Sometimes pulling myself out of a rut is damned near impossible. But, you have to push yourself and make it happen - be that change. Creatively speaking; I’ve been stuck in a rut for quite some time now. No vids, no photos; no bueno. So, I’m forcing myself to post a photo each day until I’ve sufficiently slapped creativity back into myself. Here’s one for today. A catbird perched among a boundless, infinite freedom.
Sony 35mm, f/5.6 @ 1/2500 sec.
A few years ago, my father handed me this poem that I’d written back in 1995 for my 10th grade English class. I’d completely forgotten about it. I get a kick out of the lines that my 16 year old self had painstakingly typed, using my sister Peggy’s fancy word processor. It doesn’t quite have a steady rhythm to it, and I think I could have done a lot better if I’d taken my time (As with all of my homework assignments back then). But I do remember being excited about the assignment and wanting Mrs. Adams to read this masterpiece to the classroom aloud. Anonymously of course… but I wanted her to read it!
Today I thought I’d take another go at the assignment. I mean, sure I got an 89% on this piece but I thought I could do better. Here’s how the 2020 version of this piece reads. Revision B if you will:
I’m setting out into the North,
to live among the wild,
Where nature’s pure tranquility,
shall never be defiled.
No hatred lives within those woods,
and home for me will be,
Hewn from log and shaped from stone,
to stand so solemnly.
There I’ll live in peace so free
where anger has no place,
Along the wooded sunlit slope
of a mountain’s western face.
I’ll watch the evening light retreat
as plum and rose skies fade,
within the comfort of my home,
my own two hands had made.
The moon above will light the sky
and though my eyes will close,
I’ll see in dreams my dearest friends
who give my heart repose.
I’ll join the ranks of men alike
who’ve soothed their troubled minds,
And be another Mountain Man
who slept beneath the pines.
Happy 4th of July folks. I hope you’re all celebrating our nation’s 244th birthday with great pride. Despite some of our recent, less than stellar actions as a nation, I will forever love our country. I’ve been all over the world; broke bread with strangers in foreign countries, experienced their cultures and observed their policies, yet no country will ever compare to ours. We are free. Truly free. Do not take it for granted.
It’s been a long time since I’ve posted anything on the ol’ bloggy-blog. Time for an update eh? Generally speaking all is well. I’ve adapted to pandemic life (What were my options again?) and last week was my first week back in the office since March 13th (A Friday, which I find apropos by the way). Upper Management is bringing the rest of our folks back into the office this week, as safely as possible, and there are quite a few changes that have been well thought out. I feel perfectly comfortable being there; I’m looking out for number one and remain diligent with safe practices.
I’ve been on a real health kick lately, riding road and dirt and changing up my diet for the better. It feels good. I feel good. I’ve dropped about 20lbs in the last few weeks. Now its time to add in some muscle. It’s been great to be back in the saddle enjoying the trails but It’s just not as fun when you haven’t got the stamina to ride as long as you’d like, nor the strength to ride as fast as you’d like. It’s coming though. Baby steps.
I haven’t been making videos lately and that’s due mainly to the restrictions on travel we’ve all been experiencing. Well, that and work being busier than ever. But I did get out on the trails today and made a short video using my phone, just for funsies. Nothing special, just fun. I’ll never get over how easy it is to make a short video right on your iPhone. The below video was shot, edited and published to the web, entirely with the iPhone - so cool.
Well, I really didn’t want to post about this pandemic that we are all fighting through. It’s just a big downer. But this pandemic is a big deal. It has upturned so many lives. Changed them. Taken them. It’s changed how we interact now, and how we’ll interact in the future. I am grateful to have a job that is somewhat insulated from the effects of the pandemic. I have been working remotely since mid-March and do not take it for granted; I’m one of the lucky ones. It is not the same for others. Small business owners and those living paycheck to paycheck, supporting their families are getting hit the hardest and they remain in my thoughts. Now is the time to be especially kind. Show compassion for others out there. As cliché as it sounds; we really are all in this together. Be smart. Wear your masks. Wash your hands. And for goodness sake, love each other.
I think that this pandemic is especially hard for anyone who is always on the move, doing things, going places, exploring… It’s no good for me I tell ya. But, I’ve been very diligent about my isolation, distancing and general safe practices. I hope all of you are as well.
Before all hell broke loose in PA, my buddy John and I got one last wheeling trip in, up at Rausch Creek Offroad Park. I hadn’t planned on making a full video out of the trip, because I’d just been there so recently. The goal was to grab some B roll to play with and hopefully turn into a short introduction video for my YouTube channel. Welp, with all this time on my hands I decided to force it into a video. I hope you enjoy.
I hadn’t realized how long it’d been since I put rubber to rock at at the Rausch Creek Offroad Park. I’d wheeled there once, last summer and the Black trails sure beat the snot out of me! I was also pushing my luck wheeling those trails with my roof top tent perched above. Pretty sketchy. During the winter months I remove the tent to save it from the harsh road salt. So, this time, with the tent off, I was feeling pretty confident! Although we stuck to the less difficult Blue trails, we still had an epic day crawling through the woods! My buddy John hadn’t been there before, so I was excited for him to see it as well. I think he had a great time and was loving the trails. Conditions were perfect; trails were a bit sloppy but the sun was out and the temperature was mild. We pushed ourselves a bit. Took chances. Even had to winch out at one point. But, that’s what’s so exciting about off roading. It’s a great feeling using techniques you’ve learned to get over/through/around those hairy sections of trail. I really love the thrill of the challenge when you have to put your experience and equipment to the test. When you’re forced out of your comfort zone and you have to push yourself and your rig past familiar limits. It’s such a rush and reward! Enjoy the video!
Although my YouTube channel was never intended to be used for profit (And still is not) I have had a personal goal to obtain 100 subscribers for the past several months. Why? Well, it’s going to sound a little silly, but I really wanted a custom YouTube channel address. Now that I’ve reached my 100 subs, I meet the requirements to use a custom address. You can now find my channel at www.youtube.com/uplandphoto as opposed to the standard big long, nonsensical, YouTube web address. What’s more; I can finally make some classy Upland Photo YouTube decals for my jeep! Sincere thanks to all of those who continue to support me on my personal videographer’s journey.
Squanchy was putting out an ominous creak about two weeks ago. It was a very loud pinging/creaking noise coming from the front left knuckle of the Jeep during turns. Boy was it driving me nuts! Without a helper to turn the wheel while I got up close and personal with the steering components, I was helpless to find the squeak source on my own. Naturally I thought the worst… Geez, how much is this gonna’ cost me? But, as with anything in life; there’s no sense in sweating over an issue without assessing the facts first. A quick search online pointed me to the likely culprits and with a friend turning the steering wheel, I was able to pinpoint the squeaky ball joint. After a quick trip to NAPA and $30 later, I was wiping down zerk fittings and filling boots with Valvoline grease. Problem solved.
Keeping components greased via the zerk fittings helps maintain the effective life of your steering and suspension ball joints. Stock Jeeps have no zerk fittings. But, if you’ve upgraded your undercarriage, chances are that your performance upgrade components have zerk fittings and can be greased. How often? Most sources that I reviewed online say to grease these at least at every oil change (Every 5,000 miles in my case). Before you start be sure to wear your safety glasses, wipe off any dirt from the zerk fittings and also wipe off any excess grease after you’ve finished filling them. Fill through each fitting until you see the boot expand and grease begin to seep from the boot. A quick run through my ball joints, drag link connections and driveshafts has left Squanchy squeak-free and ready to rock n’ roll.
1/2000 sec, @ f/4.0, ISO 640, 16mm.
Today at noon, my latest video Wright Peak will premier on my YouTube channel and I am really excited about it! I put a lot of effort into trying to make this video as exciting and interesting as possible. As an aspiring videographer I’ve been slowly learning how to capture quality footage and process it. I can feel myself getting better at this. My approach to recording my adventures is evolving; shifting to a more plan-based approach; more thought is going into the where, when and how I will grab my shots. I’ve started to fine tune my camera settings. However, I still have a long way to go. Thankfully, the YouTube community has plenty of incredibly talented and inspiring filmmakers to help me along the way. On my journey to create great videos, I have realized that the most important aspect of creating something that will keep the audience’s attention is the use of good content. It’s got to be interesting, beautiful; well shot. It also takes serious effort, patience and commitment!
Hopefully Wright Peak will inspire others to get out there and enjoy the wilderness. It’s free. It’s amazing. And it’s just waiting for you!
Well, I have to say, I am surprised that we did not make it to the summit of both Wright Peak and Algonquin. A very late start and rough going forced us to orphan Algonquin. After arriving at our hotel at 3:00am the morning of our hike, we did not set foot on the trail until 10:00am. By the time we reached the summit of Wright Peak, it was just about 3:30pm and we knew we had no chance of summiting Algonquin. Looks like we’ll be going back for Algonquin this summer!
The hiking itself was easy on the flat and moderate inclines. But, when the trail got steep, it became a fight to keep your footing. While we used the snowshoes for the first two thirds of the hike, switching to Microspikes was a great help. But, even with the Microspikes, at times, a couple of steps forward were negated by a slow slide backwards. By the time we did reach the summit of Wright Peak, we were exhausted. We did take solace in the fact that we could butt-slide a lot of the steep sections that took us so long to hike up, and boy did we butt-slide! Its really fantastic to cover so much ground while sitting on your @ss!
The scenery was amazing of course. While there were only a few inches of snow at the trail head, there were several feet near the summit. Frozen waterfalls, snow-capped boulders, snow covered Birch & Spruce lined the trail up the mountain. Chickadees chirped and flittered about the woods. Although we did not see any rabbits, large prints from the Snowshoe rabbits covered the forest floor. As usual, everywhere you looked was something to enjoy. I suppose that’s why I’ve always been so obsessed with the Adirondacks!
Stay tuned for a video for this hike. I’m thoroughly enjoying working with the footage so far!
This is it. D-Day. My 46er Journey starts in just a few hours. The ol’ Samsquanch is packed and I’m ready to start the 6-hour drive north to the Adirondacks. I cannot wait! With hiking in an alpine environment comes the added risk associated with extreme temperatures and deep snow & ice. Rock cairns that mark the summit approach on Algonquin will be buried and painted trail markers on the rock face will be covered in ice. Summiting Algonquin and Wright Peak will expose us to strong winds and sub-zero temperatures. All of which, only makes the adventure more exciting to me. I’m not hiking Everest here, but the danger is real and being prepared is absolutely critical to having a safe adventure in the winter wild. Safe hiking and being prepared for emergency situations will ensure a good time for us. Below is the checklist I created to ensure I’m prepared for what may lay ahead.
Stay tuned for some photos & videos from this hike!
After a bit of research, I’ve narrowed down the first two peaks of my 46er journey. Because the first few mountains will be winter ascents, I’ve chosen a relatively moderate challenge for the first of my Winter High Peaks hikes. First on the list is a combination hike to the summits of Algonquin Peak and Wright Peak, originating at the Adirondak Loj. This is a 9 mile, out & back, day hike with 4,064’ of elevation gain. Although Alltrails.com rates this combination hike as “difficult”, I’m assuming that’s a summer rating. I’m really curious to see if the going is any easier in the winter time. A well packed trail through the snow might be more easily traveled than the same trail in the summertime. I could be right. I could be dead wrong. We’ll see!
D-Day will be Saturday February 1st. The current plan is to drive up to Lake Placid on Friday night; a mere six hour drive from the Philly. Saturday morning we’ll be in the woods by 5:00am. (That’s right. Adria’s comin’ with!) Now, Assuming that worst case, we’ll average a pace of 1 mph, this would put us on top of both summits and back to the Jeep by 2:00pm, leaving a couple hours of buffer time for breaks and draggin’ @ss, before sunset. …I forsee us coming out after dark. We’re equipped with snowshoes and microspikes. We’ll be carrying small packs, but not full trekking packs. You never know what could happen on the mountain so we're bringing the essential emergency items: space blanket, headlamps, down winter bag, small tent, stove, fire starting kit, extra food, extra layers, etc.
The plan is made, the GoPros are charged, and mountains are calling. Stay tuned!
This year I resolved to take more photos… Makin’ it happen.
Of the goals I laid out for 2020, I am most excited abut the prospect of hiking all 46 of the Adirondack High Peaks. I have hiked a handful of these peaks growing up and over the last few years but have a long way to go in order to earn the right to the prestigious title: “46er”. Over the next month I’ll be planning how best to bag multiple peaks on single hikes. It will be interesting to determine via maps, books and blogs, which hikes can be accomplished via day hikes with minimal gear, versus how many will require full packs due to route limitations. Hiking all 46 peaks in a year is no easy task. Luckily for me, my adventure companion Adria will be with me along the way, and we are great at pushing each other when our mettle is tested. I have all the gear to accomplish this goal. What I don’t have is the strength & endurance. I will need to get myself in shape mentally & physically.
So, my next steps are:
1. Identify peaks which can be nabbed via day hikes
2. Identify which peaks can be combined within hikes
3. Create a somewhat aggressive schedule to stick to
Here we are in 2020 and man am I excited for it! 2019 was great, there’s no doubt about it. I got up to the Adirondacks several times, had some great overloading adventures and created some videos that I’m pretty happy with. As is tradition this time of year, folks resolve to better themselves. Below are a few personal goals that I’ll be working towards this year.
Create more videos & take more photos
Hike all 46 of the Adirondack High Peaks [This one’s a challenge for sure, but I’d really like to accomplish this!]
Spend less and save more
Live a healthier lifestyle (More mountain biking & hiking and less boozing)
I’ll be sure to keep you posted with updates the blog and galleries here at uplandphoto.com
All the best to you in 2020!
I’m attributing this trip to the Luck o’ the Irish! When I was asked to visit a facility in the mountainous playground they call the Adirondacks, I was only too happy to comply. Yes please! It’s not every day you get sent to the mountains on business. So, I loaded up the Wrangler and pointed her north. The drive from Philly, up through NY was fantastic. My hotel for the night was my rooftop tent. Just another day in the office.
Another overland adventure on the books! The weather was wet, the hiking was hard, and the wheeling was amazing. Hell, we even saw a moose. But don’t take my words for it, watch the video!
I’m excited to share this crisp new website with the world. Having generated and shared a lot of creative content on social media has had me craving a central location with which to showcase my creative side and archive my adventures. This photographer has been reborn! So, I present to you, my spot on the web to share with all who care to see, the fun side of life, from my perspective.