Summa in the Mountains

Hi there. This summer, so far, has been full of lots of good times spent in the mountains. Camping, hiking, climbing, running, etc. But mostly hiking. Which is seriously my favorite thing ever. Yes, it trumps climbing ;) In fact, climbing actually scares the heck out of me, but I like the thrill. ANYWAYS. So here are a bunch of random pictures from hiking, in no particular order. Enjoy! :) 

This was taken....somewhere up Logan Canyon, on the Crimson Trail I believe. Me and my sister were going to Logan to get ice cream at like 7:30pm (don't judge) and once we were almost there we were like, "Screw ice cream! Let's go hiking!" and we did. The sun was just setting and it was SO GORGEOUS in the canyon. :) So much better than ice cream. 

Also the crimson trail. I was SORTA in love with the way the light was touching the canyon, therefore I took lots of pictures. This was on the same night as the first one. 

Same night as the first. ISN'T IT SO PRETTY. I can't even. 

Same night as the first. I told you it was GORGEOUS. How come I'm so lucky to live in a postcard worthy place? ;) I love it. 

Same night as the first. Um...so if you go hiking with me you'll probably get sick of my CONSTANT need to take pictures of you. "Wait STOP there, that angle is perfect, move your hand, smile, turn to the left" that happens every ten steps ;) But this is my sister Sam, and I LOVE this picture. 

Yeah, same night. Third dam looks really brown in the that light.....it's weird how different it can look.

Same night, OKAY I REALLY AM ALMOST DONE. This one isn't that great, but it shows the trail, and the yellow flowers that lined it, which you can't see because the lighting SUCKS. But there you have it. 

Same night. Okay so this is blurry when you look at it, but it is FOCUSING on the SUNLIGHT coming through the trees. I mean maybe some would say this pictures sucks, which is a photographical (I create my own words) way it does, BUT I kinda like it so there. 

Last one from that same night. You can see the canyon road and if you look close enough you can see the valley and the Wellsville Mountains in the distance. 

DOES THIS NOT LOOK LIKE A SCENE OUT OF LOTR!?! It does. Your argument is invalid. This was up Smithfield Canyon, where we hike clear across the mountain range to Logan Canyon. Perfection. Hard. But WORTH IT. (This is the start of that girls camp hike that I lead) 

See that ribbon of cliffs? That is the crimson trail. This was taken from the wind caves with two of the coolest people ever, and I know, it doesn't look like summer, but welcome to Logan, Utah. :) 

Sorry Dallin, I had to post this. How come you're so cool!? ;) 

My dad. He looks like the ultimate hiker doesn't he? ;) Note: I forgot to crop out that tree branch, it's whatever.

This was taken on an 8 mile hike that I put together, and lead for girls camp.  

#DareDevil So that's me, no I did not take this. But it screams free spirit, aka me ;) 

This is the view on the way down from the girls camp hike. OH. MY. GOSH.

Annnnd, this is a close up view from the summit of that girls camp hike. 

Mountain lakes. AH. It's just....so.....beautiful I can't even.

This was a hike me and my sisters did. This was about the middle of the hike, it was stunning. :) 

CAN YOU SEE THAT KAYAKER ON THAT MOUNTAIN LAKE. I die. I die. I pretty much HAD to take a picture of him. Man, I would make a good paparazzi ;) Not really actually. 

This is also the crimson trail. I started from the other side and did this around 6pm. I really really love all the elements of this picture. 

This is the same hike I lead for girls camp....It. Is. Stunning. 

Same hike I lead for girls camp. This was up on the summit. Pictures just do NOT do it justice. The view was SO much more spectacular. 

This was also taken on the crimson trail. This does not do it justice! I hate how cameras just can't truly capture things. But it is pretty right? :) 

Taken inside the wind caves. It was snowing and raining out there so we hid out in the cave until it stopped. 

The wind caves from across the canyon. Look close, it's pretty cool. :) 

Sorry again. But this picture is way cool. :D

Dallin, Me, and Kim. It was snowing out there, can you tell? So basically I love these two a lot, they are cool kids, and hiking with them is the best. 

Dear Kimberly, stop being so cool. Kthanksbye. ;) 

This was taken up on the same trail I lead for girls camp, and this is my older sister. I looked back, and practically screamed at her to stop and smile. That view though. 

Taken from the summit of the hike I lead for girls camp. The feeling is amazing, because you can't see the view until you are standing right on that ridge. It. Was. Stunning. 

Yeah so that's it! I have many more where those came from. If you are featured in this post and would not like to be, shoot me a message ;) haha. Anyways.

That would be all! Go explore some new trails! :)

Climb High

Oh hi there. I feel like posting a heck of a lot of pictures because I want to and I have the wonders of technology at my fingertips. 

If you know me it's not surprise that I love to rock climb, while I am not particularity good I do love it and it makes my hard beat at totally irregular intervals. It's normal. 

Again if you know me, you might know that I love photography. A whole heck of a lot. A picture says a million words that sometimes you cannot speak, and can capture and hold so many memories, although somethings can never be captured, and that's okay because it will forever be in our hearts right? 

Something that kind of bothers me about photography is when people say, "Oh I love photography but I have a crappy camera" I'm sorry. In case you were wondering, the majority of my photos are taken on my iPhone 4 or my sisters iPhone 5s (which is incredible), or on my tiny Canon Powershot SX130 IS with 12MP and 12 optical zoom or my sisters who has the same camera just a newer version at 16MP and 16 optical zoom. It is a compact camera and definitely not my "dream camera" or "ideal camera" but I've learned that I cannot limit myself just because I don't have the BEST. 

Whether you have a nice camera or not, it doesn't matter! If you truly are passionate about something you don't make excuses, you make do with what you have. Some of my favorite pictures have been taken with a crap shot camera, and that's okay, because it's how the picture makes you feel that really matters. 

And I just wanted to say that. So. Here are some climbing pictures from this year! Some I took with my iPhone, some I shot, and some others shot of me. 

BUT FIRST, a few things....

1) I know absolutely nothing about photography other than I love it and it's a way to express myself. 

2) A professional photographer once told me about the "Check all four corners for a perfect pictures" rule. I choose to ignore sometimes. #IDoWhatIWant 

3) I shoot mostly in a "Photo journalistic" style. I'm not so much about getting the PERFECT SHOT, rather than capturing moments and memories. 

With that being said, enjoy. :) 

Taken by me, iPhone 

This picture was taken on a sunny day in the canyon. I saw someone climbing my dream climb in the canyon and I had to stop and creepily snap a photo. He noticed. Whatever. It's not a great photo at all due to lighting and the fact that I quickly snapped it, but I love it for a lot of reasons. :) Can you see that super chill dude? He kinda blends in, and again, the lighting, aye. 

I'll caption this, "Guys. I have a problem." ;) This picture was taken after I ran into my sporting goods store to "get A carabiner"  HAH. Yeah I have a problem. I really do. But this pictures shows my love for climbing. ;) 

These people totally didn't know they were in my photo. It's all good. AH the memories that come with this photo; memories of chilly summer afternoons and people honking and yelling "you look beautiful" as I lead a climb and silently cursed their stupidity ;) 

I'm climbing a 5.10, but FIRST, lemme take a selfie. Yeah I love this. I look literally insane. That's okay. I like this a lot. THE FEELS. 

Taken by me, Canon PowerShot SX130 IS 

I promise I didn't STOP belaying someone to snap this, I'm not that stupid ;) I spend a lot of time belaying and this makes me feel a lot of feels. 

This is a different picture, There's my baggy t-shirt, my turquoise harness that is too big for me, my draws dangling at my hips, my belay device on my belay look, my bright orange nikes, and of course, the gravel at my feet. It brings a lot of things into the picture, but I'm ready to climb and it really captures that in an odd way.

Sarah to her Dad: "No I want Wesleigh to belay me." Yeah I think it's safe to say I'm the cool cousin...who... took a picture while belaying. don't worry, she was safe. Moral of the story, don't climb with me when I have a camera. Okay. 

This pictures screams bad a@s. Not gonna lie, but when you have ten draws dangling, clinking and swaying at your hips, you feel kinda boss. ;) 

First lead climb? Check! Yeah, I taught her everything she knows. I kinda really love all the color in this picture. 

Butt shots. Gotta love them. 

Okay so this is one of my favorite pictures ever. By photography standards it is far far far away from being perfect, but just SO MANY FEELS. I love all the colors and just feels man, feels. 

Gotta tighten that harness because we don't wanna die, am I right? Also love all the color in this. I like color, what can I say? ;) 

Pictures taken of myself 

NOTE: some of these are in IG format and that's lame, sorry ;) 

First non-mock lead climb. Terrifying. I also love that the light spots are completely natural. Usually they annoy me but I really like them in this shot. 

HAPPY PLACE. Also let us acknowledge that this picture was taken from BEHIND me on the skinny rock, talent right? ;) 

B&W seemed fitting, idk. This is me belaying my groovy cousin. Two seconds after this was shot, I flew up into the air and hung there due to the fact that he was quite a bit heavier than I am, good thing I was anchored in right? ;) (Me: "WHOA. I'm going places.")

I LOVE this shot. That is all. 

Oh the sheer confusion of the figure eight. I always mix it up, it's whatever. 

Holla for this pretty much perfect figure eight. #ProudMoment 

An oldie, but a goodie. I was about to take a leap of faith, that's what I'm doing. haha

So yeah, a lot of photos. But they all capture moments and I can look back on them and remember and feel and I love that. Climb on my friends/people who unfortunately stumbled upon this. ;)