Should you hold a gun to my head and tell me to describe the Hawaiian Islands in one word, that word would be “vivid.” And yes, I’d… Read more “Hawaii, the Land of Life; Lei, Shrimp, Pineapples, and Love”
Author: Pina Marek
Dreamer.
This Christmas, I Thought of Them. (The Three Kings Came, Bearing Their Gifts.) | This is not a happy post.
This Christmas, I thought of them. I thought of Hancho, the sure-footed Morgan who carried me across the beautiful Point Reyes Natural Seashore trails. I thought of… Read more “This Christmas, I Thought of Them. (The Three Kings Came, Bearing Their Gifts.) | This is not a happy post.”
The Last Wilderness of Scotland: A Breathtaking Documentary About Two Friends and a Canoe’s Battle Against the Elements
This journey had one objective: to tie “a collection of lochs together.” The beauty of the Scottish Highlands and the “wildest corners of Scotland” made this expedition an experience of a lifetime for Jamie and Ian. “It was about fulfilling a deep and aching desire to live and breathe the great outdoors.”
On foot and in a canoe, Jamie and Ian set out to explore “Scotland’s Last Wilderness.” The soul-soothing short film that Jamie put together documents their battle against the elements as well as the life-altering beauty of the region and shows that even when, or perhaps especially when things don’t work out according to our imaginations, they still tend to teach us a whole lot about ourselves and the world outside.
“After spending most of the year indoors, in late September we were finally able to embark on our journey, but now it needed to be so much more. This film documents our attempt at completing a circuit linking up a collection of remote lochs with a series of portages.”
Say Hi to Majda, My New Adventure Buddy. She’s a Charmer.
Winter is knocking on the door in this corner of the world. Most days, there’s fog and mud and wind that gets under your skin and seemingly… Read more “Say Hi to Majda, My New Adventure Buddy. She’s a Charmer.”
Mauna Loa is Awake—and She’s not the Only One
There are a few volcanoes around the world that people tend to know by name—and Mauna Loa is one of them. Fuji or Vesuvius might also come… Read more “Mauna Loa is Awake—and She’s not the Only One”
“Being Vulnerable Makes You Appreciate the Kindness of Strangers:” Josh Reid & His 15,000km Journey Back Home
This week, I, once again, haven’t managed to write a beautiful, long post for you. There are things I could write about: my last days in Point… Read more ““Being Vulnerable Makes You Appreciate the Kindness of Strangers:” Josh Reid & His 15,000km Journey Back Home”
Into the Well: A Gnarly Way to Get to Know the Raw Beauty of New River Gorge National Park
“Into The Well: 100 Miles. 32 Hours. 200 Racers. is an outdoor adventure documentary feature film telling the story of personal endurance. An excruciating test of how far one is willing to push themself to accomplish their goals. Follow three West Virginians as they prepare for the first 100-mile ultramarathon in the New River Gorge National Park where they’ll take on a challenge far greater than they could ever have imagined.” (The Folkway)
To be honest, I went into this documentary slightly worried. Not only is it the length of a full-feature film; the first few seconds of anxiety-inducing music didn’t alleviate the tension. On the other hand, it did capture perfectly how it feels at the start of such an endeavor. It’s not like people die from DNF-ing (DNF = did not finish) challenges like this (not usually, anyway) but they still make the heart race, at least a little bit.
To worry I did need not. Yes, the documentary is the length of a full-feature film but it’s also of similar quality—in fact, it’s better than some of the films I’ve seen in my lifetime. It pulled me in quickly and didn’t let go; just like a race you have to keep coming back to until you finish it.
Rim to River 100 is an ultramarathon in the New River Gorge National Park. It takes its runners on an out-and-back journey up and down and down and up from the rim of the Gorge to down along the banks of the New River and promises winding single track and a few, shall we say, gorgeously gnarly sections.
“Along with the natural beauty of waterfalls, whitewater, & dramatic views, you’ll also find ghost towns, centuries-old cemeteries, & abandoned mine shafts throughout the course,” reads the official description on the Rim to River 100 website.
Intrigued yet? Or worried, just like I was? Well, I won’t write much more and, instead, let the documentary do its thing. Let the raw beauty of this challenging trail pull you in just like it did with me. Warning: this process apparently includes “shoes filled with blood,” as HollyAnn informs you within the first few moments of your own emotional journey.
Nothing is Eternal | An Excerpt from my WIP Manuscript about the Geology of the Pacific Crest Trail
I never thought I’d be here, working on a non-fiction book about geology. I didn’t have the grades to study science, and until one fateful rainy day… Read more “Nothing is Eternal | An Excerpt from my WIP Manuscript about the Geology of the Pacific Crest Trail”
Exploring Alternatives: Mini-Documentaries to Help You Explore & Start Living the Way You Want
A van, a truck, a bus, a tree house, or a raft; there’s no end to the ways one can live. Exploring Alternatives is a mini-documentary YouTube… Read more “Exploring Alternatives: Mini-Documentaries to Help You Explore & Start Living the Way You Want”
I’ll Take a DNF Over DNS Any Day. Forgotten Mountains 50 Mile Race | Zapomenuté Hory, Czechia
When the (very short) list of aid stations on a 50-mile race consists mainly of springs to refill your water, you know you’re in for an interesting… Read more “I’ll Take a DNF Over DNS Any Day. Forgotten Mountains 50 Mile Race | Zapomenuté Hory, Czechia”
Hit the Road with Me 