My youngest son was with me on a multi-month trip mostly through Colorado, Arizona, and Utah. Ultra High-Resolution Imagery and backpacking being the primary objectives. The highlight being my son’s first multi-day rim to rim backpack across the Grand Canyon. We also spent significant time in and around Canyonlands and Arches National Parks.

One day, traveling the road from the Needles District of Canyonlands we found ourselves surrounded by towering rock formations as we drove. Since at the time my son was heavily into bouldering, he began to rattle off the names of various climbing routes as we passed by. It seemed that every few seconds he was pointing out this or that route. Apparently this was a mecca for the sport of rock climbing.

As we passed by the Indian Creek Climbing Area, we noticed in the parking lot a couple courageous climbers congregating. (Say that three times fast!) I stopped and inquired of their intent and was informed that they were indeed preparing for an ascent. I asked if it was okay to photograph them and they gave me their enthusiastic approval.

The climbers decided on ascending a route called “Three Strikes You’re Out” and as they motioned to me the general direction of where it was, I proceeded across the road to look for a good location to set up.

For the most part the photography went fine, except for one annoying detail. About halfway through the shoot, which took about 45 minutes total, I began to feel painful biting on my legs. Looking down I noticed that I had set my tri-pod directly over some sort of ant home. I hadn’t noticed any ants initially because there was really nothing to notice. They were inside, happy as could be, probably having tea or something. But now they were not happy, outside, and having me!

Well, I certainly couldn’t move in the middle of capturing a Ultra High-Resolution Image. The entire image would be ruined. So for the next twenty minutes I was forced to take a photograph, walk about five yards away from my tri-pod, jump around and shake my legs vigorously to try and get as many ants off of me as possible, and then tiptoe delicately back to the tri-pod to take another photo. Since I’m a firm believer in “Leave No Trace” I wanted to impact the ants as little as possible, while at the same time still finishing the image.

I don’t know if the climbers ever actually saw me photographing them or not, as I packed up and left before they were finished and didn’t get a chance to talk with them afterwards. But if they did notice me, I can only imagine what they might have thought as they watched this guy in the middle of a field of sagebrush, take a photo, then dance around like some lunatic, “Wow!” they might have said, “That guy is really happy about his photography!” Or something like that.

Title Origin: The title “Ascent” tells two stories. First, rock climbers ascending the Three Strikes You're Out Route, Indian Creek Climbing Area, Utah. Second, ants ascending the Two Photographer’s Legs Route, Indian Creek Climbing Area, Utah.

Note: No ants were harmed in the making of this image. I can’t say the same for my legs.

Thanks ... and thanks again,

David David

Life Is An Adventure!