We’re now at the end of summer and starting the transition to fall. Cool mornings greet me when I’m out walking the dogs… enough to require an extra light layer. After a hot summer avoiding rattlers and periods of smoke, I’m feeling antsy. The fall equinox is here, but I was having trouble getting fully engaged. Adventure-wise, there’s nothing marked on the calendar, and I’ve been mainly going through the motions trying to maintain (more like fight against inevitable aging). I’m in need of an outlet, and a reason to pivot from this stale routine.
Luckily, I have my photo archive to rely on. I love outdoor photography, but I’m an amateur, so there’s no monetary incentive to edit as soon as I can. Going through that process is enjoyable, but it only happens in bursts instead of a linear fashion. I usually prefer to let the photos marinate for a bit.
Goat Rocks Wilderness, with Pahto looming in the background. White Pass, Washington.
Or, more accurately: I’m an expert procrastinator, and have to feel like I’m in the “zone” in order to really focus in on my editing and archive process. To get into that “zone”, I need a spark to get motivated. To combat my procrastination, I’ve established quarterly review & editing goals. These keep me moving forward, provide fresh ideas for writing, and even help get me out of outdoor adventure slumps.
Tahoma, with her spring dress on. White Pass, Washington
Before the end of every quarter (March 31, June 30, Sept 30, Dec 31), I set a goal to finish reviewing, editing and archiving a large set of photos. These sets usually have been captured during the last 3-6 months and include the occasional special trip/adventure or two. The real key benefit of sticking to this schedule is that it keeps me from going too long in between editing bursts and becoming overwhelmed by the thought of having several hundred outstanding photos in my “editMe” collections. Yuck.
So as I start reviewing these photos, I’m transported back into the previous adventures and I realize that I’ve been pretty lucky to experience an active springtime and early summer. I finished the winter season at White Pass, scouted the Chinook Pass alpine, and spent lots of time in the drumlin lakes of northern Michigan. Splitboarding, mountaineering, rock climbing, hiking and kayaking pushed the stoke meter to HIGH, and many calories were burned. April through early July was superb.
Sunrise on Peak 6271. Chinook Pass, Washington
Then in mid-July, smoke arrived along with 95-105° temps for an extended period, and my desire to get outside and explore came to a halt. In central Washington during July and August there are commonly arson-related brushfires, torrid temperatures and random forest fires or wind-carried smokefests that keep us indoors for most of our days. It’s just a weird time given the weather, smoke and then the kids start their transition back into school. With the exception of a few mountain bike rides during limited smoke windows, little happened to help refill the stoke reservoir. The feeling of staleness ensued.
Green Lake, Michigan
Now that I’m deep into these photos and feeling the weather change, I think my lizard brain is getting the signal that it’s time to get back outside and jam. Warm sunshine and cool breezes once again allows for extended outings in pleasant conditions. It’s time to take advantage of the equinox and experience outdoor adventures once again!
Apple Harvest in Naches, Washington
Ingraham Glacier and Little Tahoma, Mount Rainier National Park
Kelleys Gap Waterfall, Crystal Mountain Ski Area
Yakima Peak, Chinook Pass
Thanks for reading! See you out there... --BJ
