The second installment of my favorite pictures from 2016 top ten countdown features some shots from the epic road trip from the summer and my first solo camping trip after my break up. Like the last set of pictures, they are not always the most artistic, but each one highlights more of my favorite high points from what I can only call an "interesting" year.
#6: Rain Rolls into Oak Creek Canyon
My solo weekend in Sedona/Flagstaff was one of the most enjoyable trips I was able to take this year. It came about a month after my break up, so it was my first "I can do this on my own" getaway. The first night was spent tucked away in my tent reading for about 4 hours while rain poured down around me. Thankfully, it would let up on occasion and the next day my campground neighbors would set up shop for the weekend. Spending the next two nights at their campsite enjoying some beers, burgers, and Cards Against Humanity may have been what saved the trip. As much as I enjoy quiet reflection, I'm not completely sure I would have stayed all 3 nights if they all ended in me staring up at the stars silently until I got tired. I would also do something that still seems like one of my more impressive accomplishments of the year: get a phone number from the fitness model who was among their group. Don't get too impressed, because I would blow it within a matter of days after we both left the woods. Proof that I'm most attractive when there is no other competition.
Although, I had many more beautiful shots of Oak Creek Canyon the day before when it was sunny, I really love this one because it captured what the majority of the trip was like. Also, this was a shot I really had to work for. The walk from the car to the vantage point was only about 100 yards, but the rain was intense. By the time I got in position for this picture I was completely soaked and wouldn't dry out for hours.
#5: Foggy Golden Gate
We arrived in San Francisco on the 4th of July after spending the night camping near a beach in Monterrey Bay. After taking a few drives around trying to find a parking spot with a view overlooking the bridge, I could tell Jenn was starting to get frustrated with the process. Eventually, we parked very high up and started to make our walk down. After a quick stop to use the bathroom, we realized how insanely cold and windy it was and opted out of the long walk down and back. We were about to head out of the city when I decided to try going down below the bridge. Parking was much easier and we were able to capture some very beautiful pictures. Part of me wanted to see it on a bright sunny day, but as I reflect back I think there is nothing more iconic than fog blocking out part of the view of the bridge. We would eventually make our way onto the Golden Gate, where both of us enjoyed doing Facebook Live feeds while we combated the wind. My favorite part was holding her while we shivered and stared out across the bay. It is one of those moments that plays like a movie in my head. I hope some day I can replicate that moment again, with a small tweak to the cast of characters.
#4: Nothing Can Do the Grand Canyon Justice
The first trip to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon was probably more memorable (read here for a near death experience), the second trip to the North Rim provided more gorgeous and remote scenery. The one thing I can say about any picture I took during those trips or any picture I've seen of the Canyon, is that nothing other than seeing it with your own eyes will ever do it justice. This picture came on the first full day of our road trip. We traveled half of the day before to get to Lee's Ferry about an hour away from the North Rim to set up camp. Using a recommendation from a Grand Canyon Hikers Facebook group, we decided to hike Widfross trail. Leave it to two people who are terrible about planning, to start off a 6000 mile road trip with a 10 mile, 4+ hour hike. It was after the hike ate up nearly half a day of travel, that I realized we probably weren't going to get to do nearly as much hiking during our vacation as I originally hoped. But given the chance to do it all again, I wouldn't have changed this part even slightly.
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