Tahoe South, Summer 2017

October 23, 2017 in Sierra Nevada, The Outbound

Spent two wonderful days in the world's best ski/beach town, South Lake Tahoe with Tahoe South to develop photos and articles in partnership with The Outbound promoting South Lake and its businesses. I was joined by several outdoor adventurers I previously worked with: Jesse Biggio & Meghan White.

In total, we captured several hundred images, provided more than a dozen Instagram posts including an Instagram takeover that general tens of thousands of likes and more than a million impressions. We also created the following articles:

Along with stories of our adventures into the mountains, lakes, and wilderness area around South Lake Tahoe, our trip featured stops at several local businesses including the Basecamp Hote l, Blue Angel Cafe, The Cork and More, Cold Water Brewery and Grill, Heidi's Pancake House, Beach Hut Deli, and South Tahoe Stand Up Paddle.

Visit the full Tahoe South Summer 2017 Gallery

Jesse Biggio and Meghan White with boards from South Tahoe Stand Up Paddle.

Go Breck, Fall 2017

October 23, 2017 in The Outbound, Breckenridge

Spent three wonderful days up high in the Rocky Mountains in and around Breckenridge with Go Breck and The Outbound creating content for the wonderful outdoor adventures, restaurants, and businesses in the area. I was joined by outdoor enthusiasts & Colorado natives Kelsay Lundberg, Anna Schehrer, Sandra Fortson.

We ended up capturing several hundred images for use in articles and digital promotion efforts which thus far have resulted in tens of thousands of likes and over a million impressions. Some of the content we created:

Lodging included The Bivvi, Sawmill Creek Condo, and in one of the legendary 10th Mountain Division Huts: Francie's Cabin. We dined at restaurants including Amazing Grace Natural Eatery, The Dredge, The Crown, The Lodge's Traverse Restaurant & Bar, and Angels Hollow. Nightlife content was created at local hangouts such as The Rocky Mountain Underground, and The Gold Pan Saloon. It also featured a tour from Snow Caps Sled Dogs and a gondola ride on the ski mountain through Go Breck .

Visit the Full Breckenridge Tourism Office, Summer 2017, Gallery.

Visit Ventura & The Channel Islands National Park, Spring 2018

October 12, 2017 in Ventura, Channel Islands NP

Spent a magical 4 days working with Visit Ventura and The Channel Islands National Park in partnership with The Outbound to produce content for the promotion of the National Park (Santa Rosa Island in particular), Ventura, and area businesses. I was stoked to be joined a great group of fellow-influencers: Gunner Hamina, Kellen Mohr, Deidre Leigh Haney, Jesse Biggio, and Meghan White.

All told we generated some 3,000 images, several dozen Instagram/Social posts and stories with tens of thousands of likes and nearly a million impressions. We also created the following articles:

The trip began as a multi-day immersion into the unique ecosystem of Santa Rosa Island, one of the most remote and least visited of the Channel Islands, and ended with a whirlwind tour of the City of Ventura including the Bella Maggiore Hotel, The Serra Cross, Saloon BBQ, VenTiki Lounge, Vagabond Coffee Shop, Beach House Tacos, and Prospect Coffee.

View the Full Visit Ventura, 2017 Gallery

Travel Paso Robles, Summer 2017

July 01, 2017 in Paso Robles, The Outbound

Paso Robles has quickly become one of the hottest wine regions in the country and Veronica and I were fortunate to get to work with Travel Paso Robles in partnership with The Outbound to develop content to help promote the Paso Robles region, its outdoor adventure opportunities and its wonderful food and wine options.

Over the course of our three day trip we generated several hundred images for use by Travel Paso in their marketing and social media efforts along with articles and an Instagram takeover. All told we generated over a million impressions and tens of thousands of Instagram and Facebook likes. The articles created are:

Over the course of the three days we toured with Central Coast Trailrides and Paso Bike Tours, while staying at the Best Western Black Oak hotel. We visited several wineries, restaurant and breweries including Il Cortile, McLintocks, Cowgirl Cafe, Red Scooter Deli, Barrel House Brewing Co., Bistro Laurent, Springside Restaurant, Oak Hill Market, and Saxum Vineyards.

View the full Travel Paso Robles, 2017 Gallery.

Visit Napa Valley, Spring 2017

May 01, 2017 in Napa Valley, The Outbound

Most think of when they think of Napa think of endless vineyards and fine dining, both true, but Visit Napa Valley reached out to us to help develop content in partnership with The Outbound to promote food, wine *and* outdoor adventure in the Napa Valley area.

We developed several hundred images, a half dozen articles, and numerous social media posts garnering tens of thousands of likes and over a million impressions. The articles included:

We spent two nights at the incredible The Harvest Inn and another at the posh, boutique Andaz Napa. Dining included Dean and Deluca, The Restaurant at Auberge, The Bounty Hunter Wine Bar & Smokin' BBQ, Angele, Silverado Market and Bakery, and Oxbow Public Market. Bikes were provided by Napa Valley Bike Tours and our hilarious kayak tour by Enjoy Napa Valley. We also visited Napa's own Petrified Forest and the Caldwell Snyder Gallery.

Visit the full Visit Napa Valley, 2017 Gallery.

#MyLagunaBeach, Fall 2016

January 29, 2017 in Laguna Beach, The Outbound

Spent a wonderful few days collaborating with Anne-Marie and the crew at Visit Laguna Beach for their upcoming Spring campaign(s). In addition to featuring brands like P I E T Y, RWorld, BirkSun, Freemans Collective, The Outbound, and Poler (celebrating their new Laguna Beach store), we also worked with the extremely talented Igor and Inka Shapoval, Brooklyn Nakakihara, Cameron Schwartz, Ross Gordon, and Ryan Ly.

Our focus on this project was to really leverage the network effect of everyone involved in the project, in particular the CVB members. It's been a remarkable success: in Instagram likes alone engagement has been in the *hundreds* of thousands.

Jeanette did a bang-up job as 2nd photog and producer, and we stayed in the Westy at what has to be one of the best car-camping sites on the west coast at Crystal Cove State Park.

All told we shot over 4,000 photos with 90~ edited selects and have written seven articles (thus far).

A few more pieces are in the pipeline on Laguna's LGBTQ history (and current attractions), the remarkable Laguna Beach Marine Preserve, and the Tidepool Interpretive Programs hosted by the Laguna Ocean Foundation.

With every visit, Laguna digs its claws into my heart and imagination. Is is, obviously, a sun-drenched bohemian-chic paradise, but I've grow to *love* it for its remarkable diversity in readily available outdoor adventures. To be able to wake up in the morning to walk a half-block to the ocean for a sunrise surf and then to catch sunset while bombing down a trail overlooking the Pacific in an untouched wilderness preserve? Simply wonderful.

View the full Visit Laguna Beach, Fall 2016

Summit of Arthur's Rock, Lory State Park

Visit Fort Collins, Fall 2016

January 22, 2017 in Fort Collins, The Outbound

With my partner in nursing school in northern Colorado, I have been fortunate to split my time between my home in San Francisco and the outdoor-adventurer-paradise that is Fort Collins, Colorado.

Over the last few months I have been privileged to work with Andrew, Katy and the team at Visit Fort Collins to develop evergreen content documenting city life, businesses, restaurants and outdoor experiences in addition to promotion and distribution through social media and online publications like The Outbound.

In total we've worked together to generate over 750 images with ~70 fully edited selects that have brought in (thus far) over 100,000 Instagram likes and several thousand comments on @visitftcollins, @josiahq, @visitcolorado, @theoutbound and on numerous "regrams".

Specific articles with photos include:

You can view the full gallery here.

Here's to spring being just around the corner! Can't wait to raft the Cache la Poudre river.

Five Must-Do Adventures in Laguna Beach

January 22, 2017 in Laguna Beach, The Outbound

Laguna Beach is famous for its beautiful beaches, beautiful people, and bohemian chic, but in addition to an array of water sports, it has also built a reputation for having an excellent network of trails that afford numerous hiking, biking, and running options in 20,000+ acres of protected land.

Here’s a list of five “Must-Do” adventures on The Outbound for the next time you Visit Laguna Beach.

Read Five Must-Do Adventures in Laguna Beach, CA on The Outbound

Ordered Pairs, 2016

September 19, 2016 in burning man, Ordered Pairs

I generally try to avoid going to TTITD ("That Thing in the Desert") aka Burning Man aka Black Rock City Nevada with much of a plan, since whatever structure I try to put in place tends to get blown away like a poorly-staked tent in a 70 MPH dust storm.

This year though I wanted to try something of an informal photo project, where I could combine the appropriate lack of impulse control with an exercise in capturing one of the more endearing elements of the Burn, namely, how the heat and the dust and the strangeness of it all brings into stark relief the connections we tend to form as primates. Both good and bad. As one friend put it to me: "The Burn will strengthen the strong and will expedite the breaking of those already broken."

If I was in camp in the evening at sunset, I'd head to to my street (4:15 & Florin) and I would ask two people if they would like their photo taken. Many obliged. I decided to call it Ordered Pairs.

I wish I could show the before and after photos of these selections, as I'm new to portraiture, but showing the progression of how two people would approach each other, the ritual, the forms, and then come together for an embrace, well, you feel like you've been given a window into the intimacy they share.

It is voyeurism, sure, but what knowledge of The Other isn't?

View the full Ordered Pairs, 2016 gallery

Visit Telluride: 2016

September 17, 2016 in The Outbound, Telluride

This July I spent a wonderful three days in Telluride, Colorado on behalf of Visit Telluride developing evergreen content (photography and stories) for marketing and social media efforts relating to their outdoor adventure, dining, and nightlife scene. You can view the full gallery here.

In total I shot over 1,100 photos (with ~55 edited selects), wrote four articles including 72 Hours in Telluride, and provided a weeks worth (2 a day) of Instagram posts.

They were kind enough to host me at Hotel Telluride, right in old town Telluride, and a short walk from all the shops, bars, galleries, and restaurants, including the only free public transportation Gondola in the US. If you make it to Telluride and only do one thing, call up Ashley Boling and ask him to give you the tour.

Additionally, the Telluride Tourism Board & I partnered with the team at Telluride Outside for excursions into the San Juan Mountain high country over Ophir and Black Bear Pass. All of the stories went up on The Outbound, including Hike Bear Creek Falls, Drive Black Bear Pass & the Ingram Basin, Drive Ophir Pass, and 72 Hours in Telluride: Summer & Fall Edition.

A big thanks to Annie and Tom from the Tourism Board for being such great hosts. Telluride is a special place; I've never quite been to a mountain town like it. The people who live and love there have done a wonderful job in preserving *and building* its culture. I can't wait to go back.

View the Telluride 2016 Gallery

Beer Run: The Best Trail-to-Bar Pairings in the Bay Area

June 01, 2016 in San Francisco, The Outbound

San Francisco, Marin County, and the surrounding Bay Area is a trail runners paradise that features hundreds (if not thousands) of miles of trails through and along coastal canyons and up and down thousand-foot peaks. And as any trail runner will tell you, there’s nothing like the restorative joy of a victory beer (or two) after a good, long run.

Visit Laguna Beach: 2016

May 13, 2016 in The Outbound, Laguna Beach

This April I spent a wonderful three days in Laguna Beach on behalf of their Visitors Bureau developing evergreen content (photography and stories) for marketing and social media efforts relating to their outdoor adventure, dining, and dive bar scene. You can view the full gallery here.

In total I shot over 2,700 photos (with ~130 edited selects), wrote six articles, and did a takeover of the Visit Laguna Beach Instagram account.

They were kind enough to host me at The Ranch at Laguna Beach tucked away in Aliso Canyon, which nearly looked like Kauai, and I’ll forever be grateful for Anne-Marie pointing me in the direction of The Sandpiper aka “The Dirty Bird”, which is a dive bar out of time and as is important for this San Franciscan, carries Fernet.

The Visitor’s Bureau & I partnered with the team at The Outbound to publish/distribute the six articles, five of which have been published thus far on Hiking the Water Tank Trail, Mountain Biking Car Wreck Trail through Aliso Canyon, Trail Running the Boat Road in the Laguna Coast Wilderness, Sea Kayaking the Laguna Beach State Preserve, and finally, Mountain Biking Emerald Canyon in the Coast Wilderness. The final article, “72 Hours in Laguna Beach”, also included my restaurant and bar recommendations.

Anne-Marie and Callie from the Visitor’s Bureau were great to work with, and I hope everyone will take an opportunity to visit Laguna Beach and take advantage of the incredible diversity of outdoor opportunities the area has. I can’t wait to go back.

View the Laguna Beach 2016 gallery.

Topo Designs Y-Pack & Pom Beanie at Bonsai Rock, Lake Tahoe

May 05, 2016 in Sierra Nevada, Gear

The Y-Pack is Topo Design's most recent attempt at sub-$100 pack. It has all the style and design sensibility that Topo is renowned for, just less some of the more "hardcore" features. The inner laptop sleeve can double as a camelback pocket, and overall there's just enough room for food, blankets/clothing, and miscellany. The top-flap zipper pocket is nice for quick access, though the plastic strap hook can sometimes come loose if you haven't cinched the straps tight enough.

And it matches nicely with the always-warm, ever-beautiful 100% acrylic yarn Pom Beanie.

View the gallery

Gertrude's Saddle - A Gift of a Name

May 04, 2016 in New Zealand, The Outbound

Born in England in 1856, Robert West Holmes moved to New Zealand in 1871 to seek his fortune. Joining the Public Works Department, he quickly became a draughtsman and then an engineer, investigating rail lines throughout the South Island. In 1884 he married Gertrude White, and in 1890, while exploring potentially rail lines between the eastern side of the island and Milford Sound, named the now-iconic, breathtaking saddle for her.

It's a must-see day-hike for anyone exploring in the Milford Sound area. Get off the damn tour bus and lace up your boots. It'll blow your mind.

Continue reading on The Outbound

Granite Dome in the Backcountry to Yosemite's Backountry

May 04, 2016 in Sierra Nevada, The Outbound

Appropriately named, Granite Dome is a massive conglomeration of granite in the heart of the Emigrant Wilderness with endless hiking, climbing, and backpacking routes featuring epic views and gorgeous alpine lakes to explore, all of which are off-trail (eventually) but accessible to even a novice, multi-day backpacker.

Solitude over Lake Wanaka on Buchanans Peaks

May 04, 2016 in New Zealand, The Outbound

Aotearoa, the Land of the Long White Cloud. An outdoor enthusiasts paradise. In the busy summer months the better-known attractions can be filled with tourists, but if you know how to read a topo, you can find almost limitless solitude.

Most visitors to Wanaka Climb Roy's Peak, but if you'd like to avoid crowds and lines, drive a few minutes further and hike to the summit of the even more breathtaking Buchanans Peaks. You'll be rewarding with 360 degree views of Lake Wanaka, the Southern Alps, and Mount Aspiring.

Climbing That Goddamn Mountain

May 04, 2016 in Sierra Nevada, The Outbound

“Because in the end, you won’t remember the time you spent working in the office or mowing your lawn. Climb that goddamn mountain.” - Jack Kerouac

Matterhorn Peak, made famous by a Kerouac's telling of his failed ascent in "Dharma Bums", marks the beginning of the High Sierra's, and is a beautiful mountain deserving of its list as an Emblem Peak.

Continue reading on The Outbound

From the Sea to the Sky in Big Sur

May 04, 2016 in Big Sur, The Outbound

The overlook at the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. Angel's Rest in Zion National Park. Glacier Point in Yosemite. Horseshoe Bend in Arizona. All iconic, best-of, and breathtaking views, and Cone Peak in Big Sur belongs on that list, and is easily the most beautiful coastal view in the United States, towering some 5,155' above the Pacific Ocean less than three miles distant.

Continue reading on The Outbound.

Hidden Tank Hill

May 04, 2016 in San Francisco, The Outbound

In 1894 the Spring Valley Water Company needed a place to store water that was pumped from the Laguna Honda Reservoir on the western side of the ridge of hills that runs through the center of San Francisco. Tank Hill was perfectly positioned just east of the saddle running between Twin Peaks and Mount Sutro and the Reservoir and rapidly growing downtown.

The tank was removed in the 50's, and the City wisely rejected plans for a housing development and instead purchased the land with monies from the Open Space Fund.

Nowadays it remains one of San Francisco's best-kept *secrets*. Most people miss it as they drive buy on their way to Twin Peaks. Tank Hill gives panoramic views from Ocean Beach to Point Reyes and all the way to Oakland and Bayview, with benches and a rope swing. There are two official trails to the summit, but enterprising hikers (and trail runners) know of a glorious (but short) single-track n' scramble up the northern, rugged face.

The Podi Menike Train across Sri Lanka

May 03, 2016 in The Outbound, Sri Lanka

The Podi Menike ("The Little Maiden") is one of the world's iconic train rides, taking you 180 miles from the capital of Sri Lanka across the central mountains to Badulla. Along the way you will pass sacred mountains such as Adam's Peak and Batalegala ("Bible Rock"), the old British colonial resort town of Nuwara Eliya, and some of the finest tea plantations in the world.