A rucksack, camera and 550km of mountain trail – The Slovene High Level Route.

This is the second guest article by Roy and Justi and it helps to celebrate the publishing of their second book :
Trekking in Slovenia – the Slovene High Level Route by Justi Carey and Roy Clark.

“The outdoor life appears intrinsic in Slovenia’s culture, not only for many local rural
livelihoods but also for their recreation and great sense of adventure. For such a small
country it has a fantastic wealth of waymarked trails that crisscross every county and
over 300 manned mountain huts and valley refuges can be found strategically placed
along the routes. “

The PTR team have a special affinity with Slovenia following two trips there and this book and country come highly recommended to anyone who loves mountains and walking. This article, especially written for our photo travellers, touches on some of the trials and decisions photographers following the wilder paths have to face.

As well as having the more well known long distance trails that pass through the land, like the European E6 and E7 and the Via Alpina, it also has another, known mostly only to Slovenes themselves – the 550km long Transverzala or Slovenska Planinska Pot. This is a trail that crosses the country’s high ground, from Maribor in the north east to Ankaran on the Adriatic coast in the south. It takes in the Pohorje hills, the Kamnik-Savinja and Julian Alps, the Karavanke range that forms the natural border with Austria, the Bohinj mountains, many central lower hills and eventually passes through wild maquis and scrub as you approach the coast. When you realize just how passionate the Slovenes are about mountaineering and trekking, it doesn’t come as a great surprise to discover that the Transverzala was the first long distance route to be established in any of Europe’s alpine countries. Like all Slovene mountain trails, it is waymarked with the characteristic ‘target’ sign and also with a number 1.

It was a challenge to be taken up and being given the opportunity to write the first English language guidebook for the route was definitely an added bonus. One of the most enjoyable parts of the challenge for me was to get the best photos I could for the guidebook. As with our first book, the goal was to get descriptive shots that showed important sections of the route, cols and passes, path junctions, hut accommodation etc., but, as always, I was hoping for those magical elusive moments when good light and spectacular mountain scenery combine and a lone walker is highlighted on a summit ridge, adding scale and perspective – rare moments indeed when you have to keep walking to get the route done and meet publishing deadlines – you don’t have the luxury of being able to have a short walk and a purely ‘photos only’ day out!

I was not so concerned with getting useable shots in the high mountain sections – the Julian/Kamnik-Savinja Alps and the Bohinj hills offer enough drama and beauty for most folk with an interest in photography – but I had my doubts about the lower hills on the southern section of the route. Many of the southern hills are below the tree line and I wasn’t sure how I could make shots of forest paths and hill tops (where any available view would likely be of more endless tree tops) interesting. This proved to be the case for some sections, so I concentrated more on flower images and macro shots of butterflies when time allowed. Fortunately though, the route also travelled through scenic villages and passed many places of interest – like the UNESCO World Heritage site of the Škocjan caves.

As usual, I was trying to be selective with which camera kit to take/leave out – but even more so on such a long trail which involved more consecutive nights spent in mountain huts than was necessary for our last book about the Julian Alps. I used an old Nikon FE, as its low weight, solid construction and simple functions make it a good outdoor choice, complimented with some sharp primes, 50mm, 35mm and a 200mm in the high mountains. On the more featureless southern sections, I swapped the 200mm for a 100mm Macro. I took my smallish Gitzo (1.7kg) tripod with me for most of the route but swapped this for a more basic aluminium and plastic job to try and reduce the weight on the longer sections. I use a tripod a lot for setting up delayed timer shots, with myself in the picture when no-one else is around to add scale to the shot. Occasionally I took a small flash unit for hut interiors and fill flash. This was to be my last serious outing using 35mm film camera and lenses. I’ve always liked the excellent vibrancy and colour of good slide film and even the anticipation of picking up the results of your efforts from the developers, but this year a few ‘incidents’ left me looking forward to next year when I’ll be working with digital. Some examples being – having a few rolls of supposedly fresh film being developed with a strange magenta colour cast, the usual trials of loading film on exposed summits, but one of the worst moments was going to the developers to collect a week’s worth of film for a particularly remote section of the walk, only to find dozens of slides of a child’s christening! Fortunately disaster was averted and the proud parents of the child returned my slides to the developers, but only after six weeks of very anxious waiting and hoping.

For photographers looking for dramatic mountain shots, the Julian and Kamnik- Savinnja Alps won’t disappoint.  The Karavanke is a more gentle range – still high hills, but wonderful for grassy, flower covered slopes, and they also give great views of the higher ranges. One particular section, south of the main peaks, is a long escarpment high above the town of Ajdovšcina, known as the Gora. Its diversity of flowers, wildlife and interesting geology is stunning. It is also an area that appears to mark a strong change from an Alpine climate to a Mediterranean one.

Further south again, as the coast is approached, the scenery becomes less dramatic but there is plenty of scope for wild flowers, butterflies and sunsets over the the Adriatic Sea – the routes final destination. The Slovenska Planinska Pot is a beautiful route in a beautiful country, demanding in some sections, gentle and easy in others, where peace and solitude can be found, particularly in some of the less frequented southern sections where you may be more likely to encounter a deer or even a bear rather than people.

Links

The Julian Alps of Slovenia, Europe – walking and trekking the first book in this series.

Trekking in Slovenia – the Slovene High Level Route – Europe

See the first PTR article here.

Cicerone travel guides.

by Claire

Every trip, no matter how poor the weather, has its moments that will be recorded in the brain even if not caught on camera. Bringing home memories and stories to retell is a good second best to having a memory card full of images. This trip failed to produce the light that I had envisaged but there were two events that are etched on my mind and will cause me to smile for years to come.

The first involved a pine marten. If you were to ask me what my genre of photography is I would answer landscape but I get huge kicks from seeing wild animals. We watch the nature programmes on TV but if most people actually recount how many truly wild mammal encounters we have in the UK it would be small. I spend hours wandering around the countryside but rarely glimpse anything other than road kill. The prospect of seeing a pine marten was therefore exciting and Mel, Dougie and Bill had assured me I would as they had seen one on a previous trip in the garden where we were staying.

In preparation for this I had brought peanuts with me. The first evening (they tend to come out to feed close to houses at dusk) had not produced a result but I had remembered that they love peanut butter so I zipped up a concoction in the blender. Again no result. I therefore grabbed a few jars of peanut butter from a shop. The shops in this part of the world are almost as rare as the animals so this was a bonus. I decided that a large dollop was needed to waft in the wind so found a small glass dish and filled it. The following morning it had gone. I don’t mean just the peanuts, I mean the dish. Gone.

Undeterred I filled the lid from the jar and placed it close to the window on the picnic table. As I was cooking supper the beastie arrived. We had a fabulous view. The onions were burnt but it didn’t matter as I had seen something few people have – and they are BIG, the size of a cat. As it left it picked up the lid and carried it away. We had a laugh about what Mrs Pine Marten would make of the latest treasure brought home.

My final attempt to see and keep the animal in view involved the whole jar. Surely a whole bottle would be safe?  I was wrong. This too disappeared. It was probably a good thing I had to go home. Who knows where this experiment would have gone and I am sorry that I have inadvertently left the countryside littered with items from our kitchen. I just hope Mrs PM has uses for them….. What she doesn’t know is that I have a huge smile on my face recollecting this event. A precious memory.

The second encounter is one I have waited for years to see. The Scottish otter has proved so elusive to me. I’ve had glimpses but never been able to say I have really watched them. This time I was able to see three playing and diving for about 45 minutes, too far away for my camera to record them well but the event is imprinted on my brain. A real hallelujah moment.

So what about the photography?  I can only imagine what this area looks like in good light. We had a few hours with sun but most were when it was too high, we had some interesting skies but they were brief. Here below are the few shots that are worth showing. I wasn’t able to stay for the Mull part of the trip but I just ask you to imagine what Ardnamurchan has to offer with  frosts and mists – I will return and next time I will work out a way to photograph that beautiful peanut lover.

Rain and Scotland go together, it’s the package you sign up for if you decide to go. As I sit here I can close my eyes and imagine the rain falling outside, in my mind I can see the unique blue light that radiates from the water in the North West Highlands and I know that one day it will be home.

A romantic notion and an image it is difficult to yearn for if your travelling time is limited and, if it is a spot you may not return to again. For photographers it can be hard keep the enthusiasm going when you have days and days of wet and grey. Most travellers would feel themselves fortunate to spend a week in Scotland without wet stuff coming out of the sky but it is often water in the atmosphere that provides photographers with the light we dream of.

During the weeks preceding the Ardnamurchan/Mull trip we had snow, frosts, mist, beautiful sunrises and exquisite light at the end of the day. It was disappointing to arrive on Rannoch Moor with snow deep on the ground but rain all around. Not the conditions I’d have wished for to try out a new camera. But, when you find yourself in some of the most magnificent scenery that Scotland has to offer, the desire to go out and get something is always strong.

That kind of set the scene for the coming days, though on Ardnamurchan any snow had gone. The dreary days ahead gave us the opportunity to make the most of the accommodation. It is part of my dream to look out of the window to the sea. As the rain falls and the wind whips up the waves I can sit comfortably warm inside with one of the many books yet on my wish list to read. Shoreline Cottages are just the place to make this dream a reality. From the windows we could watch the clouds scudding by, watch the rain fall on the decking and watch all the birds that came to feast on the pickings left for the pine martin (Claire will tell you the tale)

On one of the dreary days we journeyed to Mallaig and Arisaig (a very welcome cup of coffee in the Spar store, as the 2 nearby cafes were closed), it made a good reconnaissance trip. The day could have been a write off but for the uplifting experience of spotting an otter silhouetted against the skyline on a rock as it finished its feast. It returned to the waters of Loch Ailort to its cubs and we were able to watch the three of them dip and dive and play together. They were not close enough to photograph well, but they did make us smile and gave us a feeling of triumph.

In the rain and grey we kept an eye on the forecast and made ourselves go out, to at least explore and we did find some light, it may be that the subject matter was not what I had in mind and that it was too cold for some people to hold a camera.

Then there was the time it all came together at Ardnamurchan lighthouse, though it was a bit of a wait in a wicked wind before the sun slipped through the break in the cloud to make the rocks glow.

I’m always suspicious of those who use the description of ‘interesting’ for any outdoor activity, but it is the word I would use for our crossing from Kilchoan to Mull. The ferry took only 2 cars, and it was necessary to reverse down a wet and windy slipway and up a steep ramp onto the ferry that bobbed quite violently in the waves. Not a manoeuvre for the faint hearted! The crossing was wild, but I was glad to be inside the car as the foot passengers on deck got more than a little wet.

A revisit for me to the Isle of Mull, my last having been close to three years ago and I had a dream to replicate some of the light I caught there before. It was not to be. The spell of dreich weather followed us like a cloud of midges at sunset on a still summer’s day.

Once again our accommodation provided us with a luxury retreat and we had the added bonus of it being on the path of a sea eagle that flew over us at breakfast though, unfortunately, before we had the chance to realise what we were seeing. Again here the wildlife abounded and it was a very special moment to watch an otter run over the dunes at Calgary. Dougie, I think, caught a glimpse as it ran in front of his wide-angle lens and into the sea at his feet.

As the grey continued it added to the mood and we did find stuff to point our lenses at. These boats are well known and were so close to our accommodation it was difficult not to stop and take them in. The island though is scattered with abandoned boats, you just need to explore to find them.

Something I try to tell myself at home is that you need to keep getting out if you want to capture something special. It’s easier to put into practice when you are away from home as you want to see as much of a place as possible and are always looking for spots to return to. We’d had a day driving around in thick mist and an unsuccessful otter hunt, we were tired and hungry, but some light moving down from the north spurred us on – - -

As I sit here putting together these few words I know I want to be back there. The rain of Scotland is part of my blood. Rainy days I can deal with, I need a little more help with Mondays.

Recommended Reading

Walking The Isles of Mull, Iona, Coll and Tiree

Walking Glenfinnan The Road to the Isles

Both the above are delightful volumes from the Clan Walk Guides and both were used in this and previous trips.

For a little sense of history of the places visited try these from Birlinn:

Night Falls On Ardnamurchan

The Field Of Sighing

Island Voices, Traditions of North Mull

]]> http://www.phototravelreview.com/sunshine-on-a-rainy-day-%e2%80%93-a-trip-to-ardnamurchan-and-mull/feed/ 1 http://www.phototravelreview.com/guest-article-scotland-in-the-rain/ http://www.phototravelreview.com/guest-article-scotland-in-the-rain/#comments Wed, 11 Mar 2009 11:27:00 +0000 Bill http://www.phototravelreview.com/?p=1416 Continue reading →]]> By Dougie Salteri

Link to his website: www.douglassalteri.co.uk

Note: Click on Any Photograph for a Larger Version

You need to have a philosophical attitude towards the weather if you shoot landscapes in Scotland, especially in the regions of the country to the West with it’s Lochs and mountains and all of the things we love to look at and enjoy.

I Hate Rain . . . but after rain comes rainbows.

Rain can be the most depressing of conditions in natures armoury, but to the photographer it should be welcomed with open arms. “What” I hear you cry, welcome. Well yes because without rain we wouldn’t have Lochs and Lake (we only have one lake in Scotland).

I Hate Rain . . .but let’s make waves.

We would never see a rainbow, or smell the fresh smell of a grasses freshly washed by a passing shower of rain. Wild flowers wouldn’t bloom, clouds wouldn’t float across blue skies and reflect so beautifully in the Lochs. No more boats bobbing at anchor in the rivers and sailing into the sunset.

I Hate Rain . . . but my Granny was a Loch.

So the next time you sit beside a Loch or wait for the clouds to part and let some light down on your particular bit of heaven on earth, ponder a while the World without rain.

I Hate Rain . . . but Noah was a photographer.

A drab hot place without lots of the elements which make the landscape work for photographers, and forget the dribble of water trickling down the little chink in your waterproof collar and think of all the fun you have doing what you love. The best hobby in the world. Keep enduring the rain because when it slows there might just be a spectacular rainbow arcing across that sky in front of your lens, don’t forget to wipe the filter.

I Hate Rain . . .but I do love beaches

I hope you’ve enjoyed my thoughts on rain and that it might just bring a little comfort  someday when you’re sure the Sun will never shine again, because it surely will.

*****

Douglas Salteri has 50 years of  photographic experience, mostly in newspapers. He first used a camera when he was 12 years old, a Kodak Brownie 127. He started work at 15, processing colour film and making prints for a couple of years, and then moved to newspapers where he worked as a photographer for 20 odd years using all sorts of cameras, Rollei’s, Pentax, Canon, Nikon and Hasselblad.  As he got older he moved to the Picture Desk and worked his way through the ranks, and finally became Picture Editor of The Herald where he retired in 2006. Now happily landscaping around Scotland with  A Canon 5D II and some lenses.  As he says: ” I worked at what has always been my hobby, it doesn’t get better than that.”

“Dougie,” to his friends, he is affectionally referred to as “Lord Douglas” by the PTR Team.

In the days ahead the team will discuss the seminar in great detail, including thoughts about how to deal with bad weather, and impressions of new equipment recently acquired by seminar participants, including the Canon 1Ds Mark III, the Canon 5d Mark II, and the Canon 24mm II lens.  We will also review accommodations, clothing, and the perils of international travel.  We have much to report so please visit again as we outline our experiences during a photographic holiday.

Here, PTR team memer Melanie sets up for a photograph while other participants look on.

Any day in Scotland is a good day, and once in a while the light was good and gave the participants the opportunity to find a subject worth study as in this shot of a Highland Cow by Bill.

As the saying goes, it takes rain to produce rainbows.  And, seminar participants had several opportunities for catching shots of rainbows, as in this shot by Bill of a rainbow over Duart Castle, historic home of the Clan Maclean.

Please visit with us in the days ahead as we show how seminar participants found light in incredibly challenging situations with example photographs done by some of the participants.

We might even see some shots done with the Canon Powershot G9 and G10.  Like this one done of a lighthouse from a Ferry while crossing from the Isle of Mull to Oban.

Also, we might discuss how to attract a Pine Martin using peanut butter, or what it is like to sit in rain for two hours in the hopes of spotting an Otter.

What we will discuss is the wonderful opportunities one can find during a seminar through good discussions, shared advice, and encouragement of one another.

–The PTR Team

A PTR Review

By Bill

Name of Travel Agency: Abercrombie & Kent

About Abercrombie & Kent: Born as a safari outfitter in 1962, A&K’s unparalleled luxury travel services now extends around the globe to more than one hundred countries on all seven continents. Small group or tailor made private travel with A&K offers the convenience, service and security of a U.S.-based luxury travel company with support 24/7 from a network of 50 on-site local offices, to ensure “by invitation only” access to inspiring experiences.

Website:  www.abercrombiekent.com/

Cost: Very Expensive – For this journey: $800-$1,000 per day per person plus airfare and tips. (In 2004 US Dollar Values)

Method of payment: Major Credit Card.  Deposite required prior to departure.

Location of this journey: Tanzania

Services provided: Itinerary planning, airline booking and tickets, all accommodations and meals, booking of in-country guide and vehicle driver, private vehicle, medical evacuation insurance, and detailed information about clothing, medical preparations, summaries of accommodations and services.

Date of Travel – March 2004

In 2003, I contacted Abercrombie & Kent following a recommendation given to me by a friend of my son John, who used A&K to plan his journey to Kenya two years before.  From the outset of my first contact with A&K I was impressed by the knowledge and the professionalism of the individual who was my primary contact and planner.  Using both email and telephone the flow of information between me and the A&K was constant and detailed.  I

t was attention to detail that impressed me about the planning process that included eveything from what medical conditions existed in Tanzania, where I would go and where I would stay, my vehicle and guide, to securing medical evacuation insurance out of remote regions should that be necessary.  All of my airline flights and all my ground transportation was outlined in detail and I received a detailed itinerary for my approval prior to booking.  Payment for the itinerary was made by credit card.

I made it clear from the outset of the planning that I wanted a private vehicle for my son and I to use while in Tanzania, that I wanted a personal guide who would accompany us, and that I wanted to stay in remote camps.  I knew that such requirements would be expensive, but I did not want to travel 10,000 miles to be disappointed because my son and I were with a larger group of people that we did not know.

After the planning was completed my son and I each received detailed itineraries and a very nice travel bag and flashlight.  And, a leather case for our passports and itineary.  Ah, the little things that A&K does!

Essentially our visit to Tanzania followed the classic tour.  Begin in Arusha, then to Tarangire National Park, then to the Ngorongoro Crater, then to the Serengeti, then a flight to Arusha.

Travel from Arusha to the Serengeti was done in a large Land Rover with a special body constructed especially for A&K that had a hard roof that could be raised for wildlife observation, thus one was protected from the sun but one had unlimited ability to move from side to side or from front to back to capture a photograph.  While this vehicle configuration may seem unimportant, in reality it was perfectly designed for a photo safari.  We observed other tour company vehicles during our safari that had open roofs but no protection from the sun, or worse, crowded vehicles with as many as eight people standing together while all trying to photograph the same animal.

Arusha:  Accommodations were made at Mount Meru Lodge for our night of arrival and our day of departure.  A delightful lodge with large rooms in cabins surrounded by large well-maintained grounds and a private preserve filled with wildlife.  The main lodge is tastefully decorated and has large open rooms and verandas.  Food was good, freshly prepared, and served promptly.  Staff were professional and helpful and interacted well with guests.  Extra luggage was stored at the lodge during our journey at no cost.

PTR ratings for Mount Meru Lodge:

• Overall rating:  Three stars ***
• Lodge and grounds:  Four stars ****
• Guest accommodations: Three stars ***
• Restaurant, food, and service:  Four stars ****
• Professionalism and ethics of staff:  Four stars ****

Tarangire National Park: Accommodations were provided at Swala Camp, privately owned by Abercrombie & Kent.  It is impossible to describe how wonderful Swala Camp is, it is probably Africa’s most secret and exclusive camp.  Situated in Tarangire National Park, the camp is made up of large tents with wooden floors.  The main tent overlooks a waterhole, has a very large open porch with comfortable seating, a fire pit for evening enjoyment, a bar, a large library of books, and a wonderful dining area decorated with rich furnishings, linen table cloths, real silverware, fine china, expensive crystal glassware, candles, and decorations made of african arts and crafts.

From the second of arrival and our introduction to our private butler, to our departure the staff was highly professional and helpful, the camp manager was a superb chef, entertaining, intelligent, and thoroughly knowledgeable about Tanzania.  Camp staff were all too eager to please and interacted with us genuinely and honestly.

Accommodations were provided in a private tent, tastefully furnished with two single beds, dressers, mirrors, lighting, shower, and toilet.  Hot water was provided each morning, or upon request, from boilers attached to the tent.

A small porch on the tent provided a comfortable place to sit and observe wildlife, enjoy coffee, tea, or wine.

Generators provide electricity for charging batteries, lighting at certain hours, and operation of DVD players and a large TV display for use of guests.

Swala Camp is situated in the middle of Tarangire National Park, wild animals move through the camp at all hours.  Cape buffalo, impala, and water bucks were commonly seen in the camp, friends who have been to the camp informed me that lions sometimes roam through the camp as well.  One evening my son and I were awakened by a Cape Buffalo that was grazing next to our tent!  Birds, especially horn-bills are seen throughout the day at the camp.  Tents occupy areas under very large trees with plentiful shade.  The entire area is simply stunning.

Meals were world class and served by highly trained waiters.  It was impossible to finish a beverage as it was constantly refilled by a waiter.  Wine was superb, mostly from South Africa with a large selection.  A variety of dishes were offered, in fact so many that it was nearly impossible to sample but a few of them.

PTR ratings for Swala Camp:

• Overall rating:  Five stars plus  *****+
• Lodge and grounds:  Five stars plus *****+
• Guest accommodations: Five stars *****
• Restaurant, food, and service:  Five stars plus  *****+
• Professionalism and ethics of staff:  Five stars plus  *****+

Ngorongoro Crater. Accommodations were provided at the Serena Lodge on the rim of the crater.  The lodge has a magnificent view with wide open porches. It lacks the intimacy of a private camp and it very much like a large hotel that would might encounter anywhere in the world with similar services.  What makes the lodge a good place to stay is it’s location.  One cannot describe how breath-taking the Ngorongoro Crater is and the abundant wildlife that roams it floor.  Common areas of the lodge are decorated tastefully with African art and rich furnishings.

Accommodations were average.  Our room was furnished with two single beds and a private bathroom.  The room was clean and it’s one excellent feature was a private porch that overlooked the crater.  The room was clean but in need of a renovation.

Meals were served buffet style with a very large selection of fruits, cheeses, salads, main courses, desserts, and beverages.  Service was good.  The bar area was large and the center of evening entertainment by a local Maasai tribe, the highlight of our stay at the lodge.

Our journey into the crater was magnificent and provided us with many opportunities for photographing some of the most endangered species on earth including the Black Rhino.  This experience was world class.

A&K did offer us the opportunity to stay at one of its mobile camps on the rim of the crater.  I now wish I had stayed there instead of the lodge.

PTR ratings for Serena Lodge:

• Overall rating:  Three stars  ***
• Lodge and grounds:  Five stars *****
• Guest accommodations: Two stars **
• Restaurant, food, and service:  Two stars **
• Professionalism and ethics of staff:  Four stars  ****

The Serengeti.  Accommodations were made at Kusini Camp, a privately owned tented camp in the heart of the Serengeti.  The camp is situated in the middle of a large rock formation which made for a wonderful experience sitting each evening enjoying a glass of wine at sunset.  Our private tent was equipped in a similar manner to what we experienced at Swala Camp.  Service was  outstanding and meals were excellent.

It is in close proximity to Ndutu and also the Moru Kopjes. Part of Kusini’s charm is its remote and private location within the park borders. With no other camps in the near vicinity, Kusini offers exceptional and essentially private game viewing.   Secluded amongst the rocky outcrops of this private swathe of paradise, Kusini’s nine tents feature ensuite bathrooms with showers and elevated terraces overlooking the Serengeti plains.

Given its very remote location, it is hard to believe that A&K is able to provide the level of service and quality of accommodation that we enjoyed at Kusini Camp.

Our photographic opportunities were boundless in the surrounding areas of the Serengeti.  Here we observed tens of thousands of Wildebeests, several groups of lions, flamingos feeding in lakes, a lioness in a tree, and countless birds.

Unfortunately, we were at this location in March, just as the rainy season had started.  This made for gray overcast days and frequent downpours that meant roadways and areas were difficult to traverse, even with the skills of our guide and the Land Rover.  I should have been at this location in February, but chose to schedule the journey in March because reduced costs for airline flights were available.

PTR ratings for Kusini Camp:

• Overall rating:  Five stars   *****
• Lodge and grounds:  Five stars  *****
• Guest accommodations: Five stars *****
• Restaurant, food, and service:  Five stars  *****
• Professionalism and ethics of staff:  Five stars  *****

Conclusion:

My son and I shall never forget our journey to Tanzania.  It will always remain as one of the highlights of my life.  The services provided by Abercrombie & Kent were outstanding from planning through execution.  A&K deserves it reputation as the best travel agency on earth.

What cannot be measured is the professionalism of our guide and now friend, Elvis Barnabas.  Outstanding is not good enough to describe his skills, his professionalism, and his willingness to provide opportunities for photography.  Moreover, his constant good humor and philosophical advice were treasures I will retain throughout my life.  He is the best of the best.

PTR recommends A&K to anyone who wants the best of the best in travel planning and execution.

PTR Rating of Ambercrombie & Kent:

• Cost of tours, very expensive ($800-$1,500 per person per day or more)
• Overall rating, five stars *****
• Staff support and assistance, five stars *****
• Environmental concerns and practices, five stars *****
• Family friendly, five stars *****
• Safety and medical support, five stars *****
• Professionalism and Ethics, five stars *****

PTR Editor’s Note

From time to time the PTR Team becomes aware of unique travel adventures.  Recently the workshops offered by the Mt. Rainier Institute of Photography came to our attention.  We were very impressed with the offering of a trip to Tanzania where the organization guides participants to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro.

This workshop is for those of you who are in top physical condition as the high altitude climb is not suited for photographers who aren’t ready for extreme conditions and physical challenges.

Comments from participants who have attended courses offered by this agency have been very positive.

The group also offers travel adventures at Mount Rainier.

For those of you who are looking for the path less traveled, you might check out what the group has to offer.  A brief description of the courses offered is provided below.

*****

International Mountain Guide and Photographer Adam Angel is offering some very unique photography workshops in 2009.

Mt Rainier Institute of Photography.

Join us on Mt. Rainier for fun, excitement, achievement and camaraderie. Containing more glacial mass than the rest of the Cascade Volcanoes combined, there is is no mistaking Rainier as the pinnacle of Cascade grandeur. Get to know Mt. Rainier National Park intimately with experienced instructors who have a deep knowledge of the park. This is our home mountain. Nobody can match our knowledge, access, or facilities of, to, and around Mt. Rainier National Park.

Our workshops originate at the studio of Adam Angel Photography in historic downtown Morton. We provide private van transportation for all shooting excursions, and gourmet fare along the way. For the Master Class (long class), field excursions are followed by image critiques, photoshop instruction, as well as fine art printing techniques at the studio. The Shooterʼs Class (short class) is for the more experienced photographer who is looking for field instruction, logistical support, and more time in the park shooting with good folks. Please visit http://www.MtRainierPhoto.com for more information.

A note from Adam:

Mt. Rainierʼs greatness inspires greatness in us. Ten years ago I came to Mt. Rainier to become a climbing guide. Somehow as a young adult I knew that Mt. Rainier would teach me many lessons and take me further than I could imagine. Climbing Mt. Rainier led to travels around the world, and ultimately to the desire to articulate the “sense of place” that I encountered on the worldʼs great mountains. Photography became my vehicle to show the folks back home what I had seen. Today, my goal for the institute is to foster personal growth in concert with natureʼs grandeur through creativity. The workshops that we offer take advantage of my knowledge of the mountain from itʼs icy top to itʼs lush and ancient bottom. They incorporate a nice blend of shooting time in the field and of classroom and lab instruction. All of this is packaged together in a fun, inspiring, memorable, and educational workshop. I look forward to spending time with you on Mt. Rainier this summer!

~Adam Angel
Adam@MtRainierPhoto.com

Kilimanjaro Photography Workshop: Summit and Safari

Join long time Kilimanjaro guide and photographer Adam Angel for a once in a lifetime expedition in Tanzania. East Africa offers one of the best environments in the world for an enriching cultural and wildlife experience. This is the only photography workshop in Tanzania that features a summit climb of Kilimanjaro with an experienced high altitude climbing guide and professional photographer. Many safari companies offer photographic tours or climbs of Kilimanjaro, but none can offer the expertise and experience that IMG and Adam have on the mountain and on safari.

This unique adventure offering both a climb and photography workshop together provides opportunities and amenities that will be hard if not impossible to find elsewhere. As you investigate the different options on the market, keep the following in mind:

• This is the only trip of this kind that we know of!

• Each climber will have a personal porter on the climb to carry your photo equipment.

• We will enjoy luxurious accommodations on our photographic safari.

• We will stay in some areas that will allow us to shoot very early and very late in the day when the light is just right and the animals are active.

• We limit the number of people in each vehicle to make sure that there is plenty of room for everyone to shoot!

• We will have an opportunity to take Portraits in a Maasai Village near Olduvai or Ngorongoro Conservation area.

• Our safari drivers really know the game habits and where to find the critters, and the safari lodges and deluxe tented camps we use are vintage and luxurious, a great reward after a tough climb.

• We add the benefit of a beautiful one-way Serengeti flight over Africa (easier, faster, more time to see animals, less time wasted on bad, bumpy roads). Our groups either drive out/fly back or fly out/drive back to Serengeti and then stop at Olduvai and Ngorongoro along the way, depending on the time of year (safari plans are subject to change).

• Kilimanjaro, while non-technical, is very high and must be taken seriously. Climbers are at health risk from the altitude. We always have a Gamow (hyperbaric) Bag, pulse oximeter, and supplemental oxygen in case of Altitude Sickness. A couple hours in the bag can turn around Acute Mountain Sickness before it forces you down or becomes life threatening.

• Our climb is led by a top-notch American high-altitude mountain guide. The African “guides” do a great job, but if you have a problem at 18,000 feet, it’s good to know that you have a real pro with you, one well-trained in all elements of climbing as well as wilderness medical procedure.

• We have a first class staff of African guides and porters, all local people from the Chagga tribe who live right at the base of Kili. Many of them have been on dozens of IMG trips over the years. They know we’ll be coming back, they like working with us, and they deliver top service.

• We don’t rush our ascent! Our program gives you a seven-day climb. We have learned that the extra time is well worth it for a successful and fun trip to 19,340 feet, giving climbers a far greater chance of standing on top and far less chance of altitude sickness.

• For comments from past trip participants, please see:  http://www.mountainguides.com/comments.shtml

• IMG is proud of the track record we have established over the last 20 years with our
Kilimanjaro trips and we know that we offer a fantastic trip for the money. Our photography workshop, climb and safari is simply a great program! We hope you can join us on one of our future Africa trips.