L U M E N N E W S

I N S P I R A T I O N * I N F O R M A T I O N * I N V I T A T I O N

A U G U S T 17, 2 0 1 4

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COASTLINE NEAR GOAT ROCK AT SUNSET, NORTH OF BODEGA BAY, CALIFORNIA

Warm greetings.

I hope all is going well for you.

The summer of 2014 continues to rush by. At times, I wish for a shiny, yellow pause button. Smile.

In addition to ongoing art, documentary, and advocacy projects, I am in the midst of several management consulting commitments.

I am working with an innovative educational software company that develops visual tools to integrate historical, real-time, and projected data with maps and other geographical information. Initial products are focused on K-12 and home markets. Very powerful. Global thinking. I am also deeply involved with a real estate project at 644 Broadway Street in San Francisco that brings together film and TV production companies, nonprofit organizations focused on film festivals and production projects, a theater, and retail space, bars, restaurants, and meeting rooms.

Here is an early sketch of the planned building ...

We are striving to develop a leading media production and culinary destination for the City. Fascinating learning experience. The two buildings that comprise the project are roughly 60,000 square feet. The location is at the edge of three thriving regions of San Francisco - Chinatown, the Financial District, and North Beach. Full operation in early 2015. Watch for announcements and news with a mention of "China Live," the primary tenant.

Within the travel, documentary film, and photography side of my work, memorable moments continue to evolve.

You may enjoy a few images from my recent experience.

The image above, from the Goat Rock area, emerged on a stunning Sunday evening several months ago. I was with a friend returning to San Francisco on Highway 1 from an annual picnic in Cloverdale. Just north of Bodega Bay, we noted a sign signaling access to a beach I had never visited. With a quick right turn and a steep, winding downhill section of road, a new exploration unfolded.

Late afternoon. The wind howled. Warm sunlight faded. Fog and ocean mist swirled in the distance. An endless series of waves rolled toward shore and crashed on the dark, sandy beach. Hypnotic. One can get lost for a long time in these experiences.

THE ROCKWALL TRAIL

JEFF @ NUMA PASS, ROCKWALL TRAIL, BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA

A few weeks ago, a window opened up for a trip to Calgary, Canada to connect with my old friend Neal and his family. Plans for two weekends together were quickly established with time between these commitments left open for a potential solo hiking and backpacking adventure.

In my research for a new wilderness experience, I focused on areas near Banff, a mountainous region I adore. Floe Lake drew my attention. I discovered pictures of an iconic hike, "The Rockwall Trail," in Kootenay National Park.

The reviews as well as insights from friends who knew this area were universally attractive. Sold.

WOLVERINE PASS, ROCKWALL TRAIL, KOOTENAY NATIONAL PARK

Turned out, one of the entrances to the Rockwall Trail is right off Highway 93, a road my friend planned to use to return to work on Monday morning during my trip to Canada. He listened to my preliminary plan and expressed a willingness to drop me off on the edge of the Highway. Perfect.

I called the Kootenay National Park ranger station. Wilderness and camping permits were still available. A new dream was in motion. I reserved four camp sites, planned a five day hiking program across 60 Km. of trails, and began an assessment of my collection of old camping gear. Questions about bears and other challenges. Trial packing. Food and equipment lists. Missing pieces. Fortunately, REI lent a hand.

HELMET FALLS, KOOTENAY NATIONAL PARK

My initial plan was to make the five day hike by myself. A few days before I departed for Canada, I received an unexpected request. A friend of my Canadian friend (Neal) heard about my hiking plan and asked if his son might join the trip. His son's name is Mapston. We spoke on the phone. Mapston shared an outline of his resume and credentials - serious tomahawk and knife skills, bear awareness, experience with mountain lions and coyotes, solo hiking talent, aspiring actor and storyteller, substantive Canadian "mojo." Pause. I accepted. Within days our plan was set. A big touch of wilderness was in our sights.

FLOE LAKE, ROCKWALL TRAIL, KOOTENAY NATIONAL PARK

On Monday, July 28th, Mapston and I stepped out of my friend Neal's car at the edge of Highway 93 and started into a five day trek. Everything we hoped we needed was tightly packed on our backs.

No cell coverage. No communication with clients, friends, and family. Let it go.

We set a "pick up" time five days later in the week (on Friday) at the end of the trail and hoped for the best. Gulp.

MAPSTON AND JEFF, START OF THE ROCKWALL TRAIL

Fortunately, all went superbly. The journey was filled with glorious views and fantastic weather. Big, blue sky. Heavy packs. Glaciers. A heat wave with temperatures between 75 F and 100 F. A touch of rain and loud thunder one evening. Red, white, yellow, blue, and orange wildflowers. Porcupines, wolverines, and tales of recent bear and mountain lion sightings. Cold, crisp alpine lakes. Filtered, boiled water mixed with dehydrated food. Yum. Massive green forests. Beloved trail mix. Waterfalls. Oatmeal sightings. More than a few hungry mosquitoes, black flies, and trail critters. No culinary and personal hygiene awards. Big rocks. Well preserved wilderness. Loved it.

NUMA PASS, ROCKWALL TRAIL

The whole trip felt a bit like a dream - a colorful tale connected to "The Lord Of The Rings" or some other adventure in glacier filled mountains. Fortunately, we arrived at the finish of our hike about an hour early. My food was gone. My legs were tired. My skin was a bit burned and picked and poked by bugs. My spirit, however, was very happy.

THE EARLY TREK, ROCKWALL TRAIL, KOOTENAY NATIONAL PARK

If you hold a passion for wild, natural space and might enjoy backpacking for three to six days, I strongly suggest you consider this trek.

My wilderness pass and all necessary camping permits were about $50 for the full five days. Flights to Calgary are often available at a reasonable price from across the USA. A rental car gets you to the trail head. There are many equipment stores in Calgary for gear and gas for your stove. Here's a link to the Kootenay National Park information site.

You may be able to consider this future investment as part of your health care costs. After all, it's "therapy."

TUMBLING GLACIER, ROCKWALL TRAIL

NEW DUNGENESS LIGHT STATION

FULL MOON, NEW DUNGENESS LIGHT STATION, SEQUIM, WASHINGTON

A few months ago, I had the opportunity to support a unique nonprofit, The New Dungeness Light Station, in northern Washington.

I spent three nights living in the base of the lighthouse shown above to help document the landscape and the organization's unique programs. There are two goals for this project. One, to help raise awareness and funds for the nonprofit foundation that operates this historic Light Station. Two, to help connect volunteers to the opportunity to live at the lighthouse for a week (as "Keepers") and operate the facility - a wonderful gig in a spectacular venue.

The lighthouse, which was built in 1857, is surrounded by water on three sides and connected to the mainland by a thin, five mile extension of sand. Peaceful.

The sand spit stretches into the Strait of Juan de Fuca from the coast near the town of Sequim, Washington.

Sea birds, otters, whales, and other wildlife flow constantly through the area. Each morning, in the early light, I watched bald eagles soar and hunt along the seashore. Several days before I arrived, the "Keepers" saw a pod of Orca Whales about a hundred yards from the base of the lighthouse. Yes. It's true. This information relating to Killer Whales in search of food impacted my excitement toward a daily swim.

The lighthouse has operated continuously for close to 160 years. Originally, there were two full time "Keepers" who lived on the property. Today, the separate dwelling behind the lighthouse provides housing for two to six volunteers ("Keepers") who rotate each week to support the operation and maintain the entire Light Station. This approach allows the lighthouse to operate throughout the entire year with a very modest budget (about $150,000) and enables engaged volunteers to experience the beauty and support of this landmark. See this link for more information.

If you are interested, it's possible to become a New Dungeness Light Station "Keeper" in 2015 or future years. You can travel to the lighthouse solo or with a group of friends and share the responsibility of running the station during the day and celebrate together at night. Visitors from outside the state of Washington generally fly into Seattle and drive north to Sequim.

For volunteer "Keepers," early mornings and evenings are designed to provide free, unstructured time and an opportunity for shared meals and immersion in the natural space. Many volunteers return year after year. There are over 600 "members" (a $35 a year donation) who provide over 30,000 hours of volunteer time each year.

Call me for a more colorful sales pitch. If you wish, I will connect you with Chad, the Executive Director.

SUNRISE, NEW DUNGENESS LIGHT STATION, SEQUIM, WASHINGTON

The view above is looking north. That's Mount Baker (one of the "snowiest places in the world," a 10,800 foot peak) in the background between the buildings. It's lit by first light at sunrise.

If you are planning a trip to this area, "Hurricane Ridge" is just south of the Light Station.

The Light Station has a small tool shed and a massive fresh water storage tank. I enjoyed exploring the patterns and simplicity of the site.

WATER STORAGE TANK AND TOOL SHED, NEW DUNGENESS LIGHT STATION

The tides near the Light Station can swing twelve to to fourteen feet up and down each day. This creates a dynamic shoreline around the facility. At low tide, green and orange seaweed, crabs, jellyfish, starfish and sand seascapes are unveiled. In the midst of high tides and a storm, the sand spit is sometimes cut off and the Light Station becomes part of an island.

Although there is more than a fair amount of rain in northern Washington all year long, spring and summer can be glorious. I am told staying at the Light Station in the winter months is often wet, cold, dynamic, and spectacular. Bring your rain and wind gear. Apparently, many "Keepers" love this dramatic time of year on the coast.

SARAH MILLER, VOLUNTEER "KEEPER," @ WORK, NEW DUNGENESS LIGHT STATION

There is something alluring, magical, and comforting about a lighthouse.

Perhaps, it's the unusual and precarious locations many lighthouses share. Or, it may be the simple feel of light and the sense that a lighthouse signals a path of safety, comfort in the storm, direction in darkness. I have always been drawn to these locations.

I was surprised to learn that the light source in the New Dungeness Lighthouse is only fifty watts - the bulb is less powerful and bright than the bulbs many of us use in our kitchen. The lens in the lighthouse tower is the secret. This special device allows the light from the little bulb to travel 17 miles out toward the horizon! The bulb is about $20. The lens is about $20,000.

You may know the colorful history of lighthouses. The source of light in lighthouses across the world evolved through time. In the early days, baskets of coal or buckets of wood were used to create a glowing beacon. The Greeks and Romans were on top of these notions and other approaches. Next, whale and vegetable oil were used. Over time, lenses were invented and became more and more important. In the 1840s, "Fresnel" lenses opened up new possibilities with the capacity to focus and direct light for long, long distances. These lenses have an incredible history as highlighted here.

Each lighthouse light has a unique signature ("characteristic") with the color of the light, the number of pulses of light, and other design elements immediately identifying the location. Thus, a captain at sea is quickly able to recognize the specific site of each major lighthouse from afar. I am told airplanes used to navigate purely with visual contacts and signals (there was no GPS).

DOCUMENTING A FAMILY FARM AND
A WORKING CATTLE RANCH

DANCING OAK TREES, LODI, CALIFORNIA

A few months back, I was asked to visually document a family farm in Lodi, California and a working cattle ranch near Yosemite, California. The location and names of these properties remain private, but the clients provided permission to share a few images.