Tuolumne Meadows/Yosemite Creek backpacking trip

Summertime with the Schweickerts means backpacking in Yosemite...and we just went on a thoroughly fabulous trip!  I went up last week with my parents, my brother Chris and sister Heidi, and our friend Betsy.  We spent a night in Tuolumne Meadows, and then headed down the trail towards the top of Yosemite Falls.

We had grand times, and I have way too many photos to share here...heh heh...I'll post more in a Facebook album and link it here soon.  The weather couldn't have been better (no rain, hail, and lightning like the rather memorable trip two summers ago!) and although the mosquitos were rather nasty (I still have a few dozen large red dots all over me) the company was superb, the views sublime, and the photos...well, I will leave you to judge.  ;)

My "happy place" canteens.  :)

Had fun shooting some rather abstract water photos...I love all the brown-green tones.

The Tuolumne River is flowing profusely right now, with all the snowmelt!

I don't know this fly fisherman.  But he was awfully photogenic.  ;)

The Keens Club.  ;)  (Betsy, Heidi, and my mom...I'm not a member...yet!)

Betsy fording a creek.  We decided the most fun way to get across was to just lose the boots.  Ahh cold water on tired hiker-feet...rapturous...

 

Hehe.  ;)

Chris loves his Five-Fingers.

OK, so I really like to stay [relatively] clean on backpacking trips, but this water was just tooo cold.

My parents are tougher than I am!

Ant real estate.  For big (but apparently harmless) black ants.  They were all over our campsite by the creek.

 

For the coffee connoisseurs on the trip, Betsy brought a French press -- from they were all raving about it, the coffee must have been pretty good!

OK, so this one probably needs some explanation.  ;) Ever smelled a Jeffrey Pine?  Their resin has a wonderful fragrance -- it's like the best butterscotch you've ever had!  Mom vowed she'd go to See's and buy butterscotch candy as soon as she got home.

At the top of Upper Yosemite Falls, 3,000' above the Valley Floor...right behind us.  (I set the self-timer on the camera and verrrry sloooowly walked over to join the rest of the group. Haha.)

Went down to the viewing area just above the top of the falls, where the water crashes over the edge. I was very careful. So was my camera.  We are both still alive.

A beautiful cascade by our campsite

There are a bunch more photos going up in the Facebook album.  :)  I'll post a link to it in this post soon!


- Kelsey

Discovering beauty...

Kelsey Schweickert  |  San Francisco Bay Area wedding photographer
Visit my website  |  Email me  |  Follow me on Twitter  |  Like my photography on Facebook

A special "Happy Birthday" wish for my sis! :D

My sister Molly lives in Washington D.C. right now, and her birthday was last Thursday -- while I was in Yosemite.  I wanted to tell her we were thinking about her and wish her a special "happy birthday", so that night around the campfire Chris, Betsy and I did a little light-painting!

Happy birthday dear sis...I love you and can't wait to see you soon!  :)

Oh and I think this little marmot wanted to wish you Happy Birthday too.  At least, that's what he told me.

More Yosemite photos coming in tomorrow's post!

- Kelsey

Discovering beauty...

Kelsey Schweickert  |  San Francisco Bay Area wedding photographer
Visit my website  |  Email me  |  Follow me on Twitter  |  Like my photography on Facebook

Jacob and Adria...part one!

Jacob and Adria were married last week in a lovely outdoor setting in Lincoln, CA.  I've been trying to finish this blog post for over an hour now, but it's so hard to choose which of these gorgeous photos to share -- there are SO many!  Outdoor weddings are the best!  :D

I'm impressed that Adria chose late-afternoon for her wedding because she wanted the light to be good for the photos.  Way to go, Adria!  :)  It was just perfect!  Warm, golden California late-afternoon light is the best...especially in a lovely outdoor setting with oaks and green grass and all sorts of beautiful decorating details.  Doesn't get much better than that!  We all would have appreciated cooler weather (especially Adria in her very lovely, but very warm, dress!) but thankfully the heat gradually moderated and we enjoyed a warm summer evening.

Here's a sampling of photos from their day.  Like I said, there are so many awesome ones, it was NOT easy to choose just a few for this post!  :)  There will be many more coming as I work through them -- can't wait!

The wedding was held at the home of Adria's uncle, Jim.  I love all the big oaks on his property!

 

Jacob helping Adria's dad with his tux (these things are complicated!).

Adria has a knack for finding beautiful jewelry!  She got this lovely bracelet, and her necklace, here.

 

 

 

Jacob and his sweet mother, Gypso

 

The famous "Father of the Bride" hat! :)

 

Getting ready...Adria touching up Gypso's makeup

Adria's friend Christi designed this beautiful hair piece for her:

 

The bridesmaids also wore pretty hair ornaments -- so fun!

Adria also makes and sells lovely jewelry herself, and she designed bracelets and necklaces for her bridesmaids to wear for the wedding.  (If you'd like to see more of her work, you can visit her online storefront here!)

 

Adria's grandmother performed the simple, heartfelt ceremony.  Here she is with her daughter Ruth (Adria's mom) and Jacob's mother.

 

  

 

 

 Adria made the pretty floral/manzanita arch behind her and Jacob.  So creative!

 

Such a fun wedding party! :)

Uhh...? ;)

Eek!  Kissing!

 

And there are many, many more photos!  Stay tuned!  :)

- Kelsey

Discovering beauty...

Kelsey Schweickert  |  San Francisco Bay Area wedding photographer
Visit my website  |  Email me  |  Follow me on Twitter  |  Like my photography on Facebook