Observation, introspection and contemplation.
December 31st is one of my top 3 days of every year. On this day, I choose to review the year that has passed, look internally at how I’ve handled it, and then think about areas for growth in my spiritual, mental and physical realms.
The process starts at Thanksgiving actually, as a long and steady drip during the darkest month of the year. During that “holidays” time when things really slow down, I hang twinkling lights outside for cheer, and dive deep into my photo catalog. The low sun angle (when it’s not cloudy, foggy, raining) and long nights bring me a sense of calmness, like a real signal to my brain that I can relax and review, and prepare for the coming New Year.
Below are 7 photographs that added a lot of seasoning to my 2023. Each one tied to an experience that shaped me in some way.
Ives Peak - February 2023
My first day as a full Alpine Patroller at White Pass, and the sunrise on Goat Rocks was amazing. This was the first day of reaping all the effort I put into training over the last 12 months.
Rimrock Sunrays - March 2023
Stopping along US 12 at Rimrock Lake, the sun came up over Kloochman Rock and I was simply floored by the silence all around me as I stood on the frozen lakeshore. A rebel yell bubbled up and I let it loose. The whole situation just spoke to me.
White River Aerial - March 2023
I’ve flown this route between Yakima and Seattle more than 100 times, but this particular morning was one of the clearest and most lovely views of Tahoma and vicinity I’ve ever seen, with a relatively low sun angle and the courtesy of very clean Alaska Airlines window.
Uplands Rainbow - June 2023
On a high steppe mountain bike outing in Yakima with my friends Cody and Will, we experienced this double rainbow near the end of our ride, and it was absolutely remarkable. Clear air, cool temps, green hillsides and a slight sunshower to round it all out.
US Steel Clairton Works - June 2023
I drove past this coke mill thousands of times as a child, and fished on both banks of this section of the Monongahela River with my Dad countless times as well. But this time around, the setting strongly reminded me of my roots more than any other experience before. This river valley and way of life isn’t perfect, but it sure taught me the importance of character, hard work and loyalty.
Lake Michigan Coastline - July 2023
On a road trip from Minneapolis to Traverse City, we finally saw the beauty of the Great Lakes - the deep forest, rolling glacial hills and crystal clear waters of lake Superior and Lake Michigan. It has ignited a yearning to explore this region more, now that we have family ties are nearby.
The Needles - October 2023
The home base for our superb adventure, Cannon Beach has several mighty seastacks that puncture the coastline. While this image isn’t the usual iconic Cannon Beach view, I really enjoyed pondering the chess-like characters of “The Needles” just south of Haystack Rock. Low-key, out of the spotlight and operating on a different frequency.
What happened between October and Now? Well… a lot but at the same time a minute amount of snow. The snowboard season is off to a slow start, so I’ve been diving deep into my chore list instead.
I’m excited to see what lies ahead in 2024. I pray for peace and health, worldwide. And (hopefully) lots of deep powder days.
Happy New Year!
