Waking up at the campsite, Kristin read me a confusing text and our morning plans changed. Originally, we were supposed to head to a friends house to shower before heading to Outdoor Retailer as our hotel room wouldn’t be ready until 2pm. However, that friend got called into the office and our chance of being “clean” for the trade show was now out the window. So, I did what any recovering dirtbag would do, shower in the nearest body of water.

After a full rest day and the burning desire to find a body of water to dip into, Kristin and I chatted over morning coffee about a game plan. The conclusion, wrap up the morning, pack up, go rock climbing for a half day, then head to a body of water somewhere around Salt Lake City.

Creativity is a muscle, the more you use it the stronger it gets. But, you can also overuse the muscle and wear it out. For the last few years, I have been in a stage of extreme output for my creativity. Creating a short documentary now airing on PBS, three travel series totaling 27 episodes, a poetry book, an e-book to help other photographers grow their career, commercial photo and video campaigns, an assignment on every continent in a single year for both editorial and commercial outlets… the list continues. Looking back, I would do it all again, but I also have to admit, I am not surprised my creativity has been at a low.

After graduating college I was lost and lived on the road. During that time, I fell in love with the physical and mental challenge rock climbing provided, but I never got that great in comparison to others who’ve dedicated the same amount of time to the craft. In my hay-day, I would on-sight low 5.11 and project harder 5.11 rock climbs. My base has always been an average 5.10- climber. But, rock climbing has expanded my mind on what is possible and places to explore. A prime example, visiting City of the Rocks. If I did not rock climb, there is no reason I would have visited this Idaho destination. Sure, it is pretty, has a historical connection to the California Trail, and there is some good hiking, but there are a lot more places in the world I would visit first. However, with my climbing gear taking up substantial space in the back of van, this stop was a no-brainer.

For as long as I can remember, I’ve hated not knowing. That could be not knowing a surprise is going to happen or no knowing something in a conversation. Regardless, not knowing really irritates me. So, when embarking on a road trip where the whole point is to embrace the unknown, you would think I would constantly be annoyed. Well, the contrary is true. Not knowing what is going to happen brings me joy, excitement, and that feeling of wonder that only comes when loosening the reins on life a little bit.

I have to be frank, I didn’t think Idaho was going to be very fun and begrudgingly agreed to this section of the road trip. It isn’t on Instagram, magazines don’t write about Idaho, and, well, I just think of potatoes when I think about Idaho. Asking a few long time locals if this is by design, they shook their heads agreeing and disagreeing. The best response I have gotten so far, “Idaho is out of the way. No major trucking routes that force you to pass through regardless. You go to Idaho by choice and most people would pick a different place in the US to go on vacation.” The response was spot on, but, I would say Highway 75 should be on somebodies road trip list because you can do just about anything an outdoorsy person would like to do during the day, then relax in a hot spring. Don’t believe me, read what we did today.

We all have those days when the alarm goes off at 5AM and you hit snooze. The alarm goes off a second time and you hit snooze, again. Well, 5AM came and went for us this morning, finally crawling out from under the covers around 6:50-something. I missed sunrise. A trade-off I assumed was going to happen when going to be at 11:30PM the night before. Why? Getting distracted hanging in the hot spring, editing images, stretching since we have a campsite with an area perfect to put the yoga mat, and tapping away on the keyboard. Those are my excuses, the real reason, though, are the endless daylight hours of summer that are making so much room for activity, I just can’t bring myself to embrace the FOMO on daytime activities. So, I wait for the sun to set, roughly 9:30PM, right now, to start the editing and writing process. But, today is a little different.

Picking up my watch, 4:51 AM. Nine minutes before my alarm is going to go off, so I crawl out of bed without waking Kristin, grab my camera, pet Chestnut who’s greeting me with a sleepy smile, and head outside under the cloudy, blue-yellow sky. In about 20 minutes sunrise will change the color of the clouds, but for now, Chestnut and I, walk around our campsite as the birds chase bugs. It’s quiet, but there is an audible noise from the river close-by.