This one is from a few years back, on a pretty fun (although fairly painful) backpacking trip Miles and I took way out on the rim of Crater Lake in the middle of winter. I'm happy to say that I was there on Miles' first backpacking trip ever to Shi Shi beach a year or so before this, where he hiked in with a 4 person tent and no sleeping pad to camp on the cold and wet sand in December. I don't think he slept at all that night, as he was so cold that every time I popped my head out of my tent to check if the incoming tide was going to wash us out, he was out pacing up and down the beach trying to get warm. I think he learned quite a bit that night about proper winter camping preparation. So on this winter backpacking trip to Crater Lake, he was much more adequately outfitted. With 60lb packs we hit the trail in snowshoes to start the slog out on the rim. Mile after mile, the snowshoeing started to takes it's toll on our energy levels, and Miles kept complaining about "chaffing". I figured he was just being a whiner because I'd never experienced chaffing before (I weighed about 125lbs at the time). He pushed on though and we set up camp in HOWLING wind, hoping that where we dug in near a scraggly stand of small tress would help shield us a bit. NOPE. The wind battered us all night... and I slept like a person drunk on NyQuil. On top of not sleeping due to the wind, Miles complained the next morning of also having to hear me snore through the 50mph wind gusts. Again, I found this pretty funny and gave him plenty of "cry baby" remarks the rest of the trip. The point is, karma bit me in the ass. Hell, I'm still getting karma thrown back at me to this day. See, now I'm not 125lbs anymore and am fully aware of how brutal chaffing can be on long hikes. Miles loves that I have gained a few pounds and understand thigh friction. I'm not as thrilled. I also embarrassed myself in front of a big group of good looking gals. After our trip, upon returning to the parking lot and walking to our cars, we noticed a group of of ladies arriving and getting ready for their hike. We took this opportunity to put our rugged-just-got-done-backpacking swagger on to try to impress (I was single at the time). We had our big packs, snowshoes strapped to them, manly stubble from not shaving and a stride that oozed testosterone. Just as they looked over I slipped on a patch of ice in the parking lot and fell hard straight on my ass. I was too embarrassed to look over and see if the girls were laughing at me. Miles feigned concern, helped me up, and held in his laughter for after we were away from the chicks. True bro-stuff there. So again, karma has a way of finding it's way to you. Anyways, I recently released my 3rd instructional video on my approaches to processing. People seem to really be enjoying them and have had nothing but great things to say, so I *think* they are helping people... it's been awesome to see the many before/after shots people have been emailing me. Be sure to check the videos out if you are into that sort of thing. It's all on my website, as well as more photos, photo tour info, processing instruction via Skype like everyone else is doing, etc, etc. I'm also SUPER excited to be teaming up with Arild Heitmann to lead a tour through Norway's Lofoten Islands to chase some some Aurora and the long hours of golden arctic light. The tour is filling up fast, so if you're interested, be sure to check it out soon! Ryan Dyar Photography. via 500px http://ift.tt/1rWdBmG
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