#best photo backpacks hiking

[wanderlustphotosblog]

Top 10 Travel-Friendly Backpacks for Photographers

Looking for the best travel-friendly backpacks for photographers? Check out this top 10 list for safe and comfortable transportation of your camera gear while you travel and explore.

This top 10 travel-friendly backpacks for photographers post was provided as a guest post by Claire Wilson. In today’s fast-paced travel photography, where amazing moments unfold in the blink of an eye, and you need precision and quality, carrying the appropriate equipment is a must. Traveling as a photographer, be it a professional or an amateur photographer, a backpack matters a lot because it…

[twice-inamillion]

Family Trip

Fluff and Smut (adventure, family time)(teasing, sex, dom Jihyo, cowgirl riding, creampie, talking about breeding)

Chapter 214

2124 Words 

(The first trip as a married couple with Jisoo. Some fluff moment and with a happy ending. 😏)

After your honeymoon, the two of you decide on a family trip with Jisoo. “Are you excited to go on a trip with mommy and daddy?” asks Jihyo. Jisoo nods and smiles. “Okay, then you will need your sweater and your toy.” Jisoo makes her way down the bed, runs to get her sweater and stuffed toy, and puts it inside her backpack. 

You leave just before sunrise for a morning hike to Diamond Head State Park. Jisoo tries her best to make the hike but can only walk on flat surfaces. “Daddy, up,” says Jisoo, who puts her hands up. You put her inside her baby carrier and climb up the stairs to the top of the mountain. When you arrive at the top, the sun rises, “We made it just in time." Jihyo takes a photo of you and Jisoo with the sunrise in the background. 

“Say cheese!”

Jisoo smiles and holds a heart sign, which makes Jihyo laugh. You then take a picture of Jihyo and Jisoo and a family photo of the beautiful background. 

After the hike, the three of you enjoy a light breakfast before going to the second stop of your trip. Jisoo can’t help but be excited to go whale watching. Before arriving in Hawaii, the two of you would read Jisoo, a book on whales, before going to sleep. When she was asked what she wanted to do while she was in Hawaii, she immediately replied, “Big whale, big whale!” 

The three of you arrive at the port and are the first trip of the day. You board the large boat and take your seats inside. The ship departs from the port, as Jisoo is glued to the window trying to look for the whales. 

“Jisoo, there are no whales here.”

“No?” Titling her head in confusion.

“We need to be in the middle of the ocean because the whales are so big,” says Jihyo.

“Whale, big?” 

“Yes, some whales are bigger than this boat.”

“Whale eat?” as she points at the two of you.

“Ohh no, the whale doesn’t eat people. Remember how the book said it eats small creatures called krill.” Jisoo nods her head and stares back at the window. 

About an hour into the boat ride, there is an announcement that there has been a site of a pod of whales nearby. Jisoo’s ear perks up and asks you to go outside.

The three of you head out and walk to where the captain points. Jihyo takes out a pair of binoculars for the two of you to use. It doesn’t take long before you get a glimpse of the whale’s fin, “Look, Jisoo, it's right in front of you.” Jisoo lifts her binoculars and sees the whale showing its head, “ama, whale!”

Jisoo turns to Jihyo and points out, “Look, whale!” You hand over the binoculars to Jihyo, “You’re right; good job, Jisoo, you found the whale.” Jisoo can’t help but feel proud of her finding.

The captain steers the boat closer to where the whale was sighted. “Right before us is a humpback whale in its feeding ground. One of our deckhands communicated with us that they have also caught sight of a calf, so we need to be extra careful.”

“Did you hear that Jisoo? The captain said that they saw a calf, a baby whale.”

“Baby whale? Jisoo?” pointing at herself. 

Jihyo responds, “Yes, a baby just like Jisoo.”

“I see, baby.”

“Ohh, we need to be extra careful. We don’t want to scare the calf away.” 

The three of you wait for a few minutes until the water bubbles up. The whale jumps out of the water and crashes down, causing a huge splash. Jisoo points and laughs out loud, “Whale jump, whale jump!” 

Before the whale came out, Jihyo took out her phone to record Jisoo’s reaction. She knew Jisoo would go crazy if the whale came out jumping from the water. Jisoo moves her hands excitedly as the whale leaps from the water. Jihyo can’t believe she caught this beautiful moment. 

The whale stays afloat for a few minutes, eating the large amount of krill that swarms on the surface. Out of nowhere, Jisoo sees the calf pop its head, “Baby, baby!”

“You’re right; the baby saw you and wanted to say hi.”

“Baby, hi?”

“Yes, baby, wanted to say hi to Jisoo.”

Jisoo laughs, “Hug, baby!”

“Ohh, you can’t hug the baby; it's too big. Maybe when you’re older, you can swim with it.” 

After going back and forth, Jisoo is convinced and understands that she can not hug the calf.

The boat arrives at the port, and the three of you give your thanks to the captain. “Bye-bye!” Jisoo turns around to Jihyo, says, “Jisoo hungry,” and rubs her belly.

You stop at a local Hawaiian shop and get some food before heading to the beach. When you arrive at the beach, Jihyo walks to a good spot with some shade as you carry your belongings. Jisoo watches and eats her pineapple ice cream and shouts, “Apa, tent!” rushing you to hurry with setting up the tent. “Okay, okay, I got it.”

After setting up the tent, you all enjoy some ice cream and food as you watch the waves crash to the shore. Jisoo extends her arms, “Ama, boobs, boobs!” Jisoo crawls to her mother and lifts up her shirt, exposing her bra. “Okay, okay, you want to drink mommy’s milk,” as she releases her breasts from her bra. 

Jisoo immediately positions her head and attaches her mouth to Jihyo’s nipple. She starts to suck on Jihyo’s breast aggressively, causing her to moan slightly. You can’t help but laugh at Jihyo for her sudden reaction. She throws her bra, which hits your face. Jihyo laughs at you, but instead, you take her bra and give it a sniff, to which she says, “Babe, you’re gross.” 

“Haha, you know we’ve done worse,” giving her a smirk.

“Haha, that’s true.” 

After a few minutes of breastfeeding, Jisoo falls asleep, attached to her mother’s breast. Jihyo places her on the floor of the tent and covers Jisoo with her blanket. “Aww, she looks cute, doesn’t she.” 

Suddenly, she feels your head on her lap, and you say, “Mommy, I’m hungry too,” giving her a pair of puppy dog eyes. She gives you an annoyed face before you attach your mouth to her breast. You slowly begin to suckle on her nipple, causing her to release a slow moan, “Ahh… babe. That feels nice.” You increase the pace of your sucking, which increases her cry. She can feel herself getting wet but then hears Jisoo whine in her sleep, making her release her nipple from your mouth.

 “Why did you stop?”

“She’s going to wake up.” 

“Dang, okay,” you pout.

The two of you instead lay next to Jisoo and talk about the past few days. The ups and downs and what is on the schedule for the next few weeks. She also asks you for an update on the house, which there is some process but is still a few months away from completion. Eventually, she falls asleep like Jisoo, and you decide to enjoy your time at this very moment.

You return to the house and have a light dinner before showering. Jihyo decides to bathe with Jisoo as you clean up the kitchen and get your items ready for tomorrow. After you are finished, you hop into the shower as Jihyo gets Jisoo ready for bed. With the water muffling any outside noise, you clear your head and enjoy your time alone. 

Done with your shower, you see Jihyo covering Jisoo with her blanket. “She fell asleep so fast; she must have been so tired.”

“We did wake up earlier than usual. She didn’t even complain one bit  throughout the day.”

“Our baby is growing up,” says Jihyo with a warm smile.”

“You’re right; our baby is growing up so fast.”

Jihyo then turns around and touches your chest, “Let’s continue where we left off.” She stares at you with lustful eyes and pushes you onto the couch.

“Wait… what are you doing?”

“I said I want to continue where we left off.”

“But Jisoo is here.”

“So, she’s asleep, and I don’t think she’ll wake up until tomorrow.” She undoes your towel and pulls out your limp cock, and gives it a few strokes. Jihyo lifts her oversized shirt and aligns your cock to her entrance, slowly lowering herself into your cock, causing her to moan.

With your cock between her walls, she slowly rides you. You can feel your core burning up and your cock throbbing due to her tightness. 

She whispers in your ear, “I can feel your cock getting bigger inside of me,” which makes you immediately go to full size. Now, at full length, she increases the pace as she rides you like one of her toys. 

You try not to make any noise and not wake up Jisoo, and you bite your lip and try your hardest not to make a sound. The only sound in the room is of flesh slapping against each other as Jihyo rides you like a mating bull. 

You don’t want to be the only one nude, so you lift up Jihyo’s oversized shirt and toss it on the floor. With your hands on her ass, she begins to thrust harder, causing your thighs to turn red. To what seems like thirty minutes of pure riding, Jihyo knows you are at your limit. She comes closer to your ear and whispers, “I know you’re about to cum just like I am. So where do you want to shoot it? Inside or outside?”

It’s a no-brainer, and respond, “You know the only choice is inside.” 

“Why did I even ask? You’re always one to get a girl dirty right after they get cleaned.”

“What can I say? I like marking my girls with my seed.”

Teasing you, she says, “And what do you like doing to your girls with your seed?”

“I like breeding them.”

“Ohh, you like breeding us?”

“Yes, just like right now. I want to breed you all night and give our daughter another sibling.”

“If you want to, do it.”

“Really?”

“No. You know how busy we are with the tour.”

“Fuck, you’re right.”

“But that doesn’t mean you can't just fuck me here and there. I’m on the pill, so you can cum inside of me as much as you want.”

“You really know how to make a guy happy, huh.”

“I know you like the back of my hand. I know you’re about to burst at any moment, so let me give you a push,” and lifts herself once more before slamming herself with full force. 

Both of your floodgates burst wide open, releasing your orgasms at once. Her love juice and your thick cum collide with one another, mixing into something new. Jihyo spasms as she rides her orgasm, tightening her walls around your cock and milking you of all you’re worth. 

After a few minutes, she regains her composure and asks you to bring her to bed. “You don’t want to clean yourself first?”

“No, why would I? I love the feeling of hot baby batter in my tummy.” You can't help but get turned on again. “I see our little friend here is still full of energy. How about you go clean up the mess, and if you’re still hard, I’ll let you sleep with your cock inside of me.” 

You try your best to clean yourself and the mess before going to bed. Luckily, your friend didn’t disappoint and stood tall and proud the whole time. 

You climb onto the bed slowly, not to wake Jisoo from her sleep. Jihyo turns around and whispers, "I guess you’re still hard. A promise is a promise," and turns around with her back facing you. She sticks her but out, teasing you as you get closer to her. She grabs your hard cock and aligns it to her entrance before taking in the first two inches of your meat. “It’s in, you can put in the rest.” 

You grab her waist and shove your whole length inside her womb, causing her to moan slowly. Jihyo, in a spooning position with you, grinds herself onto you and makes sure that every inch of “you” is warm. She slowly falls asleep with your embrace and her baby next to her. 

[cutebbcute]

In the summers silence, I was getting violent

Glenwood series

Summary: Ranger just wanted to help their best friend move. Little did they know they would completely forget what really happened that night.

Warnings: major character death, a cliff, violence, non-consensual biting.

They /them

They/them Pronouns for ranger.

Word count: 2,087

"Your what?" Rangers eyes open with surprise. Eyes fanticly looked at Isaiah, trying to understand.

" Well, she said she has this nice house off a trial not too far from he -"

"So you're just leaving that quick!"

The room went still. Ranger threw their hand up and stared at Isaiah looking for an answer. He just gave a pleading look back.

"Look," Isaiah sighed. "She says that she needs my help, that my magic could help her turn back!" He flashed a bright smile at ranger. " I could use my powers for something this time, and she says she could teach me more about them."

He looks back at Ranger, expecting a happy face, but all he sees is one of hurt.

"You barely know this girl Isaiah, how are you sure. What if she takes you into the woods to murder yo-"

"She would never, you know this dude. She was a blood mage before, so I think she just sees herself in me.. I guess."

Isaiah begins to take more clothes and carful folds them into his hiking backpack that has a bunch of different patches on it.

Ranger sit on his bed with their head in their arms.

" Have you even told your mom?" Ranger asks, voice filled with worry.

"You know she doesn't care dude, why do you think she sent me to those summer camps, and now she has a new boyfriend to worry about." Isaiah runs a hand through his hair, sighs, and falls into the bed, looking over at his best friend.

"What about me, Isaiah? What if you get hurt and and..." Ranger says as their voice quivers, they look over at Isaiah eyes filled with worry.

"Dude," Isaiah sits up and moves to be next to them. "You are such a mother hen." He pushes rangers hat down infount of their face.

Ranger lets out a few chuckles before they shove him back.

"Trust me, I'll be fine, I'm just going to stay with her for a bit while she trians me. Plus, the trail to her house isn't too far from here."

"You're going to walk to her house now. It's about to pour, and the sun should be setting soon."

Ranger says, glancing outside the windows, the sun is just starting to set, and the sky is filled with black clouds.

Isaiah looks out the window for a bit before looking back at Ranger. "I'll be fineeeee."

"You're going against Hikers code? How about I help you bring stuff? She won't care, right?"

Isaiah looks off for a bit in though before shrugging his shoulders. "I don't think she would care, plus I could use some help."

"Alright, give me 5 minutes." Ranger smiles before rushing out.

They run down the street to their house, they run in quickly, throwing their hat to the side, and began making a bag filled with the essentials as if they had done this before. Flashlight, snack bars, 2 water bottles, a small first aid kit, and their trusty pocket knife.

Huffing trying to catch their breath, they look over to their desk. It's a photo from when Ranger and Isaiah were at prom. Both of their prom dates left them, so they dipped and decided to go to McDonald's still all dressed up. Ranger smiles at the picture, grabs their bag, and rushes out the door.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ranger and Isaiah stand at the entrance of the trail. It's one they have done so many times before.

"She said to meet her at the cliff point," Isaiah looks up from his phone to ranger.

"Ok, still a decent hike up, but it's nothing we haven't done before. Did you tell her I'm coming?" Ranger takes their eyes off of the path ahead of them and looked at Isaiah, their gut filled with a bad feeling.

"No, but she shouldn't care. You're just helping me bring something up, and then after I settle in, I should be able to visit you." Isaiah brushes ranger off and begins to walk ahead

"Should? Why wouldn't you visit me?" Ranger asks, still filled with worry.

Isaiah looks back to Ranger as he stops in his tracks. " Well, shes.... she's worried I'll hurt someone." Isaiah looks down

"Isaiah, in your years of knowing me and showing me your magic, have you hurt me?" Ranger walks up and pats his shoulder. "Plus, if you ever need a dummy to practice on, im right here." Ranger flashes Isaiah a toothy smile before motioning forward. "Come on, let's try to beat the moon. The sun is starting to set."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It took about 45 minutes of walking, but two of them slowly made it up the trial into an opening. There are a few signs, 2 picknick tables, and some trash. But the best thing about this part was the view of the cliff. it was a beautiful view of the mountains, trees, and the sun as it finally dipped past the horizon.

Ranger look out, a chill going down their spine as darkness Stared to set in. They grab their flashlight from the side of their bag and flick it on. They shine it towards Isaiah.

"She says she is on her way now." Isaiah smiles as he puts his phone away in his back pocket. He turns his head to look at the view. "It shouldn't be long since she's a vampire, they are quick as fuck." Isaiah smiles.

"This is the skin of a killer, Bella."Ranger throws their head back in laughter at their own joke. Isaiah begins to laugh back. It take a minute for them to gain their composure back.

"So what are you going to do while I'm doing this?" Isaiah asks, facing Ranger as he crosses his arms at them. Ranger looks at him for a second before looking out at the view.

"Might become a park ranger."

They srug their shoulders.

"That.... actually sould perfect." Isaiah chuckles to himself, "you always are a sucker for the outdoors.... and rules."

Ranger gives a playful shove to Isaiah as he laughs. "Just becaus-"

"OH ISAIAH!!" A high pitch voice calls out from behind them. They both turn to face who was calling the name.

"Charlotte!" Isaiah runs over to her and opens his arms out wide. She quickly denied the hug and gives him a pat on the shoulder. "Oh, you know I'm not the huggin-..." She stares at ranger, red eyes glowing in the light from their flash light.

"Hey Charlotte " they give a quick response.

Charlotte turns to face Isaiah. "Isaiah, doll I though we talked about this." She gave Isaiah a look of pity.

"They just wanted to help me up here, that's all." Isaiah lowers his smile, and his brows scowl together.

"Yeah, is there a problem with that." Ranger quips back.

Charlotte stants and looks back and forth between the two before speaking. " Isaiah, may I speak to you privately for a minute."

Isaiah frowns at her before looking at Ranger. "Yeah ,sure." Ranger takes the idea and goes to sit at one of the picknick tables. They slunch down and start to pick at the table. A water drop falls on their head. They look up and see a cascade of water falling. They were to focus in the rain, and suddenly, a shout catches their attention.

"Look, Charlotte, if you don't like them, I don't care their my best friend, and I'm not just going to leave them!" This is followed a harsh slap. Isaiah stumbles to catch his body , holding his stinging cheek, and he quickly looks back at Charlotte.

"You are going to get them killed, don't you notice th-" Charlotte catches rangers punch right before it hits her face. She breathes out. " I don't have time for this."

She shove ranger back, and they go flying. Their body rolls back into the now muddy path. They cough as the wind was knocked out of them. Isaiah looks over to his best friend he then trys to launch his body towards them, but before he can, he is pulled back by the back of his neck. He was forced to look at Charlotte, and he bagan to hear a ringing in his ear as his vision started to fade.

Charlotte was mouthing words he couldn't hear. Suddenly, Charlotte was knocked out of concentration as a body collided with her. Hands trying their best to grab at Isaiah. She drops Isaiah and turns and hits Ranger in their face. A loud crack fills the air as Ranger stumble back, holding their nose. trying to get a sense of their surroundings. Everything was too much. The rain, the mud, the pain, the worry. Their eyes open to face Charlotte. " I'll tell the Bureau, the- this has to be illegal."

"OH would you just shut it."

Ranger is quickly grabbed by the Throat... they cough and grab at her hands. Eyes bulging, they frantically look around. Their eyes land on Isaiah, whose body layed close to the edge of the cliff. He slowly shakes his head up his arms hold his face up from the mud. He's covered in mud, he tries to stand but as he does the ground from under him slips...

Ranger watches, and they frantically try to claw out of her grip. They let out a horse. "ISAIAH!" Everything feels as if it was in slow motion. Isaiah body begins to quickly slide off the side of the cliff. He frantically tries to grab at the ground, but it's no use. The whole chunk of ground he was on was mud. Mud that was slipping of cliff. Charlotte let go of ranger their body begin to fall to the ground. Just like Isaiah. They tried to reach out, but it was not use.

Isaiah body fell, ranger knew from the sick tud they heard.

Rangers body begin to shake, they started to hyperventilate, this wasn't happening. They wanted to believe that Isaiah was safe right next to them. But every blink of their eyes showed his helpless eyes right before the fall. The sick and wet thump of his body hitting the ground. They screamed.

They only thing that pulled them from this downward spirle was Charlotte yell. "Son of a bitch!" She quickly threw her gaze at ranger. "You!"

Before ranger could speak, her hands were around their neck. "Do you have any idea of what you've done!"

Ranger eyes bulged out as they stared at her. They felt anger build up in their chest. They weren't going to let her get away with this. They quickly grabbed their trusty pocket knife and slammed it into her arm. The next thing they knew, they were slammed into a tree. Everything hurts, their body, their mind, and slowly Charlotte walks up to them. With one hand, she grabs the side of their throat and brings them up to their feet. She stares at them as if she's deciding something. Then her eyes light up, her fangs show as she shows a crazy smile. "At least you can be a blood bag." Rangers eyes look up at her in fear as

She forcefully tilts their head to the side and CRUCH. Ranger trashes against the bite, pain racing threw them.

they feel paralyzed. Their eyes slowly begin to close, but just as they due Charlotte takes her mouth off their throat. A hand opens one of their eyes forcefully. "Im not done with you." She growls and grabs them by the sholders. They see her lips move, but they can't hear anything but ringing. Only something about magic? They panic as they are draged but too tired to fight it off. Suddenly, the ground slips from them... they are falling...THUD.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Hotshot?" Ranger head snaps over to Clare, their eyes soften when they see her. She walks over and places an unbrela over the two of them.

"You know, for someone as smart as you, I would think you would be smart enough to not sit out in the rain." Claire, look at them and hold out a hand. Ranger gladly accepts it and is pulled out of their seat. A hand gently glides them inside. "We just got you all fixed up. I don't need you to get sick now." Claire chuckles before putting the unbrela down. "Stay here. I'll go get you a towl. Clare walks away from Ranger to go retrieve a towel. Ranger watches her go, and then they look outside at the rain. The ground was slowly mixing into mud.

[luminouslywriting]

As a recent convert to the ladies who Brady crew, I love the idea of Brady wanting to learn more about his girl's interests. She loves Pilates? He's trying a class. She has a favorite author? He's checking out one of their books. She likes plants? Brady's always wanted a cactus! He would just be so cute and eager to share. 😊

Ahh this is darling so I just had to go on a slight rabbit hole for you Nonny! Because you're so right and he's such a supportive guy! Cut for length :) And keep sending me stuff, this is so much fun! Some light spice mentions below the cut!

-John Brady is above all things, a supportive man—and when it comes to you, he just adores you. Worships the ground that you walk on, thinks that you're prettier than starlight and more important to him than the sun is to the life of earth.

-That being said, if you have a hobby or an interest, he is running with it at full-force and attempting to make it a bonding experience.

-You want to get into art? Babe, he is finding some local art classes and trying his hand at it. Now I don't think he's all that great at drawing....but painting? He absolutely is great at it! I imagine he's really into painting landscapes and finds a lot of comfort and peace in it!

-This maybe leads to some more precarious moments between the two of you....paint fights that turn into messy sex is absolutely on the table haha

-You want to get into hiking or rock climbing? GREAT! He loves being outside and in nature and fitness is pretty important to him! So he's gonna be your hiking buddy for sure! -He absolutely would carry your water for you and make sure that HE has the backpack because he wants you to just have a good time and be able to enjoy nature.

-Rock climbing might be a little more worrisome to him but he loves getting to spend time with you and he really enjoys watching the way that you concentrate so fully on something. It's definitely a turn on for him.

-Oh you like photography? He might be a little bashful, but he's absolutely your muse and he's going to get in on the action

-This definitely means there are a few risqué photos of you that only his eyes have ever seen haha

-Yoga? HOT YOGA

-You want to get into sports? Fantastic! He definitely did a few things in high school and he's a decent enough athlete that he can pull off an average performance in some of the sports he's not as well-acquainted with

-Definitely takes advantage of trying to show you how to golf, or how to hold a tennis racket or baseball bat though haha

-Archery? I'M THINKING OF THE SCENE WHERE MIA AND NICHOLAS FROM PRINCESS DIARIES 2 PRACTICE ARCHERY

-I had to include the gif haha

-You want to get into baking or cooking? He's going to have the time of his life making food with you and it's the most wholesome domestic thing

-Definitely gets a little heated in the kitchen if you know what I mean

-You're into gardening? Great! He loves gardens and wants to make sure you have your favorite flowers or your favorite plants!! And he always surprises you with new plants!

-You're into reading or writing? He's going to read whatever books you like after you read them, or he's going to suggest to you some of his favorites.

-And if you're a writer then he's going to read everything you write and hypes you up! He's also going to be honest about his opinions and tell you what he thinks could be better (in the best and most constructive way)

-You like dancing? BABY, he will take you dancing every weekend and has the time of his life when he does!

-Board games is a hobby? He gets so competitive when it comes to Scrabble, it's not even funny

-You play a different instrument than him or you like to sing? AMAZING!! He's going to ask you to teach him about your instrument and that might get a little heated haha.

-Would absolutely harmonize your favorite songs with you because I think he has a great voice!

-You're into collecting things? Be it baseball cards, butterflies, coins, stamps, whatever it is—he's going to get in on it and try to find you the ones you're missing!

-An academic?? He adores that about you and will try to read up and learn about your favorite field of study, be it history, science, or whatever it is!

-Anywho....I could go on forever and ever, but these are just a few general things that I think he'd be like when it comes to your interest and hobbies

[prince-liest]

inspired by a series of convos in the 3zun server and also my own recent camping trip:

please imagine mundane modern au nieyao going camping

meng yao is like twenty-three, freshly graduated from college after having to take a gap year to take care of his ailing mother. nie mingjue is in his thirties, and knows meng yao as the responsible young man who befriended his brother and is probably one of the driving forces preventing nie huaisang from having skipped too many classes to actually earn a degree. he's not technically meng yao's boss, but he works in the same organization and he thinks it's perfectly acceptable to mosey on over to meng yao's actual boss during the interview process and give them a stellar review of what he knows of meng yao's work ethic.

the fact that meng yao eventually (read: very rapidly) gets promoted to work at nie mingjue's right hand is... probably fine. it's not too strange. in fact, they're friends! good friends! good enough friends that when nie huaisang finally puts his foot down and downright refuses to go on the nie annual camping trip, citing that he is a "real" adult now (whatever that means) and that means he doesn't have to spend a week in the woods every year getting bitten by mosquitos and hunting down the nearest wifi connection if he doesn't want to, da-ge, maybe it'd be cute for taking photos if they just went for the weekend - well, then nie mingjue retorts that he doesn't see the point in driving all the way out to yosemite for a single weekend and invites meng yao instead.

meng yao, on the other hand, is thinking: hm. he is pretty sure he has seen this porno. a week out in the woods with his hot older boss who is also his best friend's big brother. you couldn't fit more tropes into it if you tried. maybe if there were debt collectors after him and nie mingjue was a mafia boss.

(there are no debt collectors. meng yao has made certain of it. he has been very financially responsible in the aftermath of his mother's passing.)

nie mingjue is a responsible hiker and at least somewhat aware that he's taking somebody with no experience on a camping trip, largely courtesy of nie huaisang. meng yao ends up dressed mostly in nie huaisang's unused hiking clothes, packing his things in nie huaisang's unused hiking backpack, and sleeping in nie huaisang's unused sleeping bag. he looks up the price of the socks that nie mingjue handed him and then decides not to look up any more for the sake of his emotional wellbeing.

they make it to yosemite. meng yao has looked up all the things to do in yosemite valley, but for some reason they end up driving way farther north through some winding mountain roads that make him wonder if the car is just going to... tip over the side and neither of them will ever be seen again. for some reason there's a random porta-potty around one of the bends that meng yao silently stares at as they pass. it takes several hours to arrive, but there's a surprising amount of gas left over in the car for how much time the trip took.

the camp grounds are a little...

"isn't this a little crowded?" meng yao asks. "why don't we go farther into the woods?"

nie mingjue looks at him like he's the strange one. this is how meng yao learns that you cannot camp just anywhere inside of a national park. apparently it's okay, because most people are respectful of the common spaces. also, there is no shower in this specific camp. nie mingjue brought wet wipes.

these are not the ideal circumstances for fucking in the woods, but meng yao is a trooper and he understands that sometimes reality is a little more complicated than not safe for work media.

it's fine. besides, they get there pretty early in the day, all-considered. and it's spring, so it's still cool enough to go hiking at midday. a waterfall sounds pretty romantic, he thinks, watching nie mingjue work some kind of eldritch magic with tent poles while taking mental notes so that he can prove himself competent should he ever need to set up a tent again in his life.

an hour and a half later, meng yao is soaked through with sweat and half-convinced that he's developed adult-onset asthma. nie mingjue is glistening attractively. for some reason the incline of the 'easy' hike to a nearby waterfall that they're on suddenly turned into a rock climbing challenge in the last quarter mile. the worst part about going down it is knowing that he will have to go back up on the way back. there aren't that many people around, but if nie mingjue is taking him here to fuck him, then meng yao is going to simply have to throw himself into the river rapids and drown. it would be a kinder form of death.

they get to the waterfall. it is spring, so the river is flowing so strongly with icemelt that it's too dangerous to truly swim. meng yao considers at least dipping in, but when he puts his feet in, the water is so cold that he decides that he likes having physical sensation above his ankles, thank you. nie mingjue smiles proudly at him and tells him that nie huaisang usually complains up a storm by this point and that he loves his brother but it's nice to be with a more appreciative partner. something in meng yao's chest squeezes a little bit.

it gets a little tighter when he realizes that he's finished all of his water and nie mingjue crouches down to show him how to use the iodine water tablets on the river water. they make the water taste strange, but meng yao is mostly distracted by the fact that nie mingjue's mouth was just on the lip of the water bottle that he's about to drink from.

he drinks, tilting his head back. his hands are shaky with exhaustion and some of the water spills. it's cool on his chin and throat and he doesn't bother brushing it away - he's so sweaty that it's probably impossible to discern what's sweat and what's water anyway. when he opens his eyes again, nie mingjue is watching him.

they hike back. by the time they arrive at camp, meng yao's legs have entirely turned into jelly and nie mingjue takes pity on him, sitting him down in a camping chair with a beer and going off to pick up dry wood ("why would I buy firewood when deadwood is free?"). he teaches meng yao how to start a campfire, stacking small twigs in increasingly larger sizes until there's enough kindling to set the big logs ablaze. meng yao finds himself shivering in the dark, pressed up against nie mingjue's side and leaning towards the flames. funny, how he thought he would never feel cooled down again just an hour ago. his face burns, and his back is only cold until nie mingjue offers him a blanket.

they absolutely do not fuck that night, nor any other night. but meng yao has fun: he hasn't felt so free to learn and mess up and explore since he was a kid, and the absolute newfound freedom that he experiences when he once asks if they could go look at something off a path and nie mingjue says yes - says, in fact, that the whole point of going off into the woods like this is being able to do and see whatever you want, as long as it's within legal boundaries - means meng yao basically forgets his initial plan entirely.

they nearly get lost on their next hike, missing a turn in the established path and only turning around when they reach what could best be described as a ravine. there are more waterfalls - meng yao didn't know there were this many waterfalls anywhere in the world. they move campgrounds a few times, too. apparently it's quite difficult to get seven straight days booked in a yosemite campground. meng yao sets up the tent the second time. some of the campgrounds have showers, wooden buildings with cool water and moths fluttering around the lights. the most delicious meal meng yao swears he's ever eaten is the cheese-filled sausages nie mingjue roasts over a campfire, combined with cup noodles that they cook using water from the same camping stove tea kettle they use for their tea in the mornings.

eventually, it is time to go home. meng yao hasn't washed his hair in two days and doesn't remember the last time he heard the ping of his phone demanding that he put out yet another fire at work. he'd been asked to keep his phone on and check his email when he can during his vacation, but most of the places they've been don't actually have service.

they drive back through the same mountains as before. the porta potty is still there. meng yao actually points out its strangeness this time, and nie mingjue laughs. meng yao smiles. he's been smiling a lot during this trip. he feels vaguely like a new person. it's fresh air and endorphins, nie mingjue says. good for the soul. meng yao is pretty sure it's nie witchcraft, too.

(or maybe it's endorphins. he certainly gets a hot flood of those when, dropping off meng yao at his doorstep, nie mingjue finally hesitates - and steps close, mumbling, "didn't wanna make you uncomfortable while you were trapped in the woods with me, but..." before kissing him. his hands are so big on meng yao's hips.)

(they do fuck that night. but not before meng yao drags both of them into his shower and scrubs himself from top to bottom. yosemite was great, but he has standards.)

[seabeck]

FAQ + About (for mobile)

About me: My name is Milli (she/her), 25yrs. I love taking photos of nature and my Subaru. I’m a huge nerd about mushrooms, plants, and skulls. I’ve been hiking ever since I was a little kid and at this point I feel at home in the woods.

I have a flock of chickens, a boyfriend, a dog, and waaay too many house plants

Did you take all the photos on this blog?

Yep, every photo posted here was taken by yours truly unless otherwise noted (very rare).

What camera/lenses do you use? 

My crop sensor/work kit is:

Nikon D7100

10-20mm f/4.5-5.6G VR

Dolica ZX600B103 Tripod

My full frame kit is:

Nikon D850

Sigma 150-600mm f5.6-6.3 

50mm f/1.8 G

60mm f/2.8 ED Macro

Nikon 105mm f/2.8 VR G

17-35mm f2.8 

20mm 1.8 ED sold

Sigma 150-500mm f5.6-6.3  sold

Kenko extension tubes

Raynox 250

Vanguard Alta Pro 263AB (works for macro + everything else)

Filters and other gear:

Hoya circular polarizers + Stop down/up kit

Nikon camera backpack (discontinued)/TARION Camera Backpack

Instax Mini 90

Other cameras I’ve owned:

D50

D200

D3000

D7000

Here’s my lens wish list, some are on there for fun and some I actually want.

What camera gear would you recommend for a beginner?

Before you worry too much about getting the best gear, make sure you learn how to use it first. You could go out and buy the fanciest camera and lenses and still not take good photos because you don’t know how to use your camera or how to “see”. There’s also a saying, “you marry your lenses and date your bodies”. Invest in good lenses, preferably full frame compatible ones in case you ever decide to upgrade to full frame, and get a cheaper body to start. With that out of the way…

If you’re just starting out, I’d recommend getting a refurbished or used camera from the D7100+ line. They’ve come down in price as of late and are pretty solid cameras. Just make sure to check the shutter count.

I’d skip anything from the D3000 & D5000 lines. They’re not bad cameras but they do not have built in autofocus meaning they rely on the lens itself having autofocus. This isn’t horrible but it does limit what lenses you can use (and some of the lenses that won’t autofocus with those cameras are good AND cheap) and that can be confusing for a beginner.

As for a lens, a 50mm f/1.8, or 35mm f/1.8 is a great lens. Both lenses are inexpensive, have good quality glass, and can used for nearly everything. The 18-55mm lens that comes with cameras isn’t bad either. 

I don’t shoot Canon/Sony/whatever else so I can’t give any advice there sorry!

How did you learn to take photos?

LOTS of practice, I first picked up a camera back in 2013. In high school and college I took photography classes but ultimately I didn’t really learn much from them, they started at too basic of a level.

I did learn a lot about photography from taking art classes however. They taught me framing, how to use shadows/light, and movement in a photo (where does your eye travel when you view an image/art piece). My mom is also a professional photojournalist so I picked up some knowledge from her and my grandfather who’s also a published photographer.

How can I take better photos?

Again, lots of practice. Learn what every setting and button on your camera does, try different shooting modes, take the same photo at several different apertures and shutter speeds to see what changes. You can learn a lot from reading articles too but the best way to learn, imo, is by doing. Don’t worry about getting the best gear and the best camera, learn how to take photos first.

Study other photographers photos, and even paintings, and see what you like. Pay attention to directional lines and where your eye travels. Learn how to use Photoshop/Lightroom (just pirate it). Take photos in different weather, lighting, and times of day. 

What programs do you use to edit? What presets/filters do you use?

I use Lightroom and Photoshop Classic along with custom presets that I’ve made for different situations (fog, snow, etc) to process most of my images and then I make minor tweaks. A lot of my presets started as VSCO presets and then I kept the things I liked and changed the things I didn’t.

What is your job?

I’m a real estate photographer specializing in short term rentals. I love it.

Are you related to Eddie Vedder?

Yep, we’re very distantly related. Something like 7th cousins twice removed but I’ve never met him.

Can you add a photo to your print shop?

Sure! Just tell me the name of the photo (or link it if possible, I reuse a lot of names) you want added and I’ll get it up there.

May I use one of your photos?

I’m 100% ok with people using my photos as a reference for drawing/painting, I’d even love to see the result. For anything else, just shoot me an ask beforehand and I’ll let you know. Please do not repost my photos on Tumblr or elsewhere without my permission.

[ayearoferewhon]

Onceuponatime // I first began subscribing to the Naturist Society magazine when I was still in college, maybe 20 years old. I was under the spell of Lee Baxandall’s Nude guide, and all the photographs by Jerry Derbyshire. That came to me in high school. By college, I was decided that I was definitely a naturist—after visits to the nude areas of Jones Beach and a very nude backpacking summer in Greece—and so joined the Society and received the magazine.

We planned trips out of it, learned history. I remember using the ads, like when my girlfriend (now wife) and I found the “Firefly Cottages” in Negril and took our spring break there, still in college. (Don’t think they exist anymore.) I remember when my dad found my stack, one summer home from school, and shook his head, maybe even said - why can’t my son just have some Playboys like everyone else? But that wasn’t what these magazines were about for me. They opened up another world - of thought, of action, dreams.

I just found an issue in a drawer I came by much later. In an article on “Freehiking Utah,” this photo - clearly not of Utah at all. Who knows why it was published this way. But you will know, like me - it’s a photo of the best free hike in the known Universe, the trail to Deep Creek Hot Springs.

Onceuponatime.

(From “Freehiking Utah, A Model for Organizing a Nude Hiking Club,” by Kenneth Jaines, N Magazine, Summer 2008.)

[byunbqbes]

(人◕‿◕) 𝕪𝕠𝕦 𝕙𝕒𝕧𝕖 𝕒 𝕟𝕖𝕨 𝕟𝕠𝕥𝕚𝕗𝕚𝕔𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟 (•◡•) - matchup for @tatiquichi

matched with nishinoya yuu

omg no one can convince me that this kiyoko simp boy will not simp for you either

just sits near you the library for AGES and plans out the best way to introduce himself to you

THE PLAN PROBABLY WORKED BETTER IN HIS HEAD

"you know, i've noticed you around and just wanted to say you look very pretty today-"

"sorry, who are you?" 💀💀💀

nishinoya as a boyfriend omg

just says the cheesiest stuff. not to see you blush. not to boost your ego. says you're pretty when you doll up for your first date because he seriously just finds you pretty

DEADLY protective and loyal. his teammates' glances can linger for a moment longer and noya will be jumping down their throats

a lot of fun exchanges over texts + sending selfies to each other when you miss each other. noya smiling at his phone? that's probably your doing

BIG on pda!! unashamed when he's giving you pecks on the back of your hand and holding you close to him in front of everyone

lets you choose the next colour he dyes his bangs

your friends = his friends. his friends = your friends. he's that kind of guy.

the type to surprise you with flowers and your favourite desserts on important dates. tried to bake said dessert but that didn't go so well, so he just went to a bakery to get it

TRAVELLING THE WORLD tgt !!! going backpacking and seeing the world together. sharing a hotel bed, hiking mountains together and comparing beers around the world

secretly blushes when you snuggle into him when yall share a bed. thanks god he met you when you guys dip your feet into the warm ocean at the other side of the world. true soulmates vibes.

a/n: elena!!! hope you liked this matchup and thanks for making my day better! your ask was so sweet (ღ˘⌣˘ღ) you're also really pretty !!

// photo credits belong to owners. artist of middle icon is d+con !!

[silverefflux]

The First Meet

Chapter 1 of my new König x Fem!OC fic, Rush

See Chapter List

Photo by Fred Austin Photography

Summary: A private jet pilot flies her boss to Austria and hangs around for three weeks. She gains a new friend during a hike. You already know what's next.

Warning/s: A bit of explicit language; König has an established real name here; pretty much a self-indulgent (yes, self-insert) fic, so sorry in advance

. . .

Back to You // Lost Frequencies, Elley Duhé, X Ambassadors

Bobbing her head to the steady four-on-the-floor beats echoing inside her helmet, Kate rode her motorbike across the winding roads of the Austrian Alps. The cold morning breeze worked against her music though, subtly reminding her that she could be sound asleep at this hour, if not for the long ride to the hiking spot in her itinerary.

Nevertheless, she loved every second. In fact, it was all she could ask for at the moment—cruising at your own pace and singing without a care while the snow-capped mountains keep you company. She passed a couple of rock tunnels and couldn’t be more grateful likening herself to a speck of dust amidst the mass of the earth, one with the nature she is traversing.

A while after, a loud car horn awoke her from the trance of a blissful groove. She glanced sideways at the open window of an SUV matching her speed. A little boy was waving at her. She revved her bike and waved back, her heart warmed by the small interaction. Afterwards, the car zoomed away.

All this on a Wednesday? This is the fucking life, she thought.

Soon, she reached her destination. She slowed to a stop at a parking lot, scanning for a spot, preferably one that keeps her bike from hitting someone else’s car should it be knocked down. That was an easy find though; there weren’t a lot of tourists on a weekday morning. If there was anything she truly worried about, it was her bike’s noise drawing unnecessary attention in a quiet place like Tyrol. As soon as she set the kickstand down and stowed away her riding gear, she began her hike.

Choosing the scenic way up, she marched up a multitude of stone steps for two hours in a continuous steep climb, alternating between walking and stopping by to take pictures of the view.

Eventually, her stops became her excuses to rest. Every step she took grew heavier, as was her breathing. The air gradually thinned and she soon realized that as active as she was, the hike wasn’t going as perfectly as she had hoped.

Maybe it’s the ride? Should I have spent the night somewhere halfway? She reckoned that she must’ve overestimated herself. Flaws of the confident, I guess, she shrugged.

Giving herself a second to breathe, she powered back through—only to stop again.

Nope, not happening, she relented as her exhaustion got the best of her. She slumped over with her hands on her knees, took a deep breath, and exhaled with a yell to try and get herself back up. Some feet ahead of the trail, two men looked back at her and started whispering.

“Verzeihung!” she squeaked, flinching and raising her hand apologetically. One of the men said something to the other with a cheeky smile, and the other responded with a slap on the former’s shoulder.

Her eyes widened and her cheeks glowed red. God, who else heard that? She decided to turn away and stand by a ledge to spare herself from feeling any more like that one obnoxious tourist. She ate a granola bar from her bag to occupy herself and took redundant photos as she waited for the longest 5 minutes of her life.

“Hallo, sprechen Sie Englisch?” asked a voice from behind.

She looked towards the voice to find that it belonged to one of the men up the trail. A tall Asian guy who looked to be in his late thirties. He wore a teal hiking backpack with an all-black outfit of running shorts and a plain dri-fit shirt that fit his form well. To top it off, he didn’t look tired at all, which gave Kate the impression that he was highly athletic—or simply not a novice hiker.

“Yeah, hi,” she responded.

“Nice, my friend over there just got a little concerned,” he said with a tiny smirk, gesturing to his companion who stood quite a ways up and staring off elsewhere. Kate noticed that the man didn’t have an Austrian accent, which somehow soothed her unease over her seeming ignorance.

She cringed at herself. “Oh…gosh, I’m sorry about the noise,” she said with nervous laughter. As nice as their concern was, it just confirmed to her that she was an obvious newbie.

The man chuckled. “Don't be. Care to join us?”

Welp, company would definitely make this easier, save for the fact that they were the ones who giggled at you earlier. “Sure,” she beamed anyway.

Kate tagged behind the man as they walked towards his buddy. “This route’s a little more challenging, yeah?” he spoke lightheartedly.

“Uh huh. First hike.” she faltered.

“Not a bad choice. The view makes up for the long climb,” he replied with a stern voice.

As they closed in on his buddy, her immediate impression was that as tall as the first man was, the second one? Even more so. A fair-skinned man whom she guessed must’ve been around 7 feet tall, if not close. Contrary to the “concern” that the first man mentioned, his buddy met them with a straight face, concealed by a gray face mask. “This is my friend, Dominik,” he introduced him. “Kate”, she responded back, offering to shake Dominik’s hand. He accepted and nodded, albeit his eyes narrowing and his hand being a little cold, which she brushed off as due to the weather.

“Ah–and I’m Hong-jin,” he chimed in, enunciating his name as if to make sure she got it right.

“Nice meeting you both,” Kate said as she shook Hong-jin’s hand, “Thanks for taking me with you guys.”

“Sure,” Hong-jin answered, then directed his gaze to Dominik. “It’s her first hike,” he remarked. His eyes lingered at Dominik for a couple seconds longer, as if to cue him to say something.

“Olpererhütte for your first hike? Who told you this was a beginner trail?” Dominik looked down at Kate.

“No one…?” she lilted, “I just asked my Airbnb host for the prettiest one around.” She shrugged, “Though this really is one for the books for me. Even on the ride here.”

Dominik only raised his brows slightly before looking straight ahead. For the rest of the climb, that would be the longest couple of sentences he ever spoke, choosing to keep on with his hands tucked inside the pockets of his cargo pants. It was mostly Hong-jin chatting with Kate. If Dominik ever said anything, they were mere one or two-word replies. For the time being, as she shared some menial details about herself, she was able to figure out that Hong-jin is a Korean, and Dominik a German who spent his childhood in a nearby Austrian town, and that the two had a brotherly dynamic about them.

“How long before we reach the hut?” she asked the two of them.

“Maybe a couple more hours,” Hong-jin replied.

Kate hissed, tucking her water bottle in and adjusting her backpack. “Whew, long way.”

“Just tell us if you need a break, all right?” Hong-jin reassured her.

“Yeah thanks,” she answered curtly.

“Wait,” Dominik said under his breath, stopping to stand still. He took his face mask off and clutched it while his hand rested on his waist. He kept his head down and his eyes darted towards the ground, fully concentrated on getting back some much needed air. Beads of sweat began to drip down the side of his forehead.

Hong-jin’s expression shifted from calm to worried. “You good?” he asked. Dominik’s eyes did not leave his shoes as he swung his free hand, as if to shoo the other two away. Kate twirled the strap of her backpack around her finger and looked to Hong-jin, unsure of what to do.

“Okay, we’ll go ahead.” Hong-jin uttered. “He’ll be fine,” he told Kate with a shake of his head as they walked on, but not too far as to leave Dominik behind.

When they were a good amount of steps away, Kate cast a glance at Dominik. “You sure he’s fine?”

“Yeah, yeah,” he waved off, “By the way, weren’t you the one with the GS earlier?”

“Uhh…yes,” she drawled, eyeing towards her left and pulling a downward grin, “Was it that loud?”

“Oh no, no,” he croaked, leaning away slightly, “Nik and I saw you parking when we started.”

“Ah. Okay,” she trailed off. “ ‘Cause I was honestly worried it was too noisy,” she continued, wrinkling her nose at the thought, “I asked the bike rental for one that wasn’t bothersome in Tyrol but good enough to ride from Vienna.”

That earned his fascination. “Whoa, you rode from Vienna?” he asked her.

“Mmhm,” she nodded proudly, “Had to go pretty early, but fun stuff! I didn’t get tired much because I was just vibing with everything.” Not tired, sure, but maybe I shouldn’t have ridden five hours to hike for another four.

“Cool,” he said in awe. “I’m saving up to buy my own actually.”

“Ooh, what bike are you picking?” she asked in delight.

“Kawasaki Ninja,” he said, “I like the sporty look.”

“The 1000?” she asked, head tilted in anticipation.

“Yeah.”

“Aw hell yeah. I still ride a Beemer back in the Philippines. RnineT.”

“Nice,” he high-fived her in approval, “Wait, where’s—König!” he called out to Dominik below, but cut himself off for some reason. Meanwhile, his friend looked back at them from standing before the mountain view cross-armed, letting out an exhale before trudging towards them. “Aish, i mossol…” Hong-jin sighed to himself.

Dominik wore his mask again after he caught up with them, wordlessly as before. Eventually, the three reached their first destination: a two-storey mountain hut made of burnt-colored bricks and wood, a place where all the hikers gathered.

A look of fulfillment painted Kate’s face as she intertwined her fingers behind her head and took a deep breath. “Finally,” she sighed. The trio walked into the place and Kate’s first thought was to go to the bathroom. She excused herself and told the two men that they could go ahead to the hanging bridge that was a short walk away from the hut. Almost immediately after she was out of earshot, Hong-jin turned to Dominik.

“She rides bikes and flies planes,” he implored, stressing his point with his hands.

“Oh wow, danke! Du bist der Hammer!” he derided, “For fuck’s sake, Jin, stop playing matchmaker.”

“What? Why not? You said she was ‘easy on the eyes’,” he quipped back, sounding mildly offended.

“She doesn’t look bad, that’s what I meant,” Dominik groaned, “You know, if you like her so much, just ask her out.”

“One, I’m out of the market right now—”

“So am I—”

“And two, you’re the one for sale.”

“Ugh.”

The two walked out of the hut and on to the bridge, still continuing their banter. As persistent as Hong-jin was, he couldn’t afford to push his friend past his boundaries, so he arrived at a compromise.

“Okay, at least talk to her so you have something new to tell your therapist?” he fretted.

Dominik stared blankly at his friend and took a second to think. “Eh…no,” he said dryly, hiking briskly ahead to gain some alone time at the hanging bridge. Hong-jin could only scratch his head, but what else could he do? He strolled elsewhere to sit and take in the view, overlooking the vast valley that embraced a turquoise lake.

Kate made her way up to the bridge after some time, passing Hong-jin in his little spot. “Hey there,” she chirped.

“Hi,” Hong-jin greeted back, “Nik’s over at the bridge.”

She looked over to see Dominik standing by himself at the bridge, this time without his face mask. Before Dominik knew, she was making her way towards him.

Oh no. Please go back to Jin, his mind attempted to tell her telepathically, but clearly in vain.

“Hi?” she said, peeking at his eyes to see if he was pissed at her presence, “Mind if I share the bridge?”

The mask.

His hand fidgeted with his pocket to fish out his face mask, but something in his head told him to try and push himself this time. 

“Sure,” he replied in a seemingly offhanded tone.

She stood beside him and brought out her phone to take pictures of the lake. “View’s lovely.”

“Mmhm.”

“Would you believe I was taking pictures earlier as an excuse to not look like a total noob?” she giggled, “I mean I was struggling to keep up but that was so weird of me. What the hell was I thinking there?”

“Pictures or not, you don’t have to worry because almost everyone here’s not local.”

“I see.”

Silence.

“Have you been here before?” she asked him.

“Ja.”

“Oh. Okay. That’s nice.”

More silence that she felt compelled to break.

“Anyhoo, are we allowed to sit here?”

“Yeah.”

She settled herself near one of the ropes that held the wooden planks up, legs dangling over the bridge. Dominik stayed still. “Yeah the height gap is very apparent right now,” said Kate, smiling up at him. He took the cue and sat down beside her. Gaining a closer look at his face, she noticed a large pale scar extending from his right temple, down his cheek, then above the corner of his lip, ending somewhere on his chin. There definitely was a major reason behind it, she pondered, one that was likely too heavy to ask. She shifted the topic in her head.

“If you don’t mind me asking, how did you and Hong-jin know each other?”

“Uhh…” he looked to Horangi for respite, but he was still far off in his zone taking selfies, not even sparing a moment to check outside his bubble. No backup now. “We met at work a few times. Been friends ever since,” he responded.

“Hmm, so you guys go a long way. What do you guys do anyway?”

Another pause. “Military.”

“Cool,” she remarked. That explained the matching crew cuts. She guessed from his hesitation that she shouldn’t ask for any more what’s or when’s. Quick, ask something else. “I’m guessing military life gets pretty crazy. Pays to take breaks like this one. From all the noise. If machines get to have a break, why can’t we?”

I appreciate the attempt to talk to me, but this strikes a chord—perhaps too hard, he thought. “Unless the job asks for you to really act like a machine, sometimes you have to be like one.”

“But then take a break, like a….machine would?” she replied.

He hummed. “Sure. Then take a break.”

Something in Kate felt triumphant in making him say something other than one-word replies. She rested her hands on the horizontal rope in front of her face and swung her legs absentmindedly. “Yeah. We’re just people. Gotta cope how you need to,” she began to ramble, “Whether that’s peace and quiet, or some good old adrenaline rush. There’s some of that in flying too, which I liked at first, but then the pressure of the job sinks in after a while. It’s like with yo—”

She stopped herself, it felt wrong to complain about her work pressures in front of a literal soldier. She continued, “Okay not really military life-or-death type, of course, but the amount of hard work you need to make it look easy. The smallest scratch on a plane, big incident. Then the first thing the board always points fingers at is the guys in front, know what I mean? Guess because it’s legally the easiest way out?”

Dominik only looked at her and took a short gasp of air, wanting to say something.

Nope. Might breach an NDA.

So he held himself back. Silence was once again shared between the two. But it was a more comfortable one this time, being filled in by the mountain breeze and rustles of greenery.

Suddenly, he spoke. “Adrenaline rush, huh? I supposed the motorbike matched your style.”

“Did it now? Yeah, I like the rush you get from that sorta stuff. A healthy kind of scare. Heck, I’d bungee jump from here right now if I could.” He moved to peek below the bridge. It was fairly far down, but it was layered with rocks from the stream and was too shallow to “bungee jump” from. “That doesn’t sound very healthy,” commented Dominik.

It earned him a snicker from her. “I’m kidding. But—dude,” she swung her head to look him persuasively in the eyes. “Bungee’s fun.”

“A guy my size—I’m probably safer jumping without a rope,” he replied, a smirk shyly peeking into the corners of his mouth. Kate observed that the man had a rather sweet smile. His lips pressed into a thin line, but his cheeks rose ever so slightly.

Her eyes secretly enjoyed lingering on his, admiring the soulful blue of his irises. She realized she may have misjudged him. He wasn’t as cold as she thought; only reserved, but nevertheless, a friendly guy with a long list of experiences that came with his work.

As much as she liked this man’s face, perhaps what she found more interesting was the warmth and tranquility of the moment. No crazy jitters, as if she was just talking to a friend.

Breaking her thoughts from spiraling mid-conversation, she opted to keep the ball rolling, scavenging for names of other extreme sports that involved jumping but had nothing to do with laying your life on a piece of rope. “Hmm, what about cliff diving? Wait, you ever done a jump like that before?”

“I’ve jumped out of a plane.”

Her interest in what he had to say grew, so she sat up straight and leaned a little towards him, “Ooooh, skydiving?” His eyes slightly widened. “Well—yeah skydiving.”

She furrowed her brows at that, then laughed in bewilderment. “Whoa there, why is something telling me it wasn’t just that? Oh my god, what did you do?”

He chuckled at her, flattered upon seeing her interest in what he can do. “I can’t tell. Although skydiving, rappelling down an aircraft…it’s part of the job.”

She hummed with a pout and planted her arms back on the wooden planks. “Wild. I like your style.”

“It’s the rush.”

“Right?” she replied. Man, this guy is cool. “Okay one more photo from here.” She snaps one last photo of the lake, before delicately tucking away her phone in a zipped pocket in her pants. “And yeah let’s keep that, don’t want my phone to fall.”

“You’re terrified of your phone falling but you’ll dive off this bridge?” he questioned her.

“My phone is incapable of saving itself. Though yeah I’m telling you, I’d freakin’ parkour here or something.” she teased, leaning slowly toward the ropes then watching for Dominik’s reaction. Only a face that reads, I’d like to see you try. She faked falling over the rope with a mocking shiver. Still nothing from him but mild amusement. “Tough guy,” she said slyly. His eyes narrowed.

“Ah, look at the time!” he exclaimed as he slapped his hands down on his thighs so aggressively that it made the whole bridge wobble. “Is Hong-jin done yet?” he grinned at her, pretending to be oblivious to her squealing and wrapping her legs around the vertical rope.

“Gago, Dominik!” she shrieked,” hands gripping tighter on the rope and laughing in defeat at his fairly scary retort.

He shook his head. “Okay, I’m sorry, bad joke,” he stood up, offering a hand to her.

She took his hand. “S’alright, it was actually pretty ironic, so touché.”

They walked out of the bridge and back to Hong-jin. “For someone who likes peace and quiet,” he pointed out, “you’re rather loud.”

“Dominik,” she glared up at him in disbelief, “You shook the damn bridge, what do you expect?”

“No, even during the climb. I could hear you even when you and Jin went ahead.”

“Oops. Should I be sorry?” her gaze fixated on the rocks they were walking on.

“Nah,” he drawled, “The energy’s nice. And call me Nik by the way.”

Hong-jin’s attention turned from his phone towards them at the sound of footsteps over the rocks. He got up, gave his friend a subtle glance then acknowledged Kate. Asking the two how the bridge view was, he read that both were now fairly at ease around each other. The three returned to the hut for some beer. They sat side-by-side at a long table overlooking the mountains. It was close to noon and a good amount of fog had dissipated.

Kate took a swig of her drink. “So you guys are heading back to Germany after this?” she asked, looking at Hong-jin who was next to her, then to Dominik.

Hong-jin responded, “Yeah. You?”

“Overnight here.”

“Oh. Enjoy your stay, then,”

“I will.”

She caught Dominik looking away and taking a huge drink from his mug.

They exchanged more stories and shared some laughs as they finished their drinks. Soon enough, Dominik and Hong-jin said they had to be on their way. They bid each other goodbye.

As she watched the two men walk away, she realized it was now or never, else she might not see them again.

“Them”? Please, it’s mostly Tall Boy you’re worried about, she told herself, You’re a tourist. Nobody knows you here. Go for it. What could go wrong?

“Wait!” she called their attention. They turned around and saw her briskly walking to them with her phone in her hand. Despite the fact that she was addressing both people, she looked mainly at Dominik as she spoke. “If you don’t mind, maybe we’ll catch up again, guess I could have your socials or something?” She quickly realized her eyes might incriminate herself and immediately looked at Hong-jin. “Or yours. Anyone, really, if we’re all hanging out next time.”

Dominik only stood, hesitant to take her phone as she offered it. “I don’t really have social media. But I suppose I can give you my number.”

Perhaps it was a good thing that neither of them saw Hong-jin twist his face in wry amusement over what Dominik just said.

She opened the phone app and handed her phone to Dominik, who typed in his number. She gestured to Hong-jin to type in his social media handles, which she followed right after.

“All right,” she said gleefully after pocketing her phone, “Guess we’ll chat around when we can. It was nice meeting you both.”

The other two nodded and smiled in agreement before saying goodbye to her again.

She bought lunch soon after, then after a hearty meal, she settled her things on the bed, and opened her phone to look at one of the newly saved contacts.

Dominik Brunner.

Pretty name, she mused. As odd as it felt for her to fixate on the details of someone she just met, she admitted that she liked how he seemed pretty outgoing underneath the timid front. She allowed the soft, warm glow slowly to creep up on her cheeks, silently savoring that small win she had for the day.

. . .

Also posted on Ao3. Hope you liked this fic!

Translations:

Verzeihung! - Excuse me!/Sorry! Hallo, sprechen Sie Englisch? - Hello, do you speak English? Aish, i mossol… - Aish [interjection for frustration or slight anger], this mossol [slang, someone who has never had a boyfriend or girlfriend] Oh wow, danke! Du bist der Hammer! - Oh wow, thanks! You're the best! Gago - [offensive], jerk/bastard

[camp-counselor-life]

I know this is one of those cliche boomer memes, but I think it's on to something.

Image ID: A photo of two small children with backpacks hiking in the woods with the all caps white text that reads "Kids don't remember their best day of television." End ID.

[mrbenvs3000w24]

Privilege in Nature Interpretation🌲

As nature enthusiasts and interpreters, we often find solace and inspiration in the great outdoors, appreciating the diverse wonders that Mother Nature provides (see below!). However, this week's reading, "Helping Teachers Unpack their 'Invisible Knapsacks'" by Nancy P. Gallavan (2005), prompts us to reflect on the role of privilege in our nature interpretation journeys.

A snapshot I took of Emerald Lake in 2020, situated near Thorne, Ontario. I am privileged to have had the time, resources, and ability to witness the breathtaking beauty of this serene landscape. This image stands as a testament to the fortunate opportunities that enable me to appreciate and share the wonders of nature. 📷🍃

Before delving into the connections between privilege and nature interpretation, let's establish a working definition of privilege. Drawing from Peggy McIntosh's influential paper on "Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack," privilege is a set of unearned advantages, assets, and provisions afforded to individuals based on various characteristics, such as race, gender, class, and more (Gallavan, 2005). These privileges are often ingrained in societal structures and can be taken for granted by those who possess them (Gallavan, 2005).

In the context of nature interpretation, privilege can manifest in various ways. Consider the ability to access and enjoy natural spaces without fear or hesitation, feeling a sense of ownership over the environment, or having the resources to pursue outdoor activities. These privileges are often invisible, like an unnoticed backpack of unearned assets, shaping our interactions with nature.

Gallavan's (2005) emphasis on multicultural education, inclusivity, and understanding one another becomes particularly relevant when applied to nature interpretation. Nature should be a space for everyone, regardless of their background or identity. However, acknowledging and dismantling privilege in this context requires a conscious effort to create environments that are welcoming, safe, and accessible to all.

Much like the students in Gallavan's multicultural education courses, nature interpreters can benefit from exercises that prompt self-reflection and awareness of their privileges. Let's adapt Gallavan's approach to unpacking invisible knapsacks for our nature interpretation community.

Cultural Artifacts in Nature Interpretation:

Imagine bringing a "cultural artifact" from your outdoor experiences—a symbol of your connection to nature. It could be a leaf from your favourite tree, a stone from a meaningful hike, or a photo capturing a special moment in nature. Share this artifact with your audience/ fellow interpreters, explaining its significance and the personal connections it holds. This exercise fosters a deeper understanding of each other's relationship with nature and highlights the diverse ways people engage with the environment.

This mushroom, a cherished find from one of countless hikes with my best friend, encapsulates the shared joy and wonder we can discover in the hidden corners of nature. It serves as my 'cultural artifact,' a symbol of the bond forged through exploration and a reminder of the privilege I enjoy to freely connect with the great outdoors. What's your nature artifact? 🍄🌲

Identifying Perceived Privileges in Outdoor Spaces:

Adapt Gallavan's (2005) chart to assess your privileges in nature interpretation. Reflect on aspects like access to natural areas, the ease of engaging in outdoor activities, or the feeling of safety while exploring. Then, challenge yourself by considering how these privileges might differ for others based on their cultural backgrounds, abilities, or socioeconomic status. This exercise encourages us to recognize the disparities in nature experiences and work towards creating more equitable outdoor spaces.

Making the Invisible Visible in Nature Interpretation:

In the final exercise, interpreters can use artistic expressions to visualize their nature-related privileges. Unpack the invisible knapsack by creating a visual representation—perhaps a collage or artwork—that symbolizes the privileges, challenges, and aspirations within your nature interpretation journey. Share these creations to encourage dialogue and understanding among interpreters.

Nature interpretation, like education, should be a transformative and inclusive experience. By acknowledging and dismantling the invisible knapsacks of privilege, we pave the way for a more equitable and enriching connection with the natural world. This raises the question of how each one of us, as passionate nature interpreters, can actively contribute to dismantling these invisible barriers and ensure that our shared journey with the great outdoors becomes a beacon of unity and understanding for all. Let me know your thoughts on this!🌿✨ Until next time,

Madison B.

References:

Gallavan, N. P. (2005). Helping teachers unpack their "invisible knapsacks". Multicultural Education, 13(1), 36-39. https://link-gale-com.subzero.lib.uoguelph.ca/apps/doc/A137921591/AONE?u=guel77241&sid=bookmark-AONE&xid=9fe2f151

[mountrainiernps]

You could call the Wonderland trail one of the jewels of our national park. It’s almost like a necklace around the mountain, encircling it with 93 miles of trail. Looking at the Wonderland trail on a map can be a bit misleading. Maps struggle to show you the sheer beauty of the soaring forests in the river valleys, and the amazement of the subalpine meadows at the high elevations. Maps also struggle to show you the large amount of elevation change as a hiker climbs up a ridge to the subalpine area and then back down into the valley for a creek or river crossing and then back up again. Nothing on the Wonderland is flat for very long.

If the Wonderland trail is a jewel, it’s a jewel available to many. There are trailheads around the different corners of the park. You can go out and back for a short stroll or maybe change it up for a long day hike. For those that want an overnight experience, you can apply online or at a Wilderness Information Center for a wilderness permit to stay at one of the backcountry campsites. For the more adventurous, an attempt at the full circuit may be an option. While the necessary permits are more challenging to obtain, with research, timing and luck, it maybe possible. Then off you go on a Wonderland hike around the mountain.

Like many trails in the national park, the Wonderland trail will be blanketed soon by snow as winter comes to the high elevations. The snows will build and obscure the trail often into the following summer, depending on snowmelt. To everything, there is a season. Mid-summer to fall can be best for Wonderland hiking.

How do you like to hike the Wonderland trail? Day hike or backpacking? Have you completed the full circle around the mountain? What is your favorite spot on the trail? ~ams

Introductory information on the Wonderland trail can be found at https://www.nps.gov/mora/planyourvisit/the-wonderland-trail.htm with links to pages on elevation profile and trip planner available. For more information on Wilderness permits, you can start with this park webpage https://www.nps.gov/mora/planyourvisit/wilderness-permit.htm

NPS/C. Meleedy Photo. Wonderland trail through forest of tall trees in a section from Longmire to Devils Dream. 2016. NPS/C. Meleedy Photo. Wonderland trail near Dick Creek. Mount Rainier visible in background. 2016. NPS/M. Schmitt Photo. Subalpine meadow of wildflowers (purple lupine, white bistort, magenta paintbrush) along Wonderland trail near Berkeley Park. NPS/Spillane Photo. Trail sign for Wonderland trail near Reflection Lakes near a huckleberry plant in fall color. Frost on plants. October, 2014.

[forvitinnbjor]

Arrival to Keflavík · Lost luggage · Birth of the Meradalir volcano · Night in Akranes

4th of August, 2022

After a long flight with two transfers - a busy night spent on Stockholm airport, early breakfast for two (= shared Norwegian beer) and enjoying the sight of a beautiful landscape after departing from airport in Oslo, we finally arrived to Keflavík - only to find out, that one of our backpacks was left back in Stockholm. Knowing, that we have time until the evening for the luggage to arrive, we decided to pick up our rented car and explore the surroundings. As we didn't have an exact plan for our first day in Iceland, our best option was to stay in a close proximity to Keflavík airport. And how damn lucky we were! Only one day has passed since the birth of the Meradalir volcano, and the starting point for the hike was only 30 minutes away from the airport.

Spectacular view of the solidified lava fields from previous eruptions in Geldingadalir, photo taken at the starting point of Route A to Meradalir volcano.

The hike to the volcano itself took us approximately 2 hours of leisurely walking. Vast area of the Fagradsfjall volcanic system was constantly monitored closely by scientists. We watched the volcano from a safe distance from above, nevertheless it was an experience of a lifetime. Later we noticed quite a lot of people in considerable proximity to the volcano and we considered returning back and going closer to the fissure at the end of our trip. Unfortunately, we were unable to do so due to time constraints.

Meradalir eruption, second day (4th of August, 2022).

After this unforgettable hike, it was almost time to get our lost luggage. On our way to Keflavík airport, we made short stops on the south coast of Reykjanes peninsula to observe a few swimming seals and we also took a peek at the Gunnuhver hot springs. First Icelandic word of the day was „hætta“ - danger. One has to be careful around all that lava, geothermal hot springs and pools. But the views are definitely worth it :)

We decided to spend our first night in a camp in the town of Akranes. We managed to watch the eye-flattering sunset, although the sun barely sets and the night is never completely dark in August. If you have to watch your budget, the best option is to buy a camping card at a very favorable price, which gives you access to several camping sites all over Iceland.

First night at the Akranes camping site, which was one of our favourites, as it offers great facilities and amazing seaview.

[rgenvs3000f23]

Blog #4

Hey! This week’s blog prompt our relationship with interpreting nature through art.

I wanted to start by answering the first question, and considering my own relationship with looking at nature through art. One of my favourite ways to experience nature interpretation through art is through nature documentaries. Although they might also be educational, I personally think the best ones also have an element of story to them and they’re always beautiful to watch. Also, I think it’s fascinating to see behind-the-scenes of how all these breathtaking videos of nature are recorded. It lets me learn about and see places I’ve never been anywhere near, and feel like I’m right there. The diversity of animals, plants, and even geology on our planet is incredible, and I really appreciate all the work that goes into creating art to share it. As much as getting outside is a great way to interpret nature, art can be an accessible and inspiring way to interpret nature. It can be a way to teach, but it can also be a way to share a love of and connection to nature with other people.

Often the first idea that comes to mind when someone thinks of nature interpretation is guided hikes and walks. While it was discussed in this week’s readings how these also have an element of art to them, I also think it’s important to incorporate other forms of art, whether that be books, poetry, photography, painting, videos, or anything else. Art is an integral part of nature communication, I think one of the most important things it does is just make people care. While there may be no official definition for “art” in general, I think it always has something to do with expression of feeling, and be able to share that expression with other people. Feeling disconnected from nature seems to be a relatively common thing, and I think that art can be an incredibly important remedy to that. While it may not always be possible to drop everything and go for a backpacking trip, art is almost always accessible in some form, and can be way to bring nature into our own lives even when it sometimes feels far away.

This weeks prompt and reading made me consider other aspects of how I might want to include nature interpretation through art in my career. Personally, I’m not much of a visual artist, I hadn’t really considered bringing art into my work even if I might enjoy it in some forms as a hobby. But I would like to find a way to incorporate it more into my life. For example, I love taking photos when I’m outside. Being able to look back at them later always reminds me of the experience and place where it was taken. They also give me a way to share something I care about with friends and family. Art is a powerful form of communication and connection, and there are so many different ways to include art when interpreting nature.

Photo: Vegetation near the alpine zone

[iqwest]

Explore The Great Outdoors

Every day is a good day when its being spent in the Desolation Wilderness. The outdoor photo above is the march up the trail to Lake Aloha (heading up to it from Heather and Susie Lakes located just to the East of Lake Aloha and lower in elevation).

Lake Aloha

Here's the expansive view across the lake. You can't make it out, but to give some perspective, South Lake Tahoe sits in the far distance (under the "thunderhead" cumulonimbus cloud to the left in the photo). Trust me, pictures don't do this open space justice.

Hikers And Backpackers - Be Prepared!

If you've never been here before, it's a place you want to go. Whether you are a backpacker looking to stay overnight or a day hiker wanting to explore, rugged beauty will be found throughout the Desolation Wilderness in the expansive Sierra Nevada mountain range.

Keep in mind, if you haven't spent much time in the outdoors, these hikes can be moderate in intensity, so make sure you are prepared.

Water and snacks are a must. Bring close you can peel off and quickly throw back on.

Temperatures vary throughout the year and the one constant is that the weather is always changing. Afternoon thunderstorms are a regular occurrence during the summer (which can lead to strong winds, thunder, lightning, hail, and brief heavy rains).

It's not likely you'll find yourself getting snowed on during the summer months (when the trails are typically fully open and accessible after the spring snow melt), but these elevations are pushing 7,000 - 10,000 feet plus, so it can never be ruled out. By all means, you'll run into patches of snow. Fun for the kids as they don't expect to get treated to a snowball fight during the summer!

Backpacking With Your Companion!

Going with your best companion is a must too, but make sure the trails are dog friendly. Bring plenty of food and water for them too.

Even though water is everywhere (you don't need to worry about treating their water like we need to do ours!), there are desolate areas along these trails where you'll find they need a drink on the longer, hotter, days.

Best Backpacking Shoe

For the best footwear, I transitioned from traditional hiking boots to the Altra Lone Peak. It's labeled as a "running shoe", but I use them for day hikes and backpacking.

The open toe box lends towards a wider shoe up at our toes. Don't think it makes a big difference? It does! No more bruised pinky toe because your toes are so scrunched in that narrow hiking boot you've been wearing.

They're so light weight they relieve stress on your legs too, so there's more fuel in the tank when you get to where you're going and you feel better when you get there. I'm 48, so I feel it from time to time!

They grip. There's a ton of loose chunk rock in the Desolation Wilderness, along with a lot of granite slab, so the inner sole rock guard blunts the sharp edges with each step and the grippiness keeps you on your feet.

They're not waterproof and that's actually a feature! They don't trap water on your feet like a traditional waterproof hiking shoe will after you miscalculated the stream crossing and got water in them, so your feet don't stay waterlogged. They dry out remarkably quick, so with the right pair of wicking socks, there's no need to shy away or worry about any water you encounter. It's truly unreal and was totally unexpected.

The only "slight" negative with these backpacking shoes is that you don't get the ankle support found in high top hiking boots, so there are times you feel like you're going to slip out of your shoes. This is mostly mental. However, if you don't have strong ankles, work these new hiking boots in. Make the long treks in your traditional hiking boots and trade off to these for your day excursions. The Altra's break in quickly, but you want to make sure you can handle the change.

Again, there's more than a lot to like about Altra's hiking shoe! They've made all the difference in the world for me and I'm glad I learned about them after stumbling across Jessica "Dixie" Mills online.

To find out more about her backpacking journeys check out her blog at Homemade Wanderlust - she's got a wealth of knowledge when it comes to all things backpacking and has through-hiked the PCT (Pacific Crest Trail), CDT (Continental Divide Trail), and the Appalachian Trail (just to name a few of her major accomplishments).

Cheers to exploring Lake Aloha and the great outdoors. It does wonders for the mind and body, so get out there!

[spin4trout]

Susie Lake - Part 3

Last week on Wednesday, we went on another day hike, this time up to Half Moon Lake. On the way, we got a nice view of Susie Lake from a higher elevation.

When we got back to camp that afternoon, I did my last fishing of the trip, and caught two nice brook trout. The wind really whipped up in the evening to the point we estimated a steady 40 - 45 mph with gusts stronger than that. We turned in early because of the cold and wind, but it was tough to sleep when the whole tent kept shaking violently with every gust.

On Thursday, things settled down and we went on a final day hike to Gilmore Lake. In the afternoon back at Susie I just sat and took in the views instead of doing any more fishing. I wish it was a requirement for senators, congressmen, and others in government to spend time in beautiful places like this. Maybe there would be a little more acceptance of measures to preserve public lands and to protect the environment.

It was our last night in the wilderness and it was calm and reasonably warm so we stayed up for a while stargazing and attempting to get some good pictures of the sky. I managed to get the photo below of Sagittarius and the Milky Way, including the very center of our galaxy, despite fumbling with my camera controls in the dark.

I'd rate this backpacking trip as one of my best.