Chasing the Sun

With winter coming on, I'm reminded of a frigid, late fall venture up to one my favourite places in New Zealand. Sitting exposed, and high above the treeline, French Ridge overlooks the Matukituki Valley and glaciers of Mount Barff. Here I learned what it meant to sit out a thunderstorm in alpine country. I spent two days in this hut, with no heat, bundled in all my clothes and sleeping bag, the hut rocking and creaking from the massive wind gusts and the rhythmic spattering of freezing rain pelting the corrugated iron roof. Even tho I was cold and stuck, I was in awe by the sounds and power of the alpine storm. And when it finally stopped was the day I fell in love with this place and the magical vision that can be created by a clearing storm.


Shot on a tripod at f/100, 1/160 sec, ISO 100 on April 15, 2008.
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