wesleyaston.com Blog

Is this winter over yet? I have been waiting for some warm hiking weather and it just isn’t coming very fast. It is a good thing that I have been adicted to ice fishing this season. I have gone so many times, enjoying the freezing temps! Well thats not why I go, I just love to catch fish. I don’t like to eat them, but I give them to people that do love to eat them. Out of all the times I have been out I have only been skunked 2 times. But I have made up for it all the other times fishing. Today I went out to Strawberry Res and even though it was a slow start I caught quite a few and even some of my biggest yet this year. I am kind of glad that all the Cutthrouts that I catch are in between that 15 – 22inch mark, cause then I have to throw them back. I do feel bad keeping them sometimes, but at least they aren’t going to waste. Even in March there was still 2 feet of ice to drill through. I think I will make it out a couple more times before I call it quits for the ice fishing.


We are planning a trip here in a couple of weeks for my birthday down to Escalante on Hole in the Rock road. Want to hike to Zebra and Tunnel Slot canyons, and then camp at Dance Hall Rock, then hike down Hole in the Rock to Lake Powell and do some fishing. Now all this might get done as long as mother nature doesn’t ruin this plan. We have been trying to make it to Moab a couple times this past month, but there has been more snow that way then there is here! We will get out soon!!!
Mother Nature, just let spring come!

Well another year gone trying for a picture everyday, now to continue to do it some more. The question is when will I really stop doing it? I do enjoy showing what I run into everyday or close to, it helps me remember what I did that day. I look at previous years to look at how the weather was or what trip I went on, so it is a photo journal for anyone to see! Well now on to 2010 and hopefully tons of great adventures!!!

http://www.wesleyaston.com/2010.html
And of course don’t miss out on last years pictures too!
http://www.wesleyaston.com/2009.html

The summer is coming to an end soon, but that just means it is time for my favorite time of the year, FALL! That means a few more trips are on the way soon. We are heading up to Idaho this weekend, but more to visit our new Niece, and of course the rest of my brothers family. But then the following weekend it is Markai’s Birthday weekend trip. We have change the plans a few times on where to go, but I think we have settled on going to Escalante. Planned to stay there earlier this year 2 different times but the weather was cold so now it is time to just get there. Then the end of next month we are planning to go up north to Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons for Fall Colors. We thought about doing something new but just couldn’t stand missing the bright leaves up there. Last years trip to the Tetons was so good that I hope it is as good or better! However before we go it is time to try and get some new gear! Sold one of my cameras so I can buy a new one. My Rebel XT is now in my Brother-in-laws hands and I will be picking up the new Rebel T1i. It is 15 megapixel and shoots HD video. Now I can get rid of my video camera and just pack one around on some of these trips. 2 if you count my 20d.
Now just to order it and start shooting!

Markai and I have gotten in to rappelling this year, something new and fun to try. Not sure why, just started looking at new hikes and slowly started to buy some gear. So yesterday we took Ryan out for his first time to see how he liked it. We have gone a bit now to feel good about taking some new poeple with and not killing them. I wonder if they have the same jitters I got my first couple times this year. Never really been scared of hieghts till we went to go the first time, I all most changed my mind. Now I feel fine about getting up high and hanging over the ledge of a cliff, we will see once the cliffs get higher! Someday we will go on a little more extreme hikes with some big rappels, until then we will just keep having some fun on some smaller walls.

Red Ledges

I think this month has been one of my most inactive months ever for taking pictures, let alone even posting them. I have been to busy this month to get out and take some shots. With the sun going down at 5ish that leaves me little time to do anything since if I work at 7am then I don’t leave work until 5! We have been to a few Xmas parties and taken some random shots at those, but nothing exciting really. Plus being sick on the couch for a few days didn’t help me at all either. I just can’t wait for Xmas to come and go so we can get into New Years, since we will be starting it right this time. In MOAB! What better place to be? Well it will be cold though! But sure does make for some fun winter shots.

So I have been thinking about doing another Picture a Day project for next year, just to keep things excited and make myself take pictures. I started doing that in 2004 and I never missed a single day…….take a look for yourself! http://www.pbase.com/wes242/picture_a_day
It was time consuming sometimes just looking for a “Photo” and not a “Snapshot” but it sure was fun and took me to many new places I haven’t been before. Even Markai has thought about joining me on this too! I think it could be a fun idea!

Today we have the day off and not much to do, FINALLY!!, and we have been wanting to get out and take some snow pictures. Well there is a bunch of new snow so I guess we better get out and get too it! Thinking of taking our snowboards up the mountains to have some fun. Or go find some Eagles, since this time of year they seem to hang around here. Either way we better get cracking!

It has been a slow couple of weeks doing nothing but working, that isn’t fun when the holidays are here. But Markai and I did get out the other day to enjoy the nice weather and to test out our new shoes. The Vibram Five Finger. Now you might ask yourself “what the do shoes have to do wtih fingers?” Well these are more like gloves for your feet, so it gives you that more natural felling of walking, but protects your feet more then just your socks. After months of looking at these things we finally dropped the $80 to pick up the KSO model. These are made to do hiking and running in and that is why we got them. So the other day up Diamond Fork Canyon we went to a place full of little trails and red slickrock. I will admit I did expect a little more out of them, but these are not the same as every other shoes I have owned and gotten used to. Up through the trees, sand and up the slickrock we went. These are very flexible and move even with your toes. The grip is pretty good as I tested some steep flat sections.
Overall we like these so far and can’t wait to get down south to give them a good test out on some hikes. We will see how that works out.
The do work nicely on the Wii fit too! I wear them and they let you do all the stuff you need to do, and they don’t hurt the Fit.
Here’s the pictures…

Now if your interested in what these are, check them for yourself.
Vibramrfivefingers.com

I don’t get to see some of my family very often, with the prices of gas and to many other destinations I want to go make it harder these days. I planned for us to meet while we were off on our trip this past week. The good thing about all of us together is that we can only stand each other for a weekend when all together, but when only a few of us are around I could spend much more time hanging out.
Here are a few shots I took while we were hanging out this past weeked. I do miss seeing them all and wish it was easier to visit more often.

We have been home from our trip 5 days and I have spent many hours going through trip pictures to make sure I don’t forget any good ones. I forget how long it takes to do this sometimes, but the neat thing is that it is a summary of the trip for me. Makes it seem like I am still on vacation so it will break you back into normal live slowly. I hate going back to work after a fun photo trip cause I just want to be out somewhere taking some pictures. However I did get sick after this trip so I have missed some work, I guess work then is getting broken in slowly. I hate being sick though, and at least today I feel much better. I got some sleep last night, to bad I kept Markai up most the night snoring cause of my congestion. Sorry about that babe.

Today the cold weather has hit being in the 40′s, it was nice being in the Tetons with it in the 70′s wearing t-shirt and shorts. Time now for some gloves and a coat. We are going to Moab again in 2 weeks for some Jeeping so I hope it isn’t to cold then! Last year was my first time going Jeeping there, even though I have been to Moab tons of times. It gives you a different look of the area and makes it seem like a new vacation spot. Plus the crazy rides you go on in these vehicles!
Check out last years shots.

Jeeping Moab

Today we are leaving to head North for a 10 day vacation, I am excited! I am hoping for some sweet color and good weather, some animals would be nice too! If you have never been to the Tetons in the Fall then you better start planning next years vacation. It is an awesome site at the right time of year.

I have the car mostly packed, but have to go back to work for a few more hours…… blah.! Maybe I can sneak out a little early, but I doubt it.

Off I go!!!

Last night I was going through some camera gear that I don’t use much if ever to see what I should take on our trip this next week and I stumbled across my flash magnifiying sheet that you hook to your flash to launch the light far way from you. I haven’t really ever used it much or really tried it out, but I hope to give it a try on some wildlife in the Tetons and Yellowstone next week. While we had it out I thought it would be fun to try some crazy pictures with it and see what we could come up with.

Well here you go!
One reason I love my wife Markai!

And of course I had to get in on the action too!