What's your favorite vista of all time?

Interesting question. For me, there can be no single favorite of all time. But many of my favorite moments in the wilderness didn’t occur at the more spectacular vistas. And some of my favorite vistas, that I’ve revisited over and over, don’t always give that ‘Ohmygaw’ response each time–familiarity makes them less powerful, in a sense. Similarly, for some people vistas that are popular or easy to access become downgraded because they prize remoteness  or solitude/ ‘true wilderness’ to qualify. Being exhausted or having an upset stomach can rob certain experiences of their deserved gob-smacking quality. And so on.

I’m a bit conservative and have revisited routes that I know are spectacular even when they become familiar. But of course you can’t step along the same trail twice, which assures a sense of adventure each time.These well loved routes are sort of the standard I use to measure new routes, although I try not to do that.

so there may be overlap between ‘favorite’ and ‘well loved’, the latter being like the woman that you married.

The one I’m enjoying at the moment, especially if for the first time, to be replaced by the next one I’m enjoying at the moment … etc.

Mitchell Peak, SEKI.  With Mt. Hoffman a close second–Clouds’ Rest with a bit more elevation

Most spectacular – Chasm View on Longs Peak, CO, sitting on the edge with legs hanging over Chasm View Wall. It’s 1000 ft of vertical under your toes, plus the entire Diamond and East Face to your right.

Most peaceful – the double ponds below Snowdrift Lake in Rocky Mt. Nat. Park – wonderful off-trail country.

Most nostalgic – Upper Titcomb Lake in the Wind River Range, WY. This was campsite for 5 nights on my first solo backpacking trip in the early 90’s. It was also camp on a memorable trip with my two best friends a few years later.

Guadalupe Mts.NP from the ledge above McKittrick Ridge Camp.  Deep divided and fluted escarpment on both sides, unlike anything I’ve seen anywhere else.  Eroded ancient reef.

When I was a young man I was in the back seat of a F-106B Delta Dart interceptor jet. We took off from Tyndall AFB near Panama City, FL. Over the Gulf, we did a simulated launch of a AIR-2A nuclear tipped air-to-air missile, climbing almost vertical to 50,000 feet and the pilot then did a “modified split-s escape maneuver.” As we reached our apogee, he inverted the aircraft and we were upside down. I could see the tip of Florida, the waters of the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean as we were momentarily motionless. This surpasses any earth-based vista I have ever seen.

Oh, to be an astronaut!!

One of my friends, who I spent almost two years with, became an astronaut and was the pilot on two missions of the Space Shuttle Discovery. Can any of us image what this must be like? (Pictures from NASA of his second mission, STS-64).

Now THAT’S ultralight

Out of June Lakes. Just above Agnew. You can see the desert, June Lakes, Mono, Banner and Ritter. There isn’t much blocking your view from this perch. Amazing views!

Aaron,

One of my favorite places too.

“AIR-2A”

Not to digress, that was one of those unguided “Genie” missiles, wasn’t it!

Got to see one of those at a museum in Patterson AFB a few years back with the Scouts.

The docent told us they had one of those paired w/ an F106 parked in a hangar near every major airport back in “the day”.

But back to topic, I really had a thing for the west front of Dolly Sods facing Canaan Valley back in the early 90’s, until the nearby ski resort bought most of the hillside and built a bunch of houses on it… (sigh)….

It was vert beautiful.

Admittedly it still is – sort of.

“AIR-2A”

Not to digress, that was one of those unguided “Genie” missiles, wasn’t it!

Got to see one of those at a museum in Patterson AFB a few years back with the Scouts.

The docent told us they had one of those paired w/ an F106 parked in a hangar near every major airport back in “the day”.

Yes, it was unguided. The maneuver, one of three used depending upon the engagement scenario, was to fire a nuclear tipped Genie and then take action to evade the atomic blast as shown in diagram below:

As to one in every hangar, probably not true. Less than 400 were built, plus that isn’t how combat aircraft are typically deployed — as single birds. The most common F106 was the single seat “A” model. The “B” model was a tandem two seater used primarily for training. Below are “A” models in formation.

Back to our topic…

Here is the vista from my front yard — I can’t imagine living anywhere else

No such thing as a favorite

Chambers Lake between South and Middle Sister is pretty nice

My new favorite vista as it shows possibilities from the new home. Here is our view 1.5 weeks ago when walking to the mailbox. A trailhead to the mountains is 30 minutes away. With ample parking and no traffic. And I won’t be giving the breadcrumbs to get there… :D

@book

wow! So interesting what your wrote…I really enjoyed reading

Some of my favorite views because they included just me and my two boys

It’s so hard to pick, but here are a few:

Titcomb Basin in Wind River Range

The Maidens in Brooks Range

Camp above Tebay Lakes in Wrangell St. Elias NP

Knifepoint Glacier on the Wind River High Route

Cirque of the Towers from Texas Pass

Hope this thread keeps going, Nice shots

Nick I looked at your second space shot and decided to figure out where it was taken. Looks like they were somewhere over @ Ottawa looking southwest.

Pam where were your photos taken? They’re beautiful;   (the boys merely rugged and handsome ;)

Here’s a couple for Lester and Brad:

And a little later with alpenglow

And finally a daylight shot from the top on the hump in the middle foreground of the previous 2 which were taken from the hump across from the Indian Pass trail junction

One vista that keeps coming back to my mind is looking out over the Escalante, Capitol Reef, The Henry’s and Navajo Mountain off in the background from the road over Boulder Mt. between Boulder and Torrey, Utah. I’m not sure you can capture that with a camera.

And finally in keeping with some of the thread, a view from my deck:

Click your heels 3 times and repeat after me; There’s no place like home….

Pam, thanks for your comment. All the better because you frequent really stellar vistas! Lucky kids!

Nice shots

I think the view from Dusy Basin and from Bishop Pass is the most stunning in the Sierras that I have seen.

The Cirque of the Towers in the Winds is equal to that, or maybe a bit better.

The view of Everest from Kala Pattar in Nepal is pretty stunning.

Also, the view from White Mountain Peak and from Grand View campground in the White Mountains, the next mountain range to the east of the high Sierras, is pretty spectacular.

P.S. White Mountain peak is a fairly easy 15 mile day hike where the main challenge is the altitude, not the terrain. It’s totally worth it.

Hardangerfjord, Norway 1967

I don’t have a photo, but I think the most awe-inspiring view I’ve seen is of the aurora borealis from my hometown, one night some years ago when it just wouldn’t quit. Full corona, multiple colors, constant movement. We stood in sub zero weather for an hour just being dazzled. The sky is such a critical part of any view.

I’m also a fan of “no place like home.” I like just watching the changes from season to season as I walk my dogs every day down my rural road.

Nonethless, all that home sweetness doesn’t seem to stop the itchy feet. I think it’s genetic. Born to roam.

GREAT Thread!

an ol fave of mine is the Great Western Divide from many locales in the Upper Kern Plateau, Sequoia NP, but from Bighorn Plateau is da bees knees.

once i saw a sunrise from a jet upon takeoff…as we broke thru the cloud ceiling it unfolded, in unspeakable beauty, i was breathless, wordless