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CapnSteve

(352 posts)
Sun Aug 10, 2025, 03:34 PM Sunday

Grand Canyon and Star Party 2025 - Side Trips Edition!

During our eight days on the South Rim we took some epic side trips as well:

1) My wife sprung for a mule ride down into the canyon on Bright Angel trail. Here is Paco (foreground) my capable mule, and Joey, her mount next to him. The drivers reffered to us as our mule's name for the day, so I was Paco!
Rokinon 14mm:


2) Sore from the time in the saddle, we drove down to Wupatki Pueblo National Monument the next day.
Rokinon 14mm:


3) We then went to Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument. Here is the ash volcano itself. Last eruption was about 10k years ago. This appealed to the geologist in me. I geeked out!
Nikkor AE 70mm-300mm:


4) On the other side of the volcano was the Bonito lava flow, where Apollo astronauts trained, tested lunar rover prototypes, and refined moon experiments. A'a lava flow. Geeking out continues...
Rokinon 14mm:


5) Another shot of Sunset Crater Volcano area. Looks like another planet.
Nikkor AE 50mm-300mm:


6) The Milky Way.
Rokinon 14mm:


Thank you!

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Grand Canyon and Star Party 2025 - Side Trips Edition! (Original Post) CapnSteve Sunday OP
And *I* thank you for sharing these wonderful and otherworldly photos, my dear CapnSteve! CaliforniaPeggy Sunday #1
Thank you CaliPeg! CapnSteve Sunday #3
Thanks for asking, and I am feeling well! CaliforniaPeggy Sunday #5
Yay! CapnSteve Sunday #16
What a great 8 days that must have been! Thanks for the pics, Paco Deuxcents Sunday #2
Thank you 2 cents! CapnSteve Sunday #4
Great pics and a great lens Grumpy Old Guy Sunday #6
Thanks G.O.G.! CapnSteve Sunday #9
Glad to hear you finished RAGBRAI. Grumpy Old Guy Sunday #19
WHOAWOWWONDEREDWHATINTHEWORLDYOUBEENUPTO CapnSteve. George McGovern Sunday #7
Thanks George! CapnSteve Sunday #10
Marvelous! hermetic Sunday #8
Thank you hermetic! CapnSteve Sunday #11
My sentiments exactly... ultralite001 Sunday #13
Thank you! CapnSteve Sunday #14
"" AllaN01Bear Sunday #12
Thanks! CapnSteve Sunday #15
i esp liked the mules . i think mom and i did that tour many yarans ago. a life time that a way. AllaN01Bear Sunday #17
Paco was awesome! Sure footed and strong CapnSteve Sunday #18
Loved the pic from Sunset Crater Volcano slightlv Sunday #20
Thanks slightly! CapnSteve Sunday #21

CaliforniaPeggy

(154,776 posts)
1. And *I* thank you for sharing these wonderful and otherworldly photos, my dear CapnSteve!
Sun Aug 10, 2025, 03:40 PM
Sunday

These are all absolutely wonderful! Sharp and clear and full of glorious details.

Thanks for taking us along!

Grumpy Old Guy

(4,016 posts)
6. Great pics and a great lens
Sun Aug 10, 2025, 03:52 PM
Sunday

I have the 14mm Samyang, same lens, different name. I actually have two of them because I bought one for my wife. I've used it for astro & landscapes. I really love ultrawide lenses. I also bought a Canon RF16mm for travel because it's tiny and weighs practically nothing, but I think the Samyang/Rokinon might be sharper.

I love the pics of the mules and the Canyon.

CapnSteve

(352 posts)
9. Thanks G.O.G.!
Sun Aug 10, 2025, 04:20 PM
Sunday

Yeah, just love that lens. Worth the weight!

I did finish RAGBRAI LII. 406 miles over seven days, but left the camera at home. Lots of corn!

Grumpy Old Guy

(4,016 posts)
19. Glad to hear you finished RAGBRAI.
Sun Aug 10, 2025, 09:05 PM
Sunday

Maybe I could have done it too if I had taken better care of myself over the years. I still have eight bikes, (down from a high of fourteen).

George McGovern

(8,708 posts)
7. WHOAWOWWONDEREDWHATINTHEWORLDYOUBEENUPTO CapnSteve.
Sun Aug 10, 2025, 03:54 PM
Sunday

This fabulous posting leaves no shred of doubt! Thanks so much for inviting us all along on your expedition!

P,S. Including camera/lens settings reveals you do know what the heck you are doing!

ultralite001

(1,942 posts)
13. My sentiments exactly...
Sun Aug 10, 2025, 06:46 PM
Sunday

The Grand Canyon star parties... The trips to the Dark Sky observatories...
I miss my Dobsonian telescope (a casualty of the Camp Fire)...

Thank you for sharing your adventures... It does a body good...

AllaN01Bear

(26,986 posts)
17. i esp liked the mules . i think mom and i did that tour many yarans ago. a life time that a way.
Sun Aug 10, 2025, 07:21 PM
Sunday

that photo of the universe was lovely.

slightlv

(6,331 posts)
20. Loved the pic from Sunset Crater Volcano
Sun Aug 10, 2025, 11:09 PM
Sunday

with the lone tree on top of the ash mountain. Really cool framing!

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