Category: Photography

1st Summit to Mission Peak

Posted in California, hikes, Nikon, Nikon D90, PhotographyTagged , , 2 Comments
1st Summit to Mission Peak, originally uploaded by dmzajac2004-.

Via Flickr:
Copyright © 2011 Deborah M. Zajac. All Rights Reserved.

My husband whom I call Heman has been hiking a lot with me these last 2 months. We’ve hiked to Black Mountain 2 times, and up and down the PG&E trail quite a few times so I thought he might like to hike up to Mission Peak. He’s never done it before after-all.
Today he asked me if I wanted to hike up to Vista Point this afternoon, and I said how about Mission Peak instead. He hesitated a moment then said, “Why not.”
I took him up Horse Heaven Trail, and we descended via the Peak Trail.

He felt great. I didn’t. Horse Heaven nearly beat me today. I kept going and made it up to take this photo of Heman. I call him Heman because he can open jars  with his bare hands! He doesn’t  have to bang the lid with a knife, or some other blunt object, and he can do anything that requires muscles and strength, and he can lift me up over his head! Yes, both he and my son have on more than one occasion lifted me up as if I were a bar bell to the ceiling. I think the name suits him to a T. 🙂

Hike details:
My time to the Top- 2h4m
Total hike time- 3h24m
started at 328ft
Total ft gained- 2,236ft
Total Miles- 6.45

Nikon D90| Nikkor 18-200mmVR@20mm| f8| 1/500 sec| ISO 200| Manual Mode| Hand-held

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Marina Blues

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Marina Blues, originally uploaded by dmzajac2004-.

Via Flickr:
Copyright © 2011 Deborah M. Zajac. All Rights Reserved.

This looks better Large. Click the photo for a larger view.

Waiting for the Moon to get into a slightly better position I walked over to the Marina.
It was so quiet and peaceful. I didn’t hear any creaking boats, or bells softly ringing. The water was so still!

Nikon D300s| Nikkor 17-35mm@ 25mm| f16| 30 seconds| ISO 200| Manual Mode| Tripod

Treasure Island, California, Bay Bridge, Marina

Summer Solstice Hike

Posted in hikes, Nikon, Nikon D90, Photography, WildlifeTagged , , , , , , , Leave a comment

My morning hike up to Vista Point this morning was lovely.  There were butterflies flitting around the wildflowers lining the trail, and about 2 miles from the top there was a plant with several butterflies warming their wings. I think the flowers are Globe Gilia, and the butterflies Variable Checkerspots.

Photo by Deborah M. Zajac

This one must have been cold. It didn’t move when I approached it. It was right in the middle of the trail.

Photo by Deborah M. Zajac

and further up the trail was this lizard warming itself in the morning sun.

Photo by Deborah M. Zajac

Summer temperatures have arrived in Silicon Valley. The last two days it’s been hot. This morning at 6:30am it was warm. The canopy felt wonderfully cool this morning.

The view from Vista Point was marred by fog and smog laying across the valley like a veil, but above it you can see the Diablo Mountain Range. Over there on the right are Mt. Allison, and Mission Peak rising above the haze, and in the valley below are the large hangers of Moffet Field Naval Station.

Photo by Deborah M. Zajac

I walked over to the bench today, and looked back. I loved the blue sky and Moon looking down on me.

Photo by Deborah M. Zajac

 

Total miles hiked- 8.2

Total elevation gained- 1,962ft

Total time to Vista Point 40minutes

Total time of hike- 3h3m-

Nikon D90| Nikkor 18-200mmVR