David Gray's video: Ansel Adams Wilderness California Backpacking - September 2015

My final 'big' backpacking trip of the 2015 season sent me to the Ansel Adams Wilderness in The Sierra Nevada near Mammoth Lakes, California. I had previously planned to hike the iconic Rae Lakes Loop but the massive Rough Fire had different plans for me. With the single road into the Rae Lakes trailhead closed by the Rough Fire I was left scrambling to change my plans only a week before my departure date. Though it wasn't my first choice, the loop I ended up doing proved to be a worthy alternative - Agnew Meadows past Shadow Lake, up Shadow Creek to Ediza Lake, then on to Garnett Lake, to Thousand Island Lake via the John Muir Trail, and return to the Agnew Meadows Trailhead via the Pacific Crest Trail. Mileage was low but the views were off-the-charts incredible. I've taken many 'solo' backpacking trips, but always with at least one dog as a companion. This was my first truly solo trip, and combined with the short mile days (which left a ton of down time in the afternoons), the four days alone in the Sierra certainly became a 'growth experience'. This was also my first opportunity to backpack in the Sierra Nevada, and I was blown away. As my previous videos probably show I truly have a love affair with Colorado and Glacier, but The Sierra Nevada might actually be one notch above those magnificent settings. The 'pointy' peaks of white granite set against a backdrop of the ever-present ridiculously blue skies, the comfortable dry air and lower altitudes, the gently graded and perfectly maintained trails, and (always) the smell of pine, fir, and juniper created the perfect backpacking setting. Hiking the entire John Muir Trail has long been an entry on my 'bucket list' and this trip drove that desire deeper into my soul. I'm not sure when I can make that dream happen, but having now had a small taste of the JMT I'm driven to someday soon have the full JMT 'meal'. For those who have watched my other videos this one is done in the same style - a little over an hour in length total, intended to bring the audience along for the ride, and with a 10 minute still picture slide show with music at the end. If you just have a few minutes just skip to the end and enjoy the pictures. Equipment / Gear List: Still Camera: Nikon D700 with Nikkor 20mm f2.8 lens Video Camera: Canon Vixia G30 with Rode Stereo Videomic Pro Video Editing Software: Sony Vegas Pro 13 HDR Software: SNS-HDR Pro Pack: ZPacks Arc Blast 52l Shelter: ZPacks Hexamid Solo Plus