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Photo Forum / Digital Photography / DSLR Cameras / July 2006Denver, radius of 750 km - vacation
I finally booked this years vacation flights and I'm surprised that the prices for flights are quite reasonable. (I didn't even try to trade points in). We'll be renting a car after we land at Denver, thence two weeks of semi-planned wanderings... I changed the destination to Denver as on a recent trip to Kansas City and Omaha I was struck by the beauty of the western plains. So on this trip we will divide our time between the plains and the Rockies. We plan to spend no more than 2-3 nights in any one place. Whether luxury resorts or plain motels we're looking for natural cachet and quiet. Very early wakeup calls. We are looking for especially isolated locations to rest, enjoy and do some photography. I'll have DSLR, film 35mm and 6x6, my new lightweight tripod and head, slide film is Velvia 50, 100, 100F and Kodak 100G (for both 35mm and 6x6). (SO will have her film SLR). 35mm film/DSLR Lenses will be 20mm f/2.8, 28-70 f/2.8, 100mm f/2.8 macro and possibly the 80-200 f/2.8. The 50 f/1.7 and 300 f/2.8 will stay at home. 6x6 lenses will be 80 f/2.8 and 150 f/4. If I can buy a Makro for the 6x6 I will, but it has to be a very good bargain. Any ideas on accessible, but relatively unbeaten tracks and locations very much apreciated. Hiking will be limited to 6 hour hikes wherever ordinary hiking boots, clothing and a few sandwiches are the only requirement. Please reply here, but e-mail also gratefully received (remove Freelunch). Cheers, Alan.  Signature-- r.p.e.35mm user resource: http://www.aliasimages.com/rpe35mmur.htm -- r.p.d.slr-systems: http://www.aliasimages.com/rpdslrsysur.htm -- [SI] gallery & rulz: http://www.pbase.com/shootin -- e-meil: Remove FreeLunch. -- -- r.p.e.35mm user resource: http://www.aliasimages.com/rpe35mmur.htm -- r.p.d.slr-systems: http://www.aliasimages.com/rpdslrsysur.htm -- [SI] gallery & rulz: http://www.pbase.com/shootin -- e-meil: Remove FreeLunch. > Any ideas on accessible, but relatively unbeaten tracks and locations > very much apreciated. Hiking will be limited to 6 hour hikes wherever > ordinary hiking boots, clothing and a few sandwiches are the only > requirement. Too big of an area. My suggestion would be to focus on some time around Moab, UT, then the SW corner of Colorado. Places like Mesa Verde N.P. and Canyons of the Ancients. You're planning 2 weeks for what could/should easily be a summer long tour. Signature"You can say any foolish thing to a dog, and the dog will give you a look that says, 'My God, you're right! I never would've thought of that!'" --Dave Barry http://www.bobhatch.com http://www.tdsrvresort.com >>Any ideas on accessible, but relatively unbeaten tracks and locations >>very much apreciated. Hiking will be limited to 6 hour hikes wherever [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > Canyons of the Ancients. You're planning 2 weeks for what could/should > easily be a summer long tour. Thanks Bob, I do realize we'll be either thinning out the quantity or the quality of our visit in some areas. OTOH, there are many years ahead for visits to the area. The 750 km is a notional distance, and as we have no itinerary other that the flight back home, we'll adjust as we go. Cheers, Alan Signature-- r.p.e.35mm user resource: http://www.aliasimages.com/rpe35mmur.htm -- r.p.d.slr-systems: http://www.aliasimages.com/rpdslrsysur.htm -- [SI] gallery & rulz: http://www.pbase.com/shootin -- e-meil: Remove FreeLunch. > We are looking for especially isolated locations to rest, enjoy and do > some photography. We don't have those silly "km" things here, and our country is built for driving anyway, so nevermind about that. With only two weeks, you want the low-hanging fruit, not the little gems that will take forever to find. Within Colorado, two places leap to mind: Rocky Mountain National Park (some way north of Denver), and Mesa Verde National Park (way the hell off in the bottom left, not near the Interstate). Rocky Mountain is great in the early morning especially, before all the tourists arrive. Bring warm clothes. I haven't been to Mesa Verde yet, but it's on my possible hit list for this summer, too. Do you like to drive? You're within an easy day of Badlands and the rest of southwestern South Dakota, which is without a doubt one of the coolest places I've ever been. If you're into that sort of thing, I mean, which it sounds like you may be from your comments on Kansas and Nebraska. South Dakota is like Kansas and Nebraska the way you wished they were. If you *really* like to drive, you could make it to Yellowstone; the drive to and from it on the back roads to the southeast (as opposed to the Interstate up into Montana) is quite extraordinarily scenic in itself. I did that drive last year -- from there to Denver, as it happens -- but luck had me doing most of it either during a storm or at night; on a nice day there would be plenty of pictures to be made. But, really, don't try this one if you don't *really* like to drive. It's not a quick trip. I only suggest it in case you're as crazy as I am. If we had those "km" things it would be way outside your radius. Driving east from Denver on I-70 will get you midwestern plains, but I suspect you'll find photo opportunities somewhat infrequent. It's a really big, empty place. Driving west will get you into the mountains, which may be cool. There isn't much to the immediate south in terms of photography, at least not anything I've found terribly obvious. North is a bit better, and includes Rocky Mountain N.P. before you get to Wyoming. (Yes, I've personally been in all four directions from Denver, so I do speak from the photographers' eye, and like you I've always had a limited amount of time out there, so I'm not talking about things that will take forever to find.) Unless you're crazy like me, I'd recommend looking to the north of Denver first, and then possibly Mesa Verde after that gets old, along with that Great Sand Dunes place that'll be on the way to Mesa Verde. I've no doubt there are tremendous photo opportunities all over the state, but you've only got two weeks. I know what that's like... SignatureJeremy | jeremy@exit109.com > > [quoted text clipped - 51 lines] > > I recall a two week family driving vacation..Denver...Phoenix AZ (south) Mesa Verde National Park Royal George Grand Canyon - a lifetime experience...need to be at the rim for sunset! Gerome Ghost City Ship Rock and other stops and canyons along the way. Seriously think about how to include the Grand Canyon. You could decide that the last day is just freeway driving back to Denver. Should be able to go ~70 - 75 miles per hour while on the freeway, that can get you back from a fair distance in one solid day of driving. > Grand Canyon - a lifetime experience...need to be at the rim for sunset! Agree, but I'd say you should rather be at the rim for sunrise. :) The place is really profound in the dead of night, too. > Seriously think about how to include the Grand Canyon. > You could decide that the last day is just freeway driving back to > Denver. Should be able to go ~70 - 75 miles per hour while on the > freeway, that can get you back from a fair distance in one solid day of > driving. Grand Canyon to Denver can be done in a day, but it might be kind of pushing it, depending on how you feel about a drive of that length. On the other hand, if you're a Bugs Bunny fan, you finally get to make that left turn at Albuquerque. :) Honestly, I'd say the Grand Canyon is probably for another trip, especially since he stated a preference for the midwestern plains. There's not much prairie between Denver and the Canyon. SignatureJeremy | jeremy@exit109.com > I recall a two week family driving vacation..Denver...Phoenix AZ (south) > [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > freeway, that can get you back from a fair distance in one solid day of > driving. Future trips will include the LV area so we'll do the GC from there. Thanks for the other POI as well, Alan Signature-- r.p.e.35mm user resource: http://www.aliasimages.com/rpe35mmur.htm -- r.p.d.slr-systems: http://www.aliasimages.com/rpdslrsysur.htm -- [SI] gallery & rulz: http://www.pbase.com/shootin -- e-meil: Remove FreeLunch. >>We are looking for especially isolated locations to rest, enjoy and do >>some photography. > > We don't have those silly "km" things here, and our country is built for > driving anyway, so nevermind about that. In actual fact the United States adopted in law the legal use of the metric system in 1866 and as the primary system of weights and measures in 1893. (No typos). In a fit of fairness, however, they allowed the imperial system to continue as a legal measure for trade. The US Army and Marines are all but 100% metric. Almost all goverment labs work in the metric system. Slowly, the US is adopting metric as a daily standard, in part due to world trade. Engines are in litres, many beverages (esp. wines) are in litres, etc. > With only two weeks, you want the low-hanging fruit, not the little gems > that will take forever to find. Agree, however, the emphasis is on quiet, secluded rather than "most stunning with a million visitirs per hour" > Within Colorado, two places leap to mind: Rocky Mountain National Park > (some way north of Denver), and Mesa Verde National Park (way the hell > off in the bottom left, not near the Interstate). Rocky Mountain is > great in the early morning especially, before all the tourists arrive. > Bring warm clothes. We're early risers and we intend to stay warm! > I haven't been to Mesa Verde yet, but it's on my possible hit list for > this summer, too. [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > it sounds like you may be from your comments on Kansas and Nebraska. > South Dakota is like Kansas and Nebraska the way you wished they were. That's a bit of a stretch. We'll likely hit southwest Nebraska before entering SE Wyoming. > If you *really* like to drive, you could make it to Yellowstone; the > drive to and from it on the back roads to the southeast (as opposed to the [quoted text clipped - 22 lines] > I've no doubt there are tremendous photo opportunities all over the > state, but you've only got two weeks. I know what that's like... I regret that I can't take three weeks, we're in the last few months of a new product launch and that takes a hell of a lot of energy and time. Thanks for the detailed post. Metric rules. Cheers, Alan. Signature-- r.p.e.35mm user resource: http://www.aliasimages.com/rpe35mmur.htm -- r.p.d.slr-systems: http://www.aliasimages.com/rpdslrsysur.htm -- [SI] gallery & rulz: http://www.pbase.com/shootin -- e-meil: Remove FreeLunch. > Slowly, the US is adopting metric as a daily standard, in part due to > world trade. Engines are in litres, many beverages (esp. wines) are in > litres, etc. Yeah, but we still don't have the "km" things. One hopes we never will. > Agree, however, the emphasis is on quiet, secluded rather than "most > stunning with a million visitirs per hour" The difference between those can be a matter of time of day. >> Within Colorado, two places leap to mind: Rocky Mountain National Park >> (some way north of Denver), and Mesa Verde National Park (way the hell [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > > We're early risers and we intend to stay warm! That's what I mean! Get there early, when all the tourists are still asleep (you know how tourists love to miss the best time of day). The further into the park you drive, the more time you get before they start arriving. If you show up before 5am you can have hours of quiet before the crowds appear, and once they show up, the good light is gone anyway and you're about ready to go do something else for a while. Naturally, most of the crowd stays on the main road, too. If you intend to do hiking that will inherently get you away from most of them. Most of the casual tourists at Rocky Mountain are the drive-through type. The alpine tundra area is very interesting. If you don't have altitude sickness problems and you've dressed warmly, there's a lot of quiet and seclusion there. Personally, although I find it a very interesting area, I've lived at sea level all my life and I can only take that elevation for a relatively short time before I just want to get out of there; a couple hours at most. The first time I was there I wasn't prepared for it and as soon as I hit 11,500 feet I was miserable. Be ready for that, have a lot of water with you, and start drinking it before you get up there; your reaction to the altitude can make a big difference to your enjoyment of the park. There are a few hotels not far from the park, but they won't be cheap. I have seen "vacancy" signs on most of them, though, while driving by, so finding a room without a reservation should be possible. If you're willing to stay a bit further out, there are actual towns that aren't 100% tourist-based. Or, naturally, you could just get a campsite in the park for cheap, if you're bringing the proper gear. SignatureJeremy | jeremy@exit109.com I've always enjoyed staying in Estes Park when visiting RMNP. But while hardly an urban center, I don't think it's very secluded. > There are a few hotels not far from the park, but they won't be cheap. > I have seen "vacancy" signs on most of them, though, while driving by, [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > aren't 100% tourist-based. Or, naturally, you could just get a campsite > in the park for cheap, if you're bringing the proper gear. > I've always enjoyed staying in Estes Park when visiting RMNP. But while > hardly an urban center, I don't think it's very secluded. It's pretty touristy, enough so to bother me. They do have a Starbucks, though, which is a plus. :) They also have a camera store, with which I was not impressed. I broke my 50/1.4 lens at RMNP last year, so I went in there and asked for one; not only did they not have any (not entirely surprising), they were unaware that any such thing existed. They seem to cater entirely to tourists wanting quick prints and cheap gear. Which seems to be the whole idea behind the town in general. I've preferred being further out by the Interstate. The drive into the park is longer, but before sunrise there isn't any traffic to get in the way. My first time there, I stopped in on a whim; I was on my way up into Wyoming, saw it on the map, and figured it might be worth a stop. I just slept at the nearby Interstate rest area and drove into the park at about 4am. :) To get "secluded" in a hotel there I think you'd need to go to one of the places between Estes Park and the park itself. Those places look expensive. I never camped there. It probably gets quite cold, so one should be prepared for that. Since Alan is flying into Denver, I imagine camping gear is entirely out of the question, though, and it doesn't sound like he really wants that kind of trip. SignatureJeremy | jeremy@exit109.com > To get "secluded" in a hotel there I think you'd need to go to one of > the places between Estes Park and the park itself. Those places look > expensive. Some are, but there are plenty of quite reasonable options in the B&B / hostel / lodge category. I've very much enjoyed my stays at Shadowcliff in Grand Lake (other side of the divide from Estes Park) and the Allenspark Lodge in Allenspark. Anyhow, I'd agree that RMNP is the "no-brainer" choice to visit. Although the suggestion for Mt. Evans is quite good, too. I'd also be inclined to go a little ways out east just to see some real open prairie. Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs is also pretty classic and not far - definitely worth a stop if you're planning on heading south on I-25 anyhow. And I'd also be looking at some canyon roads. Which, for those whose only mental image of a canynis the Grand Canyon, you have to realize is actually upside down. In most of what are called canyons here, the road and what exists of civilization is on the bottom, by the river, and you look *up* at the the canyon walls by default. There is usually not any flat plateau on the top to climb up to - and any attempt to ascend would be basically a rock-climbing expedition, not a hike with a mule. And whereas the Grand Canyon is impressive in its bigness, most canyons have more of a closed in feeling - the rock walls are tall but only a couple of dozen meters or so apart - just enough room for the road, a narrow shoulder, and a river no wider than the road. Anyhow, there are two roads up to Estes Park from Denver, and both go through canyons, but I'm more enamored of the route through Loveland (up the Big Thompson canyon) than what most folks probably take, going through Boulder & Lyons and following the St. Vrain (???) up. I-70 west from Denver takes you through Glenwood Canyon, which is more open than the others I mentioned but equally impressive. Something else that is probably not often thought about by tourists looking to get up high in the mountains are the sights closer to Denver in the foothills. Jefferson County is the county bordering Denver on the west, and it extends a few miles into the foothills. I *love* the Jefferson County parks, such as Lair of the Bear, Mount Falcon, and others. They are about the more intimate landscape than the big panorama - a meadow 50 meters square on the edge of a brook surrounded by pine and aspen trees with a single hill risining behind them - but to me, *this* is Colorado. --------------- Marc Sabatella marc@outsideshore.com Music, art, & educational materials Featuring "A Jazz Improvisation Primer" http://www.outsideshore.com/ > I finally booked this years vacation flights and I'm surprised that the > prices for flights are quite reasonable. (I didn't even try to trade > points in). > > We'll be renting a car after we land at Denver, thence two weeks of > semi-planned wanderings... Questions: What month? What type of car? If SUV or other 4-wheel drive, I can suggest some really neat stuff. If not, I can suggest some other kinds of really neat stuff. I've lived in the Denver metro area (actually a little west of Denver for 23 years), and I've been most places here. From your website and photo style, I would suggest staying in/visiting some of the old mountain towns, including Crested Butte, Ouray, Lake City, Telluride, Leadville, and many more. If your visit is now through July/August, be aware that the eastern plains, especially the northwestern plains are suffering from extreme drought. In some locations I drove by a week ago, not only was the grass dead, but the dead grass blew away and only dirt is left! While the mountain snow pack was normal, much has evaporated without a spring runoff. So I do not think there will be much of a wildflower season (or it will be more spotty than usual this year). That said, it is not all bleak. I was hiking at 8000-9000 feet today in the foothills west of Denver and it is still beautifully green, and there is still a fair amount of snow on the peaks (just less than normal for this time of year). I look forward to a beautiful summer with lots of hiking. I expect the mountains to remain green (they did in other drought years). Just the plains will be more dry and dusty. So, give some more details: month, car type, and what you like to image (seems very varied from your web site). E.g. if you want interesting ghost towns and have an SUV or other high clearance vehicle (not really 4-wheeling, but rough dirt roads), I can suggest some places. If you bring the 300mm, there will wildlife opportunities in some places. Mesa Verde is very crowded in the summer. I wouldn't recommend it at that time. It is also hot. I have been many times and different times of year. Other suggestions like Grand Canyon (too many people), or Moab (too hot, and lots of people) would not be my choices. There is plenty to explore in Colorado without spending your vacation driving to other states. Here are my Colorado images: http://www.clarkvision.com/galleries/gallery.colorado (note: the lions are at the Denver zoo; we don't have free roaming lions; the other animals in the gallery are wild). Roger >> I finally booked this years vacation flights and I'm surprised that >> the prices for flights are quite reasonable. (I didn't even try to [quoted text clipped - 17 lines] > some of the old mountain towns, including Crested Butte, > Ouray, Lake City, Telluride, Leadville, and many more. All very good suggestions but I'm partial to the above towns, particularly Crested Butte and Leadville, since I'm a mountain biker. Also add in Durango especially if you have any interest in trains, and I found the drive from Ouray to Durango to be quite stunning. To give an idea of what can be covered I've done an 11 day vacation from California to Green River, UT to Winter Park, CO to Crested Butte, CO to Durango, CO and the penultimate day was a drive through the 4 corners region beating sunset to the south rim of the Grand Canyon. If you end up in the Crested Butte/Gunnison area the Black Canyon of the Gunnison is impressive. That was 1 night in Green River, 3 in Winter Park, 3 in Crested Butte, 2 in Durango, and 1 in Williams, AZ. Greg Signature"All my time I spent in heaven Revelries of dance and wine Waking to the sound of laughter Up I'd rise and kiss the sky" - The Mekons > All very good suggestions but I'm partial to the above towns, > particularly Crested Butte and Leadville, since I'm a mountain biker. [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > impressive. That was 1 night in Green River, 3 in Winter Park, 3 in > Crested Butte, 2 in Durango, and 1 in Williams, AZ. Thanks. Added to the planning plan. Unfortunately, some of those destinations will have to drop as the list gets rationalized. Signature-- r.p.e.35mm user resource: http://www.aliasimages.com/rpe35mmur.htm -- r.p.d.slr-systems: http://www.aliasimages.com/rpdslrsysur.htm -- [SI] gallery & rulz: http://www.pbase.com/shootin -- e-meil: Remove FreeLunch. > What type of car? If SUV or other 4-wheel drive, I can > suggest some really neat stuff. If not, I can suggest some other > kinds of really neat stuff. Car undecided, possibly an SUV or a minivan. I do not, however, wish to spend too much time negotiating rough roads. We do want enough vehicle room that if caught without available hotel/motels that we can find a place to sleep in the vehicle. > From your website and photo style, I would suggest staying in/visiting > some of the old mountain towns, including Crested Butte, [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > will be much of a wildflower season (or it will be > more spotty than usual this year). Sad to hear that. We'll make do however, photographically. We'll be there in 2nd half of July. > That said, it is not all bleak. I was hiking at 8000-9000 > feet today in the foothills west of Denver and it is [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > some places. If you bring the 300mm, there will wildlife > opportunities in some places. I do not intend to lug the 300mm around. It is just too big in its case and requires a larger, heavier tripod as well. We're flying to Denver from Montreal so eqt. list will be rationalized. 300 is first to drop off the list. > Mesa Verde is very crowded in the summer. I wouldn't > recommend it at that time. It is also hot. I have been [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > Here are my Colorado images: > http://www.clarkvision.com/galleries/gallery.colorado Some GREAT images there. Thanks. Thanks, Alan. Signature-- r.p.e.35mm user resource: http://www.aliasimages.com/rpe35mmur.htm -- r.p.d.slr-systems: http://www.aliasimages.com/rpdslrsysur.htm -- [SI] gallery & rulz: http://www.pbase.com/shootin -- e-meil: Remove FreeLunch. > Car undecided, possibly an SUV or a minivan. I do not, however, wish to > spend too much time negotiating rough roads. We do want enough vehicle > room that if caught without available hotel/motels that we can find a > place to sleep in the vehicle. I do that all the time. On the Interstate you'll find that a lot of people are doing it -- it shouldn't be an issue pretty much regardless of your vehicle. For perspective, I drive a car that doesn't even have a *back seat*. SignatureJeremy | jeremy@exit109.com >>Car undecided, possibly an SUV or a minivan. I do not, however, wish to >>spend too much time negotiating rough roads. We do want enough vehicle [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > are doing it -- it shouldn't be an issue pretty much regardless of your > vehicle. For perspective, I drive a car that doesn't even have a *back seat*. As this *is* a vacation we have minimum comfort standards. Signature-- r.p.e.35mm user resource: http://www.aliasimages.com/rpe35mmur.htm -- r.p.d.slr-systems: http://www.aliasimages.com/rpdslrsysur.htm -- [SI] gallery & rulz: http://www.pbase.com/shootin -- e-meil: Remove FreeLunch. > As this *is* a vacation we have minimum comfort standards. I'm comfortable at home; I get enough sleep there, too. On vacation, where (and whether) I sleep never really seems like a high priority. :) I mean, how often do I get to travel the country and do photography? Not nearly enough. If someone would pay me to do it... but they won't, so I settle for the vacation time I can arrange. I'll sleep when I get home. Anyway, I really do think you picked a great destination. The Midwest calls out to me, too. Have fun! SignatureJeremy | jeremy@exit109.com >>As this *is* a vacation we have minimum comfort standards. > [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > Anyway, I really do think you picked a great destination. The Midwest > calls out to me, too. Have fun! Wilco. And thanks again. Cheers, Alan Signature-- r.p.e.35mm user resource: http://www.aliasimages.com/rpe35mmur.htm -- r.p.d.slr-systems: http://www.aliasimages.com/rpdslrsysur.htm -- [SI] gallery & rulz: http://www.pbase.com/shootin -- e-meil: Remove FreeLunch. >> What type of car? > Car undecided, possibly an SUV or a minivan. I do not, however, wish to > spend too much time negotiating rough roads. We do want enough vehicle > room that if caught without available hotel/motels that we can find a > place to sleep in the vehicle. I think you can find places at the last minute in many of the larger cities, e.g. Durango, Montrose, Grand Junction, Denver, etc. In more destination cities, like Ouray, Telluride, Crested Butte, I've seen vacancy signs sometimes but not always, and they tend to be in the lowest quality or most expensive places. When I am by myself, I'll camp in a remote location, typically close to the following morning's sunrise destination. > Sad to hear that. We'll make do however, photographically. We'll be > there in 2nd half of July. This is my favorite time of year. I'll be out hiking during July too. > I do not intend to lug the 300mm around. It is just too big in its case > and requires a larger, heavier tripod as well. We're flying to Denver > from Montreal so eqt. list will be rationalized. 300 is first to drop > off the list. Yeah, I feel the same way about my 500 f/4. I then drop back to a 300 f/4 which still gives reach, and I can add TCs, but it is not too bulky and doesn't weigh as much. >> Here are my Colorado images: >> http://www.clarkvision.com/galleries/gallery.colorado Thanks, I emailed you personally too. I you don't get it, let me know. Roger >> What type of car? If SUV or other 4-wheel drive, I can >> suggest some really neat stuff. If not, I can suggest some other [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] >room that if caught without available hotel/motels that we can find a >place to sleep in the vehicle. [SNIP] >Sad to hear that. We'll make do however, photographically. We'll be >there in 2nd half of July. [SNIP] >I do not intend to lug the 300mm around. It is just too big in its case >and requires a larger, heavier tripod as well. We're flying to Denver >from Montreal so eqt. list will be rationalized. 300 is first to drop >off the list. [SNIP] >Some GREAT images there. Thanks. > >Thanks, >Alan. Alan, Finally saw this thread down the list. Wild flowers should be starting in places like Yankee Boy Basin, especially if the snow has begun to melt. You might want to re-think the 300mm. There is a lot of wildlife, both in RMNP and the San Juans. Moose, deer, elk, sheep and mtn. goats. The 300mm will go a long way to keeping you safe (do NOT get near the moose, elk or any bison that you see!) and allowing some decent shots. Maybe rent one in Denver. Too bad that most of the pro camera shops that I knew are gone, but you ought to be able to find a decent rental shop there. The ASMP Colorado Web site should give a listing of what is still in business - just been too long, since I lived there, sorry. Hunt >>>What type of car? If SUV or other 4-wheel drive, I can >>>suggest some really neat stuff. If not, I can suggest some other [quoted text clipped - 39 lines] > give a listing of what is still in business - just been too long, since I > lived there, sorry. I'll reconsider it for the simple reason that just about nobody rents out 300 f/2.8 in Minolta a-mount. Cheers, Alan Signature-- r.p.e.35mm user resource: http://www.aliasimages.com/rpe35mmur.htm -- r.p.d.slr-systems: http://www.aliasimages.com/rpdslrsysur.htm -- [SI] gallery & rulz: http://www.pbase.com/shootin -- e-meil: Remove FreeLunch. > If your visit is now through July/August, be aware that the > eastern plains, especially the northwestern plains are > suffering from extreme drought. An update: While the Front Range (the mountains nearest Denver, including the eastern half of Rocky Mountain National Park) and eastern plains is still in a drought, it looks MUCH better in central Colorado, where it is very green, and many nice wildflowers showing. Even the Front Range is getting relief: in the last few days we have gotten quite a bit of rain. Most Colorado cities report about 50 to 75% of normal rainfall for the year (low values in the front range and east; better numbers west). If the rain keeps up, we could get close to normal in a while. The rain comes in the afternoon, so plan you outdoor activities for the morning. Roger >I finally booked this years vacation flights and I'm surprised that the >prices for flights are quite reasonable. (I didn't even try to trade [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > > We are looking for especially isolated locations to rest, enjoy and do depending on the car, your nerves, and your tendency to get altitude sickness (not joking) do a little research on Mt. Evans and the road that takes you there, not far off the interstate, west out of Denver > depending on the car, your nerves, and your tendency to get altitude > sickness (not joking) do a little research on Mt. Evans and the road > that takes you there, not far off the interstate, west out of Denver Thanks, depending on the way we do this, there will be at least a couple days of altitude acclimatization at Denver before we venture to higher elevations. Cheers, Alan. Signature-- r.p.e.35mm user resource: http://www.aliasimages.com/rpe35mmur.htm -- r.p.d.slr-systems: http://www.aliasimages.com/rpdslrsysur.htm -- [SI] gallery & rulz: http://www.pbase.com/shootin -- e-meil: Remove FreeLunch. >> depending on the car, your nerves, and your tendency to get altitude >> sickness (not joking) do a little research on Mt. Evans and the road >> that takes you there, not far off the interstate, west out of Denver >> > Thanks, depending on the way we do this, there will be at least a couple > days of altitude acclimatization at Denver before we venture to higher My wife (and on another trip to Denver, myself, but not so much) had a nasty case of altitude sickness. The Dr. proscribed a spicy Italian meal, along with other things. The carbo's and spice significantly helped my *really bad* headache. There is a great! narrow walking/climbing canyon on the road from Denver to Boulder...who remembers the name? > elevations. > > Cheers, > Alan. >> depending on the car, your nerves, and your tendency to get altitude >> sickness (not joking) do a little research on Mt. Evans and the road [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] >Cheers, >Alan. Good plan. There's quite a bit to see up towards Golden and over to Nederland, outside of Boulder. The elevation gains quickly, but a bit in Denver, then some day-trips into the foothills will help for later. PING Roger N Clarke - can you suggest a good camera shop, especially with pro rental gear of Alan in Denver? Wasatch, Lindahl's, et. al. are gone now, and I haven't a clue where to recommend. Gotta' be one good shop left! Hunt > can you suggest a good camera shop, especially with pro > rental gear of Alan in Denver? Wasatch, Lindahl's, et. al. are gone > now, and I > haven't a clue where to recommend. Gotta' be one good shop left! The top camera stores in the area are probably Englewood Camera and The Camera Trader, also in Englewood, I believe. I suspect the former at least might do rentals. The larger Wolf locations (the Colorado branding of Ritz) are not bad for chains, although many of the locations are basically just typical mall shops. Mike's Camera is similar. Also, worth a visit if you're into checking out little funky spaces is Colorado Camera in Lakewood - nothing much modern there, but an impressive assortment of classic used gear. --------------- Marc Sabatella marc@outsideshore.com Music, art, & educational materials Featuring "A Jazz Improvisation Primer" http://www.outsideshore.com/ >>can you suggest a good camera shop, especially with pro >>rental gear of Alan in Denver? Wasatch, Lindahl's, et. al. are gone [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > Colorado Camera in Lakewood - nothing much modern there, but an > impressive assortment of classic used gear. Many of the local stores have gone out of business, probably the impact of Wolf Camera, and places like Best Buy selling digital. The camera trader is a good store, but I don't think they have much in high end gear to rent (not even sure if they rent). Wolf camera took over the one camera store that had a pro shop that did rentals. I have never been to Englewood Camera. The camera trader is: http://www.thecameratrader.com Colorado camera is an interesting store. I think I bought a 4x5 there once. Last time I was there, it didn't seem to be doing well. Again, ignoring the conversion to digital... But I have been there for a couple of years. The Mike's stores I've been to are like Wolf, without much high end gear. I believe the main store is in Boulder. I once asked for a quote on a high end slide writer and they never even bothered to call back, so I don't pay much attention to them (I had $8K budgeted). It's bleak here compared to LA or NYC (for camera stores). But then we have the mountains ;-) Roger >>>can you suggest a good camera shop, especially with pro >>>rental gear of Alan in Denver? Wasatch, Lindahl's, et. al. are gone [quoted text clipped - 33 lines] > >Roger I'm sorry to hear that. Denver used to have some good shops and several had rental counters. I cursed Phoenix, when I moved here nine years ago, but it looks like they may now be better than Denve in this one respect. Times, and business change. Years ago, Mike's Boulder store was good, but being in Denver-proper, I tried to do most of my business there. Refresh my memory, what was the name of the local chain that Wolf took over. I have pondered this for some time. I recall that they had a main store on ~ 16th (once some good pro-gear) and many satellite shops, mainly for photofinishing and basic consumer gear. Dang, do not ever get old!!!! Also, sorry to keep asking the questions, that you have already answered, but it seems that NewsGuy is refreshing this NG very, very slowly, and I'm not seeing some for a day, or two. Hunt > Refresh my memory, what was the name of the > local chain that Wolf took over. I have pondered this for some time. I > recall that they had a main store on ~ 16th (once some good pro-gear) and many > satellite shops, mainly for photofinishing and basic consumer gear. Dang, do > not ever get old!!!! That was Waxman's. The store is still there, as Wolf, and the pro shop is gone. > Also, sorry to keep asking the questions, that you have already answered, but > it seems that NewsGuy is refreshing this NG very, very slowly, and I'm not > seeing some for a day, or two. No problem. I'll be offline for a while too. Roger I think Englewood Camera is probably the most "pro" of the existing stores. At least, it carries Leica, Hasselblad, and various other brands of rangefinder, medium format, and other cameras aside from the basic P&S and consumer-oriented DSLR cameras. But they don't have a particularly larger selection of lenses for the big DSLR brands than Mike's or Wolf, and I don't know if they rent. --------------- Marc Sabatella marc@outsideshore.com Music, art, & educational materials Featuring "A Jazz Improvisation Primer" http://www.outsideshore.com/ >> Refresh my memory, what was the name of the >> local chain that Wolf took over. I have pondered this for some time. I [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > >Roger Waxman's! How could I forget? Thanks. Hunt >> can you suggest a good camera shop, especially with pro >> rental gear of Alan in Denver? Wasatch, Lindahl's, et. al. are gone [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] >Marc Sabatella >marc@outsideshore.com Thanks. Is Thomas at Camren still in operation? I had forgotten about his shop. He had a nice array of pro-gear, but I've lost track of all the Denver folk. Hunt >I finally booked this years vacation flights and I'm surprised that the >prices for flights are quite reasonable. (I didn't even try to trade [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] >We are looking for especially isolated locations to rest, enjoy and do >some photography. [SNIP] >Any ideas on accessible, but relatively unbeaten tracks and locations >very much apreciated. Hiking will be limited to 6 hour hikes wherever [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] >Cheers, >Alan.Alan, starting in Denver, I'd head out US Hwy 6 to the junction with 119, the Peak to Peak Hwy. It becomes hwy 72 then hwy 7 up to Estes Park, hwy 34 and the gateway to Rocky Mtn National Park. Plenty of short hikes all along the way with a ton in the RMNP, itself. Early morning and late afternoon are obviously the better times for lighting and lack of crowds. From there, I'd head back south to Granby and pick up US 40 South to I-70. Choices abound, but the drive through Leadville from Minturn on US 24 is interesting and one can take it through the tip of South Park to US 50 at Poncha Springs. Head west through Gunnison. There, you have decisions to make: north on hwy 136 to Crested Butte, a bit farther west to hwy 149, south to Lake City (really worth the drive, but one needs a high pickup, or 4x4 to go directly over to Silverton and the heart of the San Juan Mountains). If you are in a normal rental car, you have to decide if you want to backtrack from Lake City (don't miss Slumgulion Pass, just south of town), or go on to Montrose (stay on US 50). From Montrose, head south on US 550 to Ridgeway. There you have more decisions: do you take hwy 62 to hwy 145 and do Telluride, or stay on US 550 to Ouray and points south, i.e. Silverton and Durango. While the towns in the San Juans are cute as can be, it's the areas around them that are well worth the visit. Out of Ouray, you have Yankee Boy Basin on the back side of Mt Sneffels. A regular car can only go so far, but the hike up into the basin is excellent. Out of Ridgeway, the Dallas Divide area north of Mt Sneffels is worth the time. Much of the actual land along the highway is owned by Hollywood types (Ralph Lauren seems to own more than his share), access to the National Forest is open. A lovely ride is from Dallas Divide around the Silver Dollar Trail (a rental car can make this drive, provided you go slowly, and it's not too low, or long) to Telluride. From Telluride, a jaunt up to Ophir Pass is grand. You will not be able to cross the pass, but can see the other side of it from the Ouray side. Silverton and the areas there that a rental car can do are not to be missed. If you can rent a Subaru mini-SUV, you can reach much more of it. I'd spend my time in RMNP, then head to the San Juans for the rest of the vacation. Out of Durango, head east on US 160 to I-25 and north back to Denver. There is camping at all levels in abundance in these areas and tons of motels and cabins. Since it's almost Summer, I'd plan ahead for this. The wild flowers will be in bloom in the lower elevations, though July/August are ablaze in the higher elevations with field, upon field, of flowers. Take plenty of warm clothing, as one can find a blizzard any month of the year in the higher elevations in CO. Also, check locally about any road that you wish to take, as many, higher up, might still be closed due to snow. I'd not venture off the pavement, unless I had a set of National Forest Service Maps of the area. I bought all of mine at the Federal Center in Golden (outside Denver), but they are all probably available on-line nowadays. If you need any particular info, drop me a line at bhuntNOTreally@huntphoto. com. Just remove the NOTreally.While it's been 10 years, since I lived there, I've been to most of the accessible (via stout Landcruiser) locations. Colorado is a photographer's paradise. Both RMNP & San Juans offer up images that are not to be found elsewhere. Enjoy, Hunt Hunt, Good advice. A couple of notes: > Alan, starting in Denver, I'd head out US Hwy 6 to the junction with > 119, the Peak to Peak Hwy. It becomes hwy 72 then hwy 7 up to Estes Park, hwy [quoted text clipped - 22 lines] > Dollar Trail (a rental car can make this drive, provided you go slowly, and > it's not too low, or long) to Telluride. I think you mean Last Dollar Road? There is the main dirt road (forget the name) that goes to Telluride that is passenger car road, but the last dollar road is a lot more spectacular, but can be very treacherous when wet. Do NOT attempt it if wet. Some sections have clay that when wet you can slide, including off the road. When dry it is high clearance vehicle 2WD, though rated 4WD easy. > From Telluride, a jaunt up to Ophir > Pass is grand. You will not be able to cross the pass, but can see the other > side of it from the Ouray side. Silverton and the areas there that a rental > car can do are not to be missed. If you can rent a Subaru mini-SUV, you can > reach much more of it. Ophir pass is 4WD easy and is more a case of nerves than technical difficulty. From the Ophir side, if you have to pass a car on the last long section before the pass, you are on the outside next to a steep drop. (depending on experience it really isn't that scary or dangerous). Just wait for the way top be clear of oncoming cars that go. > I'd spend my time in RMNP, then head to the San Juans for the rest of the > vacation. Out of Durango, head east on US 160 to I-25 and north back to [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > in the higher elevations in CO. Also, check locally about any road that you > wish to take, as many, higher up, might still be closed due to snow. Roads will not likely be closed from snow this year, as the snow pack is well below normal. We had a normal snow pack, but it has mostly evaporated (yes evaporated). > I'd not venture off the pavement, unless I had a set of National Forest > Service Maps of the area. I bought all of mine at the Federal Center in Golden > (outside Denver), but they are all probably available on-line nowadays. Or National Geographic maps available from many camping stores. > If you need any particular info, drop me a line at bhuntNOTreally@huntphoto. > com. Just remove the NOTreally.While it's been 10 years, since I lived there, > I've been to most of the accessible (via stout Landcruiser) locations. > > Colorado is a photographer's paradise. Both RMNP & San Juans offer up images > that are not to be found elsewhere. Yep, Roger >Hunt, >Good advice. A couple of notes: [quoted text clipped - 32 lines] > >I think you mean Last Dollar Road? There is the main dirt road (forget the name Of course. That's what I get for typing before the memory is engaged. Thanks for the correction. >) >that goes to Telluride that is passenger car road, but the last dollar road [quoted text clipped - 32 lines] >is well below normal. We had a normal snow pack, but it has mostly >evaporated (yes evaporated). [SNIP] Sorry to hear that the snowpack had diminshed so soon. Many years, we couldn't get to Imogene or Engineer/Evone Passes until mid-July. After my post, I saw another part of the thread stating mid-July for the trip. Didn't see that earlier. Per your observations, there should not be a problem. Thanks for the corrections and update. >Roger PS if the photographer wanted to rent some pro-gear in Denver, who is still around? Most of the guys, with whom I worked, are all long gone. Thanks, Hunt > PS if the photographer wanted to rent some pro-gear in Denver, who is still > around? Most of the guys, with whom I worked, are all long gone. Hunt, I personally do not know, but then I don't rent gear so I'm not looking. I just know some of the big places that used to rent are now gone. Roger >>I finally booked this years vacation flights and I'm surprised that the >>prices for flights are quite reasonable. (I didn't even try to trade [quoted text clipped - 24 lines] >> >>Cheers, Thanks for the "brief" Hunt! Cheers, Alan >>Alan.Alan, starting in Denver, I'd head out US Hwy 6 to the junction with > [quoted text clipped - 52 lines] > Enjoy, > Hunt Signature-- r.p.e.35mm user resource: http://www.aliasimages.com/rpe35mmur.htm -- r.p.d.slr-systems: http://www.aliasimages.com/rpdslrsysur.htm -- [SI] gallery & rulz: http://www.pbase.com/shootin -- e-meil: Remove FreeLunch. Nothing personal, implication-wise, but who knows what interests someone? Nicodemus KS, a town established and grown by African-Americans after the civil war. Five hours east of Denver. There may be another, similar, closer to the CO/KS state border, but I haven't been able to find it. Can't remember where I got this impression. Lamar CO. I know little about it except my mother was born there. Her father was a traveling photographer who left her quite a few photos of the Johnstown Flood. The prints were on postal cards, apparently a standard procedure in both commercial and home labs. They still look pretty good. Trinidad CO. A few years back it was the world center for sex-change operations. I knew a fellow who took a couple months vacation there and returned as a woman. I think s/he went there on purpose for that. I _hope_ s/he went there for that. Not the kind of thing you decide on while window-shopping in a Colorado town. S/he sued the perpetrators because some part of the follow-up treatment was neglected due to insufficient instructions. S/he lost that, too. Four Corners. Unique. I don't know why it brought me such joy to pose on one leg, an arm in each of two states, a leg in each of two others. I went and stood in the southwesternmost point in the continental US of A, one foot in Mexican water, one in Border Park water. The class of delinquent high-schoolers I'd dragged there were impressed, but not in the same vein I was. SignatureFrank ess > Nothing personal, implication-wise, but who knows what interests someone? > > Nicodemus KS, a town established and grown by African-Americans after > the civil war. Five hours east of Denver. There may be another, similar, > closer to the CO/KS state border, but I haven't been able to find it. > Can't remember where I got this impression. I would be interested in such, but we want to "dip our toes" in Kansas and then head NW to Wyoming... > Lamar CO. I know little about it except my mother was born there. Her > father was a traveling photographer who left her quite a few photos of [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > _hope_ s/he went there for that. Not the kind of thing you decide on > while window-shopping in a Colorado town. I am sometimes an impulse buyer, so I'll avoid that town... Once upon a time my father bought "Switched on Bach" by Walter Carlos (Moog synthesizer, Vinyl LP). As I have an extensive Bach collection (although not Moog) on both vinyl and CD I decided that I'd get "Switched on Bach" on CD ... only to dicover that, while the cover art was identical to the Vinyl LP, it was now by "Wendy Carlos"... > Four Corners. Unique. I don't know why it brought me such joy to pose on > one leg, an arm in each of two states, a leg in each of two others. I > went and stood in the southwesternmost point in the continental US of A, > one foot in Mexican water, one in Border Park water. The class of > delinquent high-schoolers I'd dragged there were impressed, but not in > the same vein I was. Those kinds of thing are "perk" moments but I wouldn't go much out of my way to doing them. Thanks for the ideas. Cheers, Alan. Signature-- r.p.e.35mm user resource: http://www.aliasimages.com/rpe35mmur.htm -- r.p.d.slr-systems: http://www.aliasimages.com/rpdslrsysur.htm -- [SI] gallery & rulz: http://www.pbase.com/shootin -- e-meil: Remove FreeLunch. > Four Corners. Unique. I don't know why it brought me such joy to pose on > one leg, an arm in each of two states, a leg in each of two others. Be aware, however, that the stone four corners thing surrounded by Indian trading booths is not actually the intersection of the 4 states of Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Arizona. The real intersection is some 1/4 mile away. Having done what you did, I later found out this fact when watching a documentary some months later. ;-) Roger |
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