I’ve noticed something changing in me over the past two or three years.  I have become increasingly obsessed, well fascinated, by nature and simplicity.  I think “Into the Wild” set me into this path.  I’ve always loved adventure and nature, but I just didn’t have anything to relate to at first.  Eventually, one movie turned into another and another. Last spring break I went to Plattsburgh, New York with my girlfriend at the time.  I had never been to this area of the country, so I wasn’t really prepared for the beauty that was ahead.  The Adirondacks are the only mountains on the eastern half of the country that are not associated in any way with the Appalachians.  Plattsburgh is basically located in a little pocket closed-off from the rest of the country.  To the west & south lie the Adirondacks, while the Canadian border is to the North.  Vermont and New York are separated by Lake Champlain, a beautiful gem to in and of itself.  Needless to say, the geography of the area is simple stunning.  Recently, Ken Burns released his documentary on the National Parks, entitled “National Parks: America’s Best Idea.  He spent 8 years visiting almost all of the National Parks and doing countless interviews and historical analysis in the process.  What comes out is a eloquent story of how utterly amazing it is that we have National Parks.  I’m saying all of this and I have only seen two of the 5 or 6 episodes there are in the series.  I can honestly say, that even after watching just the first episode, a fire was lit inside of me encapsulated in a new-found need of adventure and self-discovery.  The first episode of the series is heavily centered around John Muir, a writer/poet and nature enthusiast.  It’s fair to say that without this man the National Parks might not have ever existed.  The way he described Yosemite Valley is downright spiritual.  If nature is God, John Muir was certainly the disciple whose words seemed to come straight from the voice of God.

…You get the point, I’m hooked.  I bought the backpack I’m planning on using for a trip, most likely to Yosemite, this upcoming summer.  I intend to use this blog as a guide of some sort to help other people who are just beginning to become interested in hiking, climbing, backpacking, etc.

Love-Adam