Your favorite photos of 2009

[Billy]

Post your favorite two photos from 2009. They can be your favorites for any reason: technically good, great memory, etc. Explain where you took the pic and why you like it.

Both of mine are from a five-day Grand Canyon backpack trip in April. Once in a lifetime trip with great company, scenery, weather, and camping spots. Started at Grandview and finished at Bright Angel.

First pic is my buddy John taking a picture of the silver suspension bridge spanning the Colorado River.
http://walkinginthewoods.smugmug.co...pril-2009/7902524_ofJds#513454067_8KGj2-XL-LB

Second pic is taken at sunset from a little ways down the Grandview Trail. I call this "Biblical Light" because the lighting reminds me of some of the paintings I've seen in churches and in illustrated Bibles.
http://walkinginthewoods.smugmug.co...pril-2009/7902524_ofJds#513478726_ySz8G-XL-LB

(if you're a Grand Canyon nut, single click on either pic and it takes you back to the whole gallery)

 

[The Unstrung Harp]

Billy, gorgeous canyon pics!!

Sunrise at Bold Coast, Maine.

Sunset on Mt. Monroe.

I think the "why" should be self-explanatory.

 

[w7xman]

How bout a "Top 9 of '09"

How fast the year goes by...seems a bit early for a retrospective, with a few good weeks to go...but indeed, soon I'll be traveling to see family and friends for the holiday's and the hiking year will be over...

There's a good bit of history for these threads...

2006: http://www.vftt.org/forums/showthread.php?t=15244
2007: http://www.vftt.org/forums/showthread.php?t=19465
2008: http://www.vftt.org/forums/showthread.php?t=26831

I would like to ask the OP to expand the # a few, as for many here who have a year's worth of fine hikes and experiences to narrow down from, two doesn't even cover the seasons.

How about a 'top 9 for '09' thread...and lets keep it running THROUGH the end of the year...

I'll start digging...

 

[king tut]

I always love seeing the "best of" photo threads. My 2009 unfortunately was spent attending batchelor parties and weddings instead of hiking, so here are the few photos of hiking that I have this year from the times that i remembered to pack my camera.

Gothics in the ADK's


Indian Head in the ADK's


My photo submission from my wedding tour- The "Bean" in downtown Chicago reflecting the skyline with me and the Mrs.



late entry
Bigelows rising above the clouds

 

[cooperhill]

This shot of the wildcats from the Shelby Ski trail on Columbus Day weekend.

 

[pudgy_groundhog]

Great pics so far! I'll have to check back -- I love these threads every year.

Picking nine would be tough, so for now I'll go with my favorite picture of the year (disclaimer: Steve actually took it, we only have one camera, but I was there ).

The view from Nub Peak in Assiniboine Provincial Park (Canadian Rockies)

 

[Raymond]

My son, Cameron (right), and me, well on our way back to the trail head from Redfield (Cam’s 45th High Peak) after having to descend the mountain during a thunderstorm. By the time we reached Lake Colden, the sky had cleared beautifully, and we had a spectacular trip along the lakes and through Avalanche Pass.

This next one was my most important photo of the year, if not my sharpest.

That is sort of a joke, but not entirely.

That is where I found my camera after I lost it while climbing Mount Morgan in the Adirondacks in September. It was under that stump, bottom side up, and it had taken me about 45 minutes to find it. My first reaction upon seeing it laying there was to reach for my hip so I could grab my camera and take a picture of it ... and then I remembered, oh yeah, it’s not on my hip. It’s laying there on the ground. So I picked it up, cleaned the dirt off it, and took a picture of its hiding place. Then I climbed back up to what I assume was the summit of the mountain, much relieved.

Being able to take this picture meant I hadn’t lost the pictures I’d taken to that point during my vacation, and that I wouldn’t have to spend the rest of my week off searching for the camera.

 

[Raymond]

Seven more

Yeah, I posted it before, but, Cam’s 46th.

I wish I knew know how to get these panoramas bigger.

View from Shining Rock below Little Haystack in the White Mountains.

The ubiquitous fall foliage photos.

 

[Fisher Cat]

My favorite was a bunchberry close-up on a rainy day hike to Waumbek:

 

[Neil]

I kind of like this picture. I wonder if I could sell it to a cigarette company. (Note how the red north arrow of the compass lines up with the hand-drawn magnetic north lines on the map in its protective plastic case.)

 

[chomp]

My Fav

Sunrise at Thousand Island Lake in the Sierras:

Clearing Clouds at South Branch Pond in Baxter SP:

 

[leaf]

Climbers on the sharp snow ridge off Aigulle Du Midi cable car station, Mont Blanc Massif (June 2009)
http://leaf.smugmug.com/France-2009...e-20-2009/8680979_LaGLe#573559846_jSdwL-XL-LB

Sunrise at ~13,000 feet on Mont Blanc Du Tacul (June 2009)
http://leaf.smugmug.com/France-2009/Refuge-du-Cosmiques-to-Mont/8687809_nJxCY#574064639_YB85x-XL-LB

Longs Peak at sunrise, Rocky Nat'l Park, CO (September 2009)
http://leaf.smugmug.com/Colorado/Longs-Peak-Rocky-Mtn-Natl-Park/9587721_4K2sP#645479166_K4jZ9-XL-LB

Stoney checking out the Sharkstooth before our ascent, Rocky Nat'l Park, CO (September 2009)
http://leaf.smugmug.com/Colorado/The-Sharkstooth/9576205_hJA9Y#663028816_jMVVt-XL-LB

 

[leaf]

And here's cbcbd's submission:

leaf at camp in the North Cascades, WA (May 2009)
http://leaf.smugmug.com/Washington-...ain-North/8117915_Dkp7x#529336441_wdaiJ-XL-LB

 

[w7xman]

Great shots so far...

This year, though I spent alot of nights up in the mountains, the light rarely happened for me while on designated hiking photo trips. However, I did witness some good light and scenes while not hiking, and thats what is represented here...

In chronological order...My top 9...

Below Zero in Portsmouth Harbor...

Sunrise at Ethan Pond...

Grass Pink Orchid in June

Morning Mist in Sugar Hill

September Frost at Ponemah Bog...

Tye-Dyed Hippie Plant...

Stillness and Storm, Little Cherry Pond, Jefferson...

Waiting For Snow...

First Snowfall of the Winter Season...

Hoping for better light while at elevation this coming year...but I shouldn't complain, as any day out is a good day!!!

Looking forward to more shots...

 

[Tom Rankin]

This was when Laurie and I finished the 115 together. It's the Knife Edge of Katahdin.

 

[Neil]

Mastergrasshopper descending the Pinky Slide on a September afternoon. (2/9 in no particular order)

 

[PA Ridgerunner]

2 from Beaver Meadow Falls



Herbert Brook (photo credit to Fran)

Pink Ladyslipper

 

[Chip]

Kudos to all the great pics so far, I'm always impressed by the talent here.

These are not a great pictures, by any measure, but they're definately some of my favorites from 2009. J.Dub, his climbing partner Paul, and I had just finished our attempt at Roger's Rock on Lake George. At the top of the 2nd pitch it had started to pour rain and we made a safe retreat. My wife and boys picked us up in our boat, at the base of the cliff, to head back to food, beer and dry clothes. I was the last one in the boat, had shoved off, got tangled in the gear and toppled into the bow. If Paul hadn't helped me, I'd still be there.
Photo credits to J.Dub;

 

[mirabela]

Great idea. It seems like there's too much to pick from, but this has been my desktop pic lately. It's from August 1st when I had a grand day out.

Crud! Well, maybe I'll be able to get the hosting thing straightened out. Sorry for the snafu.

 

[Tom Rankin]

Great idea. It seems like there's too much to pick from, but this has been my desktop pic lately. It's from August 1st when I had a grand day out.

If I quote you, I can see the picture url, but otherwise, I do not see anything...

here is the link:

http://mail.google.com/mail/?ui=1&v...1&attid=0.1&disp=attd&realattid=f_g37ygnnx&zw

But that asks me to log in, (which I can do), but others can not.

Edit: Hmmm, maybe not. I get a server error...