Hole In The Wall

Hole in the Wall

Along the final length of the 101 highway the road winds up the coast, eventually wrapping inland to find views of the Olympic Mountains. The coastline in Northern Washington has some incredible gems to explore. About 15 miles west of the 101, just outside of a well known town thanks to the infamous book series turned movies of werewolves and vampires dealing with teenage love, waits Rialto beach. Find a spot for the car, throw on a pack, and begin the slow hike up the beach.

A little over a mile the rock out croppings begin to come into sight. One rock ledge divides the beach, offering only a natural doorway that is accessible at low tide. Also accessible are the vast range of tide pools displaying so many different ocean creatures. On our search we came across several starfish, sea urchants, and even an octupus. The shoreline is scattered with Old Growth trees dried into gigantic pieces of driftwood by the encroaching tides. Behind these trees you can find shelter and many unique camping spots to post up and watch the sun set and the waves roll in. This is only the first stage of a much longer possible hike 2o miles up the coastline, weaving in and out of the canvas of trees and sandy beaches. We spent the night at Hole in the wall before turning back, but the next trip may take us further up. Exciting to think what else we will find along the trail north.

Redwoods Adventure 2011

Redwoods Adventure 2011

Early Fall in the Redwoods National Park is an incredible time for many reasons. One the summer crowds are gone, two the weather is cooperative, three the wildlife comes out for final preparations for the winter months. Five people crammed into my Subaru for a long weekend of hiking and camping along the edge of the giant redwoods of Northern California. 

The Subaru, recently purchased, had some trouble along the way (bad head gasket) but powered through to the very end. Sherry, Lynda, Ben, Anthony, and I spent one night along the coast on the first night, sleeping with the crashing waves echoing in the distance.

 The next few days that followed were spent exploring a few of the redwood groves that dot the Redwood National forest, which consists of three areas; Jedidiah Smith, Del Norte, and Prairie Creek.

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We got to witness the awe of the Stout Tree Grove and the dizzying heights of the Tall Trees grove. The latter was our destination for camping the second night, as an additional mile hike to the Redwood Creek bed would provide a sandy bar to sleep on.

This creek was also filled with life, from small animals like frogs and geckos to larger furry ones such as the small group of deer that walked by the camp a couple times.

This trip has become an annual event, and for a reason. These are just a few of the images I captured while on the trip. Can't wait for next year.

DIY Dslr Slider

DIY Dslr Slider

Because of the high cost investment it takes to get a slider I decided to put some effort into creating my own version. After a few hours of research online, checking out different DIY versions of slider, I came to the idea for this one. Next step was a trip to Home Depot to see what basic materials I could find for the slider. $38.00 later this is what I have. The slider works well, but I feel there can be improvement. I think i am going to add a bearing system and a better plate for the fluid head. Also I want to figure out a servo system for timelapse movements. So this is the first edition of a long project. Thanks to the cat pack and Pauly Cvikevich for being the on camera talent for this shoot.

Cold Day on the Lot

Cold Day on the Lot

The days are short and the dry days we get up in the northwest usually bring some cold with it. A high 30s day on the lot was spent riding and shooting with fellow Masshole Matt St. Gelais. One thing about growing up in the Unpredictable New England Fall and winter means cold weather will not deter us from getting on the bike. It hurts to fall and you need to keep moving to keep all fingers and toes from locking up, but it is worth the extra effort. These are a few of the shots we got from the session.

Portland Fur Free March 2011

Portland Fur Free March 2011

On November 25, 2011 roughly 150+ people took to the streets of downtown Portland to bring light to the brutal massacre of millions of animals for fashion and financial gain. This video highlights a couple of the speeches made that day and the march which lead past several businesses who continue to carry fur products on their shelves.

For more information visit: furkills.org/

Additional Info can be found at: idausa.org/ pdxanimaldefenseleague.org/ becausewemust.org/

Hop, Stop, and Roll

Hop, Stop, and Roll. 

Late fall is showing it's head and winter is around the corner. That means a significant lack of sunlight to enjoy. These are the times for night sessions and also one of the best times to play with lighting. It's hard to justify the height of this manual without a brief description. The barrier stands about 6 inches over handlebar height. An awkward curb gives a bit of lip on the way up, but then there is the stop sign and cement pillar to contend with also. It had been a while since we shot a photo so it was a good night for everyone.

Journey into the Enchantments part2

Journey into the Enchantments part2

Here are a few photos from the Enchantment Lakes Basin Backpacking trip taken on September15. The weather was perfect and the views were jaw dropping. Here is just a glimpse of what we encountered on our journey. 

Journey into the Enchantments

Journey into the Enchantments part1

A couple weeks back four of us traveled up the east side of the Cascade range in Washington State on route to one of the best known backpacking areas in the country, Enchantment Lakes Basin. Anthony Buglio, Josh Darling, Kjell Moline and I left the Stuart Lake Trailhead on September 15 in search of landscape that is rarely witnessed in this world. This video is a glimpse into the three day trip. Thanks guys for one of the best experiences in my life.

The Up and Coming

The Up and Coming

Having been in this game for as long as I have means I have seen trends change, companies come and go, and new generations of riders making their way up the ladder. Watching someone come up from early days is a great experience. The absolute love for cruising on two wheels is shown on their face. The raw excitement of discovering what you can do on a bike for the first time; its like adding fuel to a fire. Sage Howard is one of the local Oregon guys who is developing some real good bikes skills and a style that is his. This shot was from a sunset session at the now infamous dinosaur park (Tigard Park). He was leaning some of these out with consistency so of course I wanted to capture a moment.

Community "Introducing"

Community "Introducing"

  Community Bmx is a project in the works with the goal of showcasing bmx from the vantage point of the rider; what it means to each of us. The riders in this teaser span across the U.S., from Oregon, to California, to Colorado. A full length video is in production now. Look for it to come out in early 2012. Until then take a look at the Apparel offered at communitybmx.bigcartel.com

Joe Pennell Cracked Frame Edit

Joe Pennell Cracked Frame Edit

Recently Joe Pennell traveled to Portland from the Seattle area to ride some new spots. We didn't get to too many spots because Joe had a bag full of tricks to pick from at each of them. One thing to keep in mind is the bike he rides has a large tear in the top tube of his frame.

Out of Sight

Out of Sight

Trails are such an elusive thing. Far from the sights of civil society a group of people put in limitless amounts of hours and energy, molding and sculpting a large area into a work of art. The methods vary from one area to another, because you need to consider the type of soil you are digging in, the terrain, access to water and sun, seasons, and a slew of other factors. The skills and experience are developed slowly. The gains from all this are days with friends cruising the jumps; the excitement around someone  going for that next set or adding in a new trick.

The northwest has a hidden empire of trails known worldwide. Portland has had its history of trails, but within the last few years there has been a rebirth. The old Grotto jumps were brought back to life, pump tracks and back yard trails have begun popping up, and within the last few years a new spot has grown out of the forest.  Kale and Pat, two midwest transplants began the construction with Kurtis, another transplant for near by Washington.

The backbreaking labor these guys put in during all types of harsh weather to create this place shows with that first step down the hill into the trails. Everything is formed with precision, and with good reason. The steep grade and large sets get you moving fast and mistakes result in some scary scenarios.

Roman made the trip out to the trails yesterday with me. My time was mostly spent shooting some photos of the session. Here are some of those photos.

Northwest Independence

Northwest Independence

Its a tradition when the 4th comes around for me to stay put and not become a statistic in the mad rush of campers, pickups, and other cars heading somewhere for the holiday. This year I broke that tradition and against better judgement made the journey with Sherry and friends to Pacific city on the central coast of Oregon. For a couple days a tent sitting 1/4 mile from the beach was home. Only a 15 minute drive away stood the tallest waterfall on the Oregon coast with water cascading 319 ft. down. Short hike to this spot, but still incredible.

A few miles down the beach, on the opposite side of a 200 ft. tall mound of sand was Pacific City. Here cars are allowed to drive on the beach, so when the sun had many people remained parked on the beach in anticipation of the fireworks show. Fire pits dotted the landscape with personal, yet illegal, fireworks exploding from each group.Kind of woild how a state that has laws against fireworks like this tends to just turn away on the weekend of the 4th.

Freestyle 5

Freestyle 5

Filmed the first episode of Freestyle5 this weekend. Roman Tenzca and myself host the show. This episode includes a look at a few different web edits including Colin Mackay's "Chile 8mm" edit, as well as Mike Escamilla's recent "This is United" edit. The main event includes an interview with Chester Blacksmith about We the People's recent trip to Mexico. Check in on the site and stay tuned for more. The show is in the early stage so for all you companies out there get in on some advertising space for future episodes.

http://freestyle5.everydayparadise.com/

Ape Caves Scramble

Ape Caves Scramble

Another weekend means another adventure. The Ape Caves at the base of Mount Saint Helens in Washington state was on the list. We have visited this lava tube a few times before, but never have we hiked the top portion of the caves; where the difficulty rises a bit and scrambling over rocks and up cascades is in the cards. Sherry, Anthony Buglio, and myself began the trek from the bottom entrance; making our way up the tube towards the direction of Saint Helens.

The bottom portion is pretty mild compared to the constant scrambling over rocks and through narrow passage ways that lie waiting towards the top. Whenever we came to a relatively calm area we stopped to take some portraits. The 1 1/4 mile hike really changes your perspective of what lies below us. The intense heat from the lava melted the rocks in such a drastic manner. You could see the signs on the face of the rocks where a black glossy sheen drips down like hot tar.

The number of ill prepared people who we passed along the way was incredible. With such treacherous terrain such as gaps between rocks that could swallow a person, jagged low ceilings that could rip your head open with little warning, and a 8 ft. tall cascade with barely one foot hole to pull yourself up, you think people would shy away. Several times we passed children 10 years old or younger, families unaware of what constitutes hiking shoes or clothing, and even a group who wreaked of booze from 3o ft. away. At least it was a confidence booster for us. We passed one exit which would require scaling up a  35 ft. rock face so we continued on to the far entrance, where a ladder was installed to help ascend out of the caves and back to the light above.

The hike back down the trail above showed several signs of the eruption, pushing large boulders out of the ground into stacked rows. The surface looked like a gigantic snake had slithered just below the surface down the hill, pushing up the earth with brute force.  A strenuous hike, but worth it.

Tamanawas Falls

Tamanawas Falls

The days are getting warmer in the northwest and the snow melt is beginning to rage down the canyons, feeding the numerous waterfalls dotting the cascade range. It seemed like the perfect opportunity to venture out to a new hike. Tamanawas Falls have come up in some searches before, but lying on the east side of Mt Hood means it was always overlooked. Motivation got the best of us today though so we made the trek around the summit to the Sherwood  Trailhead.

The trail follows on the west side of the river until rounding the bend and heading up Cold Spring river towards the falls. Along the way are several smaller falls that create deep pools of water, that can be useful on the hot days of summer.

In most cases the landscape stays consistent, but the further up the trail you go the more diverse it gets. At one point you could be walking through old growth, the next spiraling tree roots, and then a rocky field of bus size boulders; all leading to the finish line, Tamanawas Falls...

Simple Edit: Tony Tuominen

Welcome to Simple

Recently Community rider Tony Tuominen joined the ranks of the new Simple Bike Co. USA Pro team. Tony is an unknown talent who you will be hearing more of soon. To kick things off right we put together this edit for you to enjoy. Believe me when I say, the last clip is hard to give justice to.

Tails of the Woods

Tails of the Woods

One of the most well known attractions in the northwest corner of Oregon is the infamous Columbia River Gorge. With over 40 waterfalls, most can be accessed from about 25 miles of highway and scenic routes. Some can be seen from the road; many others take a little work to get to. With the weather skipping over late spring and jumping right into summer, the day called for a good hike; and what better place than horsetail falls trail which lies just east of the well known Multnomah Falls. From the parking lot you get a good glimpse at Horsetail Falls, which empties into a pool right along side of the road. For those looking for more of an adventure one needs to make a trek onwards and upwards. About a mile or two up the steep switch backs you can begin to hear the noise of the next destination.

Walking around the bend Ponytail Falls comes into view. The trail approaches the falls from the side and wraps around underneath of it. A shelf in the floor of the rock acts as shelter to keep you dry form the water raining down from above, but on a hot day like today its helps to get a little wet. One spot along the trail on the west side of the falls creates a blowing mist, working better than any AC I have ever used. Continuing on the trail follows the ridge before winding down switchbacks again to Oneonta Falls.

We spent some time relaxing at Oneonta Falls before heading back to Horsetail. While there we had an encounter with a couple who had gotten married at Ponytail and was enjoying their honeymoon taking pictures by the waterfalls that were part of that day. Can't imagine any church standing up to that backdrop.

We did  ascend up a steep unmaintained trail in search of an old rock formation, but before long decided to turn back for another day.  We have hiked most of the trails in the gorge, but once again all expectations went out the window.

In Living Color

In Living Color:

One thing about photography is it doesn't always take the best equipment or the most skilled professional to showcase your point of view. Sometimes the image comes alive for you. And since you are standing there at just the right moment you experience it and given the chance to document it. With the innovation of cameras in smart phones and just about everything else it's not very likely that you won't have a camera on you somewhere. When these experiences come about we are able to share it with everyone with the touch of a few buttons. So during a long day on the job I came across this newly hatched nest of spiders scrambling around the web. Their bright yellow and black contrasting colors just caught my attention. To consider something so small and brilliant one of our biggest phobias seems contradictory, but many times justifiable. The point behind this babble is nothing important; just to consider your surroundings more and share it. In contrast to the first image here is the opposite depth of field showcasing plant life instead of insect. Two scenes I thought worth sharing.

Hufnagel Back in the Day

Hufnagel Back in the Day

May is here, which means birthdays every other day. One such lucky fella, Jordan Hufnagel, is celebrating the Big Three O. About ten years ago I met Jordan in Austin, Texas. Jump back to present day and we find ourselves in the same city again. Jordan has accomplished a lot since those days; including starting a successful custom bike builder, Hufnagel Cycles. Still, whenever I see Jordan this photo comes to mind. During a month and a half long roadtrip from Colorado, to Austin, to Florida, and up the east coast I kept a journal and shot some photos along the way to be published in Ride Uk (issue 68.). This shot of Jordan made it onto the pages of that article.