Click the image to get to my story on Outsideonline.com.
I really enjoy writing about gear, especially when it's the kind of stuff I would definitely use. Those know me, know I love to get dirty. Clothes that can handle some dirt are usually the first ones out of my drawers. This recent piece on Outside explores a few items that can take a dive in the mud. The image is from a walk through an abandoned train tunnel we did a few days ago. My friend Jason fell in mud hole. It was awesome.
My parents have a small orchard in far Northern California. Though California has been a severe drought, their little trees are still managing a ton of apples. All the trees are different antique varieties. Some of them look like commercial brands like "Red Delicious" and "Braeburn," but I think the flavors, colors and shapes of the fruits are more complex. They're not always the prettiest, but I've always thought there is more to an apple than meets the eye.
Fall is here and with it glorious, glorious color. The brush and manzanita at Angora Lakes near Lake Tahoe is incredible colorful. The aspens in Hope Valley and around the South Shore are turning and losing their leaves. For photographers, it's a welcome time of year. For skiers and snowboarders, the agony begins now. Snow, please.
With the King Fire just to the west, the East Shore of Lake Tahoe has been under a blanket of smoke. The fire has burned more than 90,000 acres and 12 homes. Many people have had to evacuate. Luckily, there's some rain in the forecast. The smoke is not ideal for photography, but it does create some interesting lighting.
My parents live in far Northern California. They have a dog named Joey. Joey's purpose in life is to chase sticks. She's a wonderful animal. But wherever her stick goes, she goes. If that's in the river, then she's going in with a splash. When I come to visit, we always make time for a few throws.
Kelly Slater never ceases to amaze. His airs at the Hurley Pro Trestles have already kicked off with a bang. At 42, he is still limber enough to land in the flats from 10 feet and pop out of the whitewater like some kind of ghost. I'm currently reading "The Fellowship of the Ring." If I found some evil gold bastard, I'd give it to Kelly to deliver to Mordor.
Canon 7D — 24-105mm — ISO 100 — F8 — 1 sec.
Things tend to get busy for me this time of year. A lot of the publications I write for are beginning to work on their winter content. It seems the deadlines come one after the other. With so much time at my desk, I find it important to get out and take a break. On a recent weekend, I did an overnight hike to a secret little fishing spot. The trout were biting and things were exceptionally calm. Now, it's back to work.
I did an amazing hike over Labor Day Weekend to Fourth of July Lake in the Carson Pass area of the Sierras. We were lucky enough to score a permit (there are only 6 issued at a time) to camp for two nights. Instead of hiking the normal route to Fourth of July, we decided to take the Pacific Crest Trail to Summit City Trail and around the backside of Round Top. Though there was a bit of bushwhacking, it was an incredible hike. From our campsite, we took off and climbed Round Top and another peak in the area. I shot this of my friend John Bodley, exploring the steeps above the little lake.
