February: An adventurous hike with K2 after a heavy snowfall

We had a snow storm throughout the day before and over the night. Next morning, I got up at 5 am, had my coffee and looked at K2, our Great White Hungarian Kuvasz, who had his breakfast already and was eager to go out as usual. Seeing the pile of snow outside, still dark conditions, I had my moment of epiphany.

However, just like that, I got up and started getting ready.

I covered myself head to toe with cap, buff, winter rain jacket over a thick hoodie inside, winter mittens with hand warmers inside that I was wearing over glove liners to ease photography, snow pant, winter hiking socks made of wool, and winter hiking boots. I had my hiking camera backpack with photography gear, tea, medical first aid pouch, and other winter hiking accessories that could come in handy.

I also ensured that K2 had his dog backpack on with his lunch, water, treats, poop bags, medical pouch, mushers vax and other accessories. I had rubbed as many thick layers of mushers vax on his paws as possible. In addition, I packed his winter doggy boots.

Despite it being a cloudy day, the pulchritude of winter wonderland could have been admired by the most tasteless of us.

I was on the trail at 6:30 am.

_{Snow was quite deep at some sections of the trail. Still, K2 found walking on it appealing}

hiking phtography

During my hikes, I try to take shots ‘on’ or ‘about’ the following, which involve various photography genres, to describe an adventure in a photo essay:

Landscapes, rock formations, soil, etc.;
Wildlife;
Wildflowers and trees;
Fellow hiker(s) on trail to show scale, candid shots to show their emotions, to fill up empty space, or preparing for hike, putting up a tent, etc.;
Close-ups / Micros of insects, fungi, etc.;
Vagaries/oddities of nature; and
Night sky if camping out.

This is what I did during this hike as well.

I carried Pentax K-5iis camera and my trusted adverse weather lens Pentax 18-135 mm.