In 2012 our group of paddling companions was treated to an evening with survival expert and author, Nikki van Schyndel. We were camped on a British Columbia island when, thanks to our friend Gina Gotch, we were paid a visit by Nikki and learned some new outdoor skills. In 2014, Nikki’s book Becoming Wild: Living the Primitive Life on a West Coast Island hit the stands. I recommend the book and will soon re-read it to remind myself that skill is the best piece of gear we can carry with us in the wild. Here are a few images from that water-side encounter.
Kayak Skills Session /
A group of us spent yesterday messing about with boats and practicing kayak skills in a safe environment. Always good to work on self-rescue techniques and honing skills at the beginning of the paddling season. Dry suits made it warm and comfortable despite the wet, cool Seattle March weather.
Thanks to John Ogden for lending his photographic skills to the mix when I was in the water thrashing about!
John Ogden Photo
John Ogden Photo
Hiking in Smith Rock State Park, Oregon /
We spent last week in and around Bend, Oregon, which offers a diverse array of outdoor adventures. Mostly we were Nordic skiing with a bit of lift skiing thrown in, too, but on our last day we went hiking in Smith Rock State Park and it was stunning.
Remembering adventurer and ace photographer, Carl Skoog /
One of my photographic mentors was the great skier, alpinist and adventure photographer, Carl Skoog. I’m fortunate to have skied, climbed and worked with Carl. In 1996, as part of an Outdoor Research sponsored ski mountaineering trip to the wilds of the St. Elias mountains of Canada, I spent several weeks with Carl and two others, the late Ron Gregg and another friend, Bill Hartlieb. We had a grand adventure and Carl’s sheer joy at being in the mountains was infectious. Here are a few photos of Carl from that trip.
Photographing Renata Chlumska's 2005/2006 "Around America Adventure" /
In 2005, my friend Renata Chlumska set out on a big trip. For 439 days she circumnavigated the lower 48 states of the USA by human power using a kayak and a bike for the most part. I was fortunate to shoot photos of Renata at several points along the way. Some of the photos are favorites of mine! Here’s a selection.
