Kings Canyon Fine Art: “My Toes Are Still Numb”

Description

This is the definitive large Milky Way print photographed in Kings Canyon California – along the John Muir Trail and Pacific Crest Trail – you’ve been searching for. “My Toes Are Still Numb” is a testament to the fact that the greatest rewards come from the hardest journeys. It’s a piece of raw, high-altitude beauty, a moment captured in the quiet heart of the High Sierra that few photographers ever get to witness.

The Story Behind the Shot
Rarely do you get to see the Milky Way in the US without any light pollution, and even more rarely do you find a still, placid lake in the high country. But on this particular night, I hit the jackpot. I had been hiking along a section of the Pacific Crest Trail and the John Muir Trail, with a 45-pound pack of camera gear and food, covering about ten miles in one day. We set up camp on Charlotte Lake at 10,500 feet, where there were no clouds and no light, and for a few minutes that night – no wind.

Well after the sun went down, the conditions were perfect. I spent over an hour getting this shot just right by scouting it during the evening and then at night, knowing it would be something special. I hiked out of camp in the middle of the night, noticing the still air, the perfect position of the Milky Way and making sure I got around the lake for the best reflection. The title, “My Toes Are Still Numb,” comes from the crushing weight of that pack, which left the nerves in my toes numb for months after the trip. But the feeling has long since returned, and now I’ve got a way to bring this incredible moment to life for you.

You can see more photos of the trip on the My Toes Are Still Numb story page.