2017

Wow, one blog post for the entire year.

I'm don't know whether to be sad or impressed.  One of my resolutions for 2017 is to write more, whether it be on here or just in my journal.  I think it's beneficial to write thoughts down.  Even if it's just rambling thoughts.  Who says it needs to be poetic?

So, I am currently listening to Philip Glass' "The Photographer."



I encourage you to press play.  And I encourage you to plug in some headphones and crank it.  Man, so good...

I'm also currently watching a documentary on Netflix about minimalism.  I say currently because I paused it to essentially write this post... I'm not currently watching it while listening to Philip Glass while also writing a blog entry.  I am nowhere near that good at multitasking.  But you understand.

I want to minimize the possessions in my life.

I have so much stuff.

Books.
Movies.
Clothes.
Photographs.
Cups.
Collectibles.

Just tons of crap.

I have trouble with getting rid of stuff.  Mainly stuff that has any sentimental value whatsoever.  It might be a receipt from a fast food restaurant that I received from a cute girl behind the register and I'll consider hanging on to it.

Consider.

I've gotten a lot better and don't hang on to junk nearly as much as I used to.  But now it's bigger things.  Heavier, I should say.  Heavier with sentimental memories.  Like the Donald Duck ceramic music box my grandmother gave me when I was a baby.  It's still collecting dust on my shelf.  Haven't even touched it in who knows how long.

This is where I struggle.

But it's just stuff.  It's just stuff.

Anyways, I wasn't planning on talking about getting rid of junk, but I guess that's what was on my mind.  Here's what my 2016 looked like:



Cheers!

365 seconds

Happy 2016, everyone!

As some of you already know, last year I decided to create a one-second-a-day video.  It ended up being one of my favorite projects I've ever worked on, and I was absolutely blown away by the kind words and compliments I received online.  I want to share a little bit more about the project for those who are interested.

First off, here it is for those who haven't seen it yet:



Second, this was not my original idea.  I got the inspiration from other people who had done it on Youtube, though I hadn't seen anyone else add music to theirs, which I thought would be cool.

Like I said, it was super fun to make.  I worked on it throughout the year, so every week or so I would watch what I had already edited.  I like to write in my journal frequently, but this project allowed for a snippet of video to look back on for each day of 2015.  As I often realize from going back and reading old journal entries, it's amazing to see how much can happen in one year's time.

From the technical stand point, I shot primarily on my iPhone 4 before upgrading to an iPhone 6 in September.  Fifteen shots were on my GoPro, with only one shot being altered (the April 20 timelapse rotation).  Each day I had a reminder set on my phone for the evening in case I hadn't filmed anything for the day.  This really helped me out a lot, and in some cases resulted in random last minute shots (say for example, the spinning avocado).  I will be honest with you, there was ONE day that I forgot to shoot and had to use a shot from the following day... but I'm not gonna say which day that was.  Nobody's perfect.

Some days there wasn't a whole lot happening (shots of cats, coffee, beer), while other days had a lot going on, and it was pretty difficult to choose just one second for that day (for instance, anytime I was road tripping... gosh, I could've used so many from Yellowstone!).  My favorite clips were ones involving family and friends.  I think people are the most interesting subjects to film and photograph, and those are the shots I cherish and am most thankful for.

I want to thank all of you who allowed me to stick a camera in your face throughout the year, and again, thank you for your kind words and support.  There will be another video for 2016 :)

And in case you were wondering, there were 37 seconds of cats.  You're welcome.

North and then West

I've been in Seattle a little over a week now.

It's currently an overcast day in the mid 50s, slightly breezy, and I love it.

I left Estes Park with bittersweet thoughts on my mind.  I was excited to meet up with my brother and start this next season in a new city, but it's always a little saddening to leave such a beautiful place you've called home and the dear friends you've made there.  Having a great selection of tunes for the road trip really helps.

From Estes I headed north then west, spending time in Grand Teton, Yellowstone, and Glacier National Parks.  I saw deer beyond count, bison, bighorns, pronghorns, mountain goats, grizzly bears, coyotes, and even wolves.

Experiencing the wolves in the wild was the highlight of my entire trip.

On my last morning in Yellowstone, I woke up early and headed for the Lamar Valley, an area in Northern Yellowstone that supposedly had a lot of wolf and grizzly activity.  I parked my car in a pullout next to a river overlooking the valley and waited in the early morning darkness.

I waited.

And waited.

Listening.  Scanning the horizon.  Straining my eyes and ears for any signs of wolves.

Nothing.

Then I heard a loud grunt from behind my car.

I turn around and see an entire bison herd slowly approaching me.  As the sun continues to rise I see more and more of them on either side of my car, surrounding me as they graze in the frigid morning.  The frost sparkles on their woolly coats and their breath crystallizes as they grunt just beyond reach of my vehicle.

I sit in wonder from the inside of my vehicle.  Windows down.  Frigid cold.  The sun finally peeks over the mountain ridge and spills its light into the Lamar Valley.

No wolves, but I am content with this bison herd.  Pretty amazing stuff.

I start my engine and head back the way I came.

A few minutes into my drive I see a wildlife jam of some kind up ahead, but instead of animals on the roadside, I see people with telescopes and binoculars aimed at the distant hills.  YES.

I pull over and saunter over to the crowd.

"What are you guys lookin' at?"

"There are two grizzlies feeding on a carcass with a wolf pack nearby."

WHAT?!  And almost on cue, a chorus of wolves echoes towards us from the distance.

Several of the wolf spotters graciously let me peer through their spotting scopes and binoculars.  I was able to see one wolf and the two grizzlies feeding on the carcass.  I gotta say, it was one of the neatest things I've witnessed in a National Park.  After about an hour of hanging around and listening... I continued on.

I'm thankful for safe travels and the wonder of creation I was able to experience on this trip.

14,259 feet above

KEYHOLE ROUTE AHEAD
DO NOT CLIMB IF UNPREPARED
The Keyhole Route is a climb that requires
scrambling on exposed narrow ledges, loose rock and steep slabs.
Sudden changes in weather may create high winds, lightning, rain,
hail, snow, freezing temperatures and ice covered rock at any time.
A slip, trip, or fall could be fatal.
Rescue is difficult and may take hours to days.
Self-reliance is essential.
Stay on route and be willing to turn around at any time.
SAFETY IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY 

- NPS warning sign as you enter the Boulderfield

Climbing Longs was definitely one of the most exhilarating hikes I've ever done.  I'd rate it right up there with climbing Mt. Madison in the Whites with the clouds crashing over us at sunset.  However, unlike hiking up and over Mt. Madison, Longs Peak emitted a foreboding that I couldn't quite shake until I made it off the mountain.

Considered to be one of Colorado's most deadly mountains, the fourteener claims somebody's life almost every year.  Thankfully there haven't been any fatalities this season.  And I am incredibly thankful for the perfect weather and protection I had back in July when I made my summit.

It truly is a wondrous mountain and was a humbling experience to set foot on the top.

Over the Divide

Roads go ever ever on,
Over rock and under tree,
By caves where never sun has shone,
By streams that never find the sea;
Over snow by winter sown,
And through the merry flowers of June,
Over grass and over stone,
And under mountains in the moon.

Roads go ever ever on
Under cloud and under star,
Yet feet that wandering have gone
Turn at last to home afar.
Eyes that fire and sword have seen
And horror in the halls of stone
Look at last on meadows green
And trees and hills they long have known.

- JRR Tolkien

Wow, this summer is flying by.  Already August 11?!  I can't believe it.

A few weeks ago my little brother came into town and stayed with me for a few days.  He's currently driving cross country on his way to Seattle to start a new phase of his life.  Gosh I love that guy.  We had some good times catching up and sharing stories over plenty of Chinese food and good beer.

The highlight for me was our two-day trip hiking over the Continental Divide from Bear Lake to Grand Lake, over Flattop Mountain and down the Tonahutu Trail.  Breathtaking views.  Grueling, rugged terrain.  Exciting wildlife and frigid alpine skinny dipping.  The entire time we were out there, I felt like we were trekking through Middle Earth.  Two hobbits bumbling along the beaten path, through forests with meandering brooks, over the misty mountains and into lush, green meadows.  The wildflowers were popping all over the place with bright bursts of color and variety.

Truly awe inspiring.  We live in a beautiful country.

It was pretty funny as we were trying to hitchhike back.  Ben tried showing some leg to no avail.  We also had an American flag (MURICA) with us and thought that might help.  As it happened, some of my park ranger friends just happened to be driving by at that moment, though they almost didn't stop because they thought we were waving a Confederate flag, haha.

It was an unforgettable adventure that will go down on my list of all time favorite hikes.



Next up will be the video I shot climbing Long's Peak.  I'm a little behind on my editing, so stay tuned!  Cheers.

Bear

Tomorrow is July 4th.

Man, this summer has been flying by.  I realize I haven't posted in a while, but it feels like I've only been back at Rocky for a couple weeks.  It'll be September before I know it.

Yesterday I hiked up to Sandbeach Lake in Wild Basin for my backcountry patrol day.  Sandbeach will always have a special place in my heart.  It was the first trail I hiked in RMNP two years ago, and despite the lung crushing steady uphill to the lake, it remains one of my favorites.

As I was coming down from the lake (after dismantling FIVE illegal fire rings) I stopped in at the Hunter's Creek campsite to talk with the campers staying there.  They were four young guys from Louisiana on an epic National Park roadtrip to the west coast and back.  They were telling me about the bear tracks they spotted the day before and asking me what bear scat usually looks like.  I told them they'd be pretty lucky to see one of the park's few bears, and as long as they store their food properly, they shouldn't have anything to worry about.

"Alright, see you guys later!  Have a great trip."

30 seconds later I nearly walk into a black bear waiting just uphill from their campsite.

I managed to whip out my phone and snap a few shots and video before the curious bear sauntered off down the trail.

!

It's always so exciting to see a bear.  I immediately returned to the Louisiana campers and told them what I had just seen.

"Are you f***ing for real?!"  A mixture of excitement and worry in their voices.

I showed them the video and wished them well again, throwing in an extra reminder to secure their bear canisters. 

Sandbeach Lake will always have a special place in my heart.

Acworth - Estes Park

It's a beautiful Sunday afternoon here in Estes Park, Colorado.

I arrived Thursday afternoon after four days on the road, and it's been so nice reuniting with old friends and catching up.  In many ways it feels like I never left.  At the same time, I had almost forgotten how massive and majestic these mountains are.

I begin work tomorrow in the Back Country Office, and it's already looking like a great season to come.

A look around

A perfect day to relax on the back porch and test out a little timelapse rotation device I made.

I like it.

Big Frog

I'm thankful for father/son(s) camping trips.

We try to do at least one a year, but it's simply not enough, and this is the first time in a long time that I can remember all three of us being able to take off together.

I think we all needed it.

From my journal...

03.23.15
Big Frog Wilderness...
Ben, Dad, and I left the house around noon yesterday and made the two hour drive up across the GA/TN border to the Low Gap trailhead.  Steady uphill hike, steady rain.  Pitched our giant tent at the intersection of the Benton Mackaye Trail.  It is such a beautiful morning.  Rained all night with water pooling inside the tent.  Dad and I have had our coffee and breakfast – Ben is still wrapped up in his sleeping bag like the hungry, hungry caterpillar.  We're gonna try to get up Big Frog Mountain today.  Hopefully the weather stays like this!  We are on a ridge with fog in the valley below us, the sun is shining with the outlines of mountains surrounding us.  A light breeze.  It feels great to be back out here.

03.26.15
Our last morning in the Big Frog Wilderness. Overcast. Windy and cool. The ash from last night's fire swirls around us as we eat our breakfast. The sun is trying to peek through the clouds and shine through the tree tops. Dad reads out loud from Proverbs and relates it to working at Delta. We are just about out of water, which is perfect since we're heading back and the closest water is straight downhill. 

This has been a wonderful trip.

The birds and the breeze

"As long as I live, I'll hear waterfalls and birds and winds sing.  I'll interpret the rocks, learn the language of flood, storm, and the avalanche.  I'll acquaint myself with the glaciers and wild gardens, and get as near the heart of the world as I can." 
- John Muir

It's a beautiful Georgia day off my back porch.

A gentle breeze rustles through the branches above me, and a chorus of birds tries to be heard over a neighboring lawnmower.  My cats take turns drinking from their water bowl and sharpening their claws on whatever wooden surface they can find.  I'm sitting at the table with my laptop, a cup of tea, and my journal.

I just got the news that I will be Rocky Mountain National Park's newest backcountry ranger, and I couldn't be more excited.  The job is still seasonal, like my previous two summers, but I will be stationed in the park's backcountry office with time also spent hiking and monitoring the extensive trail network.  Dream job, much?

I hope to dive back into the wonders of the Rocky Mountains even more this summer, experiencing and learning everything I can about the wildness and majesty of the park, and in return, inspire and excite others to get out and do the same.

This year marks Rocky Mountain National Park's 100 year anniversary, and I consider it a great honor to be a part of that history.  The centennial will be an exciting time for anyone crossing within the park's boundaries.

In the meantime, I will be counting down the days to departure and enjoying this nice Georgian weather before it becomes too humid.  I am very excited about the months ahead of us.  Just wanted to give you all a little update!

The lawnmower has stopped, and the birds have center stage once again.

Lily Mountain, July 2013

2014

I'm thankful to see another year.

2014 was filled with many wonderful memories.  Adventures in snow, sand, rock, and water.  There were challenges, both physical and emotional.  Death, as well as celebration of life.  Always with the support and companionship of friends and family.  I truly am thankful to see another year, and I look forward to what 2015 has in store for us.

I snapped more than three thousand photos in 2014, and here are all of them.


Here's to another adventurous, meaningful, and cat-filled year.  Cheers, everyone.

Katahdin to the Kennebec

Come to the woods, for here is rest. There is no repose like that of the green deep woods. Here grow the wallflower and the violet. The squirrel will come and sit upon your knee, the logcock will wake you in the morning. Sleep in forgetfulness of all ill. Of all the upness accessible to mortals, there is no upness comparable to the mountains. 
- John Muir

This recent journey to Maine was bittersweet and beautiful.  Breathtaking and brutal.

I hiked from Mount Katahdin to the Kennebec River, about 150 miles south.  The first few days were absolutely perfect hiking weather days.  Then it rained pretty consistently the rest of the time, creating some pretty hazardous water crossings.  Streams and brooks that would normally be ankle deep or passable by rock hopping were now waist deep or higher with body slamming currents.  The Trail itself was transformed into a meandering waterway with waterfalls in the steep sections and pools of standing water in the level areas.  Everything became wet.

The temperature never dipped below freezing while I was out there, but it never really warmed up once the rain came.  Cold hands and cold feet through and through.

I enjoy the challenges that come with backpacking, and the rewards of the natural world continue to be awe-inspiring.  It was rejuvenating to be back out there even for a short time. 

Come to the woods, for here is rest.

Blood and Rain

The blood trickles down my leg, mixes with the rain, and seeps into my dirty sock.

I pause and reflect for a moment. This is the 100 Mile Wilderness.

This is Maine. 

This is the AT. 

Challenging but fulfilling.

Beautiful but brutal. 

Blood from the fall but rain to wash it away. 

ROMO 2014

Another season at Rocky Mountain National Park.

I cannot believe how quickly it went by!  May through September felt like five days rather than five months.  We'll see what the next five months have in store for us.

Thanks to everyone for all the fun and adventure that we shared.  And to Aaron and Ben who were present during my two separate concussions.

Soukkala Life circa 1950

The past few months I've been in the process of transferring all of our family's old home movies to digital format.  It's been such a trip seeing all of this old footage of special occasions and daily life.  I'm so thankful (so, so thankful) for all the footage my parents took just of our daily life.  I find it absolutely fascinating and precious.

The other night I was reviewing some older footage (from my grandparents) while listening to music, and a particular piece of music came on that just seemed to fit so perfectly with what I was watching.  I had to share my experience with you guys.  The following is a snippet of Soukkala (my mom's family) life circa 1950 in Warrenton, Oregon.  There is so much more awesome footage, but I just added the music to this particular clip and left all the original editing alone.

White Russians & Golden Aspens

Really had a great time with my Mom & Dad last week.

Monday night bowling.
Dark beer.
Onion rings.
Coffee.
Golden aspens.
Frigid alpine water.
Red wine.
Coffee.
Bugling elk.
Pink sunsets.
Kind Coffee breakfast.
Trail Ridge Road.
Alpine tundra.
Sprinting moose.
Coffee.
Waterfalls.
Ice cream.
White Russians while looking for moose.
Movie night with Chinese food.

I'd call it an awesome trip.

Sky Pond with the Friddles

"What?!" I shout over the howling wind.
"I said, this is the most adventurous thing I've ever done!" Micah repeats as he clings to the edge of Timberline Falls, wind and rain pounding our faces.  Sarah's poncho flaps uncontrollably as she descends the precarious cliff, step by careful step.
"Awesome!"  I shout back.

Music to my ears.

I'm so happy my sister (Sarah) and brother-in-law (Micah) were able to make it out to Colorado for a few days of adventure in Rocky Mountain National Park.  It was so much fun hanging out with them.  I'm glad they were able experience a slice of the Rocky Mountains.

By the time we made it back to the trailhead, we were all soaked to the bone.  It was definitely time for a hot meal and a cold brew.

Flattop

The stars are the only light as I pull into the Bear Lake parking lot.

I click on my headlamp.

Hiking past the eerily quiet black water of Bear Lake, I begin my ascent to Flattop Mountain.

The rocks and dirt and twigs feel welcome beneath my boots.

A faint orange light begins to appear through the trees on the horizon.

The stars begin to fade away.

I stop for coffee at treeline just as the orange fireball bursts over the horizon.

The squirks of a thousand pikas fight to be heard over the howling wind.

I climb higher into the alpine tundra.

A lone bull elk watches me from afar and trots down the mountainside.

The wind tries to push me over as I approach the top.

There is no other sound but the howling in my ears.

Alone on Flattop with the howling wind.

I pause.

And join in the howling before retreating back down the mountain.

Uncle Wes

As I type this, I’m flying high above the mountains and clouds with a deep blue sky and brilliant sun.  Back to Denver after an unexpected trip to the Pacific Northwest.

Being back in Oregon for my uncle’s funeral was extremely bittersweet.  I have so many happy memories from our annual family vacations growing up.  The last time I visited was in 2011, and it was so happy.  The most recent of a long list of wonderful trips out West.  It helps to have these happy memories during difficult times.

I did not imagine the next time I’d be in Oregon would be for a funeral.  When I heard the news of my uncle’s passing, I was in shock like the rest of us.  It was unexpected and difficult to accept.  It still is.  And will be.  I knew I wanted to be there with the rest of my family.  To comfort and to receive comfort.  It was great seeing all of them again.

My uncle was a huge part of my life even though he lived thousands of miles away.  His overflowing generosity and loving encouragement were and still are an inspiration to me on how I should live my life and treat others.

We said goodbye, and his legacy lives on, and I’m so thankful for the memories I have with him.  And for his encouraging words over the years.

Below is a comment he left on my blog shortly after my visit in 2011 and just before I began my career with the National Park Service.  I can’t read it without crying.

***

July 17, 2011
Micah...

I had no idea, well some maybe... that you were so John Muir like. No wonder you felt cheated when I reduced your "Fort to Sea" trek by half a mile by dropping you and your family off on the trail at a spot that mostly just us locals know about without reading a brochure.

Ken Burns perhaps is right. The NPS could be "America's Best Idea." You'll fit right in with their purpose. God's greatest handiwork is in such areas and dedicated people such as you need to keep them secure.

Your Mom told me of your blog spot here. I'll check in from time to time and see what you have posted.

God's blessings on all your adventures.

Uncle Wes*

***

Obituary: Wesley Soukkala