Exploring Nature & Connecting with People
Getting away from the hustle and bustle is great. Nature helps us reconnect with ourselves, and sometimes even others. From nature walks to campfire stories, I find there's something special about being outside that often helps us connect on a person-to-person level that puts all else aside to appreciate the humanity in each human we meet along the way.
Current Projects:
He Told It on the Mountain: An Oral History of Church Farm, Elk Park, NC
The Camping Trip, Avery County, NC
When I pitched a tent at the top of the mountain at the HideOut RV & Campgrounds in Elk Park, NC, I had no idea that before the end of my stay in Avery County I'd be a changed person.
Sometimes if your vacation becomes a national disaster, the best way out is to pitch in and lend a hand.
This page will be updated periodically with picture essays, human profiles, and videos covering my experiences in Elk Park and Avery County, NC.
Follow the River
I was looking for peace, some pictures, and perhaps a story. I didn't expect to find all those as well as rediscovering one of my life's purposes and great joys: helping out.
Trapped at the HideOut
When Hurricane Helene Came to Elk Park, a few locals and campers on Dark Ridge Road found themselves cut off from services and society until they could build, dig, and plow their way out. Watch the waters rise, washing out a mountainside.
The amount of water Hurricane Helene dropped on Western North Carolina was devastating. In Elk County, it washed out all the roads off the mountain for several days. Before that would become apparent, getting off the camp ground became priority number one for the half dozen trapped at the HideOut.
Then, the scope of the disaster took shape as we slowly ventured further out from the camp, as roads were plowed smooth and fallen trees, debris, and mudslides were cleared. It was evident this was a large-scale event, and we hadn't even seen the worst of it yet.
The days after Hurricane Helene were spent tossing rocks into raging rivers, plowing flood sediment and gravel into washed out ravines of former roadways, and hiking supplies over a mile through closed roads to make sure neighbors had enough to survive until they could make it off the mountain.
The upside is that the residents came together in an inspiring show of resilience and community to help one another during this historic tragedy.
More stories to follow...
A Flooded Mountain
The HideOut Aftermath
With a collapsed awning and the stairs and porch/deck detached and moved by the flood, exit and entry proved difficult, among other things.
Elk Park NC/TN Border, Post-Helene
I tagged along with local Curtis Church to survey the damage at his farm and campground and in the Elk Park and Beech Mountain area where he grew up. When we set out, he asked if I was "ready for an adventure" but none of us were prepared for what we saw.
State, National, & County Parking | Getting the most out of parks at every level
The School of Soft Knocks
The best lessons from outside of class
Post-Graduation
Grasping the Little Moments that Mean the Most
Look for ways to find the beauty and impact of the little things.
"
Bird Brains
Taking a look at both the wisdom of nature and the oddities of modern life that have become normalized
Visual Narratives
Exploring the intersection of media, society, and the human experience.
Life Profiles & Reflections
Ruminations on the nature of family, friends, and change
Nature, In Sights
A brief selection of @picturesalongtheway
Simple Stories
Reflections on life, growth, change, and society
