Category: Adventure

THE PORCUPINE TALKS TO ITSELF

Got in a nice six mile run up to the Appalcian Trail. One new trail took my upwards, and I just off onto another which promised me a spring, but it was not well traveled, so I got off course a bit. Thankfully I recently purchased the All Trails app, which set me straight.

I came out to this firebreak, as you can see above. It was quiet and still. Nothing rustling in the underbrush because, well… there was no underbrush.

As I was descneding from the 1000-ish feet I climbed, there he was, a prickley porcupine on the side of the trail. I stopped, and slowly made my way around them. In my youth I heard they can shoot their quills, but nothing of the sort happened. He just went about his business.

Then my pal Kato commented on my Note “‘The porcupine talks to himself.’ Bill Staines PLACE IN THE CHOIR,” so I did a search and found this video:

That about sums it up. This is the second porcupine I’ve seen on my adventures around the Appaclian Trail in the last few years, and really the porcupine just talks to itself. It paid me zero mind. Didn’t scatter off. Wasn’t spooked. Just kept talking to itself and I made my way around him and continued on my run.

SOME THINGS NEVER CHANGE

This was written sometime in 2011, and I found it via The Wayback Machine:

I gave my two weeks notice on Friday. My last day as editor of Noisecreep for AOL Music will be Feb 11. I’ve worked with great people over the past 2+ years, and met some amazing artists, but it’s time to move on.

Living life on the road for six months has been a challenge, with all the logistics, managing money (and my mail), signing divorce papers, long bus rides — but it always works out. Maybe not exactly the way I planned it out (three hour delay yesterday en route to Atlanta), but it’s gone pretty smooth.

I just did the stuff I wanted to do on the side. I worked my day job and then I hung out with friends. I emailed a friend 50 miles away and on the weekend rode my bike there. Then I emailed another friend, and I rode 50 miles. My parents were just 30 miles away, so why not ride there next? On and on I’ve gone, asking friends for a couch to crash on and I’ve made it work. I just did it. Yes, it helped that I could work remotely, but I’ve been doing this “blog thing” for about a decade – I didn’t just “get lucky.” At the same time, I didn’t need to quit my job, or save up any money, or buy a new bike (oops!); week after week I just did this on the side.

Do what you love on the side, a few hours a week. See what happens. If it’s really a priority, and something that feels right in your bones, maybe you can keep doing it.

Can’t believe here I said “doing the blog thing for about a decade,” and here I am now in 2025, having down the blog thing for like 24 years now.

RUNNING IS MY CREATIVE PRACTICE

My Social Media Escape Club project takes a lot of energy, but it’s a good energy. It’s regenerative, to a degree. But I can let it take over, too. There’s just always something more to do, to write, another video to make, an interview to schedule.

My creative practice used to be making music, but these days it seems to be running. Yeah, I guess that’s not art, but for me it is. It brightens my day. Gives me energy. I’m inspired by other runners. I get a lot of great ideas out there on the trails.

Climbed over 5,600′ this week, my most ever. I turn 49 next month. Telling you… climbing these hills along the Appalachian Trail is my creative practice. I love it so much.

Put me on a flat surface to run 30 miles a week? Kill me.

But make it 5,000′ of climbing, and I’m in.

MYSTERIES OF THE TRAILS

You just never know what you’ll find out there in the woods. This is my second 1,400′ of climbing in one week. Over 4,000′ for the week, with the weekend to go, yet. The thing I found I love about running is climbing. Even when I’m slow, at least I’m moving up some pretty big hills.

Last year I climbed 83,000′ and so far this year I’m at 17,400′ – I’m behind pace if I wanna do better than 2024!

QUICK NYC TRIP

Spent a night in New York City. Did an eight mile run from my hotel, all the way around Central park, and back. Haven’t run that far in a minute, so that was quite a feat. Took no photos during the entire run (1.5 hours), just wanted to soak in the entire experience.

Shot with NOMO CAM 135 TC.
Shot with NOMO CAM 135 TC.

I read 4000 Weeks last year, which has made me think of the quickness of life. Is this maybe my last trip to NYC?

Shot with NOMO CAM 135 TC.
Shot with NOMO CAM 135 TC.

I went to Grand Central. I used to walk through that building a few times a week when I moved to NYC back in 2004. My god, what a simpler time, right? No streaming music. Two years before I joined Twitter.

Shot with NOMO CAM 135 TC.
Shot with NOMO CAM 135 TC.

Every moment is a gift. Grateful to be able to make this trip.

EIGHT YEARS OF RUNNING

I can’t believe I started running when I was 40 years old, and now I’m 48. Where does the time go? It was 8 years ago today that I started on this adventure.

After a slow and easy winter, I got back to running in April.

Knowing I’d be slow, running on flat ground didn’t sound appealing, so I went for the hills.

Being out of breath and slow just ain’t a fun time. That’s why I started seeking hills to climb, knowing that I’d be slow, but at least I was climbing a mountain, you know?

I always remember the old running adage, “Hills are speedwork in disguise.” I wasn’t looking for speed; I was looking for strength and fitness. Every step up a hill was a single leg press, and every step down was a forward lunge.

Since starting on April 19th I’m down 12.5lbs, and I am definitely stronger and fitter. I’ve put in 75 hours on mostly trails, covered 283 miles, and climbed 36,800′ in elevation (about 7 miles).

Mind you, I’m mostly power hiking the hills, but you gotta walk before you can run. And when I do run, I’m finally able to nail a 12 minute mile pace, which is definitely an improvement from a few months ago when I’d run 14-15 minute miles. A few more months, I’m sure I’ll be able to hit a 10:30 minute mile pace.

The fun part has been how good it’s felt, which is why I keep doing it. It feels good going up a “mountain,” you know? I’ve gone up a trail called Leg Destroyer a few times. Some runs I’ve climbed 1,400′.

It’s been fun getting back in the flow, building up a base again, and making every run an adventure. I might not be doing epic 100 mile challenges just yet, but like I said earlier, gotta walk before you can run.

MORE SACONY CREEK

I still really don’t know what I’m doing. Today, I put my camera in manual mode, adjusted the aperture and shutter speed (I guess), and let it rip for five minutes at a time. Holding my breath, making sure not to take a step, not fidgeting with my lens cap (I put it in my pocket after the first three shots).

Even then, getting home and managing the files and learning Davini Resolve on the fly. Like, what is color grading? I don’t know, but I know the raw camera footage was very “white light,” so I made some adjustments to make that sun more yellow as it looked real life.

Watch the full 5+ minute scene here.

THE PINNACLE

It’s half-marathon week. This weekend I’ve got a hotel booked, meeting a pal, bringing my camera equipment – it’s gonna be great.

I ran 90 miles in May, which is way more than I’ve ran in a long time. I ran 8.5 miles early Sunday morning and got this photo at a place called Pinnacle along the Appalachian trail (here’s a map).

Earlier this year, around the first few warm days of Spring, this spot was filled up like a Starbucks. People everywhere. Today? Not a soul. It was gorgeous.