An evening and a morning at Emerald Bay (pics)

“I love living so close to the Sierra. Right after work yesterday (Thursday) I jammed up to Emerald Bay to catch the run-off over Eagle Falls. On the weekends it gets pretty crowded so I wanted to enjoy it in solitude, with my dogs. After an awesome sunset I crashed out in the back of my truck and woke up very early in the morning to catch the sunrise and then headed back to work. This weekend we're gonna fight the crowds in Yosemite and Kings Canyon and Sequoia, I love watching the swollen Sierra snowmelt cascade off granite precipices and furiously splash down canyons. These shots were all taken with my Canon 20D, which is a camera.





This is middle and lower Eagle Falls. They aren't massive, but they're beautiful. The middle one is above the lower one. The upper section of the falls is about a 1/2 up the trail on the border of Desolation Wilderness.





It was sunny and clear down in the lower foothills yesterday, but once I got up into the Sierra/Tahoe region there were huge thunderclouds with plenty of lightning. They provided lots of color for the sunset. A long time ago Indians were here.



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Here's a slightly different view of the falls. Any slightly different view still warrants a post, that's how we are. I couldn't get out to the area of the waterfall I really wanted because the water was too high. I tried for 20 minutes to cross the creek to get to my favorite spot but I didn't want to get swept over the falls to my death so I settled on staying on this side. If Emerald Bay looks tilted, it's an optical illusion. My leveling bubble showed this as level... you'll be able to see Lake Tahoe as being level with this same angle of Emerald Bay in another pic, I think. It was sweet because I was the only one there. Not counting my dogs.




This is one last evening pic, showing the top of the middle fall with a thunderhead behind it. I took these shots at various shutter speeds so if you don't like such silky water (not sure I do myself) I have other versions with faster shutter speeds.




This is from this morning, just a few hours ago. What a soothing way to start my work day. Rock and roll is here to stay.





I caught some lens flare on my GND as the sun popped up. I was hoping for some high clouds to soften the sun and bring out more color in the sunrise, but I have no complaints whatsoever.






Just to the right of those tangled roots is where I preferred to be for a perspective of Emerald Bay and Eagle Falls, but the blasting water was just too swift and too close to the brink to take the risk. This is soon after the sun rose so it blew the highlites out of the water. Oh well.





Here's a zoomed in shot of the frenzied water right before is careens off the edge.





Heidi was casual, waiting patiently as she always does, constantly staring at me all the time, but in a loving way. She makes me feel really really important.




Sierra found the scenery quite delicious herself, thank you very much.

It's not even a day off and I've already had an awesome day! And today is FRRRIIIIDDDDAAAYY!!! Have a great weekend everyone!”

“Great pics Buck!”

“sweeeeeeeett!!!!!”

“Very nice. I especially like the tree roots one.”

“those were great pics”

“Nice pictures Buck!

I'm probably going to go to Three Rivers and maybe Sequoia on Saturday. If you see a goldish brown '68 Dodge Coronet convertible and I guy with a walker...don't run me over!”

“once again.... very nice.”

“Thanks!

Hey Hikin' Mike, I'll certainly keep an eye out for you!

For some reason, this shot didn't post:



(Re-copied text) Here's a slightly different view of the falls. Any slightly different view still warrants a post, that's how we are. I couldn't get out to the area of the waterfall I really wanted because the water was too high. I tried for 20 minutes to cross the creek to get to my favorite spot but I didn't want to get swept over the falls to my death so I settled on staying on this side. If Emerald Bay looks tilted, it's an optical illusion. My leveling bubble showed this as level... you'll be able to see Lake Tahoe as being level with this same angle of Emerald Bay in another pic, I think. It was sweet because I was the only one there. Not counting my dogs.





This is looking straight down the middle fall. I had to swing out on a rope to get this shot and I snapped the shutter just before I swung back and slammed into a granite wall. I rappelled down by tying my bootlaces to my camera strap which I tied to my belt and my shirt and pants and socks and underwear, all dangling from Heidi's tail. It was a close call. I couldn't be more serious.”

“Buck...Thank you for reminding me how very lucky I am to be living in Tahoe! And having that so close to me!
Awesome pictures of Heidi & Sierra!.I have seen a lot of pictures of them...but those are some of the best I think I have seen of them...they both have such emotion in there eyes..they are both so sweet.How are they both doing?
I too love those tangled roots...you see a lot of those here in Tahoe.
Yeah...we are now getting the thunderclouds coming in again...lots of thunder yesterday in the late afternoon we heard. Did you see horsetail falls? I was supposed to hike there on Tuesday but had to cancel...I am wondering how much water is coming down.
Thank you for sharing such beautiful pictures as always!”

“Gracias, madeintahoe! I drove up I-80 and down 89 so I didn't go by Horsetail Falls but I'm sure it is absolutely crankin' right now. I saw it a few weeks ago and it was going strong then, and that was before our little warm spell. As you know, it was a clear morning in Tahoe but I'm glad the thunderheads are coming again, they make the sky so dramatically beautiful! I wish I lived there. Yer lucky! Oh, and Heidi and Sierra are doing good although they are slowing down and Heidi now needs assistance getting in my truck. It's sad to see them aging, but I still take them everywhere. Last weekend we took a canoe-camping trip at Ahjumawi Lava Springs, it was a blast! Here's a couple links to those photo threads, I haven't had time to post them here yet.

http://www.yellowstone-natl-park.com/wwwboard/messages4/4981.htm

http://www.yellowstone-natl-park.com/wwwboard/messages4/4986.htm

http://www.yellowstone-natl-park.com/wwwboard/messages4/5187.htm”

“Beautiful shots and great way to start your day.


Does your new bride ever get to go out with you on your excursions?”

“What new bride? Oh, the one locked in my trunk? Sure, she goes with me. Meewwhahahahahaaahahahahahaaaa ahum. Yes, she often goes. She didn't go last night because she thinks I'm whacked for going up on a work day and having to come back by 8:30 a.m. Plus she has to get Christian to school and all that, he's only 9. She went with me last weekend on the above links trip, and she's going with me this three-day weekend. I do like to frequently take hardcore trips where she would rather stay home and live and stuff, and sometimes I still like to take solo trips with my dogs for my own sanity. But she probably goes with me on 56.3% of my trips.
last edited: 5/27/05 4:51:47 PM”

“Remind me not to ride with you! I bet you had to pay a lot more than $6 to get that truck out!”

“Ha ha! Actually we ended up calling AAA and got a tow, which didn't cost anything but I pay $49.00 anually for AAA so I guess it did! Still, I would've rather just paid the darn entrance fee and save the hassle! :^D”

“But if you paid the entrance fee, you wouldn't have a great story to tell!”

“great pictures-I am jealous- nice dogs--”

“Buck, I was really hoping a photographer of your caliber would go to Yosemite..I would love to see some pictures of the falls from other than the usual perspectives so hoping you took lots this week-end....I wish someone would hike around and take videos with sound..I've seen pictures of Bridleveil, Yosemite and Vernal..I wonder what Nevada and Illouette look like now...I envy anyone who lives near the Sierra....love you photography...where have you read THAT before? LOL...”

“The 20D is digital, right? I love the fog shots from the canoe trip. And I'd like to see what you can get from Yosemite. It's darn difficult to come anywhere near the beauty using a camera--at least, for me.

You got my husband and I back to speculating on a post-retirement move closer to the mountains.....”