Book deadline & ramblings

With the book deadline hanging out there, it's been a crazy month. Rainier and I have become really good friends. We've had some good talks, shared many memories and she's tested my hiking skills and patience. Over the last several weeks, I've spent a ton of time in the backcountry taking photographs and getting everything ready to roll. Most of my trail time has been spent solo, but I've been lucky enough to have the company of friends whenever possible. Lisa and Vil were my models on one such occasion.

Some days I hike 16+ miles, gain and then lose 3,500+ feet of elevation and return to the car, exhausted, but happy. Regardless of distance, each time I set foot on the trail I know that my hard work will pay off and the climb with be worth the beauty of the place I'm going to visit. Hopefully the photos in my book will show that passion. There is such a peace in the flower filled meadows, the quiet streams and the wildlife that lives amongst it all. Occasionally I get to a place of supreme beauty and after sitting in the quiet of it all, listen to this one particular song on my iPod. I want to remember this experience, step for step- all of it, the book and the places I've seen. It's what makes me, me. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Ty4TsRJQ_M

I have so many photos that I can't even begin to share all the pictures on the blog, but here are a few. I'll give updating the blog more emphasis after the deadline has come around. Hope everyone in blogger-land is having a great summer!