Sarah and I had a great trip to San Francisco a few weekends ago. We walked around the city a lot, saw the Golden Gate Bridge, and went over to Muir Woods. Here are a few photos from the trip. Enjoy!
Redwood Trees in Muir Woods outside of San Francisco
Redwood Trees in Muir Woods outside of San Francisco
Grace Cathedral in San Francisco
Grace Cathedral in San Francisco
China Town in San Francisco
“He got a heart! Greg got a heart!”
Sarah had just checked her work voice mail after returning from climbing the Grand Teton in Wyoming the previous day. Greg had been waiting for a heart for almost four months while being kept alive by a total artificial heart. The timing of this news, although happy when ever it comes, could not have been more inspiring.
Sarah and I been asked to join a team of cardiac nurses to climb the Grand Teton in an effort to raise awareness for organ donation. The team would accompany Kelly Perkins, a heart transplant recipient and avid mountain climber. The purpose of the climb was to inspire others to live healthy lifestyles, to reach their goals and to raise awareness about organ donation. I was asked to document this accomplishment with photo and video, as Kelly is the first heart transplant recipient to summit the Grand. What is even more incredible is that Kelly and her husband, Craig, were completing the entire Grand Traverse, which includes climbing not only the Grand Teton, but the six other peaks immediately surrounding it.
Sarah and I met Kelly on Thursday evening at the lower saddle of the Grand, where we would stay for the night at over 11,000 feet. Sarah had brought a photo with her that included the transplant and artificial heart teams at Intermountain Medical Center along with many patients who were waiting for a heart. It was very inspiring to tell Kelly about these individuals — those for whom we were climbing. One of the patients in the photo was Greg, who had been waiting for a heart for almost 4 months. Greg was so sick, he had to stay in the hospital supported by a machine: a Total Artificial Heart. We had been hoping and praying for Greg’s heart for so long. It could have come any day and seemed long overdue.
By miraculous coincidence (is there really such a thing?), Greg got his heart that evening. We don’t know the exact times, but about when we were sitting at the lower saddle with Kelly and Craig, Cardiologists at Intermountain Medical Center received the call. There was a heart for Greg. We just can’t get over the timing.
We feel very fortunate to have shared this climb with Kelly, Craig, the cardiac rehab nurses from Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center (Tiffany, Heidi, Chelsea, Mary, Chris) and Marion, a cardiac nurse from Utah Valley Hospital and Heidi’s daughter; and of course the guides from Exum: special thanks to Rod, Eric, Tim, Ben and Kevin.
We hope all of you enjoy the photos, and of course please consider registering to be an organ donor if you haven’t already: www.yesutah.org or http://www.yesidaho.org/.
~Nate and Sarah
The long approach to the Lower Saddle with the Stand on the Grand team. Copyright Nate Young and Crux Photo.
Checking Kelly Perkins' blood pressure at 11,610 feet at the Lower Saddle. Copyright Nate Young and Crux Photo.
Sunset on the Grand Teton as seen from the Lower Saddle. Copyright Nate Young and Crux Photo.
Kelly Perkins completing the infamous leap of faith off Wall Street to get onto the Exum Ridge. Copyright Nate Young and Crux Photo.
Chelsea, a cardiac rehab nurse, finishing the Golden Staircase pitch on the Exum Ridge. Copyright Nate Young and Crux Photo.
Kelly Perkins smears onto the Unsoeld's layback pitch on the Exum Ridge. Copyright Nate Young and Crux Photo.
Sarah, Mary and Chelsea nearing the summit on the Exum Ridge. Copyright Nate Young and Crux Photo.
Kelly Perkins and the Stand on the Grand team celebrate on the summit. Copyright Nate Young and Crux Photo.
Kelly Perkins and the Stand on the Grand team make a wish for those waiting for organs on the summit. Copyright Nate Young and Crux Photo.
Here are some photos from last weekends trip up Kings Peak. Although the forecast wasn’t the best, it turned out to be a great weekend with just a bit of cloud cover. We did get the typical dusting of snow Saturday afternoon, but we didn’t mind. Enjoy the photos.
Kings Peak Backpacking Trip. Copyright Nate Young and Crux Photo.
Kings Peak Backpacking Trip. Copyright Nate Young and Crux Photo.
Kings Peak Backpacking Trip. Copyright Nate Young and Crux Photo.
Kings Peak Backpacking Trip. Copyright Nate Young and Crux Photo.
Kings Peak Backpacking Trip. Copyright Nate Young and Crux Photo.
Kings Peak Backpacking Trip. Copyright Nate Young and Crux Photo.
Kings Peak Backpacking Trip. Copyright Nate Young and Crux Photo.
Kings Peak Backpacking Trip. Copyright Nate Young and Crux Photo.
Kings Peak Backpacking Trip. Copyright Nate Young and Crux Photo.
Kings Peak Backpacking Trip. Copyright Nate Young and Crux Photo.
Kings Peak Backpacking Trip. Copyright Nate Young and Crux Photo.
Kings Peak Backpacking Trip. Copyright Nate Young and Crux Photo.
Kings Peak Backpacking Trip. Copyright Nate Young and Crux Photo.
Kings Peak Backpacking Trip. Copyright Nate Young and Crux Photo.
Although it’s been a while, we got out for a three day climbing trip this weekend to Massacre Rocks and City of Rocks in Idaho. Even with scattered storms, we managed to get three fairly full days of climbing in. All the climbing photos are of Jess Taverna on Tribal Bounderies and Smoke Signals.
City of Rocks. Copyright Nate Young and Crux Photo.
Jess Taverna on Tribal Bounderies at City of Rocks. Copyright Nate Young and Crux Photo.
Jess Taverna on Tribal Bounderies at City of Rocks. Copyright Nate Young and Crux Photo.
Jess Taverna on Smoke Signal at City of Rocks. Copyright Nate Young and Crux Photo.
Jess Taverna on Smoke Signal at City of Rocks. Copyright Nate Young and Crux Photo.
Jess Taverna on Smoke Signal at City of Rocks. Copyright Nate Young and Crux Photo.
Jess Taverna on Smoke Signal at City of Rocks. Copyright Nate Young and Crux Photo.
Sarah and I spent some time down in Saint George this weekend. Here are a few shots from Sand Hollow Resort where we stayed and Angel’s Landing in Zion where we hiked on Sunday. I definitely recomend that hike!
Moonrise over Sand Hollow Resort. Copyright Nate Young and Crux Photo
The view from the top of Angel's Landing in Zion National Park. Copyright Nate Young and Crux Photo
The view from the top of Angel's Landing in Zion National Park. Copyright Nate Young and Crux Photo
The view from the top of Angel's Landing in Zion National Park. Copyright Nate Young and Crux Photo
Check out Dead Point Magazine this month (April) for a published photo of mine.
You can view the issue online if you’d like or pick it up in a store. My image is on page 42 I believe.
Thanks,
Last weekend was filled with hard work. Starting Friday and ending Sunday around 8pm, Sarah and I sanded, stained and sealed a very very old and damaged floor. Although the fruits of our labor is a beautiful restored floor, we were extremely exhausted. On one of my breaks, I relaxed in the back yard in the spring sun and enjoyed one of our early season flowers, the crocus. Apparently I wasn’t the only ones enjoying the flowers…
Bees and Crocus Blooms. Copyright Nate Young and Crux Photo.
Crocus Blooms. Copyright Nate Young and Crux Photo.
This winter has been a tough winter for photography. To be honest, since the fall leaves dropped to the ground, my camera has mostly been collecting dust. Winter house projects, longer days at work, and the desire to actually enjoy my activities rather than drag the camera along and feel that I’m obligated to take photos has taken a toll on the quantity of images I can take. It is disappointing, but everyone has to choose priorities when they’re life gets to busy. And making extra time for photography just didn’t make the cut this winter.
BUT…
Sometime you get out, feel inspired, and come back with something good. I went out last weekend to do a backcountry ski tour with some friends and my wife Sarah. Sarah has spent very little time in the backcountry, so I mostly skinned and skied with her, letting my friends move at their own pace. Sarah wanted to sit out one lap, so I did one run with my friends on some mediocre snow (definitely not the best snow of the day). I had brought my camera so I figured I would use it.
Enjoy!
Snowboarding in Days Canyon. Copyright Nate Young and Crux Photo.
Lone Mountain, Montana. Copyright Nate Young and Crux Photo.
I think this post will give you a good idea of how busy I’ve been with non photography activities. Here are some photos from December! My family went down to the British Virgin Islands for a sailing trip and I planned on taking lots of photos. Once I got down there, I found that I just had to relax. So the camera mostly stayed hiden, but I did bring it out for a few shots.
Enjoy!
A lone phone booth near the Bitter End in the British Virgin Islands. Copyright Nate Young and Crux Photo.
Kite Boarding in the British Virgin Islands near Sandy Spit. Copyright Nate Young and Crux Photo.
Rays of light shining through in the British Virgin Islands. Copyright Nate Young and Crux Photo.
