PA Living
Listening is something I always thought I was good at doing. People often share themselves with me. By that I mean their thoughts and feelings on things important to them. I thought that was listening. Then I began to listen to the sounds of total darkness. Like crystal laden drops of unseen water they splash unseen through space. Formations of them left behind in the dark. It's there that I hope to learn how to listen a bit more keenly. It's not easy trying to be present in the moment at all times. Those moments of stillness and feeling connected happen sometimes, and that is when I realize I've "listened" to myself in order to get there.
Here's a shot I'd taken in July of 2018 while visiting my home area. Having lived and worked in Pittsburgh for so many years I always name that as my "hometown." I always thinks of hidden little spots like this one. I think of the smell of ferns & pines, the sound of them talking to me as the wind passes through their stands. That is part of what I call "home."
I took this soon after returning to my hometown area after an 11 hour drive. While I love where we currently live in Wisconsin, I do truly miss this amazing lake. This particular spot where "Old 422" runs into it from the east is a favorite location. So many memories. My grandfather used to take us bicycling up and down the old highway. My father used to launch his boats from here. (Sometimes without incident!) When I fished I'd often wade in the waters as I walked down the submerged road, trying to catch pan-fish on a fly-rod. I've no clue how many times I've come here to simply watch the waterfowl, or the sun set. Going to the Pennsic War for me truly was about going "HOME" and not in the sense so many other attendees imply. I can recall being a kid and my Italian grandpa getting all worked up about "Gypsies" when he'd see the tents going up on the other side of the lake. So while I can say I enjoyed my time at the Pennsic War, it was being home and seeing my family, and being able to enjoy the PA landscape, that I will always treasure the most. #Pennsic #Pennsicwar #Pennsicwar46 #morainestatepark #lakearthur #naturalpennsylvania #wildernessculture #outdoorlife #getoutside #liveoutdoors #getoutstayout #getoutthere #naturelover #lifeoutdoors #optoutside #loveoutdoors #outdoorsy #outdoors #nature_perfection #scenicpa #travelpa #explorepa #theoutbound #ventureout #in2nature #thegreatoutdoors #naturewalk #getoutdoors
An August Sunset Welcomes Us Home
After a nearly eleven hour drive from our house in Wisconsin we found ourselves HOME. I love this lake, and our first night home the sky gave me a little show. I cannot even begin to try to calculate how many sunsets I've seen from this vantage point. #morainestatepark #lakearthur #naturalpennsylvania #wildernessculture #outdoorlife #getoutside #liveoutdoors #getoutstayout #getoutthere #naturelover #lifeoutdoors #optoutside #loveoutdoors #outdoorsy #outdoors #nature_perfection #scenicpa #travelpa #explorepa #theoutbound #ventureout #in2nature #thegreatoutdoors #naturewalk #getoutdoors
As we drove away from my father's after our week long visit home and with at least 11 hours of driving in front of us I asked, "Who wants to see Slippery Rock Creek one last time?" Outvoted by the gals I realized I still held the steeling wheel in my hands, so a short side trip seemed like a good idea to me at least. The warmer water was throwing off hints of fog under the falls at the bridge, carrying with it all the smells of the forest. For nearly 40 years this has been where I'd go to just be "me." So many manifestations of myself have walked the shore, waded in the pools, and breathed in those fern scented smells. My soul is mottled dark green, gray and brown. It sounds of rolling water, drumming of rocks, echoes with cries of birds and smells of leaf litter, ferns and hemlock. #mcconnelsmill #slipperyrockcreek #frewmill #campagawam #forest #naturalpennsylvania #wildernessculture#outdoorlife #getoutside #liveoutdoors#getoutstayout #getoutthere #naturelover#lifeoutdoors #optoutside #loveoutdoors #outdoorsy#outdoors #nature_perfection #scenicpa #travelpa#explorepa #theoutbound #ventureout #in2nature#thegreatoutdoors #naturewalk #getoutdoors
With an elevation of around 2,700' (835m) the Laurel Summit rises like a wall running North-South. The clouds bunch along the ridge line, shrouding us in mist. The continuous sound of dripping water from the trees into the many standing, tannin stained pools tattoo out a rhythm. The soft, diffused light emphasizes the vibrant greens of the many mosses that cling to the trees and line the trail. They muffle our steps so we can hear the tiniest of birds as they flitter through the damp forest winds.
An April Fools' Day hike in the Laurel Highlands in 2017.
Wolf Rocks in the Laurel Highlands is a locations we'd not been to in over a decade. The last time we hiked to this location we were just dating and the thrill of a new love must have clouded our memory of just how far of a hike it can be. We'd asked a ranger about the shortcut route, but ended up taking the longest way possible to get there. The most interesting thing about our journey together is that there were many times we discussed turning around and going back, but the thought of the possibility that it was "just around the bend" kept us going. The mysterious beauty of hiking through a flooded mountain ridge, breathing in the clouds and wondering where we where seemed to draw us closer. It's funny how such an innocent attempt at a romantic hike can pretty much sum up our marriage. Oh, and when we were ready to leave we easily found the shortcut trail! #laurelsummit #laurelhighlands #wolfrocks #forbesstatepark #highlands #hikinginclouds #forest #naturalpennsylvania #wildernessculture #outdoorlife #getoutside #liveoutdoors #getoutstayout #getoutthere #naturelover #lifeoutdoors #optoutside #loveoutdoors #outdoorsy #outdoors #nature_perfection #scenicpa #travelpa #explorepa #theoutbound #ventureout #in2nature #thegreatoutdoors #naturewalk #getoutdoors
An April Fools' Day hike in the Laurel Highlands in 2017.
In the weeks since I took this photo while hiking with Teri in the Laurel Highlands back home I've on actually seen her for a handful of days. She is the lioness of the family and was one well before I ever knew her. I hear the sodden cadence of her walking behind me on this trail. We're in rhythm with the tannin tinged air as it sings through the forest around us, its cloud muffled song leading our way. It's all just around the bend. Press on. #laurelsummit #laurelhighlands #wolfrocks #forbesstatepark #highlands #hikinginclouds #forest #naturalpennsylvania #wildernessculture #outdoorlife #getoutside #liveoutdoors #getoutstayout #getoutthere #naturelover #lifeoutdoors #optoutside #loveoutdoors #outdoorsy #outdoors #nature_perfection #scenicpa #travelpa #explorepa #theoutbound #ventureout #in2nature #thegreatoutdoors #naturewalk #getoutdoors
An April Fools' Day hike in the Laurel Highlands in 2017.
An April Fools' Day hike in the Laurel Highlands in 2017.
Just one week or so ago we were playing along the shore of my favorite section of stream in the entire world. I have to admit I'm already missing it. While I've been going here for nearly 40 years there was a very intensive period in my 20's when I was along this section at least once/week, if not more, for two years. No matter the weather, from icy wet rains to super humid summer days I'd fish this section. While a lot of "chubs" were often caught I pulled a fair number of trout and small mouth bass from the water. I know all the best little nooks and crannies where they like to lurk, waiting for food to travel downstream. There are times I miss fishing, but it's the stream itself I truly wish to be near. #mcconnelsmill #slipperyrockcreek #frewmill #campagawam #forest #naturalpennsylvania #wildernessculture#outdoorlife #getoutside #liveoutdoors#getoutstayout #getoutthere #naturelover#lifeoutdoors #optoutside #loveoutdoors #outdoorsy#outdoors #nature_perfection #scenicpa #travelpa#explorepa #theoutbound #ventureout #in2nature#thegreatoutdoors #naturewalk #getoutdoors
It was such a warm, early spring night I just had to drive to the overlooks on Mount Washington. I know it's just the typical "tourist" shot of the city, but I don't care. I've missed living here although I wouldn't trade back for where we now live in Wisconsin. It just felt so good to be back in the city where I lived for around 20 years. Sometimes it's just good to remember who you are. Before taking this I drove through Schenely Park, stopping at CMU campus where I watched the kids compete in some sort of outdoor, night-time race event. All that energy in the air was invigorating.
After a long drive from Wisconsin it felt so good to wake to a beautiful lake view sunrise. I'm HOME! I even had a young eagle fly across my field of view. #morainestatepark #lake #lakearthur #butlerpa #forest #naturalpennsylvania #wildernessculture #outdoorlife #getoutside #liveoutdoors #getoutstayout #getoutthere #naturelover #lifeoutdoors #optoutside #loveoutdoors #outdoorsy #outdoors #nature_perfection #scenicpa #travelpa #explorepa #theoutbound #ventureout #in2nature #thegreatoutdoors #naturewalk #getoutdoors
The view from near the bridge on 528.
Slippery Rock Creek
Slippery Rock Creek
Slippery Rock Creek
Slippery Rock Creek
Slippery Rock Creek
