Thoughts about nature and humanity, art and the wilderness experience

The Colorado Trail Finish, Part Two
The Colorado Trail Finish, Part Two
I’ve just published part two of my trip videos from The Colorado Trail finish this season. I hope you’ll enjoy watching it. There were some audio challenges, since I didn’t... Read more...
Ending a Seven-year Journey on The Colorado Trail
Ending a Seven-year Journey on The Colorado Trail
Two weeks ago I stepped off trail and into the Junction Creek Trailhead parking lot in Durango. Elated and exhausted, I stumbled over to the sign to make a quick... Read more...
What's in a Trail?
What's in a Trail?
I mentioned in my last post that I was working on a documentary short film about why I started backpacking The Colorado Trail seven years ago, and why I continue... Read more...
Art-making as Joy-making
Art-making as Joy-making
The expression of life—of meaningful experiences and ideas—through artistic mediums has always been important to me. When I was young, after my older brother got his driver’s license, he would... Read more...
Inner Landscapes: Thin Places & People's Faces
Inner Landscapes: Thin Places & People's Faces
As a photographer who works in both portraiture and landscapes, I often find myself contemplating the similarities in my approach to the two. Read more...
Less and Less About Photography
Less and Less About Photography
It was never about the photography. Truth is, it was never about the music, either. It was always about making a living doing something I love, because I long ago... Read more...
"Tif the Photographer" and Other Misconceptions
"Tif the Photographer" and Other Misconceptions
I recently sold my flute. There's a much bigger story here, but I want to focus on a specific aspect of the story today.  Since engaging with the buyer of... Read more...
An Awkward Waltz with a Mule Deer Doe
An Awkward Waltz with a Mule Deer Doe
I've been a bit depressed lately, as is common for me when I return to Lubbock from somewhere else. Usually it takes making myself go for a drive somewhere outside... Read more...
Last Light of 2022
Last Light of 2022
I don't get particularly sentimental about new years these days. From such a perspective, a new year can start any day you like. But I usually spend the last hours... Read more...
Winter Bird Watching
Winter Bird Watching
My parents keep the birds here well-fed. Lest anyone think birds aren't intelligent creatures, these birds will land on the front porch, hop up to the sliding glass door and... Read more...
Not Lost
Not Lost
When I started backpacking The Colorado Trail in segments in 2016, I had no idea what it would come to mean to me. I'd spent most of my life in... Read more...
Good Morning, Owl
Good Morning, Owl
I did not grow up in a city. For the past twenty-five years, however, I’ve lived in one. Two different cities, not very large, but large enough for this wild... Read more...