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10/16 #CaliforniaWild #sponsored post • Last night one of the moments I was most looking forward to in our trip, occurred in the #CADeserts between the towns of Trona and Ridgecrest. We visited the Trona Pinnacles starting at sunset and stayed until after the milky way appeared so that we could experiment with long exposure night photography. Local residents came out with telescopes and star apps so they could help us find the very best spot to situate our cameras. There were stories about the night sky and about the history of the area, a talk from the Bureau of Land Management which takes care of Trona Pinnacles and I don't think I have ever had more fun as a photographer. The skill of night photography is something I very much am still learning but it was fun to further hone those skills during this adventure. The Trona Pinnacles are an unusual geological feature and the site consists of more than 500 tufa spires rising from the bed of the Searles Dry Lake Basin. The pinnacles vary in size and shape and are composed primarily of calcium carbonate. Formed underwater between 10,000 and 100,000 years ago, some of the spires are more than 140 feet high. The Trona Pinnacles were made a National Natural Landmark in 1968 by the Department of the Interior and might be recognizable to you as a filming location for more than a dozen hit movies, including Planet of the Apes and Star Trek. #ThisIsAdventure #VisitCalifornia #tronapinnacles #nightskyphotography #milkywaypics #sonyrx1rii #blmcalifornia

10/16 #CaliforniaWild #sponsored post • Last night one of the moments I was most looking forward to in our trip, occurred in the #CADeserts between the towns of Trona and Ridgecrest. We visited the Trona Pinnacles starting at sunset and stayed until after the milky way appeared so that we could experiment with long exposure night photography. Local residents came out with telescopes and star apps so they could help us find the very best spot to situate our cameras. There were stories about the night sky and about the history of the area, a talk from the Bureau of Land Management which takes care of Trona Pinnacles and I don't think I have ever had more fun as a photographer. The skill of night photography is something I very much am still learning but it was fun to further hone those skills during this adventure. The Trona Pinnacles are an unusual geological feature and the site consists of more than 500 tufa spires rising from the bed of the Searles Dry Lake Basin. The pinnacles vary in size and shape and are composed primarily of calcium carbonate. Formed underwater between 10,000 and 100,000 years ago, some of the spires are more than 140 feet high. The Trona Pinnacles were made a National Natural Landmark in 1968 by the Department of the Interior and might be recognizable to you as a filming location for more than a dozen hit movies, including Planet of the Apes and Star Trek. #ThisIsAdventure #VisitCalifornia #tronapinnacles #nightskyphotography #milkywaypics #sonyrx1rii #blmcalifornia

9/16 #CaliforniaWild #sponsored post • Have you ever wanted to visit a legitimate Wild West Ghost Town? 👻 I have and last night I finally got to, with a catch. I learned a new phrase when we visited Randsburg: population 50. It's called a "living ghost town." When we first pulled into town, we didn't see a single soul, not human or animal. The sun was starting to set and the colorful, crumbling facades of the wooden buildings set aglow in the light seemed perfectly poised in a long gone time. We'd expected it to be quiet since we were told in advance the town businesses that are left are only open on some days of the week and Monday isn't included. So we walked around and began to take a few photos of each other, many photos of the details -- and after a while a wonderful thing began to happen, people started to appear. We met an artist/woodworker who was quietly busy in a darkened studio with the door open to let fresh air (or intrepid explorers?) in. We were visited by a German Shepherd who was curious yet aloof. And we met the three town firefighters who work in 48 hour shifts and drive from as much as 100 miles away to call the town home during their times on call. We learned, from former gallery owner Cheryl McDonald, that the 2010 census recorded Randsburg as having 69 residents. We saw a ridiculously charming fixer upper for sale for such an affordable price I could have bought it. In between the initial stillness and the welcome we ended up receiving, I found a town whose worth can't be measured in the size of its population but in the length which its residents go to create a community that works for them yet which can be inclusive for the truly curious, willing to take their time... #CADeserts #randsburg #randsburgca #VisitCalifornia #ThisIsAdventure #fujifilmx_us #fujifilmxt2

9/16 #CaliforniaWild #sponsored post • Have you ever wanted to visit a legitimate Wild West Ghost Town? 👻 I have and last night I finally got to, with a catch. I learned a new phrase when we visited Randsburg: population 50. It's called a "living ghost town." When we first pulled into town, we didn't see a single soul, not human or animal. The sun was starting to set and the colorful, crumbling facades of the wooden buildings set aglow in the light seemed perfectly poised in a long gone time. We'd expected it to be quiet since we were told in advance the town businesses that are left are only open on some days of the week and Monday isn't included. So we walked around and began to take a few photos of each other, many photos of the details -- and after a while a wonderful thing began to happen, people started to appear. We met an artist/woodworker who was quietly busy in a darkened studio with the door open to let fresh air (or intrepid explorers?) in. We were visited by a German Shepherd who was curious yet aloof. And we met the three town firefighters who work in 48 hour shifts and drive from as much as 100 miles away to call the town home during their times on call. We learned, from former gallery owner Cheryl McDonald, that the 2010 census recorded Randsburg as having 69 residents. We saw a ridiculously charming fixer upper for sale for such an affordable price I could have bought it. In between the initial stillness and the welcome we ended up receiving, I found a town whose worth can't be measured in the size of its population but in the length which its residents go to create a community that works for them yet which can be inclusive for the truly curious, willing to take their time... #CADeserts #randsburg #randsburgca #VisitCalifornia #ThisIsAdventure #fujifilmx_us #fujifilmxt2

8/16 #CaliforniaWild #sponsored post • During our several days in the @visitmammoth area, we have scrambled over rocks, up rocks, down rocky slopes, under bridges, over bridges, ridden up chairlifts and gondolas, raced each other on bikes and developed new interests in things like rock climbing and mountain biking. We've easily made friends with the locals who are *no shortage of awesome* and I think I speak for the whole team when I say we have really enjoyed this area of California's vast #HighSierras. When we were looking down on lakes like these from the top of @mammothmountain at over 11,000 feet, I did think I could live here. If you like the outdoors, this place just seems to have it all. Instead, I think I'll return for a true vacation. Soon as I can. And I won't be alone. While this area might not get as much press as nearby Lake Tahoe & Yosemite -- it's the 3rd most visited ski resort in the USA in winter and in summer the over 200 miles of paved bike and walking paths + countless miles of mountain bike trails are just one of the draws for tourists from around the world who want that clean mountain air and backdrops that must rival heaven itself. Breathe deep in a spot like this and you can feel the zen change you from the inside, out. Or maybe I've just been breathing so deep I'm delirious now?! 😝 Either way, it's going to be tough to move on today. But our next region is calling our names... #ThisIsAdventure #VisitCalifornia #MammothMoments #NoSmallAdventure #VisitMammoth #MammothStories
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#MountainGirls #fujifilmx_us #fujifilmxt2 #BorderFreeCALI #WomenWhoExplore

8/16 #CaliforniaWild #sponsored post • During our several days in the @visitmammoth area, we have scrambled over rocks, up rocks, down rocky slopes, under bridges, over bridges, ridden up chairlifts and gondolas, raced each other on bikes and developed new interests in things like rock climbing and mountain biking. We've easily made friends with the locals who are *no shortage of awesome* and I think I speak for the whole team when I say we have really enjoyed this area of California's vast #HighSierras. When we were looking down on lakes like these from the top of @mammothmountain at over 11,000 feet, I did think I could live here. If you like the outdoors, this place just seems to have it all. Instead, I think I'll return for a true vacation. Soon as I can. And I won't be alone. While this area might not get as much press as nearby Lake Tahoe & Yosemite -- it's the 3rd most visited ski resort in the USA in winter and in summer the over 200 miles of paved bike and walking paths + countless miles of mountain bike trails are just one of the draws for tourists from around the world who want that clean mountain air and backdrops that must rival heaven itself. Breathe deep in a spot like this and you can feel the zen change you from the inside, out. Or maybe I've just been breathing so deep I'm delirious now?! 😝 Either way, it's going to be tough to move on today. But our next region is calling our names... #ThisIsAdventure #VisitCalifornia #MammothMoments #NoSmallAdventure #VisitMammoth #MammothStories
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#MountainGirls #fujifilmx_us #fujifilmxt2 #BorderFreeCALI #WomenWhoExplore

7/16 #CaliforniaWild #sponsored post • To get from Gold Country to the #HighSierras we drove into @yosemitenps via the Big Oak Flat entrance. If you have been to Yosemite before, what's your favorite part of the park? • It was a dream come true for me to be in the park. As a young photographer, I spent many years pouring over the work of Ansel Adams & his contemporaries, in which Yosemite features heavily. It was ridiculously inspiring to see the spots I felt I knew so well from still photos, in person. There wasn't a moment of the drive I didn't love!! Not having all the time in the world though we did have to be strategic about where we stopped so we chose Tuolumne Meadows & Olmsted Point as places to really take our time and get great content. That gave our driver @adamballard1978 time to take off his shoes and wade into the river at the Meadows, as we were filming. When I saw him, not only did I want to do it too but it also sparked the idea of using my @apple iPhone clad in its @lifeproof case to try something a little different. I hope you enjoy this virtual trip to Yosemite via my 20 second video. • #VisitCalifornia #yosemitenationalpark #tuolumnemeadows #livelifeproof #shotoniphone #findyourpark

7/16 #CaliforniaWild #sponsored post • To get from Gold Country to the #HighSierras we drove into @yosemitenps via the Big Oak Flat entrance. If you have been to Yosemite before, what's your favorite part of the park? • It was a dream come true for me to be in the park. As a young photographer, I spent many years pouring over the work of Ansel Adams & his contemporaries, in which Yosemite features heavily. It was ridiculously inspiring to see the spots I felt I knew so well from still photos, in person. There wasn't a moment of the drive I didn't love!! Not having all the time in the world though we did have to be strategic about where we stopped so we chose Tuolumne Meadows & Olmsted Point as places to really take our time and get great content. That gave our driver @adamballard1978 time to take off his shoes and wade into the river at the Meadows, as we were filming. When I saw him, not only did I want to do it too but it also sparked the idea of using my @apple iPhone clad in its @lifeproof case to try something a little different. I hope you enjoy this virtual trip to Yosemite via my 20 second video. • #VisitCalifornia #yosemitenationalpark #tuolumnemeadows #livelifeproof #shotoniphone #findyourpark

6/16 #CaliforniaWild #sponsored post • I don't think there's an adventure activity I love more than white water rafting, except maybe hot air ballooning. Though I don't really put those in the exact same category. So you can imagine how excited I was to spend a #CaliforniaWild morning rafting the South Fork of the American River with @oars_rafting in @visitgoldcountry. Class 2 and 3 rapids provide the adrenaline rush and in between the rapids, there are gorgeous stretches of calm water that flow through a canyon dotted with historic sites from the Gold Rush days, bridges, beaches, clusters of wild flowers and serene forests hiding wildlife. I don't have a photo of me to prove how much I loved this experience because it was my job to be behind the camera but just look at how much fun @kellyenglish78 & @ottsworld are having and that's me. Times ten. 😝 🤘🏼With @gopro Hero 5 Black in one hand and a paddle in the other, I was so darn happy I could have kept going for hours and hours and hours. Is rafting something you enjoy? Where have you been before? • #VisitGoldCountry #VisitCalifornia #OARSlife #goprohero5 #goprogirls #ThisIsAdventure

6/16 #CaliforniaWild #sponsored post • I don't think there's an adventure activity I love more than white water rafting, except maybe hot air ballooning. Though I don't really put those in the exact same category. So you can imagine how excited I was to spend a #CaliforniaWild morning rafting the South Fork of the American River with @oars_rafting in @visitgoldcountry. Class 2 and 3 rapids provide the adrenaline rush and in between the rapids, there are gorgeous stretches of calm water that flow through a canyon dotted with historic sites from the Gold Rush days, bridges, beaches, clusters of wild flowers and serene forests hiding wildlife. I don't have a photo of me to prove how much I loved this experience because it was my job to be behind the camera but just look at how much fun @kellyenglish78 & @ottsworld are having and that's me. Times ten. 😝 🤘🏼With @gopro Hero 5 Black in one hand and a paddle in the other, I was so darn happy I could have kept going for hours and hours and hours. Is rafting something you enjoy? Where have you been before? • #VisitGoldCountry #VisitCalifornia #OARSlife #goprohero5 #goprogirls #ThisIsAdventure

5/16 #CaliforniaWild #sponsored post • I haven't really shown you the truth of our journey yet & the truth is that it's about THE PEOPLE. It's a theme that I'm not as good at presenting in a format which might be "likebait" for Instagram. I'm embarrassed to admit I all too often choose photos that I think will do well in this space over the ones which might tell a story more accurately. Not today though because I'd be doing an injustice to our @visitgoldcountry experience if I didn't tell you about the people featured here. 📍First is Tracey Berkner at @volcanounion in the town of Volcano which has only around 100 residents now but was at one time a boom town during the Gold Rush. She's taken a boarding house that was built for $400 in 1880 and turned it into a culinary destination in and of itself. Tracey serves up wine and beer pairings with beef, duck, salmon and trays of herbs to tempt or challenge your palette in a way that makes you want to stay overnight in one of her four hotel rooms so you can turn around and repeat the process again the next day! 📍Then there is Steve, Bea, Tyler and Trevor at @gracepatriotwines. A family of talents that range from medicine to cinematography to wine-making and who are as kind and welcoming as they are exceptional. We visited their winery around Golden Hour and long past sunset with a host of folks that work in tourism from the area. It was a night that I never wanted to end. From the light that shined on the rows of gleaming Tempranillo grapes as Steve showed us around, to the taste of their Golden Bear award-winning wines, to the laughter that flowed freely and quickly over a delectable dinner as I sat alongside Mo from Amador County who had been showing us around all morning -- I'll cherish those moments during the times this month where I'm worried about deadlines and lost sleep and the pace of covering an entire state in 19 days. • It's my job as a Storyteller for @visitcalifornia and @adventure.travel_ to showcase all the reasons you should come visit the regions which lie outside the big cities here and the bottom line is, you should come for the people. 😊 #VisitGoldCountry #VisitCalifornia #ThisIsAdventure

5/16 #CaliforniaWild #sponsored post • I haven't really shown you the truth of our journey yet & the truth is that it's about THE PEOPLE. It's a theme that I'm not as good at presenting in a format which might be "likebait" for Instagram. I'm embarrassed to admit I all too often choose photos that I think will do well in this space over the ones which might tell a story more accurately. Not today though because I'd be doing an injustice to our @visitgoldcountry experience if I didn't tell you about the people featured here. 📍First is Tracey Berkner at @volcanounion in the town of Volcano which has only around 100 residents now but was at one time a boom town during the Gold Rush. She's taken a boarding house that was built for $400 in 1880 and turned it into a culinary destination in and of itself. Tracey serves up wine and beer pairings with beef, duck, salmon and trays of herbs to tempt or challenge your palette in a way that makes you want to stay overnight in one of her four hotel rooms so you can turn around and repeat the process again the next day! 📍Then there is Steve, Bea, Tyler and Trevor at @gracepatriotwines. A family of talents that range from medicine to cinematography to wine-making and who are as kind and welcoming as they are exceptional. We visited their winery around Golden Hour and long past sunset with a host of folks that work in tourism from the area. It was a night that I never wanted to end. From the light that shined on the rows of gleaming Tempranillo grapes as Steve showed us around, to the taste of their Golden Bear award-winning wines, to the laughter that flowed freely and quickly over a delectable dinner as I sat alongside Mo from Amador County who had been showing us around all morning -- I'll cherish those moments during the times this month where I'm worried about deadlines and lost sleep and the pace of covering an entire state in 19 days. • It's my job as a Storyteller for @visitcalifornia and @adventure.travel_ to showcase all the reasons you should come visit the regions which lie outside the big cities here and the bottom line is, you should come for the people. 😊 #VisitGoldCountry #VisitCalifornia #ThisIsAdventure

$4/16 #CaliforniaWild #sponsored post • I think our group saw and did more things during our short time in the #NorthCoastCA than I could explain or talk about in a month. So sharing this photo of the view from Point Arena Lighthouse is sharing only a fraction of what there is to do in this amazing region characterized by stunning coastline, soaring Redwoods, locally-sourced food, rugged landscapes, glass beaches, fog-blanketed towns, lighthouses of all shapes and sizes as well as characters you instantly want to be friends with for life! • I hope you've checked out posts from my colleagues @ottsworld, @borderfreetravels & @stuffedsuitcase to see more? • You can also follow our awesome local guide/driver/new BFF @kellyenglish78. Kelly is a true Californian with roots here that pre-date the gold rush! • But about this Lighthouse I was standing in when I took this photo: it's the tallest you can climb to the top of on the West Coast and my goodness is the view ever awesome. From this high up, I could see grey whales breaching off shore and in the distance the Stornetta Public Lands where we experienced a thrilling tour with Margaret of @ourunbeatenpath (highly recommend this!) and I felt like I could see all the way to the marvelous Mar Vista Cottages where we spent our last night and morning in the North Coast, where I highly recommend you stay if you visit this region. I couldn't see all the way to the town of Mendocino but I was still thinking of it after we'd had a wonderful lunch there and in this moment I was marveling at just how STUNNING California is, period.... #ThisIsAdventure #fujifilmx_us #fujifilmxt2 #VisitCalifornia #pointarena #exploremore #VisitMendocino$ $4/16 #CaliforniaWild #sponsored post • I think our group saw and did more things during our short time in the #NorthCoastCA than I could explain or talk about in a month. So sharing this photo of the view from Point Arena Lighthouse is sharing only a fraction of what there is to do in this amazing region characterized by stunning coastline, soaring Redwoods, locally-sourced food, rugged landscapes, glass beaches, fog-blanketed towns, lighthouses of all shapes and sizes as well as characters you instantly want to be friends with for life! • I hope you've checked out posts from my colleagues @ottsworld, @borderfreetravels & @stuffedsuitcase to see more? • You can also follow our awesome local guide/driver/new BFF @kellyenglish78. Kelly is a true Californian with roots here that pre-date the gold rush! • But about this Lighthouse I was standing in when I took this photo: it's the tallest you can climb to the top of on the West Coast and my goodness is the view ever awesome. From this high up, I could see grey whales breaching off shore and in the distance the Stornetta Public Lands where we experienced a thrilling tour with Margaret of @ourunbeatenpath (highly recommend this!) and I felt like I could see all the way to the marvelous Mar Vista Cottages where we spent our last night and morning in the North Coast, where I highly recommend you stay if you visit this region. I couldn't see all the way to the town of Mendocino but I was still thinking of it after we'd had a wonderful lunch there and in this moment I was marveling at just how STUNNING California is, period.... #ThisIsAdventure #fujifilmx_us #fujifilmxt2 #VisitCalifornia #pointarena #exploremore #VisitMendocino$

3/16 #CaliforniaWild #sponsored post • Of all the things we have been scheduled to see in the #NorthCoastCA for this adventure, the Redwoods were # 1 on my list of what I was most excited about. Because I LOVE trees, these ancient giants have always been calling me. Unlike so many things and places that can let you down when they’re overhyped, the Redwoods don’t do that. Instead, I’m told they have made grown men cry and they made me feel more at peace than I have in longer than I can remember. This trip is about bringing you the lesser-visited parts of the state of California, so we focused on Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park and Founders Grove in Humboldt Redwoods State Park. Both are part of the larger @redwoodnps system which links the National Park and State Parks into one system of stunning tree-filled goodness. Even though we skipped Avenue of the Giants and other parts of this park system that more visitors tend to frequent, we still saw the tallest and the biggest trees in California. We learned that they are so immense, they live in three climatic zones at once. The base of each tree is in one set, the stem of the tree is in another and the crown is in yet another. We also learned that there are Redwoods which have lived for over 1,000 years. The scale and the sheer majesty simply cannot be contained in a photo and photos make it hard to appreciate the scale so I wanted to show you one image that I took with my #fujifilmx_us X-T2 and another with my #goprohero5 so you can at least get an idea of just how massive the Redwoods are!! 🌲#RedwoodCountry #ThisIsAdventure #HumboldtRedwoods #VisitCalifornia #RedwoodTrees #FindYourPark

3/16 #CaliforniaWild #sponsored post • Of all the things we have been scheduled to see in the #NorthCoastCA for this adventure, the Redwoods were # 1 on my list of what I was most excited about. Because I LOVE trees, these ancient giants have always been calling me. Unlike so many things and places that can let you down when they’re overhyped, the Redwoods don’t do that. Instead, I’m told they have made grown men cry and they made me feel more at peace than I have in longer than I can remember. This trip is about bringing you the lesser-visited parts of the state of California, so we focused on Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park and Founders Grove in Humboldt Redwoods State Park. Both are part of the larger @redwoodnps system which links the National Park and State Parks into one system of stunning tree-filled goodness. Even though we skipped Avenue of the Giants and other parts of this park system that more visitors tend to frequent, we still saw the tallest and the biggest trees in California. We learned that they are so immense, they live in three climatic zones at once. The base of each tree is in one set, the stem of the tree is in another and the crown is in yet another. We also learned that there are Redwoods which have lived for over 1,000 years. The scale and the sheer majesty simply cannot be contained in a photo and photos make it hard to appreciate the scale so I wanted to show you one image that I took with my #fujifilmx_us X-T2 and another with my #goprohero5 so you can at least get an idea of just how massive the Redwoods are!! 🌲#RedwoodCountry #ThisIsAdventure #HumboldtRedwoods #VisitCalifornia #RedwoodTrees #FindYourPark

2/16 #CaliforniaWild #sponsored post • thinking of everyone in the path or Irma and those suffering because of so many other natural disasters right now, doing my part to help with @gnbinfluence's #influencelove campaign and I hope you will check it out • If you're following my colleagues you have already seen this spot in @visitcalifornia. It was the destination for a spectacular hike we completed in Lassen Volcanic National Park in the Northern California @ShastaCascade region. The Park has many geothermal areas which include several groups of hot springs and fumaroles, remnants of former volcanic activity. Most of them are in, or are adjacent to, Mount Tehama's caldera. We saw several by driving around but you have to hike to #BumpassHell, there's no way to drive there, and as is true of most things that are this spectacular to see in person - it's worth the work to get there. This spot is the "destination" but the journey there and back is every bit as stunning and then some. The unusual name is in honor of Kendall Vanhook Bumpass, a miner who worked in the Lassen area in the 1860s. He discovered it and was named on a mining claim for the area but that's not all. In 1865 the editor of a newspaper took a trip with Bumpass to see the area and while they were there, Bumpass broke through a thin crust above a boiling mud pot, his leg was badly scalded and eventually had to be amputated. I think it's a lesson in staying on the path these days. Geothermal areas can be spectacular but they are also dangerous and Park staff maintain the boardwalks very well, for our safety. ⛰🌲 #ShastaCascade #lassennationalpark #VisitCalifornia #ThisIsAdventure #FindYourPark #shotoniphone

2/16 #CaliforniaWild #sponsored post • thinking of everyone in the path or Irma and those suffering because of so many other natural disasters right now, doing my part to help with @gnbinfluence's #influencelove campaign and I hope you will check it out • If you're following my colleagues you have already seen this spot in @visitcalifornia. It was the destination for a spectacular hike we completed in Lassen Volcanic National Park in the Northern California @ShastaCascade region. The Park has many geothermal areas which include several groups of hot springs and fumaroles, remnants of former volcanic activity. Most of them are in, or are adjacent to, Mount Tehama's caldera. We saw several by driving around but you have to hike to #BumpassHell, there's no way to drive there, and as is true of most things that are this spectacular to see in person - it's worth the work to get there. This spot is the "destination" but the journey there and back is every bit as stunning and then some. The unusual name is in honor of Kendall Vanhook Bumpass, a miner who worked in the Lassen area in the 1860s. He discovered it and was named on a mining claim for the area but that's not all. In 1865 the editor of a newspaper took a trip with Bumpass to see the area and while they were there, Bumpass broke through a thin crust above a boiling mud pot, his leg was badly scalded and eventually had to be amputated. I think it's a lesson in staying on the path these days. Geothermal areas can be spectacular but they are also dangerous and Park staff maintain the boardwalks very well, for our safety. ⛰🌲 #ShastaCascade #lassennationalpark #VisitCalifornia #ThisIsAdventure #FindYourPark #shotoniphone

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