Yesterday was 106 degrees hot. Today was forecast to be 104 degrees hot. For someone wanting to go on a hike, when is a thermally-sane time for an outing? Why very early morning, of course!
My rhythm for climbing Old Rag is well-established. I’m out the door by 7:30, parked and climbing by 9:00 and usually completing the loop by about 12:30. Depending upon the season and the weather, the available light varies only within a certain range. As a photographer, I’m always thinking about light and only today realized that an early morning hike might benefit me by open my eyes to new shooting possibilities.
This morning I was awake by (gulp!) 4:00 AM and out the door by 4:30. This already put me three hours ahead of my typical schedule and would have me arriving at the base of Old Rag by sunrise: 6:05. Long shadows, yellow light, and new perspectives would greet my photographic eye. I was hoping this would show me new things to take pictures of and I wasn’t disappointed. The pictures below are of ever-present scenes along the trail that jumped out at me today as new due to the early morning light.
So, how was the hike? Hot! At 6:00 when I started hiking it was still 84 degrees. As I climbed, two thermal forces were at odds: with elevation it got cooler but as the sun climbed it got warmer. For certain, the sun won and by the time I was driving home it was 102 degrees. Unbelievably, as I was leaving I saw many people only starting their hike. God bless youth.
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