This shot was taken of a distant peak just before dusk at lake of the Angels off the Carl Putvin trail in the Olympic Mountain range of Washington state. I had the honor of having this photo published by National Geographic on July 29 2016. Also had it turned into a tattoo on my right bicep. That is passion.

This shot was taken of a close friend of mine. Life has dealt blows in most every individuals case. I took him out with me on an adventure with no destination one day, we stood at this spot overlooking the valley from atop Capitol Peak off of some random logging roads. What a day is was, as we were provided some spectacular views from a mountain top.

We set out on a goal that weekend. To summit Mt. Ellinor in the Olympic range. Little did we know how much snow had fallen the night before. It took us near 3 hours to reach the lower trail head from where our offroad vehicles could no longer cut through. We met with the rest of our climbing group who had set up camp at the trail head for Ellinor. Our window for summiting had passed so we made the best of the day and overnight. A storm rolled in bringing rain to the thigh deep snow, but not before I was able to capture this shot of Mt. Washington in all its glory. Ellinor is out of view to the left.

It was a tough climb, waking around 2am, darkened skies, fumbling in the numbing cold to attach our crampons. Gear up and immediately hit inclines of ice. For near 5 and a half hours we pushed, and sucked in the thinned air. We hit the Summit of Adams just before the sunrise. We were able to cross the top to the east side where John and I awaited the rest of our team. I sat as he faced the rising sun. We were alone at the top of our world.

Off the trail is where you find the views not seen by others. It is where you find new things, It is where you look around you, off in the distance, instead of down at the beaten path, and your worn boots on the trail. This shot was on the ascent of Mt. Rainier. My brother Daniel ventured out among the rocks off the trail to catch of view of what lay behind the formation. This shot is absolutely one of my favorite.

This area of the Olympic Mountain range is probably my favorite. Lake of the Angels is one hell of a hike and gain in altitude. The views are worth it, I must have 300 photos from up there. I will only show you my absolute favorites though. What a place. Off the Carl Putvin Trail. Reminds me of scenes of Machu Pichu in Peru.

This particular shot shows a blanket of clouds over the world from the face of Mt. Washington on the peninsula of Washington state. I have a bit of an infatuation with cloud formations and catching them on camera. Simply some of my favorite pics are of clouds. This iconic view is seared into my brain when I think of a sea of clouds. You will see quite a few more in my gallery.

While climbing, you lose your breath. Even more so when carrying gear. This all depends on the mountain you are climbing and what time of year. This particular mountain can be summited in a day no problem. This is a shot of a fellow climber as he pushed up-mountain trudging through the inclined snow toward the top of the first stretch. It is a cardio test for sure. 

When I snapped this shot, I was more focusing on the image of a cloud sea. and the barely visible distant peak. When I looked back on it, the high sun connected to the bare tree reminded me of a candle, yet this candle was lighting all the land. Taking this moment to stand and stare, was simply epic..

in the distance Mt. Rainier stands prominent, tall above the sea of clouds. One thing I always search for and love to capture when i reach a mountain top, is a distant peak. The layers of this shot from Capitol peak toward Rainier make it seem closer than it actually is. Beyond forests, hilltops, smalls towns and raging rivers.

This shot was taken from Camp Muir on Mt. Rainier. Out on the back and and lower edge of the area known as Camp Muir, the sun shown brightly to the exposed mountainside. The ice slowly melting. You could hear the periodic cracking and shifting of the mountainside as ice fell, cracks opened, and rocks shifted. The sun was warming, the air cool and as the sun went down, Ice cold again.

Seen from a view between out tents first is a duo of climbers setting up a camp of their own. Then between them and up a bit are a series of dots. Those dots are people, two teams that are roped together crossing the ice field headed to the next camp at Ingraham flats.

I captured this shot just as the sun came up on the summit of Mt. Adams. This was my first major summit climb, as I have many less prominent mountains under my belt. Our team always brings an American flag as we represent a diverse background of Military- active and veteran, LEO, and patriotic civilians. Every mountain climbed has a patriotic shot that I capture in the moment. This one is of my brother as the wind picked up Old Glory as if to pose for my shot. Majestic, and a true depiction of freedom, conquering that mountain was indeed an adventure.

I wanted to capture some of our founding fathers in a unique way. Everyone knows of our first, Washington, but I wanted to highlight the other three faces of Rushmore. Jefferson, Roosevelt, and Lincoln. Their faces from below along with the clouded August sky made for an epic capture of this secret meeting of the three.

Here, atop the world, we hold in hand our flag, representing our fallen, our families, our friends, our patriotic brothers and sisters. True heroes. God bless the USA.

We stand at the top, looking over the land. The land that births freedom to every man and woman who are proud citizens. Freedom is roaming, freedom is climbing, freedom is something we cherish. Not a privilege, but a God given right in the U.S.A. I will represent that freedom with all that I am. Here you see it through my eyes.

I took this photo of my brother Daniel (left) and our friend John (right) holding a flag we bring on each of our adventures. We celebrate our patriotism everywhere we go. Even a camp at 10,000 feet on Mt. Rainier.

This shot was taken on a snow shoe trip at Hurricane Ridge. I had my brother holding the Ares Climb Team banner with the idea of holding it outstretched. The wind had other ideas. It forced the banner around his body and as he turned his head I snapped this photo. The weather, the landscape, all made for quite the adventure.

"Nico" was a participant in one of our first climbs as a team event. We had a large group that day. 4 of us hit the summit of Ellinor long before the others. Nico, a veteran, has a story, as did all those who served and are currently. He sat in reflection of his journey that day and I did not think to ask him of his thoughts. I only wanted to capture his posture. His frame against the landscape. But I got so much more out of this picture. It has so much unspoken power and it doesn't even show his face.

Daniel and I followed a snowshoe track out to a ridge line past off the regular trail. It led out beyond the treeline which was blocking the intimidating yet amazing views of the mountains beyond. We were trekking Hurricane Ridge that day with the climb team and supporters.

Bin wasn't finished building his own rifle so I let him use mine for the Ares Gun Team event. It was the first event and he took first place in the shooting competition. He is one of the climb team founders and a damn good friend. Repping Ares Clothing all the way.

On our trip up Mt. Ellinor, our patrons showed their toughness. This former Army Ranger went up in his Ranger panties. Cold but not too cold for a vet. He was advised to put his pants back on before sliding down though. Damn that was a fun day.

I took this candid shot of our fiend Colby on our way up Mt. Ellinor in the Olympic range. We were ascending next to a glissade chute. One that we later took on the way down, it was a hell of a good time.

Daniel stood on the trail looking out through a gap in the trees at the distant hills, covered in forest. The freedom beyond the trails, the horizon behind the hills. This was our first Climb Team trip up to Lake of the Angels. One we will never forget.

During a trip to Hurricane ridge, we came across an open area with a spectacular view. There were three camp robbers perched among the trees. They do not fear man and even come to expect food now and again. This one even posed with me for a selfie.

On our way back down from Camp Muir on Mt. Rainier, we came across this marmot sunbathing on a rock. It was July, a warm day just above paradise on the mountain. The marmot seemed not to care that climbers were passing frequently up or down. It lifted its head only briefly as I was able to snap this shot. Then it lay back down and looked to fall asleep atop the warming rock.

Along the boardwalk of the Nisqually refuge in Olympia WA, I happened upon this sunning snake high up on a section of wood about chest high. It would have been a sight to see it climb up there. It didn't seem to mind me getting close.

I was in Grants Pass Oregon visiting my grandparents that weekend. What a morning, it was gorgeous out on the lake, I was fishing for bass, and I happened to see this snail inching its way accross the wood. The sun sat just low enough to dramatize the encounter with shade and shadow. Something so small, and so interesting.

The fog was settled and the light shining just right, creating a bluish hue among the branches of the trees. Light above the canopy but dark on the forest floor. I peered up in wonder at the fog and listened to the trees sway in the wind. Then I snapped this shot before venturing on. Capitol forest in WA.

It was the first day of the new year 2017. I decided to go out for a drive to some of my favorite logging roads. The skokomish valley is breathtaking no matter what time of year. This shot was to show the valley in all its glory, the woods I have explored time and again but still offer such adventure. Even with areas of clear cut, the sight pulls me in and brings my mind to thoughts of the deep woods.

In the Capitol forest of Washington state there are countless logging roads. Out with a friend, I hit the breaks with him asking "what did you see?" . "A tree" I replied. He didn't seem amused. I could not pass up the chance to capture what I had seen out of the corner of my eye as I passed. So I positioned myself just right. So the lighting matched what had caught my attention previously.

Many of my shots happen sporadically. I don't sit long and wait for a shot, I chase them. I hunt them. I drive fast, hop out, snap a few, get back in, or climb higher, wake up earlier. My passion is to capture them and bring them to you. This one of Capitol forest at sunrise with fog. I thought I'd change it up a bit and offer you the dramatizing black and grey.

I took this shot the same day as the black and grey shot. On my way up Capitol peak, stopping as I felt the sun warm the left side of my face through the jeep window. It was much cooler outside. A gorgeous day. The lighting, the trees, the fog, they all worked together in perfection.

This shot is the edge of the wilderness meeting the clear cut are of man. Though man has greatly effected this area, the trees will grow back, the woods will consume the mountain again. All in good time. During my solo adventures the feeling I get is an eerie consuming one when seeing shots like this, one side so clear, known visually, and expected, the other so dark, mysterious, you wait for a sound of what could be hiding in the trees. It peaks the senses, it pulls at the imagination. You can quit literally stand on the edge, and take a step into the wild.

Rain brings life to the forest floor, it shows natures impermeable surfaces such as this leaf, and others that absorb like moss and wood. I took this shot during a small rainstorm near Tolmie state park in Washington state. The woods provided some cover while the droplets formed on the low growing plants.

Some areas of the Skokomish Valley are clearcut, some are burned, and some have growth. I took this shot to represent the idea that even though some parts of the woods are destroyed, in the distance, or perhaps right nearby, the wild woods thrive. Death gives way to life, the old burned trees nourish the soil that new ones will begin to grow in. The woods will consume once again.

I am no expert on fungi, but I thought this perspective was a fun one, the tree old and rotted. Lying on the forest floor, it showcased a display of tree fungus unique in symmetry. Did it grow while the tree was standing? or after it fell? We will never know.

The hillside that I am standing on in this shot leads up to Capitol Peak in the Capitol forest. This particular morning the sun was rising above the horizon so that the forest itself was dark and shaded on its side that was facing me. How mysterious it seemed at the time, darkened woods, shadowed branches. Yet the light behind would soon cover their tops. The wonder still stands there at the base of the trees.

The fog was descending the hillside at a rapid rate. The weather changing quickly. The trees of the misted woods were soon covered in the approaching weather. This was our alarm clock telling us to hit camp and be ready for the coming rain.

We woke early that morning, packing camp in the valley and began to drive out toward civilization. I had to stop and capture this shot as the sun came up over the treetops on the left, illuminating the clouds and trees on the right. The smells and sounds of the morning were magical. That is home to me. I could stare all day.

In Capitol forest there are countless logging roads. Some intertwine, some end suddenly, some climb hills while others lead out to a paved and crowded highway. I snapped this shot on a day out adventuring in the jeep. Just needed a day to myself. Just me and the freedom of the open road.

This fine dirt road was at one time engulfed in fire as the woods around it were consumed. Now it is baron and leads to the base of Mt. Adams. In the distance, it seems as though the mountain may be an easy summit, in actuality its quite the trek, and absolutely life changing. The one road in is shown here.

There are few places that can look so smooth, tame, and calm, yet produce such power in epic proportions. I took this shot as the sun began to set over the Pacific Ocean on the edge of the Ozette, Olympic Peninsula. The sun shown through the clouds in a view of divinity, giving some feeling in the creation of such beauty by a higher power.

The surface of our world seems so alien at times. The Pacific coast provides such breathtaking views that few have seen. These sea stacks high above the water. I took this shot as the tide went out on the beach giving birth to tidal pools dotting the coast teeming with life. The skies opened up and the bluish hues of the morning light created an alien world I had only seen in my dreams. Now I can bring that view to you.

This shot was taken near the mouth of the Nisqually River on the Puget Sound. The tide sways strong here. By several feet it rushes in bringing life, and presses back out creating a desolate view of these tidal lands. I snapped the picture as the tide was going out, exposing the salted soil, mud and life below.

This vegetation looks the same year round. Not sure if its dead or alive, it resides in tidal land where for several hours per day it is covered by salt water, and other times, exposed completely to the direct sunlight. I took this photo at mid-tide as it was going out.

The crystal clear waters of Pine lake during the early summer months allowed for this shot of such translucence and reflection at the same time. Not a difficult lake to reach, but off the beaten path for sure. And some good fishing too.