Stopped in the Incline Tourist Shack to warm up for a few minutes, then continued on my way. Should have used the facilities there, because, by the time I got halfway down Luzerne Street my bladder was screaming so loud, I was sure the residents of Grandview could hear it. It was tough stopping to take shots, so I grabbed what I could and headed downhill. Finally made it to the Southmont Gardens before the dam broke and treated my kidneys to a fresh pint. Then past the hospital, through the Eighth Ward and finally to home. Hope you’ve enjoyed the photos.

Okay, granted, for me a ‘mighty walk’ is trip downstairs to the fridge and back up again to the computer room. Your mileage may vary. Literally. So, since it was too cold to shoot, and too cold to walk, I naturally grabbed the camera and headed out: through Moxham, out Valley Pike, Franklin Street through Kernville, Haynes Street, Napolean, Roosevelt Blvd; a one-way trip to the stars on Johnstown PA’s Incline Plane, Edgehill, Luzerne, Diamond, Susan, Shady, brief stop in the Southmont Gardens, and back home again through the Eighth Ward. A mighty, mighty walk indeed. A veritable walking tour of Johnstown’s Stonycreek Valley and beyond. Here are the photos from the first half of the trip.

Rolled out early early last Saturday looking for some mood pictures in the morning fog. I was hoping for one of those pre-dawn shots where the sky is just starting to lighten and the fog doesn’t quite reach the hilltops?

Problem with the Highlands and Johnstown, though: it’s tough to find a vantage point high enough and the fog low enough to get the photo right.

First, I headed up the MoxhamVu overlook on Belmont Hill. Nothing but a sea of white. So I dropped down a bit and grabbed a few shots of under the fog from the top of Wheat Street in Moxham. From there, a change of tactics, and I headed up to Grandview to try and capture a mood instead of an atmosphere.

They’ve got a saying in New England: “Don’t like the weather? Wait a minute.” Well, Johnstown weather doesn’t change that quickly, but the sky and the light certainly do. I barely got a handful of shots around the cemetery entrance when the fog appeared to lift. Before packing up, I took a quick run over to the Incline Plane to see what was up there. Pleanty of fog in the valley and a brief glimpse of Cover Hill across the way. Then, a minute after I snapped the shot of the Yoder Hill, the entire hilltop socked in.

And that’s when I realized I was trespassing. I had no idea they could pop me for trespassing for taking pictures from the observation platform. Welcome to the Friendly City. Anyway, short story longer, it being after my normal 8am starting time, I packed up and headed for a beer. I’ve been in a fog ever since. Enjoy the photos.