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2012 In Perspective: My Strongest Year, Will I Ever Get 'There' Again?
Related: hard core, Inyo National Forest, peak bagging, training, White Mountain Peak, White Mountains
Get Sony RX100 at B&H Photo.
See my in-depth review of the Sony RX100.
Looking back at 2012, I’m just amazed at how lean and strong I was as I ask myself “will I ever be 'there' again?”. I’ve had extreme difficulty losing body fat this year, my working theory being gut biome and sleep working against me. Back then, I was down as low as 168 pounds with 8% body fat in Sept 2011, but right now I’m at 178.5, which feels downright porcine by comparison. I’ll keep at it, but being 5 years old isn’t helping things either.
I’m also still amazed at just how good the original Sony RX100 point and shoot camera is, with its built-in flash for perfect fill flash like in this shot—a huge boost to outdoor shooting quality. All four generations are still for sale: $498 RX100, $648 RX100 II, $798 RX100 III, $948 RX100 IV.
Self portrait at about 11,500' in the White Mountains of California, with White Mountain Peak (elevation 14,252') in the distance. August is the best month of the year to visit because powerful storm clouds can build up in hours—it’s stunningly beautiful on such days. On a different day, I watched (in my car) a powerful deluge carve 5-inch-deep gulleys into a freshly-grade road; storms can render some side canyon roads impassable in a single day, though White Mountain Road along the crest is relatively resistant to storm damage.
DSC-RX100 + 28-100mm F1.8-4.9 @ 28mm equiv (10.4mm)
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Self portrait at about 11,000' elevation in the White Mountains of California, near Patriarch Grove. Three hours and 20 minutes later I was forced down from around 13,000' by close lightning strikes and heavy wet snow. It was really cool.When cycling it is all but mandatory to carry light winter clothing in August in the White Mountains: in 2012 it took 3 attempts on three days to summit, the first two (two days apart) dropping snow all the way as low as 8000' elevation in the middle of August. Carry a lightweight down jacket and a wind/waterproof shell with hood as shown, ditto for pants, plus a wool cap and wool gloves.
DSC-RX100 + 28-100mm F1.8-4.9 @ 28mm equiv (10.4mm)
[low-res image for bot]
