Jeff Lubeck

Capturing Kauai: Windswept Magic on Kalepa Ridge

Travelling the Kalepa Ridge Trail on the Na Pali Coast on the Island of Kauai is an extraordinary experience. There are few adventures more beautiful or potentially more dangerous. The trail traverses a knife-like ridgeline as it extends out from the Kalalau Lookout on the Northwestern edge of the Island. The trail is 1.8 miles in length (out and back).

The views are breathtaking for most of the trip. From the endpoint of Ni’ani’au, the Kalalau Valley, Kanakou, Alea’lau, Ka’a’alahina Ridge, Kalalau Beach. Kalalau Trail, Ho’ole’a Falls, Honopu Ridge and Honopu Valley present themselves in their full glory.

All the Key Spots Big and Small in View

The trip is an up and down adventure. Technically there is only a 500 vertical foot drop. The elevation change is materially more. The trail-bed is superb, however, it is narrow. There are a few spots on the trail where the change in vertical is dramatic. There are a number of spots where a slip can result in a plummet of 3,000 feet. There is also a number of spots where level ground is present. These spots are full of trees and native grass. These spots make you feel as it you are in an arboretum.

The arboretum that is Kalepa Ridge.

The arboretum that is Kalepa Ridge

The Kalepa Trail is not an official one. It is not maintained. Travel on the trail is explicitly discouraged by the State Parks of Hawaii. Signs to this effect are posted in and around Kalalau Lookout. In short, you are on your own on the Kalepa Trail. The Kalepa Trail, like others on Kauai, is a completely different experience if moisture or rainwater is involved. This trail’s status moves from Demanding | Difficult to Dangerous | Treacherous with the presence of moisture.

I travel on these trails with hiking cleats and hiking pole at all times. They change the game in general and are difference makers when wet weather is involved.

Looking down to Kalalau Beach from Ni’ani’au.

I am covering the length of the trail as reconnaissance. I am trying to establish the best lighting and time of year for future late-afternoon, sunset, sunrise and astrophotography shoots.

Looking up to Ni’ani’au from the Na Pali Coast on Christmas Morning.

One rule-of-thumb on these trails: have your camera-at-the-ready, you might catch a rainbow.

Rainbow on Kalepa

Kalepa Ridge Trail Map

— Jeff’s Worthless Trivia & Other Thoughts —

The implication of the micro-climates in this area of the island can be material. Sun, rain, mist, and fog | cloud banks can happen within few moments of each other. All conditions occur while hiking on this day.

You Never Know Who You’ll Bump Into

Upon leaving the trail, I sit down on the grass at Kalalau Lookout to remove my boots. The view from Kalalau Lookout is enveloped in clouds. A lady is standing at the fence talking with other strangers. I over hear the lady expressing her disappointment because she says she is a landscape photographer, there is no shot to be had, is on a family vacation, and leaves in the next day.

I reach out, and suggest to the lady she wait 15-30 minutes. The lady thanks me, but says the guideline of family trip rule the day – so no photo today or a return tomorrow. I understand her and also follow that type of rule. We chat for but a few seconds more and I am on my way.

Somehow, the lady finds me, my websites, and sends a very nice email later in the day. What a thoughtful thing to do. Not only is the lady a photographer, she is a superb one at that.

A link to the works of Kristen Ryan is [here]

Dark Skies in Goat Creek

The New Moon for March 2022 is long past. The first days for Dark Sky photography were solid, but clouds and warm moist weather eliminated shooting for a some key days. Such is Life. However, as I return to the Cabin from a dinner with friends in Stanley (Doug and Cathy Proctor), the stars are out – front and center.

I am situated in the Goat Creek drainage near Stanley, Idaho surrounded by the Sawtooth National Recreation Area. In my direct view is Williams Peak and Merritt Peak, with the Goat Creek Basin splitting the two peaks. The Moon is out and I would never expect the stars in the sky to be shining brightly. Well… Better to be Lucky than Good… I capture two images. One with the Moon present at about 8:52PM and another hours later at 3:30AM.

Sirius is Serious in Goat Creek.

Virgo and Leo Are in the House

— Jeff’s Worthless Trivia and Other Thoughts —

In the Sirius photo, the light from the Moon is blasting down from the right hand side of the sky. The Sky and the landscape around me are a dazzling blue. I feel as if I can reach-out and touch the stars, let alone see them. The large pulsating star near the big tree on the left is Sirius in the Canis Major constellation. Many know Sirius as the Dog Star. It is the brightest star in Earth’s night sky. In Greek, Sirius means glowing. Occupying the center of the image is the Orion Constellation. Orion is named for the hunter in Greek Mythology. Orion is known and seen world-wide as it is located at the celestial equator. Many Astrologers (of which I am not) believe two of the ten brightest stars in the sky are located in Orion — Rigel (Beta Orionis) and Betelgeuse (Alpha Orionis). Both are clearly visible in the image and are the brightest part of Orion on this night.

In the Virgo and Leo photo, the constellations Virgo and Leo are prominent in the center and right center of the image. Virgo is known in mythology and the Virgin and is tied to fertility. Virgo is full of exoplanets. It is the largest constellation of the Zodiac and the second-largest constellation overall, behind Hydra. Spica is the brightest star in Virgo (lower center in image). For context, Spica is 260 light-years from Earth. It is twice as large as our sun, and 2,300 times brighter. Leo (the Lion) was one of the very first identified and documented constellations – by the Mesopotamians. One of the brightest stars in Leo is towards the upper right side of the image. The star is named Al Geiba, which means “the lion’s mane.” In 2001, a planet eight times the size of Jupiter was discovered orbiting Al Geiba.

From a technical perspective… Camera: Nikon Z9, Lens: Nikon Z 20MM f 1.8 Both images were shot with 13 seconds of exposure at F2 and ISO 2000.

Dark Skies at Galena Summit

With the New Moon for March upon us, I decided to head up to the Galena Summit and attempt to capture some Dark Skies images of the Sawtooth and Wood River Valley’s.

I am exceptionally fortunate because my home is in the heart the Central Idaho Dark Sky Reserve. It was Americas first Reserve as recognized by the Internal Dark Sky Association. There are 12 reserves with such designation worldwide. At 1,416 square miles it is the 3rd largest in the world.

The weather report was not very promising, as cloud cover was to be material until about 3AM and mostly clear between 3-5AM.

I decided to attempt to be on the Summit at 4AM. Here are two images I captured.

The Wood River Valley from Galena Summit – New Moon Dark skies.

The Sawtooth River Valley from Galena Summit – New Moon Dark skies

— Jeff’s Worthless Trivia and Other Thoughts —

In the Boulders photo, a hint of artificial light appears in the trees near the valley floor below Galena Peak. I think it might be the lights from the snow grooming equipment. The bright star in the upper left center of the image is Altair in the Aquila constellation. The bright star in the lower right center of the image is Antares in the Scorpius constellation. Scorpius in Latin means Scorpion. Scorpius in Hawaiian culture is known as the demigod Maui’s Fishhook. There is a shooting star visible in the lower center of the image.

In the Sawtooth photo, there is visible light in the lower center left of the image. I think it is from the Snow Plow for the Idaho Department of Transportation that parks out at Frenchmen’s Creek. The two bright stars in the lower center of the image are Pollux and Alpha Geminorum (the two heads) in the Gemini constellation. Gemini in Latin means Twins. Moving to the left, all the stars that comprise the constellation Cancer are visible. Above them, all the stars of the constellation Leo are visible. To the right side of the image all the stars of the constellation Cassiopeia are visible.

From a technical perspective… Camera: Nikon Z9, Lens: Nikon Z 20MM f 1.8 Both images were shot with 15 seconds of exposure at F2.2 and ISO 6400.

To be honest, I had another reason for attempting to capture these images. I wanted to be at a favorite place of mine, such that I could say a prayer for someone. My friend since childhood, Mark Wickard, recently experienced a heart-attack that was material in nature. While the road to recovery will be highly challenging, Mark has a remarkable level of fight in him, a close-knit family, and the support of friends that if strung together would likely stretch across America. If you are so inclined, say a Prayer for Mark Wickard. If you are not religious in nature, please extend Best Wishes to someone who is so richly deserving.

Capturing Kauai: Windswept Magic on Kalepa Ridge

Dark Skies in Goat Creek

Dark Skies at Galena Summit

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