The Old Summit Blog

We've moved!!

2010-05-16T04:11:00.000-07:00

As much as I loved blogging here, I've recently discovered a better way! I'm using wordpress and hosting my blog at my own domain...plus, I focused the blog a little bit more. It's all about photography, hiking, and combining the two at times...check it out!!

www.summitphotographynh.com/blog

I think you'll enjoy it!

The String Alongs - Claremont, NH

2010-01-22T15:39:00.000-08:00

You know, in today's day and age everyone seems to expect bigger, better, faster and fancier things. It seems that we all want to upgrade this, or improve that...we're in an upgrade culture!

In fact, it seems out of the ordinary when we hear someone comment that the fast pace we all live is a departure of some kind. Most folks chalk it up to the novelty of old fashionedness when they hear someone reflecting on simpler times, or the fact that we're letting technology overtly interfere with humanity.

Cell phones are a great example of this. So are concerts...

Concert-goers virtually DEMAND the fancy light shows, HD backdrops, pyrotechnics....the whole shaboozle. However, I recently had a chance to take a 2 hour break from the world as we now know it. The veneue..."The String Alongs" at the Claremont Opera House.

In an intimate onstage event open to just under 100 folks, the String Alongs put on a really enjoyable performance. They're a local country and bluegrass music band made up of 4 very regular and very talented guys. No fancy onstage fireworks...no surround sound blasting out of trillion watt speakers...no 3D. Just a lot of great music played on acoustic guitars and banjos (including one of my favorite Johnny Cash songs, and an awesome song about Dimicks, a local resturant where they often play gigs). It was perfect.

For information about The String Alongs, just look them up! They're not on the web but you can find their info just about anywhere in Claremont. For information about the Claremont Opera House and their other upcoming On Stage Events, log on to http://www.claremontoperahouse.com/ and check it out.

Hold on tight! 2009 is speeding to an end!

2009-12-09T19:34:00.000-08:00

As 2009 winds down, it will go down as one of the best years of my life. Lots of change has come my way, and it's been downright gnarly to say the least. So many moments, and so many of them caught on camera!

I shot a ton of weddings this year... more than I've shot in a single year to date. And, it was AWESOME! Not only do I love weddings, but I love getting to know the couple before, during and after their big day. Just as a fun way to recap, here are just a small handful of my favorite shots from a few of my weddings this year...

To see more, visit us online at http://www.summitphotographynh.com/!

Happy Holidays, and Happy New Year!

Christina & James' Engagement Session in Conway!

2009-11-25T16:33:00.000-08:00

Not that I'm in the business of publishing engagement announcments (that's the job of the local papers!), but...James Moodie and Christina Sarles are engaged! I know these guys from my old stompin' grounds over in the Canaan area, so it's great to be working with them!

They made their way 'over the pass' to Conway to have their engagement photos done in one of New Hampshire's most scenic areas...only problem was it was POURING buckets! So in true and historically correct form, we made our way to one of New Hampshire's many kissing bridges. This one crosses the Swift River in Conway. Although the weather finally broke a bit later in the day, this bridge (built in 1850) was a picture perfect symbol of the long lasting love that these two will share.Their marriage will take place next June.

These are just a few of my favorite shots from our time together on Friday. Congratulations, James and Christina! You guys are great to work with!

Grinder,... Anyone?

2009-09-28T19:06:00.000-07:00

So recently I was in Raymond for a photoshoot at Iverson Machine Products. This shop has been run for the last 35 years by an incredible individual named Dana, and let me tell you that this place was amazing!

Dana had been getting ready to launch a website for a while and needed some images to help tell the story of what he does day to day. It was incredible to watch!

Basically, Dana does general metal machining and automotive machine work as well. If a company needs a hunk of raw metal turned into a functional part, they call him. Or, somebody needs some custom brackets built for their hotrod - they call him. Basically, he can take a block of metal, and using his bare hands and some impressive machinery he turns it into something meaningful! He's like a metal magician!

I admitted to him that the only machine work I'd ever seen done was in huge robotic factories that I saw on the history channel. After hanging out with Dana for the day, I got to see how a real person puts inventive thought, technical skill, and laser-beam accuracy to work in order to turn out a part. ...Plus, I got to check out some VERY impressive cars that he's built and customized!

Have a look at his newly launched website: http://www.iversonmachine.com/ ! ...and if you're looking for something in a catalog that you just can't find, call Dana - chances are he can make it for you! I'm telling you - go check it out!

"Did you walk up here?"

2009-07-16T06:12:00.000-07:00

It's one of my favorite parts of hiking Mount Washington .... you get to the top, and without fail somebody who drove up the Autoroad sees or smells you, kind of gives a moment of thought and asks, "Did you walk up here?".

Given the the Rockpile is a busy hub on a human highway, and also a busy terminus to an unlikely mountain road, you can always count on at least a few people being on top with you. Amidst the hum of the generators near the Sherm Adams building, you can hear a mixture of dialects and languages conflating into one collective conversation.

On Saturday I decided to stretch my legs a bit and hit the top of the Northeast. I arrived at Pink's visitor's center (at which the parking lot is being remodeled, much to the shagrin of more than a few...) at roughly 3:30am. By 3:40, I was hiking by headlamp up the Tuck's Ravine Trail. By sunrise, I'd made it up onto Boott Spur via the link where I relaxed to take in a fairly nice sunrise.

Onto Davis Path...

Heading toward the Junction, I heard plenty of voices...well, at least I thought it was plenty for being shy of 7:00am. In any event, I hit the summit, enjoyed the earliest "lunch" I've ever had on a dayhike, and took a photo or two. I actually ran into Stacy K (sorry, I know how to say your last name...just not how to spell it!! ka-WECK-ie) who was an intern Observer during my first volunteer week on the Summit. We caught up for a few moments before she started slinging her slig cyclometer, had a hug, and parted ways. I was heading down before 7:45am...

Lion Head was the decent route I chose - relatively busy below timberline, but above it was peaceful...calm...I stood amongst the small plants and knee-hammering rocks, looked around and said aloud "This is awesome."

Being in an impressive place like that makes you realize what matters...at least it makes me realize!

Down by 10:00...great day!

Remembering to Photograph What We Love: Part Deux

2009-07-16T05:39:00.000-07:00

Just a quick note to let everyone know - IT'S A BOY!

Carter Matthew Stearns was born at 4:58pm at Frisbie Memorial Hospital on June 25th! Happy, healthy, and rather handsome...if I may say so!

Now, the trick is to balance being a pround parent with a camera and a photographer with a camera....gotta try to not over do it or under do it! Here's a peek at the little man...

Photojournal: Not forgetting to photograph what you love

2009-06-18T15:09:00.000-07:00

In September last year, my wife and I were thrilled to learn that we’d be welcoming our first child into the world in June of 2009.

Fast forward to now….June of 2009!

Tomorrow, our little boy or girl is due. We decided not to find out the sex…my wife describes it as the “last surprise on earth”. She thought it would be fun to do weekly shots of her growing belly, and of course I was happy to get the project underway!

We started off by just doing very simple photos, but that proved to be too mundane for my liking. I went into full creative mode and drew up tons of concepts for maternity photos for her. She isn’t into showing much skin, so the classic and quintessential maternity shots would have to give way to something different. The result is a full 25 week long photojournal that brings to life the excitement and growth that she (and I, to an extent) have felt throughout this pregnancy.

Joe McNally mentioned in one of my favorite books “The Moment It Clicks” that you can’t forget to shoot what you love. I followed that advice, and the result is a collection of photos that we’re excited to share with folks…I’d say it’s a good start to documenting our little baby…sort of a jump start!

All of these photos can be viewed with captions at http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2010659&id=1540188417&l=0921d6ef06

Enjoy!! I'll be sure to BLOG about the baby upon arrival!

Weddings: Two in one weekend!

2009-06-18T15:08:00.000-07:00

Since I decided to start shooting weddings a few years back, I’ve met some really incredible people and worked in some great locations! The weekend of June 6th and June 7th, I had the pleasure of doing more of just that - and I just couldn’t go without a shout out to those folks!

Amanda and Charlie – had a great time at your wedding! Amanda, I admire you so much for coordinating such a beautiful gathering all by yourself while you and Charlie are expecting baby number two! It was beautiful and you two should be very proud of yourselves! Can’t wait for you to see your photos – I’m very excited to be working on them!

Jenn and Adam – what can I say? I you picked the perfect spot to be wed – I never realized what an incredible place The Mile Away was! Awesome location, delicious food, and just about the friendliest staff I’ve ever met! I’m also looking very forward to getting your proofs to you for review and album design!

Both couples had great weather and an incredible collection of friends and family to celebrate with – congrats to all 4 of you!

(Pics NOT posted since the couples haven't even seen them yet! SOON!)

Bondcliff: Another Prelude to Change

2009-06-18T15:00:00.000-07:00

In 2006, I got married to the love of my life. One week prior, I brought my dad up to the Franconia Ridge for the first time. Even though he’s been a NH resident and hiker all his life, he’d never been so I just had to take him. This is the spot that I visit over and over again – the Pemi is my favorite place on earth, and I wanted to share that with him while we hung out prior to my wedding. It was incredible, and he absolutely loved it. So, with the next exciting change coming in my life (baby on the way – due TOMORROW!), we thought it would be fitting to hit the other side of the Pemi for another grandiose location he’s never visited – the Bonds.

This trip actually happened May 9th, and so the weather was slightly different than it is today on June 18th. The first 5 miles were a confidence building cake walk for my dad, nearly 50 now. Once we hit the Bondcliff trail for the final 4.4 mile push, the story changed a bit. It’s spring, and “valley dwellers get the itch” (as I say) … we anticipated the worst, but actually dealing with challenges are always different than getting prepared for them. There are 3 large crossings of the Black Brook that were quite swollen with the spring runoff. In fact, the first one took us over 20 minutes (as I carefully avoided soaking my back, and thus my camera gear!). The others were interesting because as we got close to the water, there was a lot of snow nearby the crossings due to the temps and moisture. We’d opted to leave the snowshoes behind in hopes of more of an icy monorail for which crampons and stablicers would do just fine. The weather was fine until we got beyond the final crossing and started up beyond The Staircase – we could see across over Owl’s Head that there were big storms hitting the Franconia Ridge. It wasn’t going to be long before we’d be in the thick of it, too. While we kept an eye to the sky, we scrambled over a 3 foot deep monorail of snow and ice. We both postholed now and then, but we managed without too much hassle (it just slowed us down a bit). We found a spot to camp just below timberline off in the woods, which fit into our plan perfectly. That plan was to photograph Bondcliff at sunset, sunrise, and by the light of the full moon. So, as we scrambled to set up camp, thunder rolled in closer and closer, and just as we completed our setup the first drops of rain came.

Then, they stopped, and the sky turned a strange hue of peach. It was quite unsettled, and looked almost other-worldly. We shot up to the cliffs where dad had his first peak at the cliffs. He was in awe, as we all are for our first trip to the Bonds. I walked with him to the edge, where I planned to use him as my ‘model’ to photograph the cliffs…you know, add perspective and scale, introducing the human element to all of that incredible granite…anyhow, he got weak at the knees. He instantly got vertigo as he ventured out. In a moment though, he fought it off and enjoyed the incredible view of the Pemi while I shot for about 30 minutes in non-ideal conditions. The winds were picking up, and the sky threatened more with each passing second. We returned to camp hoping to head back up at sunset, during the middle of the night, and in the morning.

Mother Nature had other plans.

We ate and sipped Bandit Brand Red Wine while our tent was hammered with rain, wind, and even some freezing rain/hail like falling objects. Oh, not to mention thunder and lightening. We slept only a bit that night, and headed out just before 6 am (in the rain) to return to the car.

We talked about all kinds of things on the way down. We made it without incident back over the monorail, back across the further-swollen crossings, and all the way through the 9.4 miles that stood between us and our cars. I carried about 35 lbs of camera gear (lights, tripods, lenses, body), food, survival essentials, and our tent. Dad carried essentials and what not. We were soaked, our gear was dry (I love a quality pack cover and love dry bags even more), but we were happy. Hiking does that for both of us – a rush of endorphins that makes you forget any aches and pains and fears. We came out with only a few photos and, as always, a great tale of another adventure in NH’s incredible Greatscapes.

Getting Caught up on Blogs!!

2009-06-18T14:57:00.000-07:00

So, I’ve been admittedly lazy these last few months with my blog. It’s funny, I was so resistant to allowing social media to run my life in the beginning, and then before I knew it I was facebooking, twittering, and blogging my little fingers off. Lately, I’ve just been too darn busy! But, supposing that’s a good thing, I just have to shout out an apology and a promise to at least do one blog every now and then instead of the onslaught I’m about to lay out on this site. You’ll be surprised to see probably 3-5 blogs show up in the next hour or so…I’ve been writing (always do as part of the creative process with my photos), just not posting!! Time to catch up!

And now, for something a bit random to give this blog something visual:

Nola, the pathetic looking chocolate lab says "Hope you enjoy reading!"

Sugar Hill Experience!

2009-06-18T03:34:00.000-07:00

I had the opportunity to venture up to the beautiful (and PURE NEW ENGLAND) town of Sugar Hill the other day! My wife and I with doggies in tow left home at 2:30 am to meet with the sunrise in the lupine fields. It was my very first trip to the town, and my first encounter with the beauty, smell, and presence of wild lupines! Really beautiful, and very much worth the trip.

I learned an important lesson about photography, though...well, I suppose it was a reinforcement more than anything...if you plan on getting a pre-visualized result, plan on scouting your location - better yet, plan on studying it intensively! If you want impromptu images, and the challenge of composing in the dark of the early morning hours, forget about scouting!

Seems simple enough...but it was really interesting to compose something with a virtual blindfold on. I tend to be so much more of a planner and a pre-conceptual photographer, so this was an exercise in discomfort, for sure!

The result of me traveling outside of my comfort zone - a very healthy thing in my opinion - were some interesting first light images. Note, that I plan to get up there for a full few days of exploration soon!

A Great Day to be Alive n' Livin' in NH!!

2009-04-09T13:58:00.000-07:00

So, this week I've been on vacation from my 'day job' .... now, a lot of people I know would have to have plane tickets to a tropical destination in order to consider time away from work a 'real' vacation. Not me. I'm a pretty low maintenance vacationer...just need my pack, some survival gear, and my 'camera stuff'. Hiking buddy optional (desireable, but very optional).

Today, I had the pleasure of enjoyin an EPIC spring day in NH with my Dad! He still lives in Canaan, so we have a lot of road-distance between us (lake Winni really does get in the way). No worries - we both like to start early, so we set out at about the same time this morning to meet at our destination, Pinkham Notch.

Having left at 4:45am, I had time for some extras...I stopped for about 45 minutes at the lower falls right off the 'Kanc' for some magic hour shots...Then, on my way through Conway I stopped at the bridge right before the old school to get some shots of some VERY impressive lenticular clouds hovering over one of my favorite mountain ranges. Then up to the Visitor's Center...

We met at about 8:00 and carpooled a couple of miles up to the Imp Loop Trails. These trails are usually empty on winter/early spring week days so they're perfect pickin's. We hiked, talked, ate, and so on. To many, this doesn't really sound like too much of a 'vacation', but to me, it's absolute paradise [insert BIG smiley face HERE].

Photo Tips for Brides and Grooms

2009-04-05T11:37:00.000-07:00

Thought it might be helpful to post some wedding photo tips for couples...this info is on my website, too...

Provide your photographer with a list of shots that you would consider “must haves”. In addition to this, notify your photographer of anything unique that you may be planning- this information is valuable and helps in the planning process for your photographer.

As you visit your ceremony and reception locations, you may want to be thinking of outdoor and indoor locations for your group shots. Outdoor locations are considered good if they can sufficiently shade each member of your largest group. Also, avoid having unwanted or distracting things in the background, such as parking lots. Locations for indoor photos simply need to be large enough for all member of your largest group to fit. It is also a good idea to tell your friends and family ahead of time if you plan on having them in a group shot, and try to have someone remind them on your wedding day to ensure a smooth photo shoot. Ultimately, your photographer is responsible for picking ideal photograph locations, but your input is always helpful!

If you plan on hiring a videographer, please ask that they be thoughtful of the still photographs that are being taken. Videographers are usually well aware of the photographer, very understanding of their objectives and will work with your photographer to keep from bumping into one another – but a friendly reminder is never a bad thing!

If your DJ is planning to use strobe lights, consider asking them not to. Strobes are certainly a lot of fun during the reception, but they play a large role in ruining many potentially great photographs. The lights tend to move quite quickly and quite randomly, making them nearly impossible for photographers to gauge and avoid. The result tends to be unevenly lit photographs, or photos with large purple and yellow “spots”. Consider replacing these lights with decorative lighting such as white or colored Christmas style lights, candles inside of jars, or lanterns. These replacements tend to create interesting light and patterns on walls and people, and do not undermine the photographic process - they are a great alternative.

If unity candles are a part of your ceremony, consider asking your coordinator about putting them beside the altar. If you do not request this specifically, it is likely that the candles will be set up dead-center, and directly behind the couple. This arrangement forces couples to face away from the audience (and the photographer) and causes this portion of the ceremony to be, for all intents and purposes, hidden. Working this out ahead of time can create wonderful photograph opportunities, and will probably end up pleasing your audience, too!

Be very thoughtful about how you decorate and light the dressing rooms. Large windows are a wonderful source of light, but adding the decorative touch of a white cloth or curtain can help to diffuse the intensity of the light. If the room is without windows, think about using such items as candles, Christmas lights, etc. to provide ambient lighting. Decorate tastefully, but not to the point of obsession – don’t worry, this is not a difficult balance to strike. Also, be thoughtful of “bad clutter” things like strewn boxes and bags used to transport dresses or flowers for the wedding are examples of bad clutter. Also, try to remember that your street clothes should be tucked away (imagine seeing inside-out socks and shirts everywhere in your dressing room photos!).

Putting on the rings is a wonderful opportunity for remarkable photographs. However, without realizing it, many couples block this shot for the photographer with their opposite hands or their bodies. It may not be the first thing on your mind, but see if you can try to put your hand underneath your partner’s hand when you push the ring on so that the shot is as clear as possible. The rehearsal is a great time to practice this, too.

Take a bit of extra time as you walk away from being pronounced as a married couple – this is always a moment that everyone wants pictures of, which means that there will be quite a lot of flashes going at once, and a lot of guests moving about. To ensure a couple of nice shots, just take your time - - soak up the moment!

Do your best to take your time throwing the flowers and garter. So often, this exciting part of the wedding is rushed, making it difficult to capture. Have some fun! Tease the crowd a bit; maybe fake them out once or twice. Taking your time can create a great opportuinty for your photographer.

Do a little dancing toward the camera during your non-formal dances. If you forget about this, it’s quite likely that you’ll end up with a lot of shots of your backside – simply turning toward the camera occasionally can give a lot of opportunity for wonderful dancing photos.

Feel free to track down your photographer if you have photo requests throughout the day, or even at the end of the day – don’t be shy!

Planning a Wedding During a Recession

2009-02-28T04:27:00.000-08:00

If there were ever a time when the days feel long and arduous, I’d say it’s now. There is no good news on the radio or the television. The cost of nearly everything is increasing while wages have been frozen or decreased. According to the people who make a living deciding this stuff, the country has been in contraction (a recession) since about September, officially.

So at the start of the New Year, I had to make some business decisions with that darn recession in mind. The most important decision was around my pricing, which has remained relatively low since I started the business. I remember putting my pen behind my ear and leaning back in my fake leather office chair. I interlaced my fingers and rested them on my rest, and I focused my eyes on some imaginary object inside of the ceiling. I tried to picture the wedding planning process with this nasty recession in the equation. I thought of the shorthand addition and subtraction on scrap paper, adding up the costs, trying to hit budget … flowers, DJ, the reception. I thought of the tough questions that couples might be asking each other… “Do we really need X?”… “Should we go without Y?”… “Should we shorten our guest list?”

I wanted so badly not to be a part of the inflated cost of goods and service. So I sprang forward in my chair, and posted a message to the web page: No price increase this year – period. I’ve also started to refine my list of vendors who I refer my clients to, and I’ve been clipping articles on other small ways to save. A beautiful wedding doesn’t have to be a dream – even in this global depression of sorts!

So I’ll admit it - I feel as though my veins are pumping with some sort of hot toxic acid every time I pay that large grocery bill. I realize that I don’t really have any control over that particular cost. Offering an affordable collection of memories to my wedding clients helps to soothe that feeling!

"..What God-Fearing People Do On Sundays..."

2008-11-26T19:31:00.000-08:00

When I was first approached by the Tricycle Dance Company to do shots for the promotion of their first show, I stood by the philosophy that I think most photographers tend to stick by: Say “yes”, and ask questions later.

Shooting for “promotional purposes” seemed vague to me, and I rarely turn my camera on without knowing some kind of background and such about my subject. So, I asked Crissy and Carrie (who also run the Dover Yoga Studio www.doveryoga.com ) to tell me a bit more about the purpose of the shoot, and the concept behind it all. Crissy’s email reply is best summed up by one phrase she included: “…Think 1950’s pinup”. Naturally after reading this, I ‘pumped the brakes’ a touch, and then continued on reading. What I had signed up for was the following:

The Tricycle Dance Company was preparing to put on its first show, in which it would combine Modern and Burlesque Dance. Now, Burlesque is not dormant, per se, in the world of performance arts, but for all intents and purposes this would be a revival of the genre here in New Hampshire. The goal of the Dance Company's performance is to have fun, put on an entertaining show, and to raise as much money as possible for Save The Ta-Tas (a breast cancer coalition). Now that I had the gist,next came my own research into the Burlesque genre of performance art; my creative process was underway...

It wasn’t until I started researching the origin and history of Burlesque dancing that I understood exactly what I was up against as the photographer. Remember what I mentioned about saying “yes”? Well, feel free to live by that philosophy, but just make sure you’ve got the guts to photograph 12 beautiful and talented women who are extremely comfortable with their bodies. Burlesque Dance is defined generally as "a humorous and provocative stage show featuring slapstick humor, comic skits, bawdy songs, striptease acts, and a scantily clad female chorus" (thanks, dictionary.com!).

It turns out that Burlesque has quite a history. As I delved into researching the genre, I began drawing all sorts of parallels between the Tricycle Dance Co. show and the women’s movement which some would say is ongoing. As I usually do, I found myself wondering if I was just over-analyzing things, but I kept gravitating toward this idea:

The 1900s was a big century for women – after centuries of being objectified, women’s identities began to take form (mind you, Burlesque has roots that reach further back in time, as does the women's movement). There was rebellion, fun and relative freedom (think of flappers, voting, and the hula-hoop). Women were also becoming more in touch with their bodies and identities. Enter: Burlesque. Burlesque Dancers, women who were at times more nude than clothed, performed by taking off their outfits dancing provocatively for audiences made up of mostly men. The word Burlesque can be translated to turning something upside- down, as these shows tended to do with certain cultural norms of the day. The shows also included some saucy parody. Girls would put on skits in which they would pretended to be flakey, clumsy, naïve, and corny. The Burlesque dances themselves were sexy, somewhat objectifying, and overtly playful. A good deal of the performances tended to poke fun at the Aristocracy of the times. With all of these thoughts whirling about in my head, I asked myself why else would women objectify themselves in this way, especially after spending so many years being objectified by men? Ever heard the phrase, “Thumbing your nose at the system”? Well, if you think about it this phrase applies perfectly. What could be a more stylish way to break free then to make mockery of the shackles that once bound you? These women were acquiescing with the past, subliming from object to subject, and finally coming to rest at an identity that was smart, comfortable, fun and free - causing ruckus and entertainment all the while!

By and large, there is also something is to be said about Tricycle Dance Co putting on a burlesque show to raise money for breast cancer prevention, treatment and research. Breast cancer is, in many ways, a sort of new oppressor for women - and as they have done in the past, women are finding all sorts of ways to thumb their nose at this new detriment; the Tricycle Dance Company is a great example of such.

So if anyone thinks I’ve over analyzed this, picture my wife shaking her head and saying, "Well, that means that everything in the universe is completely normal." It's a tendancy I suppose i have.

In terms of the photo shoot, it was such a blast. These women did all of the hard work. I mean, holding a pose is certainly tough, but holding it while performing an areal fabric dance redefines the very meaning of ‘tough’. These women handled it though, and they made the shoot a complete success, and a lot of fun. I think it was Heidi who came to me at the begining of the second shoot and said, "So...I guess this is what God-fearing people do on Sundays, huh?" ...seriously, these ladies had me laughing more than once!

My closing remarks are simple: mark February 14th on your calendar, and plan on getting to the Ioka Theater in Exeter, New Hampshire, the stage of their first performance. You’ll get a little of everything: dancing and music, stilt performances, and great theater … all done in fishnet stockings and scarlet high heels by some of New Hampshire’s most talented and remarkable women! Visit their website for more information: http://tricycledancecompany.com/index.html !

Many sincere thanks go out to the Tricycle Dance Company for inviting me on as their photographer, and for making the shoot so much fun. You're all amazing! Special thanks also to Joanne McDonough at Joya Beauty in Dover for an absolutely remarkable job on makeup! Visit her site at http://www.joyabeauty.com/ !

Cheers!

http://www.summitphotographynh.com

A Day To Reach The Top

2008-11-14T16:09:00.001-08:00

Sept 7, 2008

Without things to reach for, life can have a serious lack of meaning. I would argue that despite this axiom, a majority of our time on this earth is spent meandering…grappling with daily minutia…worrying about one trivial thing to the next. When my brother and I left Wakefield on the morning of September 7, I felt the anxiety of being very close to accomplishing something meaningful. We were heading for the Lincoln Woods Trailhead on scenic Route 112 to make an attempt on Owl’s Head.

Owl’s head is one of forty-eight four thousand foot mountains in New Hampshire. Its location nine miles into the middle of a desolate wilderness makes it a peak that is sought by few; usually those who are attempting to summit each of the 48, also known as peak baggers. I didn’t start off as a peak bagger when I started hiking a long time ago. I hiked for the solitude, the challenge, and the reward of a remarkable view from the top. But before I knew it, I had hiked nearly half of the mountains on the list and I thought it would be a fine idea to reach for the other half. I thought that by the end of my journey, I would have a lot of really remarkable experiences and photographs to look back on, as well as a keen idea of which mountains were worth a return visit. We left at 6am on the 80 mile journey to Lincoln. We arrived by 7:30, and were on the trail by about 7:40. The weather was nice for hiking, with the temperature hanging around 60 and a very slight breeze. Clouds were in the sky as a tropical depression was dissipating, but not before it had dumped a good deal of rain overnight. We had a total of 18.2 miles to hike, and so far things were looking good. The hike was rumored to be quite a mixed bag since it included river crossings, 8 miles of railroad grade walking, and a 1.1 mile unmarked trail to the summit. Within the first 3 hours, everything was holding true. We forded the first river with our boots tied together hanging over our necks, socks stuffed deep inside. The rain had given the river a good deal of strength, the rocks were rough on the bottoms of our feet, and the water was cold against our shins. But it was not too much of a task. Two more times we crossed the river without incident. We kept on the trail, looking for the mysterious cairn that was rumored to mark the start of the unofficially named “Owl’s Head Path”. By the time we reached the cairn, we’d gone about 40 minutes without speaking a word to one another – not because our conversation fizzled out, but because I think we were both focused on tearing through the first 8 miles quickly. We did those first 8 in less than 3 hours.

Reaching that cairn was important. Just about every hike I’ve ever done has been guided by a map, a compass, and trail signs or makers. The wilderness that Owl’s Head is located is regulated for protection and conservation, and therefore does not allow for the mounting of most signs. We were depending on finding the trailhead by estimating our pace and by hoping that the cairn had not been dismantled by anyone. The sight of the cairn reassured us that we had arrived properly at a benchmark on our journey – we were 1.1 miles from the summit of Owl’s Head. I was just about 1 hour from reaching my goal of summiting all 48 of New Hampshire’s 4000 footers. All that was left to do was climb a rockslide and find our way through an non-maintained footpath. When talking to fellow travelers about Owl’s Head, most said “bring a machete and your GPS." I didn’t own either item, nor did I plan to procure them. I was excited to be at the cairn even without those two things.

The rockslide was tough. Going from relatively flat terrain (8 miles of it) to a steady climb that gains over 1000 feet in just over a mile can really play with the body’s response to exercise. Aerobic movement turns more anaerobic, and everything starts to ache. The rain made the rockslide a bit slick and its individual pieces very lose. Neither of us mentioned it on the way up, but afterwards we both remarked at how scary a prospect the rockslide would be on our descent. The view back toward the Franconia Ridge was sitting in a cap cloud from about 3000 feet up, and soon the rockslide disappeared behind us. The push to the top of the mountain was a blur at first. The trail was so grown in that it was hard to keep. In my excitement to reach the summit I practically fought the wet vegetation that overtook just about all signs of human activity. The moisture saturated my nylon pants, then my wool socks, and then my boots. My pack barely fit through some of the gaps between immature pines and other sturdy trees and it too was soaked completely. The amount of water that can be simply picked up by brushing against trees is remarkable. There were several points where the trail seemed to end, but a closer look revealed a possible continuation. As we pressed on, the unofficial tail started to look as though it had less official sister paths. These detours told me that there had certainly been some folks up on the mountain with those machetes. Finally, we reached the terminus of the trail – another small cairn and a small sign made with pine and a wood burning kit that simply said “Owl’s Head”. It felt good to arrive at the top, and although our hike was only halfway done, the accomplishment warranted a handshake and celebratory lunch.

The walk back was swift and without incident. My brother and I talked reflectively about our childhood, mixing together the good components and the bad into the kind of analysis that happens when you spend time isolated together in a wilderness. We talked about political theory since neither of us cares about the who’s who conversation. We talked about our lives. Since I began hiking a long time ago, the way I hike has changed. I used to always hike with a friend named Ben, who was great for an intelligent conversation or a challenging political debate. Eventually, we hiked together less and less and I began to hike a lot on my own. Talking to myself, singing, and whistling off-tempo versions of random songs became the norm. Then, my camera became an essential (and decidedly heavy) piece of equipment, and using it slowed my pace significantly. I had feared that I’d end up hiking number 48 on my own, humming a song while trying to take a self portrait at the summit. I was so thankful that Josh was with me. We spent our childhood building forts and adventuring together, and I was more than grateful that he was there to help find the trailhead in the middle of nowhere, to push up the rockslide, and to keep the trail when it was convoluted and nearly untraceable. In the course of a lucky man’s life, his brother is often a beacon. Life certainly does not lack meaning in moments like ours at the top that day – and we were so very thrilled to arrive safely back at the car at 4:30 that evening. We drove into Lincoln to get energy drinks and food to have over more conversation on the ride home. And even though the weather didn't permit any great photo opportunities, it was an occasion that is as clear as any picture in my memory.

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