I've been inventing systems since the day I started this job two years ago. About a year ago an internal training system I created got some traction from a higher up and she's been making sure I succeed at it. It's been great to actually see how my theories play out into reality and they're finally opening a position where I'll be able to pursue this system full time and maybe even build something that has a lasting impact. I'm scared shitless. I've always been a theory guy, and my theories tend to be more progressive than most, so they usually don't get implemented. Now I'm questioning myself and my systems, because no matter how many tests I run them through, I can't recreate reality. It all comes down to the question of if I can adapt fast enough to offer real value, or if I'll just be another person with more pointless work for the people on the ground level. I really don't want to be that guy. But, on the other side of things, I'm about to spend 8 days in Washington backpacking and I just got my first motorcycle. Overall, the week is a plus.
We're shooting for the 7 lakes /hoh river area, but I messed up and got didn't get the permit fax (because it's still 1998 in backwoods Washington) in on time. It's 50% pre reserved, 50% first come first serve, so we're leaving first thing in the morning from olympia to try and get one. If that doesn't work we'll just bum around a bit and hike and sleep where we can.
Oh lovely. You cannot go wrong if you're up in there. I'm real fond of basing myself out of Moclips and just heading wherever. One time I was burning through so much film I restricted myself to only shooting waterfalls. I think I still cooked off eight rolls.
I'm actually really looking forward to it now that we don't have the permits. My fiance is a planner, through and through, I like my adventures to be a bit more... spontaneous. I'm hoping we get a chance to do something we never planned and get lost for a little while.