Photography

    Goodbye Vermont

    On this day on our #AppalachianTrail journey, we hiked 20 miles before 4pm. We emerged from the woods to this quaint New England community where we met a former hiker who fed us and put us up for the night before sending us on way north into New Hampshire the next day. She was an amazing lady who had hiked the entiirety of the trail 3x, starting in the 50s.

    Rolling green hills covered in dense trees stretch across the background, small houses scattered in the valley, under a cloudy sky, creating a peaceful rural scene.

    Harris Lake, Wake County, NC

    It may be trite, but each day truly is a new beginning.

    Sun rising behind a tree-lined horizon, casting a warm, golden glow over a calm body of water, reflecting the light in gentle ripples across the surface.

    Virgiinia Blues

    It took us a little less than five weeks to hike south from the WV/VA state line to the VA/TN line - 550 miles of Appalachian Trail goodness. We saw 12 bears, had to hunt for water way too many times and finally got back to places where you can get grits with your breakfast. The last sectiom of the trail in VA is a nice day hike if you’re ever in the area.

    A person wearing a blue shirt and black cap stands beside a wooden sign in the forest. The sign reads "Tennessee/Virginia State Line." The background features lush green trees.

    New England Hiking is Hard

    In the south, the #AppalachianTrail has lots of switchbacks and long, long gradual climbs out of gaps. In New England, you get stuff like this Vermont scene - straight up mountains on bare granite. On the steeper climbs, all the tree bark is worn off whereever hikers can grab for support. #hiking

    A person is hiking up a rocky trail with a backpack and trekking poles. The trail features smooth, striated rock with a white blaze marking. Lush green foliage surrounds the path in a forested area. The view is from a low angle, emphasizing the incline of the trail.

    Vintage Architecture

    This building with its art deco facade, built in 1934, was once a Chevrolet dealership. It’s now used a garage by the city, which thankfully has maintained the design. (Fayetteville, NC)

    Art Deco building stands under stormy skies, featuring vertical and curved architectural lines with red accents. Large green-tinted windows and brick base form the foundation.

    A Couple of Visitors

    Hanging out on the deck, taking pictures of the visitors. These freeloaders are looking for the inevitable handouts I use to bribe them into posing for me.

    A bird with a red crest and a reddish-brown body perched on a wooden surface against a blurred green background.A squirrel is perched on a wooden surface against a blurred green background.

    The Mad Moose of Stratton Mountain

    We reached the summit of Stratton Mountain to be greeted by the first moose either of us had ever seen. They’re huge BTW. Wonder Woman pursued the thing for several minutes trying to get a good photo. I was way too tired for all that, so I just rested. Side note: It was standing on this spot that Benton McKaye conceived the idea of the Appalachian Trail.

    A moose is standing among the trees in a forest.

    Vermont Hail Storm

    On our second day in #Vermont, a sudden hailstorm caught us and all we could do was hike through it. Felt kinda badass TBH #Hiking #AppalachianTrail

    A dense forest of evergreen trees is under a cloudy sky.A picnic table in a forest is surrounded by a ground covered in light hail.

    The Long Trail (Vermont)

    One of the oldest sections of the #AppalachianTrail is the Vermont section that overlaps that states’s long trail, which was first blazed over 120 years ago. It is one of the most beautiful sections, muddy perhaps, with more bugs than many might like, but still a memorable part of the experience. #hiking

    A man wearing hiking gear points to a wooden sign about the Long Trail in Vermont amidst a forest setting.

    The View from Mt. Greylock

    My Greylock is the tallest mountain in Massachusetts, coming in at 3491 feet. There is a restaurant at the top and a kind stranger had given us money to buy a meal there, but alas, it was closed when we arrived. No worries thoguh, we just hiked to the next town and ate there instead.

    A scenic view of a lush green valley with rolling hills in the background, under a clear blue sky. The valley is dotted with patches of farmland and clusters of trees, and there are small towns scattered throughout the landscape. Dense green foliage is visible in the foreground.

    Hiking the Berkshires

    Western Massachusetts is a pretty place. The Berkshires aren’t too daunting but they have their moments. I’d been brainwashed as a southerner to thinnk that the Northeast US was a big urban jungle. It isn’t. New England is one of the prettiest places I’ve ever been. #hiking #Appalachian. Trail

    A person with a large backpack walks through a grassy field under an overcast sky. The field is surrounded by dense green trees, and a cluster of buildings is visible in the distance at the base of a wooded hill. The person appears to be hiking, using trekking poles, with their back turned to the camera.

    Ice Gulch

    This is Ice Gulch, located on the Appalachian Trail just north of Great Barrington, MA. It’s a mile long and a hundred feet deep. It’s on a stretch of the trail that makes for a good day hike if you are ever in the area.

    A lush forest scene features dense greenery, large moss-covered rocks, and towering trees with a soft, diffused light filtering through the canopy.

    State Line

    That brook is the state line for Connecticut and Massachusetts on the Appalachian Trail. There was supposed to be a bridge there, but oh well. If there is one thing I leaned on that hike, it was how to be resilient.

    A person is crossing a shallow stream with trekking poles, surrounded by a forest.Two wooden signs on a tree provide directions and distances in a forested area.

    Runner's High

    Wonder Woman gliding through a mountain meadow on a warm June morning. She makes it look easy. #ultrarunning

    A person is running through a sunlit grassy field surrounded by trees.

    The Glacier at Portage Lake

    On a day trip to the town of Whittier, Alaska, Winder Woman and I went to see the glacier at Portage Lake. I wanted to see one before they all melt because of climate change.

    Snow-covered mountains surround a glacier flowing between rocky slopes, meeting a calm, turquoise lake under a clear blue sky.

    South Fork of the Holston River

    The Virgina Creeper Trail crosses the soth Fork of the Holston River, just north of Abindon, VA.

    A wooden bridge curves over a serene, mist-covered river surrounded by lush green trees.

    Taylor's Valley, VA

    We’re heading back to this slice of heaven next weekend so Wonder Woman can volunteer at the Dam Yeti 50, an ultramarathon. It will be our first visit since Hurrican Helene devastated the area. #ultrarunning

    A rustic barn sits quietly amid lush greenery, with mist hovering over forested hills in the background, creating a serene rural landscape.

    Alaskan Wildlife

    Black bear, Moose, Tree Swallow #bird (all in one morning!)

    A black bear stands on a grassy hill with trees and snowy mountains in the background.A moose is standing in the water near rocks, lifting one leg.A small bird with iridescent blue and white feathers is perched on a thin branch against a blurred green background.

    Whitetop Mountain, VA

    One of my favorite spots in the world, Whitetop Mountain, VA. The day we first hiked hiked there, we met a group of self described “old hippies” having a picnic. They invited us to join in. Back in the late 30’s, this was the site of a music festival featuring the Carter family among others.

    A scenic landscape featuring a range of snow-capped mountains beneath a bright blue sky with wispy clouds. In the foreground, there is a lush, green field of low shrubs and grasses, stretching towards the distant mountains. A thin line of trees is visible at the base of the mountains, separating the field from the peaks beyond.

    Anchorage View

    This is what you will see from Potter Wildlife Viewing Center just outside of Anchorage. It’s a great place to go if you are into birding.

    A scenic landscape featuring a range of snow-capped mountains beneath a bright blue sky with wispy clouds. In the foreground, there is a lush, green field of low shrubs and grasses, stretching towards the distant mountains. A thin line of trees is visible at the base of the mountains, separating the field from the peaks beyond.
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