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In life, a person has experiences that stay with them until the end, and they are unique to each person. These are the intangible treasures that money cannot buy. Along the way, we meet some people who remain a part of our lives, while other encounters are fleeting. Some convergences are so intense that they compel us to re-examine our values and have an irrevocable effect on us. Our trek up Mount Kilimanjaro was one of those experiences. This post is my tribute to those I will never forget—the guides and crew of Kilimanjaro.

Read the Blog Post:

The True Champions of Kilimanjaro

https://bit.ly/3DGBMSi

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Not all geologic formations are ancient. The Inyo Craters are some of the youngest geologic features of the Eastern Sierra, with a modest age of only 550-650 years old. They were formed as a result of steam discharges caused when rising magma encountered large pockets of groundwater, vaporizing the water to steam. The phreatic explosions blasted through overlying strata, hurling rock debris up to a mile, and created a series of funnel-shaped craters progressing north to south, probably within days of each other. Although violent, these eruptions did not result in any magma reaching the surface. ——— #monocounty #easternsierra #inyonationalforest #crater #geology #hiddengem #mountains #adventure #outdoorlife #outdoorlover #getoutside #optoutside #exploremore #wanderer #nature #wilderness #roamtheplanet #hiking #travel #wanderlust #naturephotography #GoOwnIt #Go_OwnIt (at California)

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The best part about aimlessly roaming the Eastern Sierra is what you find when you least expect it. ⠀ ⠀ While driving along Highway 120 heading back to Benton Hot Springs from Lee Vining, we saw a cloud of dust rise up in the distance, far off the road. At first, I thought it may have been someone with an off-road vehicle, then it quickly became apparent that the disturbance was being created by wild horses! We had spotted a pair of these majestic creatures earlier in the day, and I was hoping to catch another glimpse of them. ⠀ ⠀ Screeching with delight, I shouted out to my husband to immediately stop the car. Beneath a sky illuminated with the afterglow of a setting sun, a band of four wild horses stirred up the dry earth as they ran through the field of sagebrush and other low-lying scrubby plants. ⠀ ⠀ I crept in as close as I could without threatening these magnificent beasts to capture some images of the magical moment, then I heard the tread of hooves in the distance. I turned to my left to find a trailing pair of horses and one foal. I hurriedly switched my phone to video mode and captured this extraordinary sight. ⠀ ⠀ This was a moment that was one of the most precious from our trip to the Sierra Nevada last year and one that I will not soon forget. ⠀ ---------⠀ @easternsierranevada @monocountytourism @easternsierralandtrust ⠀ ---------⠀ #easternsierra #easternsierranevada #monocounty #wildhorses #horses #californiaadventure #adventure #outdoorlife #outdoorlover #exploremore #wanderer #mountains #nature #trail #wilderness #roamtheplanet #travel #wanderlust #traveltheworld #travelphotography #GoOwnIt #Go_OwnIt

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​Christmas at Biltmore | Christmastime at the Biltmore Estate is especially magical with dozens of lavishly decorated towering trees, thousands of ornaments sparkling among the twinkling lights, and the flicker of candlelight and warm fireplaces.⠀ ⠀ This image is a part of the new exhibition "Glamour on Board: Fashion from 'Titanic' the Movie." It is a memory of a trip to one of my most favorite places in the world!⠀ ⠀ A visit to the estate can give you an intimate look at how people of considerable means spent their time and lived their life structured around formality and etiquette. The legacy of Mr. Vanderbilt, his planners, and his builders endures today thanks to the preservation of the noble house, pristine gardens, and the community that was built surrounding the establishment. In addition to being a museum, the Biltmore Estate partners with various organizations to promote philanthropy and environmental conservation. Although Biltmore was a place of grandeur, it was also home to a family who appreciated the beauty of nature. Home to a family who recognized the efforts of all those who made the household possible to exist and continue to operate. Biltmore endures as a testament to how innovative thinking can overcome many obstacles, standing the test of time to become self-sustaining and even flourishing.⠀ ⠀ This image is one from a series, taking a break from the natural wonders of the world and focusing on the impressions we humans leave behind.⠀ ------⠀ (📷📍: The Biltmore Estate House. Asheville, North Carolina. USA 11/19/2017)⠀ ------ (at Biltmore)

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The Conservatory | Designed by architect Richard Morris Hunt, and completed in 1895, the Biltmore Conservatory is the enchanting home to a broad variety of exotic plants and flowers. It continues to provide flora for the Biltmore House just as it did back when the Vanderbilts resided there.

Walk through the rose garden, fragrant scents wafting through the air, and glimpse the wonders hidden inside the conservatory through the tall arched windows, vivid bursts of color painting the sanctuary within.

Step inside under a paned glass roof that welcomes the sun’s warming rays, nourishing an assortment of alluring orchids and a palette of colorful blooms to excite the senses. Stroll among towering palms and lush greenery, creating a sense of wandering through a dense jungle forest.

The Conservatory is stunning all year ‘round, although it does take on a distinctive appearance during Christmastime. —— (📷📍: The Biltmore Estate Conservatory. Asheville, North Carolina. USA 11/19/2017) —— (at Biltmore)

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​The Staircase | The grand staircase at Biltmore Estate is a cantilevered marvel inspired by the monumental spiral staircase at the Chateau de Blois in the Loire Valley, France. Built by counterbalancing the weight of each of the substantial limestone slab steps offset by the weight of the wall bearing down. This beauty encircles a magnificent 1,700 pound, 50-foot tall, wrought iron chandelier and is one of the first things you see when entering the home.⠀ ⠀ Ascending the staircase is a memory of a visit to one of my most favorite places in the world! The Biltmore Estate is a wondrous place, a narrative of an opulent lifestyle to the likes of which the majority of us have never seen. Take a step back in time, walk through corridors and climb the grand staircase following the footsteps of the Vanderbilt family and house staff as they welcomed and hosted distinguished guests. Get an intimate look at how people of considerable means spent their time and lived their life structured around formality and etiquette.⠀ ⠀ This image is one from a series, taking a break from the natural wonders of the world and focusing on the impressions we humans leave behind.⠀ ------⠀ (📷📍: The Biltmore Estate House. Asheville, North Carolina. USA 11/19/2017)⠀ ------ (at Biltmore)

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JMT Hike 2018 has encountered a glitch. We’ve been experiencing smoke, sometimes thick, during our hike north. The #LionsFire near #DevilsPostpile National Monument has started up again and is what seems to be generating all the smoke we’re encountering. Also, #Yosemite Valley has been closed due to the #FergusonFire, which means we cannot hike farther than Tuolumne Meadows at this time. We’ve exited at Red’s Meadow and are deciding what to do. Until Yosemite Valley opens, we cannot finish our hike; therefore, we are looking into obtaining new permits to re-hike the southern section of the JMT, including Mt. Whitney.

The first image is smoke hovering over the area during our hike yesterday to Red’s Meadow. The second image is the view as we trekked through the thickening smoke as we approached Red’s Meadow (the burned trees are from an old fire).

The Lions Fire is estimated at 9,905 acres. There are 194 personnel committed to the fire, including 6 crews, and 4 helicopters. The cause of the fire was from lightning.

The Ferguson Fire is estimated at 95,946 acres. There are 189 engines, 9 water tenders, 14 helicopters, 9 crews, 16 dozers, 5 masticators and 1,142 total personnel assigned to combat the fire. The cause is the fire is under investigation.

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Mono Lake, formed at least 760,000 years ago is one of the oldest lakes in the western hemisphere. It is a welcome and vital oasis in the natural dry closed basin (695 square miles in size) of the eastern Sierra Nevada for millions of migratory and nesting birds. It's an immense inland sea with water that is so saline and alkaline that only brine shrimp can inhabit its waters. The landscape is gloriously breathtaking, especially at sunset when wisps of clouds seemingly blanket the lake, as if preparing to embrace it for an evening of slumber. --------- #easternsierra #easternsierranevada #monocounty #monolake #sunset #california #californiaadventure #adventure #outdoorlife #outdoorlover #exploremore #wanderer #mountains #nature #naturephotography #roamtheplanet #travel #wanderlust #traveltheworld #travelphotography #GoOwnIt #Go_OwnIt (at Mono Lake, Sierra Nevada, California)

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Amplified Awe | No matter how many images of mountains I see, true bewilderment takes over when I’m dwarfed by their presence. The insignificance of ourselves becomes overwhelmingly apparent when a single footstep seems like an eternity, when traversing ancient monoliths is accomplished by absolute resolution, the most magnificent of them all withholding their mysteries from those who do not dare or do not have the ability to scale their monumental heights. ------ 👉go-ownit.com ------ (📷📍: Kearsarge Pinnacles and Lakes (10,938 feet / 3,334 meters). Kings Canyon National Park. Sierra Nevada. California. JMT NOBO. 7/23/17 & 7/24/17) ------ #JMT2017 #JMT #JohnMuirTrail #California #SierraNevada #KearsargeLakes #ThruHike #backpacking #hiking #trekking #theTrek #adventure #outdoorlife #getoutside #optoutside #exploremore #awe #mountains #earthcapture #wilderness #backcountry #roamtheplanet #inspire #hikingadventures #wildernessculture #RedPackWalking #GoOwnIt #Go_OwnIt (at Kings Canyon National Park)

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The Light That Guides The Way | On a dark and dreary winter afternoon, a gleaming yule light permeates the fog to act as a beacon guiding the way home. A southern Bavarian residence sits amongst the foothills of the German Alps in the village of Hohenschwangau, inviting dwellers into its warm, cozy shelter to celebrate Christmas with friends and family.⠀ ⠀ This image is one from a series, taking a break from the natural wonders of the world and focusing on the impressions we humans leave behind.⠀ ------⠀ (📷📍: The village of Hohenschwangau in the town of Schwangau. Bavaria. Germany 12/20/2016)⠀ ------ (at Hohenschwangau)

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Christmas Sunset | The setting sun glows against the Church of Our Lady before Týn in Prague at Christmastime. The Old Town Square features an impressive Christmas tree adorned with gingerbread decorations and bows, Christmas markets emanating aromas both savory and sweet, and thousands of visitors who are reveling in the spirit of the season.⠀ ⠀ This image is one from a series, taking a break from the natural wonders of the world and focusing on the impressions we humans leave behind.⠀ ------⠀ (📷📍: Old Town Square and the Church of Our Lady before Týn. Prague, Czech Republic 12/16/2016)⠀ ------ (at Old Town Square)

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Christmas Caper | Children present a joyous Christmas performance in the festively decorated square outside of St. Vitus Cathedral in the Czech Republic while onlookers delight in the merrymaking.⠀ ⠀ This image is one from a series, taking a break from the natural wonders of the world and focusing on the impressions we humans leave behind.⠀ ------⠀ (📷📍: St. Vitus Cathedral Square. Prague, Czech Republic 12/17/2016)⠀ ------ (at St. Vitus Cathedral)

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The Loggia | With a vision of preserving the surrounding beauty of western North Carolina's Blue Ridge Mountains, George Vanderbilt created a country estate where he could relax, and entertain friends and family. The Biltmore house, while retaining the natural beauty of the land, strategically sits among 8,000 acres of the estate within a landscape thoughtfully designed by Frederick Law Olmsted. The loggia takes advantage of the sweeping pastoral scenery and majestic mountain views, enchanting guests with breathtaking imagery and spectacular sunsets. Although Biltmore was a place of grandeur, it was also home to a family who appreciated the artistry of nature. Home to a family who recognized the efforts of all those who made the household possible to exist and continue to operate. Fulfilling the wish of its founder, George Vanderbilt, Biltmore endures, a testament to how innovative thinking can overcome many obstacles, standing the test of time to become self-sustaining and even flourishing, a stewardship for the land and its resources for years to come. This image is one from a series, taking a break from the natural wonders of the world and focusing on the impressions we humans leave behind. ------ (📷📍: The Loggia in the Biltmore Estate House. Asheville, North Carolina. USA 11/19/2017) ------ (at Biltmore)

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The Noble Chandelier | The chandelier, encircled by the grand staircase, is a 50-foot tall electric fixture made of wrought-iron. It weighs in at a massive 1,700 pounds and is illuminated by 72 light bulbs. It dangles from under the domed roof, held by a single bolt attached to obscured steel girders.⠀ ⠀ These images are a couple from a series I'll be sharing, taking a break from the natural wonders of the world and focusing on the impressions we humans leave behind.⠀ ⠀ They are memories of a visit to one of my most favorite places in the world! The Biltmore Estate is a wondrous place, a narrative of an opulent lifestyle to the likes of which the majority of us have never seen. If it were not for the generosity of succeeding generations of the Vanderbilt family sharing this American gem with the entire world, we would never have this exclusive glimpse into a day in the life of the ultra-wealthy nor would we ever experience the vision of its creator George Vanderbilt.⠀ ------⠀ (📷📍: The Biltmore Estate House. Asheville, North Carolina. USA 11/19/2017)⠀ ------ (at Biltmore)

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The Dead Marshes | The record snowpack in the Sierra Nevada over the winter led us to take a path that we did not intend to while we were hiking on the John Muir Trail this past summer. We took a detour to meet a resupply on time by turning right onto Shepherd Pass Trail, starting up a long gentle incline to the 12,000 ft pass. The first 3 miles were pleasant, but the tricky trek through otherworldly marshes had us circumventing numerous snow fields to avoid falling into hidden creeks and pools. I dubbed the area ‘the dead marshes’ for its resemblance to that which served as the resting place for the dead bodies encountered by Frodo in The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers. The scenery was breathtaking, and the marshes were fascinating; I’ve never seen anything like it before in my entire life. I, at this point, felt this alternative route was unmistakably worth it and was an adventure that I was glad we didn’t miss. Little did I know, the remainder of the trip down the trail would be dubbed the 'Shepherd Pass Ordeal.' Read about the terrifying experience that left me psychologically scarred for life on my site. 👆Link in bio.👆 ------ 👉go-ownit.com ------ (📷📍: The marshes on Shepherd Pass Trail (11,653 feet / 3552.03 meters). Sequoia National Park. Sierra Nevada. California. Mile 16.1 of JMT NOBO. 7/11/17) ------ (at Sequoia National Park, California)

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Who wouldn't want this view in their backyard? ------ (📷📍: The Bavarian Alps as seen from Hohenschwangau Castle. Bavaria. Germany 12/20/2016) ------ (at Hohenschwangau)