Category Archives: Destination

Destination, iPhoneography, Photography, Travel

GERMANY – Munich, Day 3 #bavaria

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Munich

We selected Le Meridian hotel because it was one of very few that had AC.  It’s close proximity to the Munich Hauptbahnhof (transportation station) was an obvious plus as well.  This was important given our plans for day trips outside of Munich by rail travel.  The added bonus was the convenience stores and food vendors.  Each morning, breakfast was a short walk away.  The pretzel with butter and sliced Camembert cheese was an instant favorite and breakfast for most of the week.  At €2.70 it was hard to beat.  Pair that with a hot cup of coffee or even a beer and you are set for the morning.

Exterior view of Hauptbahnhof from hotel
Exterior view of Hauptbahnhof from hotel
Pretzel Breakfast
Interior view of Hauptbahnhof
Panoramic view of Interior of Hauptbahnhof

Day 3 -Bayerstraße Stroll –
Marienplatz & Glockenspiel

Munich Trip 2018

Our first full day in Munich.  We made our way along Bayerstraße toward Marienplatz to see Rathaus-Glockenspiel.  Marienplatz is the central square in Old Town.  The magnificent neo-Gothic Neues Rathaus is absolutely stunning to experience in person.

The Rathaus-Glockenspiel of Munich is a tourist attraction in Marienplatz, the heart of Munich.

Part of the second construction phase of the New Town Hall, it dates from 1908. Every day at 11 a.m., 12 p.m. and 5 p.m. it chimes and re-enacts two stories from the 16th century to the amusement of mass crowds of tourists and locals. It consists of 43 bells and 32 life-sized figures.

The top half of the Glockenspiel

It tells the story of the marriage of the local Duke Wilhelm V to Renata of Lorraine. In honor of the happy couple there is a joust with life-sized knights on horseback representing Bavaria and Lothringen . The Bavarian knight wins every time, of course.

The bottom half of the Glockenspiel

Tells the second story: Schäfflertanz . According to myth, 1517 was a year of plague in Munich. The coopers are said to have danced through the streets to “bring fresh vitality to fearful dispositions.” The coopers remained loyal to the duke, and their dance came to symbolize perseverance and loyalty to authority through difficult times. By tradition, the dance is performed in Munich every seven years. This was described in 1700 as “an age-old custom”, but the current dance was defined only in 1871. The dance can be seen during Fasching.

The whole show lasts somewhere between 12 and 15 minutes long depending on which tune it plays that day. At the very end of the show, a very small golden rooster at the top of the Glockenspiel chirps quietly three times, marking the end of the spectacle. – wikipedia

There is so much to see in and around the town center.  It is very much alive with activity, tourist and locals alike.  The Town Hall itself was spectacular; very ornate.  There is quite a variety of gargoyles all over the structure.  The sculptures and fountains in the square were quite interesting as well.

Early dinner at Kilian’s Irish Pub.  The food was wonderful.  The salad was Baked Goats Cheese and Figs with Rocket and Baby Spinach, with blanched Asparagus, Mixed Olives, Sun-dried Tomatoes with Balsamic Dressing.  The Gnocchi was prepared with Sauteed Spinach in a Creamy Pumpkin Garlic Sauce with Goats Cheese and Toasted Pine Nuts.

Baked Goat Cheese & Figs Salad
Gnocchi w/Sauteed Spinach w/Pumpkin Garlic Sauce

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Destination, iPhoneography, Photography, Travel

GERMANY – Munich, Day 1 – 2 #bavaria

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Munich

Day 1 – Travel Day

Munich Trip 2018The flight to Munich – MSP to ATL 2h 31m; ATL to MUC 9h 13m.  It’s always a long travel day to Europe from Minnesota.  Our 46m layover in ATL was barely sufficient.  Thankfully our flight from MSP landed at the same concourse that our flight to MUC was departing from; albeit at the opposite ends of the concourse, we arrived at the gate as the departing flight began to board – yay!

Leaving MSP
Flying over Ireland
Arriving MUC
MUC Airport S train

The gates at the MUC airport were like island in a sea of asphalt.  After deplaning you congregate in a “holding area” of sorts and wait for a bus to bring you to the terminal.  This felt a bit cattle-esque.  It was warm and humid with no AC.  Thankfully dragging our luggage around and waiting in line to clear customs didn’t take too long.  The excitement of landing and finally arriving in Germany carried us through the exhaustion for the plane ride.  We only had a 45 minute train ride to our hotel near the city center.  Thankfully we could check in early and crash for awhile.

Day 2 – Augustiner-Keller

After waking up from a post-flight-power-nap, we went in search of some local fare.  Augustiner-Keller is one of Munich’s oldest beer gardens.  It’s close proximity to our hotel made this an easy choice.Munich Trip 2018

The delicious Bavarian food, tasty beer and a great atmosphere make this a wonderful place have dinner.  The Augustiner-Keller beer garden is quite large.  It seats 5,000!  This is quite a bit different that what we are used to in the USA at fairs, town celebrations, etc.  This beer garden is under the canopy of 100 Chestnut trees instead of tents.  This was the first of many beer garden experiences.  Our first exposure to the beer garden culture in Germany was fantastic.  We ate at the actual restaurant and where there is a larger menu.  We sat outside which is slight elevated from, but directly adjacent to the beer garden seating.   There is a limited menu available  from kitchens around the perimeter of the beer garden as well.

A perfect end to a very long day 2 of travel and first day in country.  Stay tuned for more post on our Germany trip.

 

 

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Destination, iPhoneography, Photography, Travel

GERMANY – Murnau, Day 9 #bavaria

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Murnau am Staffelsee

Murnau am Staffelsee is a market town in the district of Garmisch-Partenkirchen, in the Oberbayern region of Bavaria, Germany.  The market originated in the 12th century around Murnau Castle. Murnau is on the edge of the Bavarian Alps, about 70 kilometres (43 mi) south of Munich. Directly to its west is the Staffelsee lake and to the south are the peaks and ridges of the Ammergauer Alps.  ~wikipedia

Munich Train

We very much enjoyed our trip to Murnau.  A very cozy community with the Alps as a backdrop.  We traveled there on a Sunday by train from Munich.  Unfortunately a lot of shops where closed.  I would have loved to see the local bakery and butcher shops.  The ice cream shop was open and had quite the crowd surrounding it.  There was what appeared to be the local brown fuzzy town dog doing his rounds.  No owner immediately identifiable.  Perhaps it was combing the street for any ice cream accidents.  Nothing says happiness like a small child with an ice cream cone.  Little Girl Power was adorable.  Ice cream also makes this big kid smile.  I had the most fantastic pistachio ice cream.  Yum…happy.

Staffelsee was beautiful.  A very nice recreational lake with seven islands.  Access to those island is restricted to non-fuel-powered means; meaning you can only get there by swimming, sailing, rowing or surfing.  The ferry only stops at one of the island during the summer months to bring supplies to the campground there.

We took a ride around the lake on the MS Seehausen while enjoying a nice cold beer.

Lido BEACH & BURGER

There is a nice spot right on the lake to kick back and – yep, they serve cold beer.  Lido beach & burger serves a great burger too.  I am glad we hung around for a while and had a bite to eat as well.  The sunset was pretty amazing.  We met a very outgoing duck which we named Marge the Mallard.  A perfect day all around; a brief respite from the hustle and bustle of Munich.  It is hard to beat a day filled with adventure, great people, laughter and beer.  Prost!

Marge the Mallard

Marge the Mallard

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Destination, iPhoneography, Photography, Travel

GERMANY – Munich, Day 11 – 12

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Munich, Day 11 – 12

Our last  full two days in Munich were spent continuing our leisurely exploration of sites in the city.  We made another stop at Hacker Haus for lunch and there may have been a hornet incident incited by me; my apologies Megan.

Hacker Haus lunch – bees; the lunch was delicious.

Walk to the river

Gartnerplatz

Isar River

Griechisch-Orthodoxe Salvatorkirche

Other misc. photos and dinner…again, delicous.

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Destination, Nature, Photography, Travel, Wildlife

BARN BLUFF – Red Wing, MN #exploremn

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BARN BLUFF

Barn Bluff is a bluff along the Mississippi River in Red Wing, Minnesota, United States. The bluff is associated with Dakota legend from hundreds of years ago. During the 19th century, the bluff functioned as a visual reference for explorers and travelers. The bluff overlooks the downtown area and towers about 400 feet above the Mississippi River with an extensive view of Lake Pepin to the south. It is one of hundreds of bluffs in the Driftless Area, which covers parts of Wisconsin, Iowa, and Illinois, in addition to the southeastern toe of Minnesota. -wikipedia

Barn Bluff aka Mount La Grange and He Mni Can, is 3100′ long, 800′ wide, 334′ above the river and 1001′ above sea level.  There are two main lookouts (red dots) on either end of the bluff; both equally spectacular.   The main trailhead can be accessed on the East side;  off of East 5th Street (blue dot).  See Map for trail details.  More info on Barn Bluff here.  If you even find yourself in Red Wing, plan on spending a couple of hours hiking the bluff; you won’t be disappointed. Barn Bluff Satellite View

The West (Red Wing ) Overlook

East (Lake Pepin) Overlook

Extra

Old Post Cards

Stairway to Mount La Grange Red Wing
Above High Bridge on Barn Bluff, Mount La Grange Red Wing

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Destination, Photography, Travel, Wildlife

NORTH AMERICAN BEAR CENTER – Ely, MN #exploremn

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NORTH AMERICAN BEAR CENTER

The North American Bear Center is a nonprofit museum with indoor and outdoor viewing of live black bears in natural habit with a pond and waterfall. The 2.5-acre enclosure is home to four resident bears – Ted, Tasha and Lucky, and Holly. The educational mission of the NABC is to replace myths about bears with reality; with over 50 video exhibits of wild Minnesota bears, a wide variety of daily programs, and a hands-on children’s area, people of all ages learn bear behavior from the bears themselves. It is recommended to allow at least a two-hour visit for this unique, world-class experience that the whole family will enjoy! ~Explore Minnesota

If you are ever near Ely, MN you will want to stop by the North American Bear Center.  I happened to be in the Ely area this last weekend visiting the International Wolf Center on the opposite end of town.

I was traveling with two other photographers; we were fortunate enough to be in the right place at the right time.  We had finished viewing the expansive exhibit and went out on the observation deck.  No bears were out in the main enclosure at the time.  We did notice four bear center staff off in the distance with a photographer.  As luck would have it, we were waved over for a more up close and personal view.  This was certainly a better perspective to capture the bears.  There was a local professional photographer there shooting to provide updated photos of the bears at the center.  We were allowed to shoot through the fence from that location.  It was magnificent to see Lucky and Holly sparing, rolling around in the grass and just simply being bears.

Our view prior to being waved over

Our view after being waved over

View from observation deck during a scheduled feeding

Bear-sized Cong filled with grapes
Eating apricots
At the feeding platform
Making short work of the snak
Lucky all done snacking

Check out the North American Bear Center website | fb page

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Destination, Photography, Travel, Wildlife

INTERNATIONAL WOLF CENTER – Ely, MN #exploremn

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INTERNATIONAL WOLF CENTER

The International Wolf Center (IWC) is a research and educational organization based in Ely, Minnesota.  Its mission is to “advances the survival of wolf populations by teaching about wolves, their relationship to wildlands and the human role in their future.” The Wolf Center operates an interpretive center in Ely open to the public.  Visitors can view captive “ambassador wolves” in natural surroundings through large windows.  There is much to learn about wolves through a variety of exhibits and programs. This organization lies within Superior National Forest. It also sponsors research symposia and offsite educational programs, publishes International Wolf magazine, and provides information about wolves via its website.

In response to wolf controversies, the Wolf Center does not take a stand on how wolves should be managed (such as by hunting or trapping), as long as healthy wolf populations are maintained. Its policy is to provide the most accurate, up-to-date information possible about wolves and let people make their own decisions. ~wikipedia

If you are ever near Ely, MN you will want to stop by the International Wolf Center.  I happened to be in the Ely area this last weekend during a photography trip with two other gentlemen to the Minnesota North Shore.  We stayed in a cabin about 45 minutes from Lake Superior; just outside of Isabella, MN on Hwy 1.  The weather wasn’t cooperating for sunrise or sunset one day; this was a welcomed alternate destination given our close proximity to Ely.

THE PACK

Wolf Pack

It is pretty amazing to see a pack of wolves up close and personal albeit through glass.  The staff give  fantastic informational presentations about the wolves and even moose.  If you are want to see how a pack of wolves feed, you can do that too.  There is a What’s for Dinner program every Saturday at 7 p.m.

MORE IMAGES OF THE WOLVES

You don’t have to look far to find controversy surrounding wolves in Minnesota.  I found a story about a hunter and his encounter with wolves too.  Wolves are beautiful wild creatures and I hope there will always be a place for them in Minnesota.

Check out the International Wolf Center website | fb page

EXTRA

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Destination, Photography, Trout Fishing

RUSH RIVER – Hwy 72 to 570th #trout

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Rush River

The Rush River is a 49.8-mile-long tributary of the Mississippi River in western Wisconsin in the United States. It rises just north of Interstate 94 in St. Croix County near Baldwin and flows generally southwardly through Pierce County. It ends in Lake Pepin of the Mississippi River, about 1 mile west of the village of Maiden Rock in Pierce County. The largest tributary is Lost Creek.   ~wikipedia

Hwy 72 – 570th

Rush RiverThe stretch of water between Hwy 72 and 570th is full of riffles, deep runs and pools – an a whole lot of trout.  There is enough space immediately South of Hwy 72 to park a couple of cars and an easy trail down to the stream.  After parking one vehicle at the 570th bridge, my fishing partner Linnae and I arrived stream-side on Hwy 72 bridge at approximately 1:30 p.m.  The morning rain had finally moved out of the area.  It was in just shy of 50 degrees with a 10 mph breeze.  It was bit chilly.  The waders fit a bit more snug with an extra couple of layers added for warmth.

Rush River Brown TroutGiven the recent weather and current wind, we decided to toss spinners at the trout this afternoon.  I used to spinner fish all the time before I discovered fly fishing and developed patience for it.  It wasn’t long and there was a fish on.  It was a short 15 minutes of stumbling over rocks and getting to a good run just upstream from the bridge.  Purchasing a folding wading staff (see gear below) was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.  It has been especially helpful given the weakness in my leg post knee replacement.

ELLSWORTH ROD & GUN

land footprint

I was a bit surprised and sadden to see the stream bank directly across from the Ellsworth Rod and Gun given their mission –  “trout stream improvement projects, wildlife habitat improvement projects…”  The bank is littered with shot shell wads and clay pigeon debris (photos below); not to mention the lead pellets that are no doubt all over in the water and bank for fish and waterfowl to potentially ingest.  Their website indicates a Spring Cleanup day of 4/18/18; perhaps this area was missed.

Given the footprint of their land, I am not sure why they decided to shoot across the Rush River; their appears to be ample land to West of the club house to develop for trap shooting.

Shot Shell Wads and Clay Pigeon Debris
Shot Shell Wads and Clay Pigeon Debris
Clay Pigeon Launcher

The Ellsworth Rod and Gun has a beautiful track of land.  Funds are raised in part by their biweekly chicken feeds.  These feeds take place Thursday evenings from 5:30 – 8:30 p.m. – they are plenty good.

For the next several hours we made our way upstream.  We tossed spinners into deep runs, torrent riffles and deep holes.  We averaged a fish every 20 minutes.  There were lots of 8-12″ trout to be had.  There were two exceptions.  Linnae landed a colorful 13-14″ Brown and I landed a 17-18″ Brown.  Here are some photos from the fishing excursion on Friday May 11th 2018.

13-14″ Brown
17-18″ Brown

GEAR

Folding Wading Staff with Neoprene Case and Camera attachment
—-
SF Fly Fishing Landing Soft Rubber Mesh Trout Catch and Release Net With SILVER Magnetic Net Release Combo Kit
—
Anglatech Fly Fishing Vest Pack for Trout Fishing Gear and Equipment, Adjustable Size for Men and Women

Take only photos; leave only ripples in the stream.

My take on Chief Seattle’s Take only memories, leave only footprints.

Views: 1166

Destination, Photography, Trout Fishing

RUSH RIVER – Fisherman’s Road #trout

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Rush River

The Rush River is a 49.8-mile-long tributary of the Mississippi River in western Wisconsin in the United States. It rises just north of Interstate 94 in St. Croix County near Baldwin and flows generally southwardly through Pierce County. It ends in Lake Pepin of the Mississippi River, about 1 mile west of the village of Maiden Rock in Pierce County. The largest tributary is Lost Creek.

Three small communities are located on the river: Centerville, Martell, and El Paso. While the land near the source is relatively flat, the river soon falls into a steep valley typical of the Driftless Area, with outcrops of sandstone and limestone.

The delta of the Rush River is a State Natural Area, designated in 1986. The heavily wooded floodplain provides an ideal location for waterfowl. ~wikipedia

Fisherman’s Road – El Paso, WI

Fisherman’s Road (425th) in El paso, WI is a quintessential trout experience.  Access to these beautiful blue ribbon trout waters is easy and plentiful thanks to generous land owners like Craig Purse and conservation organizations like Eau Galle Rush River Sportsman Club, Inc.,  who received a large track of land (148.5 acres) donated by the Koch Family.

Use of this land is not without conditions; the biggest of which is “take out what you bring in.”  This goes for private land as well.  It is simply not acceptable to leave behind plastic worm containers, aluminum cans, glass bottles – any form of liter!  This isn’t a difficult concept, yet I see it most every time I am on a stream.  I make it a point to pick up what I can.  The net hanging off my vest is an excellent receptacle for trash on the hike back to my vehicle.  Land owners will appreciate you making this effort.

On the trail

My fishing partner Linnae and I arrive at Fisherman’s Road @ 7:30 a.m. on Saturday 4/29/18.  It was a chilly 27 degrees with frost on the ground.  This time of year, it feels good to get your waders and gear on for warmth.  It was shaping up to be a beautiful bright-sun-shinny day on the Rush.  We crossed the river from the parking area and walked along the wonderful trail that Craig and his wife maintain.  They even have a fire pit (with split wood stacked) at the bend in the river for people to enjoy.  This is why respecting the land is so important.  Too many shenanigans and the access the public enjoys can easily be revoked.

We surveyed the water as we walked along; not much activity as we suspected given the temperature. We tried some nymphs while we waited for the sun to warm things up a bit more.  I connected with a single fish, but did not land it.

Rush River

The Streamer Guy

Related image

As we made our way down stream further, we ran into “Streamer Guy.”  He had been out even earlier and was on his way back in from the stream.  He was all about the streamers.  No nymph or dry fly fishing for for this guy.  He was more than willing to enlighten us on his preferred method of catching larger trout.  This is what I love about other fly fishers on the stream that you meet.  Their willingness to take time and share their knowledge and experience with you is priceless in my opinion. This gentleman even gave Linnae a few a patterns that he personally tied himself to try.

Rush River

Later on

Later in the day when things warmed up a bit, so also did the action.  At approximately 1 p.m., the bugs started to rise with increasing frequency.  The fishing was challenging given all of the natural food in the water and on the surface.  We managed to land a few Brown Trout on a Blue Winged Olive size 18.  We both landed a Brook Trout as well.  In this photo you can see Linnae’s Brook Trout en route back to the stream as it flopped out of her hand while I was trying to take a picture.

Rush River

The action was steady for a good while.  We didn’t hook any monsters; mostly little fighters.  I did observer some nice ones rising to the naturals, but could not coax one to bite.  Before we knew it, it was 3:30 in the afternoon…a mere 8 hours after we arrived.  Time flies when you are on the trout stream.

Take only photos; leave only ripples in the stream.

Adaptation of Chief Seattle’s Take only memories, leave only footprints.

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Destination, Gear, Photography

WILLOW RIVER STATE PARK – Willow Falls #Wisconsin

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Willow River State Park

Willow River State Park is a 2,891-acre Wisconsin state park located five miles north of Hudson. The centerpiece of the park is Willow Falls, a powerful cascade in a 200-foot deep gorge. Another popular feature is Little Falls Lake, a shallow reservoir on the Willow River. Because of its proximity to Minneapolis-St. Paul it is one of the most visited state parks in Wisconsin. Trilobite fossils found in the lower layers of the gorge indicate the rock is around 600 million years old.

History

Settlers moved in, and by 1830 logging and wheat farming were common in the Willow River Valley. The river was invaluable for the former, as logs were floated downstream to the St. Croix.

Power

A German immigrant, Christian Burkhardt, realized the river could also be harnessed for the latter industry; he built a grist mill there in 1868. Burkhardt became a wealthy landowner and followed developments in water-powered industry. He traveled home to Germany to examine hydroelectric power plants and returned in 1891 to build his own on the Willow River. Burkhardt eventually built four power plants and dams on the river, which provided electricity to Hudson. Northern States Power purchased Burkhardt’s power company in 1945 and operated its sites until 1963, when damage to one of the plants from a lightning strike prompted the company to liquidate their Willow River holdings.

In 1967 Northern States Power sold the land to the Wisconsin Conservation Commission for a state park, and stabilized the dams at a financial loss. The state park opened in 1971.   All but one of the dams were removed in the 1990s to improve the scenery and trout fishery.  The last dam was removed in 2015. ~wikipedia

I feel absolutely fortunate to live among the lakes, rivers and bluff land right on the boarder between Minnesota and Wisconsin approximately an hour south of the Minneapolis/St. Paul metro area.  Willow River State Park is another example of the natural resources and beauty right in my back yard so-to-speak.

Willow Falls Hill Trail MapThere are a few different trails that you can hike to access Willow Falls.  The most direct route is from Willow Falls Parking Lot just a wee bit north of the park main entrance.  The Willow Falls Hill Trail is only a .4 miles long, but the first leg of the trail once you meet the woods is steep.  Having just had knee replacement surgery in January, the downhill part was a bit challenging.  A week ago there was 4″-6″ of slippery solid ice on the paved trail.  That attempt to hike to the Willow Falls was aborted immediate in favor of exploring other areas of the park.  I would recommend the mile long Willow Falls Trail from the campground to avoid the hill if that is a concern.

Little Falls

Little Falls Lake is no more as the dam was breached in 2015.  There is a small water fall where the dam once was, a rapids is a more accurate description I suppose.  The former lake basin was teaming with migratory birds that early Spring day.  Ducks, geese and Sandhill cranes milled about in the tall grasses where the water once stood.

Willow Falls

A week in the Spring time can bring about change quickly.  Mid 50 degree days made short work of the ice on the Willow Falls Hill Trail.  All of the runoff made for a magnificent display of water raging over the cascades.

The woods and falls area is still pretty devoid of color although some grasses were sprouting up and the mosses providing for some contrast in the blah brown hold over from Winter.  As did the bright purple hammock that a young lady hung between two trees for some R&R right next to the falls.  A wonderful spot to kick back and lounge.

 

Gear

In case anyone is wondering, I’ll share what works for me.  There are several ways to achieve desired results; this is my experience with the gear I’ve chosen.  You don’t have to buy the highest-end gear to achieve great results.

The sun was high and bright when I arrived at the falls.  I did several 20-30 second exposures made possible by a 10-stop ND filter listed below.  I purchased the Zomei tripod for our travels to Ireland in 2016.  It is compact and light; I’ve used it quite a bit since and like its features.  I am referencing the Osprey backpack because the Zomei tripod fits perfectly in the outer flap.  I don’t like to carry a heavy camera bag while hiking; this one is perfect – especially when coupled with PeakDesign Capture Camera Clip on the backpack should strap.  My camera is securely in place – freeing up both hands – and readily accessible.  If anyone has any questions about these items, I’d be happy to answer any questions.  You can click on the images below for links to these items on Amazon.com.

ZOMEi Z668C Lightweight Travel Carbon Fiber TripodZomei Ultra Slim HD 18 Layer Super Multi-Coated SCHOTT Glass PRO 10-stop ND3.0
Osprey Packs Daylite Plus DaypackPeak Design Capture Camera Clip V3 (Black with Plate)

Other

Photos from previous trip to Willow River State Park in the Winter.

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