Packed out at 55 pounds, the hike to Spider Meadows was level enough that my legs held up but my shoulders were pretty sore the first day of a three day assignment to photograph a researcher looking at the disappearing glacier at Lyman Lake. But the hike up to Spider Gap, down to the lake and glacier, then back up and down to Spider Meadows  just about did me in. Wouldn’t have been too bad but hauling camera gear, food, boots and crampons was too much weight for my 47-year-old bones.

But worth it! A beautiful day with brilliant blue skies above 7,000 feet and an interesting topic and people to photograph.

Look for the story by K.C. Mehaffey and photographs by me in print in early September.

Here’s a preview: