Although it feels like only yesterday, it has been two years since I first arrived in Oregon. I remember my reasons for moving there, for leaving everything I knew behind. I wanted a fresh start. I wanted to heal, to seek out and find some of the amazing things this world has to offer. Everything before this was merely a taste, a glimpse into the world that I sought out, but this place was the real deal. I didn’t know what I was getting myself into at first, but once I started exploring, hiking, and seeking out adventure my life began to change. I found myself connecting, gaining peace, and being humbled daily by the landscapes and people around me.
The places depicted in these photos are from my first few trips around Oregon. Locations include Smith Rock, Cape Perpetua, Toketee Falls, and Watson Falls.

In September of 2014, I went on my first backpacking trip. I had traveled to the west coast and dreamed of leaving New Jersey where I had spent the first nineteen years of my life, but then I found the Adirondacks. Backpacking mid-September meant there was perfect weather and that the leaves were warm, vibrant colors.

On this trip, we were destined for the top of Mount Marcy, the highest peak in the Adirondacks, and New York as a whole. Mount Marcy was originally given the name Tahawus which means cloud splitter. It’s at an elevation of 5,344 feet. The Adirondacks themselves have 46 peaks that are over 4,000 feet in elevation, and this was going to be the first one I conquered.

Hiking a total of 26 miles, sleeping in a lean-to beneath countless stars, reaching the summit where a thick forest turns into alpine terrain, and seeing the clear water from Lake Tear of the Clouds were just some highlights of my trip. While I set out only to hike Mount Marcy, I was able to conquer two of the Eastern High Peaks the Second being Skylight which gave me a breathtaking view of Marcy and the other Peaks in the Adirondacks.

This trip marked a change in me. It was the longest I had ever hiked. It was my first genuine adventure. I was immersed in nature the entire time and rediscovered my love for it here.  All of the trips I had done before this had led up to the discoveries I would make here. Reflecting among the landscapes, here I found peace.

Photos were taken on my phone in the Eastern High Peaks of the Adirondack Mountains.

This was my second time returning to California. However, this time I ventured North. On my first trip, I experienced the typical California that we all hear about: surfers, gorgeous beaches, and the “LA life”. The second time I was in the mountains.

This place was magical. It was like nothing I had ever seen before. Being from the east coast I was not used to this type of scenery. What we call mountains in the Northeast are not much more than glorified hills. These were mountains. They were enormous pillars of rock reaching up to the sky. Ever since I was a kid, I had dreamed of staying in places like this.

Lake Tahoe was one of the first places that sparked my never-ending need to see and experience the world. This place gave me clarity and direction in life. I saw myself in my surroundings and wanted more of it.  Because of this trip, I knew that I wanted my “every day” to be like this.

These photos were taken around the campgrounds near Fallen Leaf Lake and the Southern Basin of Lake Tahoe.

This was my first time leaving the East coast. I had seen places like Florida and the Bahamas, but nothing like this. California was a whole new world. This trip opened my eyes up to what else was out there. I wanted to see more, experience it all. This trip gave me the first clue to what the world is like and sparked my love for travel.

Flying over the Rocky Mountains was surreal in itself. Never had I seen mountains like these. Crossing them was kind of symbolic of the trip that was about to begin. When I arrived there was nothing but rolling green hills, palm trees, and the great Pacific. On top of these amazing views,  the people there had such a laid back lifestyle compared to the hustle and bustle in the northeast. They were so welcoming.

In my time there I experienced the cold waters of the Pacific Ocean, exotic sea life, and Catalina Island and all its wonders. These things left me in an everlasting state of awe.

The photos were taken throughout Southern California in places such as Laguna Beach, Los Angels, Catalina Island, La Jolla, and Venice Beach.

Although I didn’t see it at the time, life was an adventure. No responsibilities and unlimited freedom. It would seem that I had it made. In hindsight, I see this, but back then freedom was all I was searching for. My world was small, really small, and I wanted it to be bigger, grander. New Jersey was the stepping stone to where I am now. It was my first set of challenges, my first home, and where I discovered what I wanted my life to become. These photos are a compilation of my time in New Jersey and my favorite places there. Locations include various places on the Appalachian Trail, Mount Tammany,  Sunrise Mountain, Pyramid Mountain, and Long Beach Island.