The Adventure Collective 2019 Asheville Guide Sample | Page 28

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CATCH A
SUNRISE
WRITTEN BY STEVEN REINHOLD
W
aking up to catch a sunrise is always worth
it! But, just like all things adventurous, there
is an art to catching a sunrise like a pro.
In those precious moments, just before and
after sunrise your entire world is gilded in the
“golden light.” Those moments, are windows into Heaven
and provide some of your most memorable experiences.
Being in an epic location for these peak experiences can
be life-changing but those moments can also be elusive. An
error in planning can lead to a last minute run up the trail
where in a sweaty-rage you will curse yourself and show
up just in time to miss the goods. Follow these guidelines
to make sure your sunrise experience is one to remember.
Scout Your Spot Before You Go
Don’t be a fool and traipse through dark to a westward
facing overlook! If you’re searching for a sunrise in, and
anywhere around, North Carolina you are going to want
an eastern facing view at your chosen spot. Here are a
few proven ways to find a solid sunrise view. Firstly, keep
a mental catalogue of spots you see which have sunrise
potential. If you see an interesting foreground in your
travels and realize it gets some of that morning golden
light take note and return one morning. Social media is
a great platform to research sunrise views in your area.
Scour through relative hashtags and your favorite outdoor
photographers’ feeds to uncover the go-to spots in any
given area. Google Earth can also be a very useful tool for
finding a tableau view. Set your bearing to just south of
east, since we are in the Northern Hemisphere. Set your
elevation just as high as the highest mountains and scroll
through your area, while keeping that eastward bearing,
and get a feel for the best places to catch a sunrise.
adventure you will likely do so in a foggy,
under-caffeinated stupor. You will rush things,
you will curse yourself and you will forget
something critical like a memory card, tripod
or even worse, your coffee! Instead of failing
epically and ruining your sunrise get you gear
in order the night before your adventure.
Chances are you will pack appropriately and
rest well knowing that you are ready to go in the
morning. Doing so will also give you a chance to
remember those critically forgotten items and
grab them before heading out in the morning.
Get Up 15 Minutes Early
Dang it, we got here 15 minutes early for this
beautiful sunrise said, no one ever! Getting
there early will lead to nothing but extra
quality time. But, pulling up to the trailhead
Pack The Night Before
fashionably late, while the sky is exploding
Going out on dawn patrol requires an early start and with color, is sure to ruin everyone’s morning.
nobody wants to wake up two hours before the crack of There are certain types of occasions which
dawn to pack their bags. If you pack the morning of your are appropriate to show up to 15 minutes