These photographs are not presented as part of my art portfolio. They are presented to illustrate the story below that describes how my experience in the wilderness helped me to become an artist.

I haven't always felt like I was an artist. I've only reached that point fairly recently. Even though I was producing art early on, I simply didn’t have the ability to perceive that I was an artist at the time or that I could become an artist in the future. And I promise you - you can’t become what you can’t perceive, no matter what talents and capabilities you possess. Along the journey, I didn’t recognize the signs that pointed the way. Even as clear signposts and significant milestones came and went, I went the wrong way because I didn’t understand the nature of the life’s journey.

How is it that one comes to know what one doesn’t initially know? The two most basic ways are that other people can teach you or show you things, or you can discover things for yourself. The process of discovery provides the greatest learning value to me. Although it can be extremely inefficient, when you discover something for yourself, you really come to know it. I learned this when I studied architecture at Virginia Tech. In addition, the value of a good teacher cannot be understated. If you are fortunate enough to find a teacher that knows the value of discovery, and doesn't interfere with it - well then you have come across the treasure of all treasures. One of the most important things I also learned is that in order to discover things, you must be in an environment that is conducive to discovery, not the other kind which unfortunately is ubiquitous.

When I moved to Colorado, I was extremely drawn to the wilderness. At first I was simply seeking adventure. As I walked through the vast forests, over the windy passes and across the lush meadows, I began to ponder the questions that continually came to mind.
I realized right away that the wilderness was an environment that was conducive to discovery but I had no idea of the deeper implications of this. Later, I discovered that the wilderness trail was a metaphor for life’s journey. And - here is the really important part - if you pay attention to the questions that arise along the wilderness trail, and address them not in a literal way on their face value, but as though they are questions about your life in general, you will come upon many of the answers to the questions posed by life’s journey.

Through many years of back country travel, in every season of the year, I found that the questions became more and more fundamental. Each outing raised new and different questions. As I realized this I began to seek ways to spend more time in the wild. Starting with day hiking in the summer, I next took on snowshoeing and cross country skiing in the winter. From day trips I expanded to overnight backpacking. I next expanded from three season to winter backpacking on both snowshoes and on skiis. Of course I was drawn to the beauty of nature, but there was a corresponding level of adversity to match every new sight. I later realized adversity was fueling my interest and in turn the questions.

As you view these trail photos think about the questions that come to mind in terms of what you must consider in order to successfully undertake a journey through each environment. I found that the following questions came up continually and they transcended from literal to metaphorical over time.

Before the trip:
Where do I want to go?
How do I get there?
What will I need along the journey?
Where do I get what I need?

Upon reaching the trailhead:
Am I starting out in the right place?
Am I properly equipped?
Did I select the right traveling companion(s)?
Am I doing this with the right attitude and frame of mind?

As the trip unfolds:
Do I know what I am doing - where I’m going - how do I know?
Am I here to enjoy the journey or reach the destination or both?
Do I have the stamina to go the distance?
Can I tolerate the present discomfort in order to experience the long lasting rewards?
Do I have the patience required?
Is my load too heavy or too light?
As conditions change, will I be ok?
When shall I rest?
When shall I get going again?
When I come to a fork in the trail, which way should I go?
What will I do if I get lost?
Is there anything more beautiful than this?
Is there anything worse than this?
Were my plans realistic?
What do I do when I get to the end of the? trail and there is further to go, but no trail?

On occasion:
What on earth am I doing here?
How do I get out of here?
What are the limits of what I will tolerate?
Is my life in danger?

After the trip:
Was it what I expected?
Was it worth it?
Will I do this again?
What will I do different next time?

As I pondered the implications of asking these questions about my life, as opposed to their immediate implications for my wilderness travels, I felt like I had come across a treasure, a source of knowledge within myself, that would help me to find my way through life.

As you can see, there are numerous iterations of these questions and many levels upon which they can be asked. There are also a great many other questions that I have not listed here. You may also notice that I did not list the answers. Although I learned a great deal, and I am still learning a great deal, the most significant thing I learned is to ask the right questions. When you ask the right questions, the answers gradually reveal themselves. It is also important to realize that each person's answers are only right for them.

The point of showing these photos here (they are not works for sale) is to illustrate, beyond their face value, the influential process through which I traveled to reach this place. These photos illustrate an integral part of the process through which I became an artist. They delineate how I increased my ability to perceive what I could do and what I could become. These journeys were an integral part of my route to produce work (machined metal sculpture) that is an expression in form, of my own strength, perception, capabilities and vision. Trust me now when I tell you this - I am an artist.

I hope you enjoy these photos on their face value and I hope each one brings metaphorical questions to your mind. As you can tell, they are not your typical mountain pinups. They often include regular people with their backs to the camera, traveling into the photo.

Over time I will post additional photos including more back country scenes. I also have photos of patterns or images and other B+W photos that are more obviously artistic compositions. These will be shown in the B series.

Here are some further notes about each photo:

1A
This Aspen grove is near Snowmass Ranch. The diffuse light filters in from high above and you feel like you are under the most wonderful canopy in the world. In the fall the aspen leaves turn bright gold and provide a fantastic light show as they shimmer in the breezes that pick up that time of year. With this green carpet, I thought it would be perfect if someone would come by with a red pack. Within minutes, I was blessed because I had already focused on the spot where I wanted the person to be when I tripped the shutter.

2A
This snowshoe trip across Rabbit Ears Pass near Steamboat Springs was truly magical. In the valley it was 9 degrees F that morning and when we got up to the pass, the wind was horriffic! As we walked into the forest the winds died down and the sun came out to render a spectacular winter landscape. Since this is the top of a broad pass, this area is not prone to avalanches. This area gets around 200" of snow each year. And yes, white snow is indeed rendered blue under a clear sky at higher elevations.

3A
The Gore range receives a great deal of moisture and as a result the forests there are particularly lush. The quality of light in this forest is similar to what you might experience in a majestic gothic cathedral.

4A
That's the Roaring Fork Valley below. Aspen is to the right, out of sight. Behind me are the great Elk Mountains. The prevailing weather pattern here is from west to east. This valley, which is open to the west and closed off by high mountains to the east, traps the clouds and collects the moisture, making it one of the greenist places in all of Colorado. This view is typical of the scale of the west.

5A
It must have been warmer in the days before this photo was taken because the vapor was coming off this lake very rapidly. This shot was taken in January in the morning at a relatively low elevation. The morning light highlighted the tops of the fog while the under side was a contrasting dark and erie sight.

6A
A very severe vertical drop makes this a very avalanche prone area. Some of the slides here come down the mountain, cross the creek at the bottom (there’s always a creek at the bottom) and go partially up the other side. The pink and orange rock against the clear blue sky makes this a great study in complimentary colors.

7A
This is an autumn day near the top of the timberline looking up at a ridge. Above you can see the winds aloft are fairly fierce. Winter is just around the corner. This is where the earth reaches up and touches the sky.

8A
The smooth texture of the white snow against the roughness of the rocks makes this an interesting descent. Wheeler Basin to the lower left is an extremely beautiful yet un-visited place because of the difficulty in getting in and out. In mid fall we were taking a risk because if it snowed that night we would have a difficult time getting back up the trail. As you can see, this trail which is well above timberline, is faint, covered with snow and ice and the going is steep! Not for the faint of heart.

9A
This is about one and a half days into a three day trip. In mid winter the old growth forests are a safe bet against avalanche danger. One problem however, is that the snow is so deep, it brings the trail up to the level of branches that are normally well above your head. With lots of ups and downs, having a full pack on "skinny skiis" can be a real challenge in a forest like this. There is an exhilarating feeling of compression and release of space when gliding through a dense forest like this. Downhill stretches, however, can be a real terror!

10A
In the summer it rains some part of almost every day. Getting wet, besides being very uncomfortable, can quickly result in hypothermia, especially if the winds pick up. Since wind is always a given after the rain its a must to have good breathable rain gear from head to toe. The many shades of green in this forest are a testament to the moisture this area receives. The wonderful aroma of a conifer forest is particularly noticeable in places like this.

11A
On the way up to a pass you become warm and perspired from exertion. At the top, where the wind is fierce, you need to adjust your clothing - and I mean quickly! With the bright light and low humidity at at this elevation, (11,000ft+) visibility is well over 150 miles in each direction..

12A
This area has some of the most severe vertical drops in all of Colorado. Because of this there is always an interesting contrast between shaded and bright areas. Behind me is Telluride. Beyond the peak in front is Ouray. It was tough to find a spot flat enough to camp on back here.

13A
Winter is my favorite time of the year for many reasons. You can camp almost anywhere, nothing ever gets dirty and you see very few other people. However, due to the temperatures one can encounter, expedition gear is a must. When it comes to your survival, quality is no luxury. Notice how the flat light, due to some cloud cover, makes the snow covered Lodgepole Pines and Douglas fir trees blend in with the snow on the ground, providing a very calm and peaceful atmosphere.

14A
This is the Roaring fork River at its headwaters near Independence Pass. Needless to say, Independence Pass is closed in the winter - don't even think about getting back here that time of year. The large boulders, tall trees and blue sky are all majestic and silent, but the sound of the rushing water is almost deafening in places.

15A
This mountain is one of over 50 in CO that exceed 14,000 ft in elevation. The final stretch to the top is hand over hand on a long boulder field. About half way up that area, I looked back over the rocks and asked my friends how the heck we were going to get back down. In this photo there is a cliff line that extends from the mid right side to the lower left corner. The person on the right is approaching it very cautiously. Good thing, its a long way down! The smooth and light puffy sky against the coarse dark rocks of the mountains is another exercise in contrast.

16A
This is a typical light show of the autumn sky as the sun begins to go down. Its always best make camp about 3:30 this time of year. After the sun went down we heard coyotes howling throughout the night. Someone said they were wolves. I was hoping they were wrong, all - night - long.

17A
There are times when you must simply stop and enjoy the view because the danger of traversing a cornice is just not worth it.This type of terrain is as dangerous as it is spectacular.

18A
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