Another Door Opens

2012 has been an important year for me. This was the first year that I've spent in the mountains that that I've chosen to live in, and the first that I've been able to concentrate on building a body of work that I can be proud of.

I feel privileged to have been able to study the wilderness through the seasons. With every experience, I've learned a little more about the rich world that lies in the forests and mountains.  Each season brings new sights and smells to familiar trails, and sometimes the changes are so dramatic that the views are barely recognizable. The change from autumn to winter is particularly abrupt.

"Why do you flee so soon, sir, to the theaters, lecture-rooms, and museums of the city? If you will stay here awhile I will promise you strange sights. You shall walk on water; all these brooks and rivers and ponds shall be your highway. You shall see the whole earth covered a foot or more deep with purest white crystals . . . and all the trees and stubble glittering in icy armor."

The end of a year is traditionally a time for new beginnings, and possibly reflection on the time that has passed. I hope to be able to share From The High Country images with many more people in 2013, and I'm grateful to clients and supporters who have followed me through 2012.

If you'd like to help by providing some feedback, you can do so via my new questionnaire.

I'm excited to see what 2013 will bring, and I hope you'll join me. Have a Happy New Year!

Waiting For Winter

This time of year can feel like a kind of limbo. The magnificent display of the changing aspens has long since turned into leaf litter on the forest floor. The first flurries of snow have fallen and melted away, and while it still decorates distant summits, no other signs of winter are forthcoming.

The summer visitors and festivals are long gone, but they've left behind a sense of peace. The roads and trails are especially quiet during this period.

In the time between autumn and winter, it would be easy to think that there is little to see in the high country. Still, if you can appreciate the simple things, there is always a new discovery to be made.

On this Black Friday I'm enjoying the silence outside, and the views of the mountains that I'm getting to know like good friends. Living a simple life means that it isn't always possible to take part in the big sales and shopping trends, but a walk in the wilderness is worth more to me than any gift or gadget that I can think of.

“Thousands of tired, nerve-shaken, over-civilized people are beginning to find out that going to the mountains is going home; that wildness is necessity; that mountain parks and reservations are useful not only as fountains of timber and irrigating rivers, but as fountains of life.”  John Muir

To catch up with my latest work at From The High Country, you can go here.

Winter Approaches

As winter approaches and I prepare the cabin for the coming snow, I sometimes pause to reflect on the year that has passed by so quickly. While it was the same length as any other year, I feel that I've always been here, and that this is where I belong.

People have asked me if I still enjoy the wilderness, or if I still find interesting subjects for my work. The truth is that as I spend more and more time in the high country forests and mountains, my fascination only grows.

Each time I venture into the wilderness I learn a little more about my surroundings simply by being present and receptive to the lessons of the natural world.

Light snow has fallen in my small town for two consecutive nights. Although the afternoon sunlight causes the snow to melt, each morning brings opportunities to view wildlife tracks and picturesque glimpses of the winter to come.

Please visit From The High Country for more of my recent images, or take a look at the new "Scenes From The San Juans" 2013 calendar.

Onwards and Upwards

Spring is (officially, at least) here to stay. Traces of snow remain in sheltered areas and high peaks, but the ground is dry and green shoots are no longer hidden. As the snow melted, I lost my excuse for not running since my relocation. Health and fitness are both important when living a simple life (an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure!), and I believe that a healthy body is very helpful in maintaining a healthy mind. At a mile and a half higher than my last running environment, I have much work to do if I'm going to regain my old times.

It seems quite appropriate that the indoor mushroom growing and vermiculture (worm composting) experiments began as spring arrived. Both are going well, and I have another source of fertilizer that I'd like to show you:

The first major construction project has been completed, and more images will be added to the new spring gallery soon. I'm also working on a new FTHC project, which I hope to be able to announce in the next week or two - check back soon!

Finally, I wanted to share a link to a free resource for those of you who are interested in permaculture. I think that this is a great site. Have a great week, and don't forget that the FTHC spring sale is now on. To get a 10% discount on any item in an event gallery, simply use the "springsale2012" coupon code. There is no minimum purchase, and the sale runs until April 1st, 2012.

Awakenings

Rocky Mountain winters are long and cold (earlier today, the temperature outside was -12°F). Still, with the right will and equipment the mountains are a snow-covered playground, and busy summer destinations are places of solitude during the winter.

 

I've realized that I've felt restricted over the last few weeks. I've tried to juggle too many things and have been left frustrated when I can't make enough progress. Having learned this, I can devote more time to what I consider to be most important. Relocation was meant to be a learning experience, and I felt that it would be useful to stretch myself. I still do, but I now know that some things are not going to make me happy, and those must be cut (in keeping with the psychological side of the simple living ethic).

Much lies ahead in the summer. I have plans for a permaculture garden (if my current construction project is complete!), and there is a whole mountain range to explore on my doorstep. Of course, it will all be a photographic journey!

A New Dawn

Almost a week ago I left behind my old life and headed for the mountains to live a simpler, happier existence with my wife. We packed as few things as possible and made a one-way trip into the wilderness, passing through dust storms and then snow storms as if they were a kind of final test of our determination.

The rewards became apparent before I'd even finished unloading. A herd of deer came to greet me, and we studied eachother for a while. I was lucky enough to have a camera within reach, so you can view the video here.

A small house makes simple living a near-necessity. There is no room for clutter. Purging is always a liberating experience, though. Mountain life is agreeing with me and I already wake before sunrise in anticipation of the sights and sounds that lie ahead. I haven't worn a watch in two days.

The mountains called, and I finally answered.

 

Merry Christmas!

This latest post comes a little later than I expected. I've been very busy, and I've had very few opportunities to get into the wilderness with my camera. That all changed this week! I'm in my adopted mountain home and have much to share. Let's start with a wintery scene:

I'm adding to my winter gallery on an almost daily basis. You can view it here: http://www.fromthehighcountry.com/winter

Winter in the mountains is very different to summer. The landscape changes drastically. Lightning storms are replaced by still, sunny (but very cold) afternoons. There is a whole new environment to be discovered!

Into The Wild

December seems to be slipping by! I have a winter trip planned, and some new lenses to work with, so you can expect to see a new batch of images very soon. Once more, the mountains are calling!

Winter snow brings a new set of challenges. In the mountains, travel can be difficult, whether on foot or by car. Cold weather photography requires concentration and endurance - and snow shoes!

Bygones

As the Thanksgiving break ended, I thought of previous winters, and one in particular came to mind. I was very young (five or six), and the winter snowfall had been unusually heavy for my area. A short drive to the local woodland revealed a magical white and green place, but the most memorable part was the sighting of fallow deer on the tree-lined path ahead.

Unfortunately I don't have a digital version of the photo that captured that moment. While searching online I was surprised that I was unable to find a similar shot. Instead, I'll leave you with this work by an artist local to the area:

I think it captures the experience of walking in a pristine, silent winter forest. I'm anxious to do it again, and this time, I'll be sure to capture a few of my own moments!