HAZ Fall Photo Workshop

[JoelHazelton]

EDIT 9-13-10: After hiking Kachina Trail with Jake yesterday, we determined the original planned photographing spot isn't very good in the evening... Nearby ridges block the best of the evening light. So, the new, tentative plan is Hart Prairie Saturday evening. After shooting through sunset there, we'll hop on fr522 off Snowbowl road and find a place to car camp near Freidlen Prairie. Sunday morning we'll wake up bright and early (more like dark and early) and hike no more than 2 miles on the Kachina Trail to find some aspens and meadows. Plans still subject to change, of course, as we do more scouting.

Hey HAZ photographers!

Jake (hippiepunkpirate), Jon (jonnybackpack) and I are putting together an autumn photography workshop/group hike/camping trip at the Peaks, October 9th and 10th.

The plan, as of now, is to meet up late morning on Saturday, October 9th, and drive to the Freidlein Prairie trailhead. Hike the lower portion of the Kachina Trail and photograph the beautiful Kachina meadows in the evening. Car-camp somewhere nearby Saturday night, wake up pre-sunrise Sunday morning and head to Lockett Meadow. Photograph the Lockett Meadow area for sunrise, then head into the Inner Basin to capture the rest of the morning light.

Although this is obviously organized like a normal group hike, the focus will be on photography. Bring a camera and tripod! We'll be visiting prime locations during the best light, so there should be plenty of opportunity for some awesome photos... Not to mention the sharing of knowledge from fellow photographers ;)

I hope some of you are interested!

[rwstorm]

Randy, what are your plans? Since we're both coming from Tucson, it'd be silly to take two cars...

Not sure what my plans are at this time. I am not interested in hiking to any peaks, this trip is about photos and hanging out in camp for me. Hiking is not a focus for me on this one.

[Jonnybackpack]

The general feel on this one, at least for me, will be photos and hanging. My goal (and I know Jake's and Joel's too) is to have everyone fully immersed in a sunset/sunrise shot, and forget about everything else ;) It would be great if one of the shots from this trip made it to that HAZ calendar...just saying!!!!

[hippiepunkpirate]

It would be great if one of the shots from this trip made it to that HAZ calendar...just saying!!!!

Hell, maybe it will be multiple shots! You never know...

[alpineclimber]

I am interested in hiking all the way to the top of Humphreys if there are a few people going all the way, Inner Basin is by far my favorite hike in Arizona.

[big_load]

Will the Inner Basin be reopened by then? The posted fine was so high, I was afraid to even look in that direction. (I think it was $5,000).

[chumley]

There's no word on opening the Inner Basin yet. I'm hoping that in the next couple of weeks once the monsoon has totally dried up they will feel more comfortable with people in the area. The threat of rain, runoff, flash floods, debris flows, etc. and related threats to human safety as well as roads and trails getting washed out has been high since the fire. Most of the burn area has been re-seeded, but much of the vegetation is not expected to take hold until next summer.

Of course, with all that said, I see no reason to not open the Inner Basin itself, keeping the actual burn area closed. But who knows how the FS is thinking this one through. It may be as simple as needing to use their resources around the burn area, and therefore not having that single ranger in a truck available to patrol the IB once a week? :roll:

[big_load]

Of course, with all that said, I see no reason to not open the Inner Basin itself, keeping the actual burn area closed. But who knows how the FS is thinking this one through. It may be as simple as needing to use their resources around the burn area, and therefore not having that single ranger in a truck available to patrol the IB once a week?

I was wondering that myself. I assume you have to cross the burn to get to the basin, but from above, the basin itself appears unscathed and enticing. I've hiked through some worse-looking burns that didn't have closures. I expect the intensity of use is a dominant factor in their decision.

[JoelHazelton]

@alpineclimber
Are you interested in the photography portion of the trip? If your main interest is to hike Humphries via Inner Basin (which is an amazing hike BTW), I'd prefer you organize a separate trip. This event is for camping and photography. Our relatively early ending time Sunday morning is obviously conducive to additional hiking on Sunday, but for the sake of avoiding confusion I'd prefer that be separate.

[alpineclimber]

Oh okay, I got the opinion that non-photographers were invited too and that maybe a few people were going to go to the top after hiking up inner basin with the group?

[hippiepunkpirate]

I was wondering that myself. I assume you have to cross the burn to get to the basin, but from above, the basin itself appears unscathed and enticing. I've hiked through some worse-looking burns that didn't have closures. I expect the intensity of use is a dominant factor in their decision.

FR 552, the access road to Lockett Meadow, is what is of the most concern to our plan for this workshop. Almost the entire road is within the burn area, and much of the road is on the steep slopes on the flanks of Sugarloaf Mountain. Heavy monsoon rains have caused extensive flooding in the area, and the nearby Waterline Road has been heavily damaged by post-fire erosion. There isn't really any word out yet, but I have a suspicion that 552 is in terrible shape. I wouldn't be surprised if they lift the ban from the Inner Basin, but 552 remains closed.

[big_load]

There isn't really any word out yet, but I have a suspicion that 552 is in terrible shape.

Probably so, based on the unusual vehemence of the closure signs on surrounding roads. Anyway, good luck getting in. I'd love to see the meadow in fall colors.

[JoelHazelton]

Oh okay, I got the opinion that non-photographers were invited too and that maybe a few people were going to go to the top after hiking up inner basin with the group?

This trip is open to anyone who has a camera and is interested in learning about nature photography.

I think a misconception about this trip, and nature photography in general, is that you basically go on a hike and snap pictures of pretty things you see. That will not be the case here. On Saturday we will be hiking a short distance on the Kachina Trail to a particular area with meadows and aspen groves, at which point we will basically set up a daycamp and spend hours talking mood, previsualization, lighting, and perception, along with all the finer technical aspects of photography. Obviously people can explore the area, hike more of the trail, do some midday photography, etc; it would definitely be boring to sit and lecture the entire time. But doing any sort of significant hiking is not part of the plan.

Sunday morning (after car camping, which is always a blast) will be similar to Saturday, but much less discussion and more photographing. We can give each other tips, tweak compositions, etc.

If you want to continue up to Humphrey's afterward, I can't blame you. But considering the pretty significant amount of interest already, I think it's less confusing if the "interested" and "committed" columns are reserved for those planning on attending the photography portion.

[JoelHazelton]

After hiking Kachina Trail with Jake yesterday, we determined the original planned photographing spot isn't very good in the evening... Nearby ridges block the best of the evening light. So, the new, tentative plan is Hart Prairie Saturday evening. After shooting through sunset there, we'll hop on fr522 off Snowbowl road and find a place to car camp near Freidlen Prairie. Sunday morning we'll wake up bright and early (more like dark and early) and hike no more than 2 miles on the Kachina Trail to find some aspens and meadows. Plans still subject to change, of course, as we do more scouting.

[Jim]

Does this mean that a Doyle and Fremont Hike is a possibility for you guys, or shall we keep the schedule? So far, only Jake and I are committed to that, so maybe it won't matter. Not sure how things will work out, but I work until 4 that day, and depending on where you camp I can bring some oak firewood out. Maybe not though, if you want to go to sleep early for an insane pre-dawn rise.


Juliachaos: are you still thinking of going on the Doyle and Fremont?

[hippiepunkpirate]

I won't be going for the peaks that day, doubt Joel will either. I'd rather to try do it the week before still.

[jdsteele]

You know... Jake, Jon, Joel... there is a "J3" logo there somewhere.

[chumley]

Not to throw a wrench into the revised plan, but car camping along Freidlein Prairie requires you to be in one of 14 specifically numbered spots. They are first come/first served and not all are sedan-friendly. (The best ones are not). And they are most definitely not the kind of place to expect 5+ vehicles to find room to park.

See the FS page about the unique camping requirements along FR522.
http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/coconino/recrea ... camp.shtml

Depending on the final number of people and the vehicle arrangements it may make more sense to car camp in/near Hart Prairie. Depending on where you want to go, a quick hike up "Polar Aspen Alley" gets you to the Kachina TH. But that's at least an extra mile of hiking before even getting onto Kachina.

[hippiepunkpirate]

Depending on where you want to go, a quick hike up "Polar Aspen Alley" gets you to the Kachina TH. But that's at least an extra mile of hiking before even getting onto Kachina.

That would put the hike to the meadows in the 5 mile range...

[JoelHazelton]

Good info, we'll work something out. Hart Prairie is always possible, but that just means an extra-early morning to allow time to drive to the Freidlein Prairie trailhead. Like Jake said, starting the hike at the Snowbowl trailhead makes for a bit of a significant hike to do before sunrise.

[chumley]

Oh no! Potential conflict ... Oct 9th is the Tour de Fat in Tempe, of which I may volunbeering at. Not sure about the logistics of getting myself to Flag by late afternoon after that event.... :stretch: