There are some places in this planet that are truly enchanted, where you can find yourself spellbound by every sight, sound and smell, and where every step and every turn make you stop and stare at the rich beauty all around. Olympic National Park is one such place.
This was not my first visit to this enchanted forest. Nay, this was my third; but in all my previous visits, the right conditions had eluded me. This time, I was deep in the forest, with nary a human for company, and with cloudy skies lending a soft glow to the rich undergrowth that permeated every inch of the forest. Walking through that lush greenery, smelling the fresh mountain air, and hearing the songbirds serenade echo through the trees, refreshed my mind, body and soul.
Even though I spent hours hiking through this enchanted valley, there were still so many moments I paused just to soak this magic in.
Olympic National Park
WA USA
High in the Pacific Northwest
The short summer season leaves very little room to explore the mountains. So when July comes around, I try to take every opportunity to head to the vast wilderness of the Pacific Northwest.
This year, it will likely be a different experience: the pandemic will most certainly shape the number of people I go with and limit interactions in the outdoors. It also will remove one of my favorite parts of hiking: the post-hike burger, beer and ice-cream, which will most likely be relegated to flimsy takeouts.
Nevertheless, I still hope to head outdoors, and capture the wonder that is the wonderland of the Pacific Northwest.
Here are four images from different parts of Washington and British Columbia, showcasing the endless mountain-scape of rugged peaks with mighty glaciers and volcanoes interspersed amongst them.
Junebug
Eons ago, when I first stepped foot in the US after having lived in a tropical country close to the equator, I was astonished to find the sun shining brightly at 8pm. While many take the long halcyon summer days for granted in the Northern hemisphere, it was a bewildering surprise for me when 6am and 6pm used to mark the boundaries of day and night through the year.
Now, even after almost spending 4 summers in the Pacific Northwest, the 15 hour days still seem a shocker every time summer rolls around. However, for the most part, they make up for the short dreary days of winter. Furthermore, these long days are perfect for traveling, as you seemingly get more time to explore.
As I sit home-bound this June, here are a few memories from the past taken in the long halcyon summer days from around the world.
Pandemic Pursuits
As spring turns to summer, the waterfalls roar once more, the wildflowers rear their heads again, and crisp blue skies beckon adventure seekers everywhere. Such is the magnetic draw of the few glorious months of summer in the Pacific Northwest. It is those few months which I yearn every year to go and seek solace in nature after the harsh winters.
And this year, the pandemic has put a pause on these pursuits, leaving me nervous to venture out anywhere but the nearest wilderness. But, in the heart of the evergreen state, nature is but a hop, skip and a jump away. And I am truly blessed to be here.
WA
USA
For the Planet
The earth is old. 5 billion years old. In that time, millions of species have evolved and become extinct. Humanity is but a temporary blip in this vast canvas over time. And yet, in that short time, we have somehow managed to impact the environment in ways very few other life forms have. And these changes have left permanent scars, and has happened at a rate faster than the life in this planet can adapt. Examples abound, from increasing CO2 levels, rapid deforestation, and higher-than-average rates of species extinction. And at such a scale, these impacts are but a statistic. And when a calamity becomes a statistic, we often tend to ignore it. And change never happens.
What triggers change is usually individual events that take on viral lives of their own - the death of the last wild southern white rhino, the recent tragic killing of a pregnant elephant in India, the illegal trophy hunting of Cecil the Lion, the death of Harambe, and so many more. It was one such event that spurred me think of the pain and the grief these creatures go through from a decision not of their in making. It was, needless to say, an emotional day.
These animals paid and continue pay the price for a choice humanity made. One cannot reverse it, but I hope to help reduce the impact we have impressed on the one life-bearing planet. On this World Environment Day, both my partner and I have pledged to donate 5% of our income to charities focused on preserving the environment, and on helping the other species who cohabit this planet survive and thrive. It may be a small amount, but over time, we hope to increase it and have even more impact.
Well you join me?
Sublime Sunrise
It was one of those dreamy mornings where the light and location came together in perfect harmony.
After having spent a late night hunting for the aurora, motivating myself to leave the cozy confirms of a warm bed out into the cold still morning didn't feel like an easy proposition, But as soon as I saw the clear skies and the just a tinge of clouds on the horizon, I knew I had to rush to the inlet near the village of Grundarfjörður to capture the majesty of Kirkjufell.
I am glad I did, because it turned out to be one of most sublime sunrises I had ever witnessed on that memorable trip to Iceland about 4 years ago.
Kirkjufell
Iceland
Responsibility in the Outdoors
We seek the great outdoors not to escape life, but for life not to escape us...
As the nations start opening up, there is a yearning in all of us to escape to the great outdoors, and gain a little bit of sanity that we may have lost over the last few weeks. But as you do spread out to wilderness areas all over, make sure you enjoy the outdoors responsibly. WTA, one of my favorite outdoor stewards, has compiled a helpful list here:
While passing people on trail, give space to others, and give way to the opposite direction
Pack in and pack out: trailheads are likely not serviced so avoid using the restrooms if you can. And if you really need to attend nature's calls, carry a small shovel and be prepared
Leave no trace: take only memories and leave only footprints
Avoid crowded trailheads: there is more of the outdoors to explore.
And if you are sick, please stay away from where people might congregate
When I traveled around in Germany a few years earlier, I was struck by how quickly I could get from the busy urban areas to the beautiful outdoors. Having that balance of nature and nurture certainly improves mental well-being, and increases appreciation of what life is all about.
Germany
Seeking Nature
The last few months have left their mark on this planet, in more ways than one. It is certainly a stressful time for many, especially when stress relief is not easy to come by.
My stress relief has been to go out in nature, smell the fresh scent of a morning forest, see the majesty of the mountains from a bird's eye view, and hear the rustle of trees, the gurgle of brooks and the chirp of birds. Being outside, and maybe photographing these scenes, were the ways to warm my soul and clear my mind. And it is exactly these that I have striven not to do for the last few months.
It hasn't been easy, but it is necessary. These scenes will be waiting when I get back to nature.
Seattle
WA USA
The Way of the Mountains
There are sunsets.
And then there are sunsets in the Sierra Nevada.
The play of shadow and light on the steep rocky slopes of the granite escarpment of the Sierra Nevada gives rise to unreal sunsets. And nowhere is this more evident than the hallowed landscape of Yosemite National Park. The long rays of sunlight filtering through the remnants of a spring thunderstorm often end up lighting the sheer granite cliffs, creating a evanescent landscape with different geologic features alternately lighting up and disappearing into the shadows.
And sometimes, that scene would transpire to an Sierra Nevada sunset, where the last fleeting rays set fire to none by the highest peaks, while the valleys below get mired in a deep shadow.
This was one such sunset, captured on an spring evening in May many such years ago during one of the many sojourns to my favorite National Park
Yosemite National Park
CA USA
Life on a May Day
4 May Days ago, I found myself in Kreuzberg in Berlin, amidst masses of people protesting for workers rights. Despite the worker movement being strong in Germany in general and Berlin in particular, apart from a few hastily scribbled signs, this "protest" carried a celebratory atmosphere. Humanity greeted me whichever direction I turned and whichever street I took. People were certainly enjoying the "Punk Life"
I can only imagine how the situation right now is. Social distancing protests certainly doesn't carry the same carnival atmosphere as what I had witnessed in Berlin in 2016
Berlin
Germany