archiving the footage provides a solution for overwhelmed families, and streamlines the editing process for me.
Please send me an email if you have any questions about archiving, or want to get started.
I’m proud to announce that one of my photos was chosen by Exposed DC for their 11th annual photo contest. My shot of the Harvest Moon over the DC skyline from the vantage of the Netherlands Carillon was chosen.
On March 9 there will be an exhibit featuring all of the photos chosen as winners, where limited edition prints can be purchased. All the details of this event have not been shared or finalized, just yet. As details become available I will share.
Amy Linn Doherty 
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