Sometimes the last minute shoots are the most fun. No time for prep, just grab your go bags and head out.

Camping with cast iron.

I wouldn't want to carry a cast iron Dutch oven on a long hike. For this weekend, we didn't care about pack weight. Instead, we bought the best tools for the job. 

I recently joined Hartley Brody and Mike Ewing for a weekend winter bushcraft workshop with Micah Surprenant. The first day Micah taught us how to build a shelter, harvesting wood from the forrest, and we built a long fire to keep us warm at night.

Camp Muir, 11:35 pm

The bunkhouse door flew open. Time to wake up and start our ascent. By 12:40am, we rigged for glacier travel and started hiking. We stepped outside into the howling wind, sandblasting our faces with volcanic dust. Our down parkas kept us warm in the coldest temps we'd faced so far. We were finally ready to head up the rock and ice to the summit. 

I wasn't cold.

That's the first thing that surprised me.

My favorite question.

Especially in job interviews. Their answer tells you a lot about their motivation for approaching problems and achieving goals. I've probably asked this over 200 times. Naturally, I've also thought about my own answer for a while.

I figured the best way to know, is to go out and do it. I set my sights on Mount Washington.

60 feet off the ground.

All your weight is supported by a tiny ledge that only sticks out a measly quarter of an inch. You are 6 feet above your last clip, trying to make the last one. Three more moves to the top of the climb where you can clip in to the last bolt, claim victory, and rappel down to celebrate. If you blow one of those moves, you will fall 12 feet, plus rope stretch, and have to redo the crux all over again.

Breathing is hard.

Your feet barely move without enormous force of will.

Once you finally get the next step up, shifting your weight onto that leg takes considerable effort. And there are still 2 summits left to the top. Why the hell would anyone lug 30 lbs of camera gear up here? Oh yeah, for shots like these.