Into (and then out of!) the Gila.

[MikeC]

Last month I got the long-awaited chance to do an overnighter in Arizona's Gila canyons.

Day one writeup is here:

http://lacemine29.blogspot.com/2013/02/into-gila.html

Day two here.

http://lacemine29.blogspot.com/2013/02/out-of-gila.html

Scott's take on it here.

http://www.topofusion.com/diary/2013/01/15/an-average-week-in-arizona/

Greg's is here.

http://dirtanddogs.blogspot.com/2013/02/on-trail-in-arizona.html

Enjoy,

MC

[Mark_BC]

That's some pretty sahweet camera work. What do you use? I'm learning the nuances of my new Nikon V1. My bigger cameras won't fit on my bike...

[wahday]

Thanks for that morning stoke! 

[caseygreene]

Jesus christ. You guys have so many good shots y'all could make a coffee table book from just one trip!
Love the shots where the dead brushy stuff is tunneling the road (must be a bitch to maintain that trail).

[ScottM]

Mike has a "what camera?" link on his blog's sidebar.  Though he keeps acquiring new stuff, so it changes.

All 3 of us had DSLRs and carry them in our packs.  Sometimes you just have to get out and try to capture an area as best you can.

Casey - maybe the ATV riders maintain the tunnels, but I think they stay pretty open naturally.  Some areas do grow quite a bit in the spring and after monsoon, but those little roads paralleling the river are always pretty open.  When it does get tight around the river at least it's not cactus, cat claw and other spiny stuff.

It was a great couple days out, even with the bad planning (never rely on caches!) on my part.  Well, I suppose we didn't *rely* on it since there were a number of options besides what we did (turn around).

[Mark_BC]

Yeah, my thing is I like wildlife photography and I love my 300 f/4 with 1.4X TC, on my D300. Not a light kit! I'll put it in a little backpack on my chest, and keep my back clear. It hangs away from my chest so I don't get too hot. And it's right there if I see some wildlife.

At the risk of hijacking this thread, my friend just sent me this link of a tale of Germans in Death Valley. Shows what can happen when you run out of water in the desert and make a series of bad decisions.

http://www.otherhand.org/home-page/search-and-rescue/the-hunt-for-the-death-valley-germans/

In May we're going to Baja (taking my Mukluk) and there's a 40 km long deserted canyon with palm groves I want to check out but it will be too hot, so I will just scope out the way in and assess it for a formal descent in wintertime when it isn't scorching.

[MikeC]

On this trip I took my new 5D3 body, 28-300L lens, 14 f2.8L lens, 3 batts, and an intervalometer.

Could have done just fine with only the body and tele zoom, but had the light been better on the second day I'd have kicked myself hard for not having the wide angle.  Also prefer to use the wide for night time lapses.

Taking the exact same setup to AK next week, but with a battery grip attached so I can run lithium AA's and not have to worry about charging opps.

[Bikeabout]

When one has a black belt in lightpacking, one can take whatever camera gear one desires.

I'm just saying this based on my observations. MikeC has a black belt. I have a belt of some kind, but I keep tripping on it because it's hanging out of my oversized pack that's overstuffed with gear. Then my belt is muddy and torn. But luckily, I have a spare belt along. In my oversized, overstuffed pack... Er...

--Greg

[texasjake]

MikeC

         amazing pics, amazing place, amazing trip i'm sure. that destination is now on my list of "must do". thanks you and your riding buds!

[MikeC]

When one has a black belt in lightpacking, one can take whatever camera gear one desires.

I'm just saying this based on my observations. MikeC has a black belt. I have a belt of some kind, but I keep tripping on it because it's hanging out of my oversized pack that's overstuffed with gear. Then my belt is muddy and torn. But luckily, I have a spare belt along. In my oversized, overstuffed pack... Er...

--Greg

Scott says I packed heavy on this trip.  And I agree.  I brought a pair of synthetic insulated pants--largely to pad my spare lens while riding.  But also because they were mighty comfy to pull on at night...

But they have a simple drawstring.  No belts...

[stumpyfsr]

I've read all blog posts and like em all. Especially love the part: "Allow me, now, as I write this, to stand back and feel a small dose of awe. Because -- though there are many excellent rides that start and end on the same day -- there is something pretty sweet about riding until the day ends, with no particular worry about where it might end, with knowing one is carrying everything needed for the night, with knowing that the next day, too, will be filled with riding."
The best answer on "Why we do this" question.
Thanks for posting. And, of course, pictures are excellent. Worth of every pound of gear you carried.