What's in My Camera Bag?

The question I am asked the most, without a doubt, is "what camera do you use?" so I decided it was time to create a blog post to answer that question. Keep in mind that I tried to keep this post informative yet succinct, so I won't be getting into the nitty gritty technical details about this gear. There are many websites who dedicate themselves to just that and do a much more thorough job than I could ever hope to do. This post is simply going to answer that ever-so-popular question and explain why I personally like and chose the gear I did.

Photography TipsSonja SaxeJanuary 31, 2018 Comments

Third Time's the Charm: Backpacking to Glacier Point

Over New Year’s weekend Alex and I headed to Yosemite National Park to complete a backpacking trip we we’ve been trying to do each January the past two years. Delayed flights and historic snowstorms on the previous trips thwarted our attempts, but on this third try we finally succeeded.

Yosemite, Backpacking Trips, CaliforniaSonja SaxeJanuary 19, 2018 Comments

Thanksgiving Weekend in Havasupai

Havasupai has been on my "must-visit" list for a couple of years now. In 2016 I missed out on the very short window of reserving permits so the hike was, unfortunately, out of the running for that year. However, I was determined to make it to Havasupai in 2017 so on February 1, when permits are available for reservation, I was on the phone and dialing the office.

Grand Canyon, Backpacking Trips, ArizonaSonja SaxeDecember 18, 2017 Comment

Rim to River to Rim: A Grand Experience in the Grand Canyon

Planning a trip for late fall can be tricky as the weather is completely unpredictable in most locations. In late November the Grand Canyon can see snow and ice or it can see warm, sunny days that call for shorts and a t-shirt.

Grand Canyon, Arizona, Backpacking TripsSonja SaxeDecember 13, 2017 Comments

Backpacking in the Painted Desert of Petrified Forest National Park

In late November Alex and I took a road trip from Tucson to Las Vegas, stopping at all of Arizona's national parks on the way. Our second stop was at Petrified Forest National Park where we planned to spend a night in the backcountry. The park doesn't have any trails in its backcountry nor does it have designated campsites so we knew we were in for quite the adventure!

Petrified Forest, Arizona, Backpacking TripsSonja SaxeDecember 2, 2017 Comments

Photo Diary: Day Hiking The Enchantments

In early October Alex and I decided to go larch hunting. Every fall I have seen posts about "larch madness" on social media but I had never had the pleasure of seeing these vividly yellow trees myself. With the weather forecast to be absolutely perfect, we set off to hike the 18 mile trail that connects the Colchuck/Stuart Lake Trailhead to the Snowy Lake Trailhead and traverses the Core zone of The Enchantments.

Alpine Lakes Wilderness, WashingtonSonja SaxeNovember 5, 2017Comment

A Day in the Desert: Death Valley National Park

Death Valley is a place of extremes: It holds the title for hottest recorded temperature on the planet (134 F), it’s home to the lowest point in North America (282’ below sea level), and it’s the driest place in the US (getting only an average of 2” of annual rainfall). It’s inhospitable and unforgiving, but if you look past its harsh first impressions you’ll find the park is undeniably beautiful.

Death Valley, CaliforniaSonja SaxeOctober 31, 2017 Comments

Chasing Sunrises and Sunsets in Joshua Tree

Earlier this month the RV company, AdventureKT, gave Alex and I the opportunity to take one of their RV's for a spin through Southern California. We have never traveled in an RV before and AdventureKT's fleet is beautiful, so we immediately said "yes!" We flew down to LA, picked up our home for the weekend, and headed for the desert.

Joshua Tree, CaliforniaSonja SaxeOctober 30, 2017 Comments