In August 2006 I did a 5-day backpack over the eastern Sierra's Taboose Pass, chronicling the trip through the lens of a Panasonic FZ30 ultrazoom digicam (gallery at http://trailhiker.smugmug.com/gallery/1797901_MkFTy ). 2 years later, I'm now in the "digital single-lens reflex" (DSLR) world and for this 3-day ramble up Pine Creek Canyon I take a Pentax K10D with 2 lenses --- a Pentax 16-45 wide-angle with circular polarizer for landscapes, and a Tamron 70-300 macro for closer shots. I'd done the hike up to my tent site, Honeymoon Lake, about 5 years ago but didn't have a good camera with me. Despite the weight, the Pentax DSLR and 2 lenses should be perfect for the lakes and mountains I'd see...
This shows the upper part of Upper Pine Lake looking down towards Pine Creek Canyon. The smoky vistas of the day before have finally given way to the fabled Sierra clarity.
The view from my campsite at Honeymoon Lake around 6pm. The mosquitos are still bothersome, so I head up the Italy Pass trail a bit to see if the path is fordable as it crosses an inlet stream...
Well, it looks a bit tricky...Actually, at the rate the water is rushing I would have had to take my boots and socks off and barefoot-it across. NO WAY I would try to hop over on those rocks! So the wonders of Granite Park up the trail will have to wait for next time.
I could watch the changing light on Honeymoon Lake and the surrounding mountains for hours --- if it weren't for those pesky mosquitos. I'm inside the tent by 8:30pm as I usually wake-up by 3:30am anyway. It starts getting light here around 4:30, and as the mosquitos don't show up until later I can wash, pack up and have breakfast in peace.
The next day I'm packed-up and out on the trail by 6am. I take time to view Honeymoon Lake in early-morning sun. Here's the inlet "stream" (more like a torrent) from Granite Park tumbling down to the lake, taken with the Tamron 70-300mm lens at 260mm.
And here's the early-morning view of Honeymoon Lake. My campsite was on a bench just to the left of the cascading waterfall.
The trail to Granite Park, Italy Pass and points west.
Here's Upper Pine Lake with its many tiny islands, looking south. The circular polarizer once again cuts down on the sun's glare on the lake's surface so you can see the details underwater.
And at Pine Lake the circular polarizer REALLY brings out the underwater details...
After Pine Lake, Pine Creek starts its rush down to the Owens Valley. Here's the log crossing. Wish there would have been something like this on the creek crossing above Honeymoon Lake on the way to Granite Park.
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