It’s ironic to me that we call places with no cell service “dead zones.” Oftentimes, these places are rural or wild areas far away from blocks upon blocks of concrete, steel, and consumerism. If it’s a place full of nature, how can we call that place “dead” when in fact, more species can thrive there than in any city? If it’s a rural neighborhood, could we consider the fact that existing with less might make more room for life?
Read MoreMontana Blue
I’d always wanted to visit Montana. No photograph, no film can do its glory justice. I’d write poems about what it would feel like to steep myself in its endless skies and ragged mountain ranges. My Dad would tell me stories of a hunting trip he had out there decades ago, and he would always end the narrative with “…and that’s why they call it Big Sky Country.” Well, this summer I finally got my chance to
Read MoreSunset Hike // Sharp Top, VA
I’d wanted to hike to the top of Sharp Top Mountain for a long time. Friends would rave to me about its 360-degree views and easy accessibility off the Blue Ridge Parkway. Let’s just say that Sharp Top made me feel very welcome.
Read MoreCarissa and Anna // Buffalo Mountain Elopement
Carissa and Anna’s mountaintop elopement was absolutely dreamy. Their small group of guests gave the ceremony an incredibly intimate feel, and the adventurous location seemed to…
Read MoreA Pilgrimage with My Father
We stopped at Wednesday Lake on the afternoon of our first day. The water was deep, dark, and refreshingly cool under the beating sun. As we swam, my father let out a huge sigh of relief. We were blissfully weightless after carrying forty-five pounds on our backs for…
Read MoreSunrise Hike // McAfee Knob, VA
I’m 25, and I’ll admit it - I’m still afraid of the dark. Especially hiking in the dark. There’s something that makes me uneasy about how the woods are so big, and yet full of endless hiding places for creatures. But despite these fears, I knew I wanted to hike to McAfee Knob to see the sunrise because…
Read MoreFloyd
We ditched our electronics and wandered an hour south of Roanoke where cell service is scant and warm welcomes abound.
Read MoreFinding Peace in Iceland
Things I did not know about Iceland before traveling there:
- The population is less than 350,000
- "King beds" are really just two twins pushed together, with a separate comforter for each side
- Sheep roam absolutely everywhere...
Looking for Nostalgia in Nova Scotia
Earlier this year I read The Lobster Coast by Colin Woodard. Besides learning a ton of maritime history about my lovely home state as well as discovering just how interesting lobsters really are, I read quite a bit about Maine’s relationship with its neighbors like Massachusetts and Nova Scotia. One particular quote Woodard included about Nova Scotia that I couldn’t get out of my head was said by Richard Barringer, a professor at the Edmund Muskie School of Public Service at the University of Southern Maine:
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