Here's Permission To Scratch Your Creative Itches
There are stupid ideas and then there are creative itches you have to scratch. This hike to a "hidden waterfall" in Alaska was kinda both.
There are stupid ideas and then there are creative itches you have to scratch. This hike to a "hidden waterfall" in Alaska was kinda both.
Kristin packed a dress in her backpack and mine was full of camera gear.
Leaving the trailhead, there was no obvious way to this waterfall. In fact, you cross a tiny "bridge" then just hop off the side into the wash.
After crawling through some bushes a crazy wooden ladder that feels like it is going to disintegrate under your feet appears and you crawl down it. Then, you repeatedly crawl down ropes or ladders or slippery slopes until you start getting sprayed by water and hear a roar similar to that of a jet engine from around a corner.
Approach with caution, but finally, you have arrived.
Just remember, you have to crawl back out to get home!
The end result:
1) a great time wandering through the woods
2) I wrote my highest performing blog about this hike and it makes a few dollars a day (for the past three years straight)
3) licensed a handful of images to Big Agnes, a travel company, and a tourism board
4) a memory I look back upon fondly and dream of making more memories like this
Aka that silly itch really blossomed into a great outing.
Breaking Free From Creative Lows
Many of us return from a trip, drop our gear on the floor of our now dusty rooms, and head for a quick shower hoping to feel whole again. While the hot water feels great, processing a trip doesn’t happen that fast. But, clean is always a better feeling than being dirty. Yet, the “to do list” when arriving home is lengthy:
To the UnBound Reader,
Many of us return from a trip, drop our gear on the floor of our now dusty rooms, and head for a quick shower hoping to feel whole again. While the hot water feels great, processing a trip doesn’t happen that fast. But, clean is always a better feeling than being dirty. Yet, the “to do list” when arriving home is lengthy:
unpack
laundry
import images to your drive & back them up
maybe start editing a few
let your friends know you are home
flip through the pages of your journal
prepare for the upcoming work in your near future
I know I am forgetting some, but the length already give me anxiety so there is no reason to make it longer. Did you notice where that list left off?
Paddling towards a gigantic iceberg arch in Antarctica. Thank you for reading, please consider connecting on IG @storiesbydalton
“Preparing for the upcoming work…”
Well, if your career is as unstable as mine, preparing for uncertainty is hard. Not in a play a sad song on the violin kinda thing, but more of an analysis by paralysis kinda thing.
The freelance life of a photographer, filmmaker, and/or writer ebbs and flows upon so many factors it’s easy to get overwhelmed in the sea of things to do. However, for the last year, I’ve been trying to refine my systems and I’ve finally landed on one that works.
Exploring the foothills of the Pacific North West during blueberry season, only to be met with a thick layer of fog. Thank you for reading and consider connecting on IG @storiesbydalton
I call it, “The 100, 100, 100.” You’ll see, I’m very original as I explain a bit deeper. After a little bit of reflection, my career was stalled by three bottlenecks; posting, editing, & networking. So, I started blocking off three 100 minute blocks of time to make my days at home look like:
4:30 - 5:00am: wake up
5:00 - 5:30am: stretch and take care of dog
5:30 - 6:00am: journal
6:20 - 8:00am: writing & scheduling posts (block 1)
8:30 - 10:10am: editing projects (block 2)
10:40 - 12:20pm: networking (block 3)
12:30 and onward: all other things life throws my way
At first glance, this looks like a terrible schedule, but it has given me enough structure to get ahead, make great connections, and turn an unstable career into something a bit more predictable. With that said, I’m still digging my way out of a sinkhole of unshared projects. As in 18 projects, from this year alone, that have not seen the light of day, so wish me luck, right?
Anyways, please, steal this for yourself and/or hit me with some ideas on how this system can be improved.
Keep Exploring,
The Small Things That Help
Thank you for taking the time to read UnBound. I hope the images and stories have scratched your mid-week wanderlust itch. If they have, would you please consider forwarding this newsletter to a friend?
If you haven’t done so already, consider following me on your favorite social platform:
Support UnBound By Owning
This Side Hustle Has Failed Five Times, Yet I Keep Pushing On
Sitting here on my couch, feeling excited and a bit bummed, I’m reflecting on why I keep trying to make this failing side hustle work. Again and again and again and again and again, it has failed in one way or another. Yet, I keep iterating and grinding away hoping to make this side hustle a reality.
Sitting here on my couch, feeling excited and a bit bummed, I’m reflecting on why I keep trying to make this failing side hustle work. Again and again and again and again and again, it has failed in one way or another. Yet, I keep iterating and grinding away hoping to make this side hustle a reality.
So, what they heck is this side hustle? I’ll give you a hint, my childhood goal has always been to travel the world and tell stories. In short, that’s the side hustle, but how it takes shape is now on its sixth iteration. Here are my previous five failures and what I learned from them.
Before I dive in, I want to quickly acknowledge my main career is commercial and editorial photography & filmmaking. I love the career, the access it provides, that I’m good at it, and the creativity, yet, I’ve always been a bit disenchanted with financial security being tied to clients whose needs vary year to year. The ups and downs of a photo/filmmaking career is why I have put time and effort into this side hustle.
A selfie of me ashamed to admit these failures, so I hope they help some of you.
Failed Attempt 1 of 5:
In 2015/16, I started an IG account ( seekshangrila - terrible name, I know, but it meant something to me) to share my travels and adventures in one place, meanwhile connect with other people doing the same thing as me. In just a few months, that account grew from 0 to 10k by posting iPhone snaps while cycling around New Zealand and backpacking in Yosemite National Park. The images are cringe worthy now, but the growth in followers confidence I should invest in a camera.
I bought the Sony a6000 and started focusing on creating images.
At some point, I realized I could make money from snapping images and sharing them to social media. So, I changed the focus of the account over time from iPhone snaps for people to enjoy with a longer caption about the adventures to “I’m a professional photographer, look how amazing my photography is! Hire me!”
Then, that account hit a plateau around 12k, I had renamed the account daltonjohnsonmedia, and just went all in on sharing photos like other professional photographers. And guess what, I faded into oblivion like all the other people who just push how great they are at using a camera.
So, I did what any logical millennial would do, I started a blog.
I didn't know anything about blogs, or blogging as a business, so these "blogs" were really just IG captions with a few photos. So, looking back I'm not surprised it didn't work, but I tried and I learned.
Writing daily to see what would happen. Nothing. But, my writing did get better. At times I had a few articles perform, most of them never did anything.
Secretly, I thought I was the best writer on planet earth and just didn't understand why nobody was reading. It must have been Google's fault (eye roll), but, I chugged along. Cranking out articles. I even started to submit article ideas to magazines, but they didn’t respond.
At some point, I realized blogging was not working, so I decided to educate myself and started reading blogs. Turns out, I had everything wrong.
I tossed in the towel, turned that site into my portfolio, and let it sit. Eventually, a few articles ranked on Google, providing some traffic and job leads for photo and video work.
What I Learned Looking Back:
An audience doesn’t care how you make money (as long as it is ethical) and surely don't want to hear about it, unless that is the content you share
Leaving your core audience behind because you feel like doing something different isn’t helpful
Ego destroys all good things
You need a business model to make something sustainable, but that also means you need to know what a business model means
Diversity of outlets only works if you spend time nurturing them all
Failed Attempt 2 of 5:
Roughly 2017 till 2020, I continued pushing on with the writing and posting to IG, there wasn't really a business model (I didn't have the vocabulary at the time) but I was landing clients off and on for photo/video as well as editorial work. So, I figured I would just go all in. That IG account grew to 17k, I started a newsletter (a recommendation of a college buddy), and kept the website chugging along. The newsletter grew to about 1k, maybe 1500, but then I fell off the map because commercial and editorial camera work exploded. Then, COVID hit, and well I recouped at my parents place for month to reset, learn, and figure out what I was going to do because everything stopped.
Failed Attempt 3 of 5:
2021, I spent a year learning more about business, business models, marketing, etc. I still had the IG account, the blog, and the newsletter, but I had no momentum. The IG account was going backwards, starting the year roughly at 15k and losing followers daily. The blog wasn't really getting any traffic and I wasn't sharing my newsletter because I just didn't care. I was licensing images and selling prints, but nothing was really popping. No growth, just meh.
But, Jan 2022 I got a call to produce/DP a documentary on Denali, accepted the job and road tripped from Baja to Denali. Recorded the film and booked a few photo gigs that paid well enough to linger around Alaska for a few months.
During that time, I figured I would give YT a shot, but why not, right? Well, that was an epic fail. YT travel videos take a ton of work (more than making a documentary), have a cadence that isn't for a sane person, and make no money LOL until you have a massive catalog of footage that generates income via ads and brand deals. But, at least I tried, right?
The YT dream went on for about a year with almost nothing to show for it.
Failed Attempt 4 of 5:
2023 - 24: I got a random DM on LinkedIn, "Can you write as well as you photograph?"
"Yup, I've been published in national magazines like Men's Journal (sent link of story)"
"Cool, meeting tomorrow, what time works for you?"
sent time and booked a call
A few months later, I was running a vertical of Men's Journal (turns out the random DM was a VP at MJ's parent company) and was looking to expand MJ into adventure travel.
I was their guy.
I went hard and built that site from nothing to roughly 450 articles and 170k UMV in just 8 months (it took 4 to launch).
I literally went to every continent, above the arctic circle, and below the antarctic circle for assignments.
Then, the parent company got into trouble, VPs moved companies, and the program I was running got axed.
Ironically, they couldn't even quote my contract correctly during my termination email LOL
Failed Attempt 5 of 5:
mid/late 2024: For some reason, every article that was published was "given back to me", the IG account (now totally destroyed) was handed back to me, and I started The Adventure Travel Network.
At first, it did really well and grew quickly online. Traffic skyrocketed to roughly 500k in a matter of months, it was epic.
Then a Google update hit and I went from making $2,000-3,000 a month of passive ad income to $300/mo. Then $200/mo. Then $100/mo.
Dead.
In early 2025, I pushed for about two months will affilates and trying to figure things out, but the writing was on the wall. This wasn't going to work, so I integrated the site into my portfolio website and continued my work with photo and video.
Attempt 6, Will It Finally Work?
The call to share great stories can't be shaken.
A few weeks ago, while I was swimming in Lake Tahoe and beating myself up mentally, the phrase “unbound” popped into my head. A mantra of sorts that showcased, in a single word, a life not attached to the status quo. In fact, it would be the opposite, a life full unbound and willing to give a middle a finger to accepting the chains of societal norms.
Aggressive? Yes, but that chip on my shoulder is unavoidable and who doesn’t like that movie scene in Top Gun of Maverick giving the Mig pilot the middle finger? I have loved that scene since I was a wee-little-lad.
So, I rebranded the newsletter, mapped out a list of stories that have been denied through magazine submissions, and just decided I would try this thing myself.
And, that’s how UnBound was born.
But, I’ll be honest, right now it makes $100/mo and I don’t have much of a business model to figure out how and where it should go. Yet, I am taking it slow enough that I don’t fully have to worry about that, for right now, as $100/mo covers the costs of doing business for now.
I Should Be On Everest Right Now, But I’m In Las Vegas
I am supposed to be on Everest, right now, the broken record in my head repeats. Why am I standing on top of my van watching the sunrise from Las Vegas?
I am supposed to be on Everest, right now, the broken record in my head repeats. Why am I standing on top of my van watching the sunrise from Las Vegas?
Waiting for the rising sun to come with its much needed blanket of warmth. Connect with Dalton on your favorite social media: @storiesbydalton
Have you ever end up somewhere and you just don’t understand how you got there? The confusion hits hard, you want to make the best of your focus, and yet all you can do is dream of being somewhere else. Well, this was one of those times for me.
It was April 2023 and I was supposed to be on Everest, filming a documentary about a blind veteran climbing the tallest peak in the world, not for himself, not to see what the view is like (I hope the oxymoron gives you a chuckle), but to challenge the status quo around blindness and give other wounded solders a role model to say, “yes, I can do thing I thought impossible.”
His name: Lonnie Bedwell
We met on Denali about a year before, while I was filming the award-winning short documentary Climbing For Furley, and as time passed he reached out with a last minute invitation to come film the trip and hopefully make a documentary if the trip is a success.
In many ways, this was a dream assignment of dream assignments. Lonnie’s story is great, the setting couldn’t be more stunning, and I have a personal goal of creating something on all seven summits.
However, with the last minute nature of the trip, bringing me on board 10 days before the expedition left, not all the boxes were checked.
When I arrived at the airport ready to leave, I was denied. My passport, while valid for the next 7 months, did not meet all the requirements. The Nepal Tourism requires all travelers to a passport valid for 6 months after their return date. I was one week shy of that requirement.
My trip ended before it started.
I was devastated.
For 48 hours, I tried to get a new passport, but, the passport office was overwhelmed with 10x the normal inquiries and even with a Congressional push to get me an overnight passport, I still could not.
Breaking the news to the team, I didn’t know what to do with my two month open schedule. So, I packed the van and headed to the desert to lick my metaphorical wounds.
In 2023, I had been in this career for almost 8 years, yet I considered myself a young-gun in the industry. With lots of lessons, like this, still to learn and never repeat, I was in a rut. I was angry. For the most part, I was a climbing dirtbag with a camera, so when the bureaucracy of paperwork held me back, I couldn’t accept my failure.
The time in the desert was a warming respite from the cold I often endure in my career, but I couldn’t get out of my own head.
Kristin, my girlfriend, tried everything she could to cheer me up, but I was in an unbreakable mood. I felt bad she had to experience my mood. I wanted to let her go enjoy herself, but we were traveling in a van together, so she would have had to leave me behind. In many ways, that sounded nice, but I didn’t really want to shrivel up like a piece of jerky out here in the desert.
So, we pushed on together. Driving through Alabama Hills, Death Valley, Valley of Fire, and towards Lake Mead.
A few weeks into the trip, still being a sourpuss, I wanted to turn the corner. Let things go. But, how?
The mishap was out of my control and that is what I needed to accept.
At least, from all of my travel the major lesson I have learned has been: When things are not going your way and the results are out of your control, you need to let it go. I believe this concept is coined “The Traveler’s Mindset”
So, one of the evenings sitting alone lake side, I intentionally watched the light show on the mountains acting as the backdrop to Lake Mead change from a washed out daytime blue to orange to purple to a black bright with stars seeking an internal silver lining.
For the rest of this trip, seeking that silver lining would become my north star, but, it wouldn’t come on this trip. In fact, I would have to wait until June, just when I would have been coming home from Everest, to find my silver lining, which would literally take me around the world.
I sit quietly looking out at the calm waters, trying to make sense of everything that had happened. Connect with Dalton on your favorite social media: @storiesbydalton
The Small Things That Help
Thank you for taking the time to read UnBound. I hope the images and stories have scratched your mid-week wanderlust itch. If they have, would you please consider forwarding this newsletter to a friend?
If you haven’t done so already, consider following me on your favorite social platform:
Related Reads:
We Both Took a Massive Risk To Build a Hospitality Portfolio
Four years ago, I photographed my first hotel, for free, to start a hospitality portfolio.
Chips and guac table-side at the beach for Rancho Santana Nicaragua. Photo by Dalton Johnson
Four years ago, I photographed my first hotel, for free, to start a hospitality portfolio.
They had it all going on, but their marketing was terrible. Like stock photos and pixilated phone images from guests. That kind of terrible, yet they were charging between $1500 and $2000 a night!
One cold pitch later, we had four nights in a standard cabin (which was far from standard) and 1 night in the VIP cabin, which came with its own helicopter pad.
The shoot went really well, I worked 15 hours days for 5 days straight, and even created a new 1-minute video spot for them. All for free.
Before you get your panties in a ruffle about under cutting the market, blah, blah, blah... they took a serious chance on me. I had never photographed a hotel, or shot video of a hotel. They had to put me in a room because the place was off the grid. They had to send a boat to pick me up, feed me, and pay for everything from air plane rides to see glaciers to halibut fishing. And, there was no guarantee I would deliver.
But, I did.
Then, out of nowhere that adventure lodge was recognized with not 1, but 2 Michelin keys.
Which put them and my work center stage in the luxury world for adventure hotels.
Since there acknowledgments, their guest list has grown and so has my client list. Instead of begging to give away free work, I'm booking a few tourism boards and experiential hotels (state side and international) every year.
A prime example, this boutique surf lodge in Nicaragua - Rancho Santana Nicaragua
A full week of surfing, zip-lines, food that melted in my mouth, exploring workshops and coffee farms, sailing on a catamaran, motoring across a lake so large they feel like the ocean, volcanoes, and so much more.
All of that started because of a cold email and doing some free work.
P.S. These images come from the first 4 hours of being on property, check out the full gallery from this surf lodge in Nicaragua:
Top Destination We Are Drooling Over This Week
Finding new destinations can be hard in today’s digital world where everyone is trying to sell you on something “new”. So, here at UnBound, we have created this space to highlight the best destinations we have explored. These destinations can be far fetched locations that we have fallen in love with, or, backyard hot spots that we just want to share with everyone.
Regardless of the location, these destinations are all places we have personally visited and think you should consider when planning your next trip.
Finding new destinations can be hard in today’s digital world where everyone is trying to sell you on something “new”. So, here at UnBound, we have created this space to highlight the best destinations we have explored. These destinations can be far fetched locations that we have fallen in love with, or, backyard hot spots that we just want to share with everyone.
Regardless of the location, these destinations are all places we have personally visited and think you should consider when planning your next trip.
Without further adieu, we give you the top destinations we are drooling over this week:
Our standards for testing and reviewing at UnBound:
UnBound requires first person experience to review and recommend any product, destination, experience, etc. In other words, you’ll never read about a place or product that we have not touched, used, or experienced personally.
In the case a recommendation is sponsored, it will be clearly marked. With that said, sponsored reviews remain honest and true to editorial review. Meaning we share both, the good and the bad.
If you have any questions, or comments, about the product reviews, you can write me at:
dalton@dalton-johnson.com
Trailborn Rocky Mountain - Hotel Review
Rock climbing with KMAC guides at the Fins. Photo by Dalton Johnson
Adventure and hotel don’t belong in the same sentence, so why am I calling Trailborn Rocky Mountain the basecamp for adventurers? The answer I’m crazy. Just kidding. This adventure-forward hotel fosters a sense of community and encourages adventure. A steep task they have taken on, if I say so myself, but here’s how they do it.
First, their lobby feels more like a mountain cafe that you want to sit back and enjoy a book. Speaking of books, they have several picture books (ahem, they are called coffee table books) lining the walls inviting you to grab one and start dreaming. Some of the books are local adventures and others are far flung idea generators from around the world.
We had a rainy day and spent a lot of time in the lobby, drinking lattes, reading books, and enjoying the fireplace.
Second, s’mores. Every night, Trailborn Rocky Mountain cranks the heat on the outdoor fire pit and supplies the s’mores essentials. For Kristin and I, this was a great place to unwind while sharing a beverage and chatting. One of the nights, the fire pit was “crowded” and we struck up some great conversations with other travelers who shared beta for great hikes in the area.
…
Rancho Santana Nicaragua - Surf Escape
The main break just steps from our room. Photo by Dalton Johnson
The Perfect Week In Paradise (At Least In My Opinion)
My girlfriend and I had planned a week-long trip to Rancho Santana and, I might be bias as I share our adventure-packed trip itinerary, but, our trip was one for the record books! Rancho Santana is a paradise escape to a country not overrun by tourism. Promising a perfect blend of relaxation in the sun and adventure.
Itinerary:
Day 1: Arrival, Ocean Time, and a Dinner to Remember
Day 2: Exploring the Beauty of Rancho Santana
Day 3: Surfing, Mountain Biking, and Sunset Views
Day 4: Mombacho, Lake Nicaragua, Granada, and Volcano Masaya
Day 5: Farm Tour and Sunset Horseback Ride
Day 6: Catamaran Adventure
Day 7: Departure – Until Next Time!
…
Bear Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park
Sunrise at Bear Lake, CO. Photo by Dalton Johnson
With the timed entry into Rocky Mountain National Park, access to Bear Lake at sunrise takes a little bit of planning. While there are day of permits available, they seem to be impossible to land. So, if you are making the trek out to Rocky Mountain National Park, I suggest you secure your entry permit months beforehand.
With that said, Kristin, my partner, was able to land an entry permit for the morning slot, the night before, during late-summer in the middle of the week. I think we were lucky, but who really knows?!
Now that your permit is secured, it’s time to set your alarm the night before and try to sleep, crossing your fingers you wake up to an early alarm, drive through the dark to the trailhead, and walk the .5 of a mile to Bear Lake.
Yup, the walk is very short, so no need to rush.
I suggest bringing a warm beverage to keep you warm, even if it is the summer as the lake sits at 9,449 feet. From there, set up your camera, enjoy the alpine glow on the cliffs, and push that shutter button.
You can walk around the lake to create different images, I liked the alpine glow in the morning from the eastern bank of the lake and the northern bank of the lake around mid-morning when most of the lake was in full sun.
The above image was snapped from the northern bank of the lake.
If you are a camera-lover, here’s some of the data about the image above:
Camera: Sony a7r4
Lens: Tamron 16-30 f/2.8 G2
Focal length: 30mm
Aperture: f/5.0
Shutter-Speed: 1/320 second
ISO: 250
Beachside Hot Springs in La Ventana, BCS
Photo by Dalton Johnson
Hot springs on the beach sound like a dream, but in La Ventana, they’re a reality. Just north of this kite-surfing addicted city of Baja Sur lies Playa Agua Caliente, a unique beach where you can soak in natural hot springs at low tide along the Sea of Cortez. These hidden treasures bubble right out of the sand, offering an unforgettable experience for those who make the trip north. The trifecta of secluded beach, desert landscape, and floating islands makes this spot dreamy, at least that is how I felt.
Glacier Point in Yosemite National Park
Dancing on the diving board at Glacier Point in Yosemite National Park. Photo by Dalton Johnson
There is an age old debate if Glacier Point is said to be better at sunrise or sunset. My personal preference as a photographer is sunrise, but I would rather you head to Glacier Point and find our for yourself.
On a deeper note, than an endless debate, is the fact that Glacier Point was one of the locations that John Muir brought President Roosevelt to wow the president into turning Yosemite into a National Park. There is an iconic photo of the two standing on the edge of Glacier Point with Yosemite Falls pouring in the background. When I stand in that exact location at Glacier Point, I like to think of this image and thank John Muir for his dedication to this land and conservation. Without him, who knows what Yosemite would be.
Soldier Pass Cave in Sedona, Arizona
Sedona has a city I have returned to several times. I am not sure what exactly draws me back to this town of red dirt, but I find myself here at least once a year. On a recent visit, I hiked the Seven Sacred Pools just after a rain and continued my hike onward to the Soldier Pass Cave. After clinging for dear life on the side of a muddy hill, I finally made it to this cave that everyone rants and raves about on social media and Reddit threads. While I am typically not one to seek out social media spots, Solider Pass Cave caught my eye.
Once I reached the base of this cave, I realized just how massive it really is. Two large opening, one is accessible to scale inside, the other one might require a rope. While I am a rock climber, I opted for the easy scramble inside of the cave. Since I forgot my tape measure, I’ll eyeball and say this cave was 40 to 50 feet tall and 200 feet long. Massive! The entrance crack runs right through the middle of it and there is a “window” you can sit in. This seemed to be the social media photo glamour spot, so I didn’t last long.
Avoiding the crowds, I wandered to the other side of the cave and found a way to scramble to the top. Nobody was up here. Quick note: If you are not a confident rock climber, please don’t scramble to the top, it was dangerous. Soaking in the view from the top and the sun that was breaking through the clouds, I sat and smiled.
This was worth the hike.
Luxor, Egypt
The Luxor Temple glowing at sunset and lit up with lights for a night time tour. Photo by Dalton Johnson
Luxor is a “small town” with ancient roots. When you think about ancient Egypt, you are thinking about the ancient sites of Luxor like the Valley of Kings, Valley of the Queens, the Luxor Temple, the Avenue of Sphinxes, and the Temple of Karnak, just to name a few. This ancient holy site has enough to see along the Nile river that you could easily spend five days exploring the sites and feel as though you have not scratched the surface.
We chose Luxor, Egypt this week for our top destination for that very reason. The history. Known as Thebes during the Roman and Greek reigns of Egypt, this vast area will leave your mind itching to return to fifth grade to relearn your Egyptian history.
While there is not much pure adventure to be found in Luxor, you can get your heart rate to spike as you make your way underground at the Valley of the Kings and Queens exploring the excavated tombs. When here, make sure to soak in the fact that the paint you are looking at could be as old as 3,500 years. Yet, it looks as though it was painted last week.
Our founding editor, Dalton Johnson, just got back from a 10-day river cruise along the Nile and here is what he had to say about the trip with Abercrombie and Kent, “It’s hard to comprehend the timeline and scale of Egypt. The temples tower over you and as you look at the hyrogylphics you realize the temple took 180-200 years to build. It’s mind bending. However, if I didn’t have Mohamed Rehim as my Egyptologist guide, explaining what I was looking at, I don’t think I would have appreciated the temples and tombs as much because I just would not understand.”
Do you have an adventure worth sharing?
If so, reach out to us and pitch your ideas: Pitch Us
Discover more Adventures
Every Adventurer's Basecamp Is Just Outside of Rocky Mountain National Park at Trailborn Rocky Mountain
Adventure and hotel don’t belong in the same sentence, so why am I calling Trailborn Rocky Mountain the basecamp for adventurers? The answer I’m crazy. Just kidding. This adventure-forward hotel fosters a sense of community and encourages adventure. A steep task they have taken on, if I say so myself, but here’s how they do it.
Adventure and hotel don’t belong in the same sentence, so why am I calling Trailborn Rocky Mountain the basecamp for adventurers? The answer I’m crazy. Just kidding. This adventure-forward hotel fosters a sense of community and encourages adventure. A steep task they have taken on, if I say so myself, but here’s how they do it.
Kristin and I soaking in the apline glow at Bear Lake in Rocky Mountain NP. Photo by Dalton Johnson.
First, their lobby feels more like a mountain cafe that you want to sit back and enjoy a book. Speaking of books, they have several picture books (ahem, they are called coffee table books) lining the walls inviting you to grab one and start dreaming. Some of the books are local adventures and others are far flung idea generators from around the world.
We had a rainy day and spent a lot of time in the lobby, drinking lattes, reading books, and enjoying the fireplace.
Second, s’mores. Every night, Trailborn Rocky Mountain cranks the heat on the outdoor fire pit and supplies the s’mores essentials. For Kristin and I, this was a great place to unwind while sharing a beverage and chatting. One of the nights, the fire pit was “crowded” and we struck up some great conversations with other travelers who shared beta for great hikes in the area.
What Are The Rooms Like?
The rooms are newly renovated, to a modern minimalism look and feel. By no means am I an architect, so I can’t name styles, but I can say the room was functional, enjoyable to stay in, and had plenty of storage for our clothing. Also, Chestnut, our dog, had plenty of room to lounge around.
Favorite parts:
They had a window seat that was perfect for sitting and reading, especially on a rainy day.
Our dog could stay in the room and they gave us dog bowls for Chestnut.
The shower was HOT and held the steam inside of the room well.
The complementary coffee and tea was on point! Way better than any other hotel I’ve stayed.
Some improvements/critiques I’d suggest:
The bed could still use an upgrade, I’m not sure what was going on, but ours was kind lumpy.
I’m a huge couch guy and the couch they built was funky. However, the window couch was AMAZING!
The TV is massive, which most people like, but I would have appreciated more art and less TV. I know this is me being picky and not liking TV.
Hotel Preview (Part 1):
Hotel Preview (Part 2):
We Got The Fetch & Stay Package:
Not many hotels allow you to have a dog in Estes Park, CO, so Trailborn Rocky Mountain has leaned into their dog friendly rooms providing a package that levels up the dog’s experience at the hotel. Now, that is a sentence I never imagined writing, but, hey, it’s 2025.
With the Fetch & Stay package your pup gets a bandana, dog bowls in your room, and some CBD treats for your dog. Chestnut was hesitant around the CBD treats but eventually he ate one and really mellowed out. Since this was a first for us and him, we watched him carefully. Nothing happened, thankfully.
The next day, Kristin and I gave him another one and waited for the treat to kick in. Then, we slipped out the door for a day long adventure in the National Park (where dogs are not allowed).
Learn more about the Fetch and Stay package: https://www.trailborn.com/rocky-mountains/outpost-offers/
Estes Park Must Do Adventures:
Rock Climb
Hike to Bear Lake for sunrise (you need a permit, I show you how in the linked article)
Trail Run in Rocky Mountain National Park. I ran the Cub Lake loop and really enjoyed it, despite getting lost and adding 5 miles.
Drive the old fall river road
Run around lake Estes in the rain… only kidding about the rain because we got caught in a summer rain storm. What the video here: https://youtu.be/wbJgUebvZqw
Hike / Climb Longs Peak
A day out climbing at the Fins with KMAC guides in Estes, Park. Photo by Dalton Johnson
Like I said at the start of this article, Trailborn Rocky Mountain has taken on a bold stance to become the basecamp for all adventurer’s coming to Estes Park, CO and I must say, they are off to a good start. Sure, they have some more tweaks to make, but all great things come with time. My guess, in five years their brand will expand and become synonyms with adventure.
So, if you are looking for a dog friendly place to call basecamp, give Trailborn Rocky Mountain a try.
Best Gear We Tested And Liked This Week
Gear is everywhere and it is hard to know what is “good gear” and what is “bad gear” so, I have paired up with a few gear heads to create a space highlighting the gear we personally tested and liked each week. Our gear recommendations vary widely from kayaks to climbing gear to dog treats, but they all have one thing in common; helping you adventure.
Our goal is to share gear that improves your ability to adventure.
Gear is everywhere and it is hard to know what is “good gear” and what is “bad gear” so, I have paired up with a few gear heads to create a space highlighting the gear we personally tested and liked each week. Our gear recommendations vary widely from kayaks to climbing gear to dog treats, but they all have one thing in common; helping you adventure.
Our goal is to share gear that improves your ability to adventure.
Without further adieu, we give you the best gear we tested this week:
Our standards for testing and reviewing at UnBound:
UnBound requires first person experience to review and recommend any product, destination, experience, etc. In other words, you’ll never read about a place or product that we have not touched, used, or experienced personally.
In the case a recommendation is sponsored, it will be clearly marked. With that said, sponsored reviews remain honest and true to editorial review. Meaning we share both, the good and the bad.
If you have any questions, or comments, about the product reviews, you can write me at:
dalton@dalton-johnson.com
Big Agnes Bikepacking Tent - I was one of the first to test
Earlier this year, Big Agnes called me with a desire to create their release promos for a new bikepacking tent, but, if you know anything about Big Agnes, they don’t like fake. So, the plan was to meet in Phoenix/Scottsdale for the Queen’s Ransom bikepacking loop.
Quick note: by no way is this a sponsored post, Big Agnes doesn’t even know this article is being written.
The crew didn’t have enough time to complete the full route, but we had three days. Which was enough to hit the trail, test the tents, and shoot the required photo & video assets for the launch of this new tent.
So, let’s dive into the good, the bad, and the indifferent.
The Good:
Fits on your handle bars and/or front fork
Second generation of this style, with several upgrades, including the bag with integrated straps for easy attachment
Large vestibule, easy to cook and store gear
The ability to use my bike as a stake, adds a bit of safety knowing I’ll wake up if somebody is trying to grab my bike
Daisy chains for my stinky clothing to dry
…
Heat It - After Bite Itch Relief
Kristin zapping away my bug bite itch with Heat It while camping. Photo by Dalton Johnson
The Germans have made adventuring in bug infested places a bit less itchy. What a strange line, am I right? Well, Heat It has made its way across the Atlantic Ocean and onto American soil with one goal, to stop your bug bite itching. Personally, I didn’t believe them, but it turns out, this “medical device” roughly the size of half dollar works.
While camping a couple of weeks ago, attached the Heat It to a keychain (the Nite Ize “g biner” if you are curious) and tromped through the Colorado woods. Of course, I got bit by a few bugs and they started to itch. So, we plugged the Heat It into our phone and gave it a zap. Instantly the itch was gone.
And for those of you wondering, not the “zap” doesn’t hurt nor does it make any sound. It just warms up the area and breaks down the enzymes a mosquitoe injects into you when they bite.
What Do You Need:
Heat It
a phone with the app downloaded
A simple and easy device with some of the best convenience I have ever found. Now, the Heat It just stays on my car keys, so I always have it just in case.
A few quick FAQ’s from friends since showing it off:
Is the Heat It safe for kids?
Yes, they have a kid mode. While I don’t have kids, I have witnessed a few use the device and they don’t seem to mind. In fact, many just use it as game and zap each other.
Does the Heat It drain my phone battery?
No, I used the Heat It a ton and my battery was fine. When I spoke with one of their reps, they said, “You can use it over 1,000 times on full strength and still have battery left over.” I didn’t fact check them on this front.
Can you use the Heat It on multiple bites?
Yes and you should, that is what it’s for.
What if the itch does not go away at first?
Personally, I didn’t have this happen for me, but if you did, increase the strength and zap yourself a second time. Just give 5 minutes between “treatments”.
Chestnut enjoying an afternoon on the water while SUPing with Dad.
Roka Sunglasses: Clocked in 9 miles yesterday with about 700 feet of vert for an afternoon trail run at 6,000 feet. Turns out, these sun glasses don’t bounce off your face when you run. Novel idea, right? Roka crushed it and that’s why I have been repping their sunglass for the last two years. Order your Roka Sunglasses by clicking here
OutIn Espresso Maker: I made ice cream a couple of weeks back for the sole purpose of having an afternoon affogato as a pick me up. Bousie, I know! But, this wouldn’t be possible if I didn’t have the OutIn. As I am kinda lazy and often forget to charge the OutIn, but I figured out the cheat code. Put hot water into it, press the button, and about 30 seconds later, it’s affogato time! Order your OutIn Espresso Maker by clicking here
Bote Paddle Board: Yup, we all know I am sucker for some paddle boarding and I have been using the Bote WULF Aero for the whole summer because it packs small and fits in the back of the van. Order your Bote Paddle Board by clicking here
Backflipping into Lake Tahoe at Bonsai Rock while chilling in the sun on the Crazy Creek AirCliner. Photo by Dalton Johnson
Crazy Creek AirCliner: I have been taking this inflatable chair everywhere with me over the past two weeks because it’s just so dang simple! Two, maybe three breaths, the chair is full. It can float and it’s water resistant, so it makes for the perfect on the go chair here in South Lake Tahoe.
JoGo Coffee Straw: Ummm can coffee get any easier? Instead of using my french press, I have been using the JoGo. Toss the grounds in, add hot water, wait a minute, sip. Refill with hot water for more coffee. My go to coffee right now is from Cat & Cloud roaster in Santa Cruz, CA.
Paka Aire Long Sleeve: In the morning I do some rope flow outside and it’s chilly, so I wear this long sleeve shirt from Paka and it’s unbelievably soft and warm. Perfect for summer mornings outside.
Malibu Sandals: I have to admit, these things look kinda of ridiculous, but I have been loving these sandals at home and in the van. For about a year, I have worn them off and on because they are simple and easy to use. Slip on and stay on. What more could you ask for in a sandal?
Mountain Hardwear Crater Lake Sun Hoody: For the last few days of playing outside here in Lake Tahoe, I have been wearing this sun hoody instead of sunscreen. While I don’t think Mountain Hardwear would say that is okay, I haven’t gotten sunburnt and this shirt is holding up against the sharp rock.
Dueter Guide 24L: This pack has become my go-to for big and small climbing missions around Lake Tahoe. It holds almost everything I need and fits my body really well.
Arc’teryx Konseal SL Hoodie: This hoodie has become my go-to layer that I can’t live without. I’m not just saying that either. While I love most Arc’teryx products, they outdid themselves on this one. It’s warm, the hood makes sense, and it’s so comfortable I wear it like a sweatshirt as well.
Tamron 150-500mm Lens Review
When I drove to Alaska with my dad and later returned with my girlfriend Kristin, one thing remained constant: the Tamron 150-500mm lens was always attached to my camera. If there’s one thing you learn quickly on a road trip to Alaska, it’s that wildlife can appear at any moment. Whether it’s a bear lumbering along the roadside, an eagle soaring overhead, or a moose grazing in a meadow, you’re constantly surrounded by incredible opportunities for wildlife photography. Wildlife doesn’t announce itself—it’s a sudden moment, and if you’re not ready, you’ll miss it. That’s why I trusted the Tamron 150-500mm lens to stay on my camera; it gave me the ability to react quickly and confidently.
With the Tamron 150-500mm, I could capture these fleeting moments with ease. The versatility of its focal range meant I didn’t need to scramble to switch lenses or worry about missing the shot. One second, I’d be zooming in on a distant eagle perched at the top of a tree, and the next, I’d be framing a close encounter with a black bear grazing by the roadside. Having a lens like this ensured that I was always ready to document the beauty and unpredictability of Alaska.
Oru Kayak Lake
Kayaking on the Owen’s River near Highway 395 in California. Photo by Dalton Johnson
I never expected to recommend a foldable kayak, but after two weeks of kayaking during a road trip along Highway 395, I’m officially a fan. These kayaks are impressively sturdy and simple to use. When folded, they fit neatly in the back of a van, making them a great option for road trips or limited storage. Best of all, they allow access to waterways and spots you might not otherwise reach. Think of them as a more stable alternative to an inflatable SUP, offering the benefits of a kayak without requiring expert balance.
Initially, the setup felt time-consuming, but with practice, we reduced it to just five minutes. Their convenience and functionality completely changed the way we approached water adventures on our trip. Whether gliding across mountain lakes or exploring hidden coves, these kayaks proved to be a reliable and practical choice. If you’re looking for a way to combine van life and water adventures without sacrificing storage space, a Oru Kayak Lake is worth considering.
Sonos Ace Review
The Sonos Ace headphones have quickly become an essential part of my daily life. Over the past three weeks, they’ve seamlessly transitioned between my writing sessions, workouts, and long flights. Beyond their superior audio quality, they’ve become a surprising companion for outdoor activities in snowy weather, doubling as ear warmers during chilly morning driveway shoveling or dog walks. It’s rare to find headphones that adapt so well to every facet of life, and the Sonos Ace has truly excelled in this regard. The only notable limitation is that they are not designed for endurance adventures like ski tours or running.
One of the standout features is the impressive battery life. These headphones endured a grueling 36-hour journey from Egypt to California with ease, still retaining 25% battery at the end. This reliability is invaluable for travel or long workdays when charging opportunities might be limited. Coupled with their comfortable design and durable build, the Sonos Ace effortlessly meets the demands of both everyday use and more strenuous activities.
My personal favorite realization with the Sonos Ace is that they’ve rekindled my love for music. The immersive sound quality encourages me to carve out moments just to listen—whether lying on the couch and savoring an album or rediscovering tracks I’d forgotten I loved.
Solo Stove
We have been driving around with the Solo Stove Ranger in the back of our converted Dodge 2500 Promaster for two years now and use it every chance we get. The Rangers is the smallest of the Solo Stoves making it the most portable. In other words, this was made for vanlife. Thus far, our favorite trip with the Ranger Solo Stove has been to Sedona, AZ where we camped in the free dispersed camping areas surrounding Sedona. During the day we went for rad adventures like UTV rides, helicopter rides, mountain biking, hiking to caves, and swimming in the river. That trip was a dream come true, but the cherry on top was returning to our campsite each night to have a campfire with the Ranger Solo Stove.
One of the most prominent memories from that trip was waking up and feeling dog tired. We had hiked in a rain storm the day before and were drenched to the bone, so we wanted to have a slow morning and a big breakfast. With the Ranger Solo Stove already set up, we put the cook top on it and started to boil water for coffee, fry some eggs, cook some sausage, and make some pancakes. That was a morning I don’t think I’ll ever forget! You can read about that stellar morning in this article.
Nike ACG Torre Mids
Nike
I’m not a sneaker geek, so when I say I had never heard of Nike’s ACG line, please don’t shoot me. For those of you like me, ACG means All Condition Gear and is an older line of shoes that flies under the radar, but are designed for heavy outdoor use. When the Nike ACG Torre Mids came into my life, I was uncertain at first. Their weight, the suede sides, and the fact that I had never heard of these really made me think twice before taking them outside for a hike. However, I bucked up and took these boots on a backpacking trip traversing Lake Tahoe’s Desolation Wilderness.
For two nights and three days, covering more than 30 miles with a heavy pack on my back, I explored the granite landscape.
I was pleasantly surprised by the performance of these shoes!
My feet never hurt. I didn’t get any blisters. The NIke ACG Torre Mids didn’t breakdown, but the suede did get a bit messed up. Also, the high ankle support saved me a few times while on the rock sections of the trail. Long story short, these boots passed my test and I would use them again for day hikes and shorted backpacking trips where weight doesn’t matter.
Do you have an adventure worth sharing?
If so, reach out to us and pitch your ideas: Pitch Us
Discover more Adventures
I Was The First Tester for Big Agnes's Newest Bikepacking Tent
Earlier this year, Big Agnes called me with a desire to create their release promos for a new bikepacking tent, but, if you know anything about Big Agnes, they don’t like fake. So, the plan was to meet in Phoenix/Scottsdale for the Queen’s Ransom bikepacking loop.
Earlier this year, Big Agnes called me with a desire to create their release promos for a new bikepacking tent, but, if you know anything about Big Agnes, they don’t like fake. So, the plan was to meet in Phoenix/Scottsdale for the Queen’s Ransom bikepacking loop.
Quick note: by no way is this a sponsored post, Big Agnes doesn’t even know this article is being written.
The crew didn’t have enough time to complete the full route, but we had three days. Which was enough to hit the trail, test the tents, and shoot the required photo & video assets for the launch of this new tent.
So, let’s dive into the good, the bad, and the indifferent.
The Good:
Fits on your handle bars and/or front fork
Second generation of this style, with several upgrades, including the bag with integrated straps for easy attachment
Large vestibule, easy to cook and store gear
The ability to use my bike as a stake, adds a bit of safety knowing I’ll wake up if somebody is trying to grab my bike
Daisy chains for my stinky clothing to dry
The Bad:
I want more pockets. There are already enough pockets, but I’m a pocket guy in a tent, especially if I am sharing a tent
The Indifferent:
The colors. Overall, I’m used to Big Agnes having tents that pop and these tents are more stealth. The crew loved the color, but I was indifferent
My Actual Thoughts:
Who Is The Big Agnes Bikepacking Tent For?
The first question that came to mind when I grabbed this tent was, “Do I really need a separate tent for bikepacking since I already have three other tents?”
Honestly, no.
Why?
I only bikepack one, maybe two times a year so dropping $500-something on a fourth tent for two long weekends a year isn’t worth it to me. However, if I were to go on a long bikepacking trip, say a 30-60 day trip again — I cycled around New Zealand, partway across the US, and a few other longer trips — I would invest in a this tent. Having a tent made for a bike just makes sense.
Knowing this tent exists, when I plan that next big trip, which is brewing in the back of my mind, I would get this tent. Most likely the Tiger Wall UL2.
If you are buying this tent, bikepacking is you main activity or you’re headed out on a longer trip.
Will The Tent Hold Up?
After three days in the desert, I can’t fully answer this question. With that said, every Big Agnes tent I have owned, which I think is roughly 10 or 11 at this point, has lasted several seasons of wear and tear, crazy storms, and harsh ground that would tear most tent bottoms (I’m not a fan of ground traps unless I am cowboy camping).
Also, Big Agnes has a great warranty/repair program, so if something does happen, they got your back.
Final Thoughts
If you are in the market for a tent and love bikepacking, this should be at the top of your list. Very few competitors come close to the comfort this tent provides. Sure there are a few lighter tents on the market, but you will sacrifice comforts like bug net, vestibule, daisy chains to air your gear, etc. While those seem like little things that don’t matter, trust me they make a world of difference!
Bugs suck, it’s nice to escape them and get a good night sleep.
Vestibules are critical for storing gear when it rains as well as cooking in non-ideal weather
Daisy chains… just think about putting on wet gear, from your sweat the day before, that has sat in a bundle in the corner of your tent. Rash-city-baby!
Dear Vanlife, This Year Has Been Complicated
Just over a year ago, we parted ways, and it had been coming for years. You saw it coming and so did I. Heck were were together full-time for 8 years! Yet, the off-and-on nature this year has been, well, complicated. With a little a spring tease wandering the secluded roads of Idaho looking for hot springs to soak in under the milky way to the month long summer fling to the mountains of Colorado, I’d say I am a bit… confused. Yes, we said it would be a casual, but I don’t really think this is casual.
Dear Vanlife,
Just over a year ago, we parted ways, and it had been coming for years. You saw it coming and so did I. Heck were were together full-time for 8 years! Yet, the off-and-on nature this year has been, well, complicated. With a little a spring tease wandering the secluded roads of Idaho looking for hot springs to soak in under the milky way to the month long summer fling to the mountains of Colorado, I’d say I am a bit… confused. Yes, we said it would be a casual, but I don’t really think this is casual.
For the next few months, we don’t have any plans, which is disappointing, but the distance will help diminish the lust I have to explore the open roads and fall colors with you. Gosh, those were the days! Do you remember when we were in Utah for the spring? We did everything together! Off-roading the best we can to reach remote crags to go rock climbing, chasing the aspens changing colors, and, oh, that freak snow storm that covered the Utah desert towers in a blanket of white.
Those were good times!
I’m sorry that I couldn’t make living together, full-time work for my lifestyle work any longer. I really am!
I know I should have just gotten rid of some stuff, my main baggage, and the cause of many fights for us, but I do think the house is a better place to keep things that aren’t really needed all the time. 72 square feet is tight and hard to figure out where to put things when you were bursting at the seams, litterally! I mean, do you remember when your factory seals on your room all popped in Sedona, AZ and then it rained and snowed, INSIDE OF YOU! That was a wet and miserable experience.
I’m sorry for filling you so full, I could have come up with better solutions. A prime example, the surfboards. I mean, having three surfbaords while climbing mountain passes in Wyoming was kinda crazy!
Like, it worked, we worked, but gosh those surfboards and kayaks and rock climbing gear and camera gear and clothing and ski gear and fire pit and backpacking gear and not to mention the normal living stuff like food, pots & pans, spices, jackets, etc. all made the space so cramped and built up an anxiety at the thought of opening the back doors, or cabinet drawers, because something was surely going to plummet out onto my feet.
Now that I think about it, a storage unit would have work just fine for all the stuff, but what about Chestnut or Kristin? I couldn’t really just kick them to the curb so we could be together all of the time. Maybe that is what you wanted, but I think the Idaho trip was a perfect example of how we can all travel together. Yes, yes, yes, the Colorado trip was a bit hard because we were back to the cramped life with to much stuff, but we are learning.
Yeah, we probably should have figured it out when we road tripped together for three months through Alaska, but we didn’t. Before this dives into a full fledge arguement of what should have happened, can we just think about some of the highlights from that Alaska trip?
starting a rock climb at 9, or was it 10 pm, and climbing under the midnight sun
surfing the boretide, you looked over me from the shore, thank you :-)
camping on the beach of Kenai Lake for a few days, just playing around in the water
I know you didn’t get to see them, but taking that wildlife cruise and getting to see Orcas, whales, puffins, and so many other creatures… wow! It was so much fun getting back from that and sharing all those images with you while I editing those images.
staring out at eagles soaring over head
the bears that would look-both-ways before crossing the highway
What special times we have made together.
I know right now it is all complicated, especially since I just bought a condo, but I truly look forward to our next adventure together. I mean, six to eight weeks in Baja, exploring dirt roads, looking for surf spots, keeping our eyes peeled for whales breaching on the horizon. The trip this winter is going to be well worth the long wait this fall.
I still love you,
Dalton
P.S. We will see how this winter goes, but I am hopeful it’s the perfect teaser to re-energize our long-standing dream of driving the Pan-American highway together!
Case Study: Trails & Tails for B.F. Goodrich
As far as smooth productions go, this one was clean and easy, after a few hiccups to start. Getting the tires on the Ford Bronco was a challenge as the car arrived late to the shop, delaying the scouting day. Good thing we booked two scouting days and I had visited this area countless times for rock climbing!
Client: B.F. Goodrich
Agency: Saatchi & Saatchi
Talent: Andrew Muse and Kicker Muse
Brief: Showcase the relationship between human and dog while ethically hitting the trail.
Location: Joshua Tree, CA
A Little BTS:
As far as smooth productions go, this one was clean and easy, after a few hiccups to start. Getting the tires on the Ford Bronco was a challenge as the car arrived late to the shop, delaying the scouting day. Good thing we booked two scouting days and I had visited this area countless times for rock climbing!
Stuck in San Diego waiting, we pulled out computers and used Google Earth to showcase/highlight the tires in action. Andrew was totally gung ho for any and all ideas. Apparently, he was sent to a Ford Bronco driving course and was ready to do anything we asked in the vehicle. Because of this, our options were wide open.
Quick note: at the time of production (2021), our crew met the requirements for a “low impact production” so location permits for the area was not required.
Once the rig was ready, we immediately left the beach life of San Diego for a cold and cloudy vibe inland. While this weather was not what we were hoping for, it did provide us with the mud we wanted for the shoot.
Day one: very muddy
Day two: sun came out, but still muddy. Thick mud
Day three: we got the Bronco cleaned and detailed, the tires sparkled
Day four: perfect sunny day, lots of lifestyle images on the trail with the dog
Image Gallery:
Collab Posts:
The 5 Stages of Visiting Bear Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park
With the timed entry into Rocky Mountain National Park, access to Bear Lake at sunrise takes a little bit of planning. While there are day of permits available, they seem to be impossible to land. So, if you are making the trek out to Rocky Mountain National Park, I suggest you secure your entry permit months beforehand.
Before diving into the 5 stages of Bear Lakes, here’s a little backstory you should know before visiting Bear Lakes for yourself:
With the timed entry into Rocky Mountain National Park, access to Bear Lake at sunrise takes a little bit of planning. While there are day of permits available, they seem to be impossible to land. So, if you are making the trek out to Rocky Mountain National Park, I suggest you secure your entry permit months beforehand.
With that said, Kristin, my partner, was able to land an entry permit for the morning slot, the night before, during late-summer in the middle of the week. I think we were lucky, but who really knows?!
Now that your permit is secured, it’s time to set your alarm the night before and try to sleep, crossing your fingers you wake up to an early alarm, drive through the dark to the trailhead, and walk the .5 of a mile to Bear Lake.
Yup, the walk is very short, so no need to rush.
I suggest bringing a warm beverage to keep you warm, even if it is the summer as the lake sits at 9,449 feet. From there, set up your camera, enjoy the alpine glow on the cliffs, and push that shutter button.
You can walk around the lake to create different images, I liked the alpine glow in the morning from the eastern bank of the lake and the northern bank of the lake around mid-morning when most of the lake was in full sun.
Now, let’s explore the 5 stages of visiting Bear Lakes:
1) Arriving In Pitch Black Wondering Where Bear Lake Is At
Camera: Sony a7r4
Lens: Tamron 28-75 f/2.8 G2
Focal length: 44 mm
Aperture: f/5.0
Shutter-Speed: 1/40 second
ISO: 400
2) Patiently Waiting For The Alpine Glow To Start
Camera: Sony a7r4
Lens: Tamron 16-30 f/2.8 G2
Focal length: 16 mm
Aperture: f/2.8
Shutter-Speed: 1/30 second
ISO: 400
3) Standing In Excitement The Glow Has Arrived, But Also Realizing You Are Cold From Sitting To Long
Camera: Sony a7r4
Lens: Tamron 16-30 f/2.8 G2
Focal length: 16 mm
Aperture: f/2.8
Shutter-Speed: 1/100 second
ISO: 400
4) Realizing There Is More To Bear Lake And Start Walking Around, Feeling Hard Core FOMO You Didn’t Do This Before
Camera: Sony a7r4
Lens: Tamron 16-30 f/2.8 G2
Focal length: 16 mm
Aperture: f/2.8
Shutter-Speed: 1/320 second
ISO: 250
5) Looking Over Your Shoulder And Thinking, “Dang! Bear Lake has it going on!”
Camera: Sony a7r4
Lens: Tamron 16-30 f/2.8 G2
Focal length: 30mm
Aperture: f/5.0
Shutter-Speed: 1/320 second
ISO: 250
The Smallest Pre-Production Mistake Almost Jeopardized The Entire Campaign
I overlooked one of the smallest details during pre-production and it almost jeopardized this entire campaign.
That detail: overnight parking at the trailhead
Here's how I fixed it without the client ever knowing (yes, if they read this it will be the first time they ever know about this mistake).
I overlooked one of the smallest details during pre-production and it almost jeopardized this entire campaign.
That detail: overnight parking at the trailhead
Here's how I fixed it without the client ever knowing (yes, if they read this it will be the first time they ever know about this mistake).
Arriving the day before production to iron out the final details, pick up permits, etc. I found out we could NOT park our vehicles overnight at the backcountry trailhead.
Pause, have you every heard of a backcountry access trailhead not allowing overnight parking?
I had not.
Online said you could park there.
But, a new local law changed overnight parking for the entire area, which I only would have known if I called the ranger station and specifically asked about parking.
Easy fix for the future, but I only had 12 hours to come up with a solution before the full production crew arrived and the shoot started.
So, here were my options:
1) Park and take the ticket.
2) Find new parking, there were a few campgrounds about 20-30 minutes away, and find a shuttle of some kind for the final person.
3) Find BLM land to park the cars and risk getting broken into while unattended.
The final catch, we needed the production van at every trailhead to swap batteries, dump footage, access different cameras (mostly drones that were only allowed in specific areas).
Here's how I weighed the decision:
Option 1: Terrible idea! The client surely would not be happy, the crew would invoice for the ticket, and
Option 2: We were already at the ceiling for this production budget so our quote for parking all the vehicles was roughly $2k because the campgrounds were "full"
Option 3: Where the heck was I randomly going to find some trustworthy BLM to park vehicles for three days while we shot this backcountry project?
At a loss, I called the local fixer. They new of a spot, kinda. It was an abandoned mining area that was popular for dirt biking.
With the new beta, I headed there to scout. It was perfect and dropped the pin into the group chat, "Hey everyone, which update on parking, this is the new spot. See you all there tomorrow."
Then we used the van to shuttle everyone to the trailhead.
Utilized a crew member to drive the van to each intersection, providing the support needed with gear, food, water, etc.
When the van wasn't supporting the project (we did have lots of biking to do), they went back to the mining area to look over the vehicles.
Turns out everything worked out and the client never knew, until now.
I Didn't Choose Photography, I Chose Survival
There is something about having a mountain of debt, no inbound leads, no business model, and youth that makes you sit back to reflect upon the compounding dumb decisions you have made up to this point. At least for me, that was the case.
There is something about having a mountain of debt, no inbound leads, no business model, and youth that makes you sit back to reflect upon the compounding dumb decisions you have made up to this point. At least for me, that was the case.
Let me briefly take you through some of those decisions:
At 8 years old I dedicated myself to the pool for I had a dream to play a sport in college. I had been a successful competitive swimmer (All-American in the 100 butterfly as a freshman in High School) and successfully transitioned to water polo. That transition landed me a scholarship to Santa Clara University and became the team captain of my college team for two years.
After graduating undergrad early, which I do not regret what-so-ever, I flew to New Zealand with a single goal “to cycle around the South Island” for 62 days as a graduation gift to myself and to act as a reset to reflect upon the next stage of my life. I did this cheap, in total $5-7k which includes buying a bike set up, plane tickets (which was like $2k), food, no phone, camping almost every night, showers, etc.
Upon returning from NZ, I did a short stint at grad school, this I do regret, and stacked up $40k of debt in a matter of months with the thought I would become a high school math teacher. In California, that would have been a salary of roughly $60-80k a year with a $2k/year “bonus” for having a master’s degree. So, if I would have followed through on that, paying off my master’s degree would have taken roughly 30 years. Not a good investment!
Knowing that I was not aligned, because of the down time cycle New Zealand gave me, I dropped out and “became homeless”. I moved back onto my bicycle and started to work odd jobs like outdoor education, substitute teaching, and picked up a camera.
I tried my hand at writing as well, but I could never really figure that business model out, at the time.
But, I knew living on a bicycle was not a sustainable lifestyle for me. Sure it was cheap, but I wanted to surf, rock climb, and, well, not live in a tent on the side of the road. Don’t get me wrong, I love camping and backpacking, but not really for 365 days a year. It gets old fast.
Lunch time siesta while living on a bicycle somewhere in West Virginia.
At the time I realized I wanted more than a bike and tent I was cycling from the east coast to the west coast somewhere between West Virginia and Kentucky. But, I had no income, no house, no apartment, and no job prospects. In many ways, I was still decompressing from the athlete life which I had been living from 8 years old. Fifteen years later, my mind was still on sport and I didn’t really know myself outside of a pool.
I knew my personal limits and how to break through those.
I knew my mental limits and how to break through those.
But, I didn’t know how to have fun, laugh, play, or do things for no reason.
Then a camera came into my life.
Just before leaving on this attempt to cycle across the country, I was working for an outdoor education school part time in Baltimore. The whole time I was snapping photos for fun and sharing them with the marketing director, Ben Worden, at the end of each trip I taught. Without thinking much about it, Ben would say a few nice words and provide feedback after each submission. Then, towards the end of my three month contract, Ben called me into his office to have a conversation that kinda went like this:
“You know you are a really good photographer.” Ben complimented me.
”Okay, thank you.”
”Like people would pay you for your photography.”
”Okay, but how much do people really make selling photos?” I asked rolling my eyes.
”Um, 10 times what you make per day right now.” Ben quickly responded.
My jaw dropped in disbelief, “Wait, really?”
”Not exactly, but I would certainly pay you double what you are making now, next year, if you wanted to photograph for us.”
”Yes, sign me up. What do I need to do?”
…
From there, Ben gave me a laundry list of things I needed to do for the school to hire me as a freelance photographer come the spring season. It was the end of fall and, at the time, Outward Bound Baltimore was closed for winter. So, as I cycled across the country I kept trying to understand what I had to do, how much it would cost me, and if I could actually make it happen.
Turns out, it wasn’t really that hard, or expensive:
Get some insurance ($50/month)
Create a sole proprietorship ($10-25 depending on your state)
Keep photographing (my time, which I had a lot of).
The only catch, I was still broke, living on a bicycle, and eating Bisquick with mustard for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Sure I also had the occasional hot dog, but not often.
In somewhat of a stroke of luck, I had some family shit hit the fan and my parents bought me a plane ticket from Ohio back to California to be with them. Upon arriving at their place, they lent me a Mercury Mariner (which I couldn’t afford the gas or insurance), and that car would became my next home. I couldn’t fully lay down in the back, but I could lay down enough to fall asleep.
For a few weeks, I stayed at my parents place and applied to a few jobs, meanwhile photographing every day.
For the most part, I wasn’t really creating anything with my camera, but I was learning and building a work flow. I even tried to do some marketing for photography at a few local spots, but nothing really came around. Eventually, I got a call back for a substitute teaching position in Watsonville, CA, packed the car, and left my parents house with the mindset that had to land the job because I didn’t have enough money to drive to Watsonville and back to my parents without making some money.
With a college suit on, I walked into that interview, on a Tuesday or Wednesday, knowing I was going to do whatever it took to get the job.
The interview was short and sweet. The hiring lady looked over my paperwork and said, “If you want, you can work everyday. We need bodies in classrooms.” I got the message, scanned my finger prints (I passed), and had to take a TB test.
The thing about TB tests is that they take between 48-72 hours, and, because my bank account had less than $500 in it, I couldn’t do anything. So, I parked my car at Pleasure Point in Santa Cruz, CA, surfed, and started taking surfing photographs with the dream that I could make some money while taking photos.
Nothing on day one.
Nothing on day two.
Nothing on day three.
Sure, I made a few friends and kept practicing, but I really couldn’t figure out how to make any money. Surfers exiting the water asked me if I got any images of them and would let them look through the back of my camera to preview what I shot, but I didn’t have a way to get them images, let alone sell the images, or collect any money. I had no idea what I was doing.
So, when my TB test cleared on Friday, I was in set to substitute teach. Monday was my first class.
PHEW!
I still needed to play it safe on fuel and watch my money because substitute teaching paid NET30, so those dwindling 500 bucks had to last me until I got paid, which wasn’t easy because it was between $20-40 in fuel to drive to the school I would be teaching at each morning (the school changed daily), plus I still needed to buy food. Thankfully, I was still accustomed to my Bisquick meals, so that didn’t cost much.
When that first check came in a major sigh of relief came over me. A couple grand after a month of work. I finally had some wiggle room, but winter break for schools came quick and I was back in the same position once I couldn’t work for two weeks.
Again, I started to realize this new path, substitute teaching, would not be sustainable, but I needed to keep teaching, so I could try to figure out this whole photography thing.
There was so much to learn, but I really didn’t know what to do or where to start.
Feeling a bit defeated, headed to a local book store and returned to my college days of “hitting the books”. Buying a book on freelance photography I read that thing cover to cover, twice. It kinda helped, but not very practical. The skinny, market yourself, land work, produce the work, share the work, and do all the legal things correctly otherwise it’ll bite you in the butt. Good to know, but it surely didn’t pay my bills.
So, I kept going to cliffs of Santa Cruz every morning and every evening to take photographs. December came and went. No sales. January came and went. Again, no sales. And February arrived with a random phone call from a phone number based in my home town.
“Hey, been thinking about your photo offer. I need to update my website. We are doing a bike ride this weekend and if you can come here, I can pay you.”
Wow, my first gig! I crunched some numbers, called him back, and landed a $600 job. That was 7x what I was making at the outdoor school, 4x what I was going to make per day as a substitute teacher, and more money than I had in my bank account. So, I bit the bullet, said yes to the shoot, and spent most of my money on fuel driving the 300-something mile round trip back Auburn to photograph the ride.
I pushed my creativity and did my best to take some images I could be proud to share. In the end, I was still a beginner, but the client was happy. I got paid and I immediately spent the money on a zoom lens so I could improve my photography.
With two lenses, covering 16-200mm I had the bare minimum for action sports. But, I still wanted to photograph in the water, so on my next paycheck I spent $250 of it on a cheap water housing so I could take surf photographs from inside the water.
Instantly, this leveled up my photography game while I waited around for Ben to call me and offer me a job. So, I kept shooting everyday. Sometimes in the ocean and other times on the cliffs with my long lens. At the end of each session I had three goals:
sell something
take 1000 images
drain my battery
Usually I accomplished 2 & 3, but almost never sold anything. I did this all winter long.
Turns out, spring had arrived and Ben had not yet called. Worried he might never call, I decided it was time I do something about it and called him to ask for the job.
He picked up, “Hey Dalton! How are you doing?”
“Good, I have been photographing a ton everyday. I try to shoot at least a 1000 images and I’m getting better. Oh, I did all the things you said I needed to do, so maybe I can still photograph for you all soon?”
“Yeah, let’s talk about that. I have a job for you. Could you fly out here for two weeks and photograph a few trips? We can cover your flight and pay you between $3000 and $5000 for the whole trip.”
“I’m in. How do I sign up?”
“Just write me a proposal contract. I’ll send you an email with the dates.”
“Okay…”
A warm summer night with a fire on the east coast during a kayaking expedition along the Potomac River. Turns out my skill with the water housing became very useful for more than just surf photography.
Turns out I had to wait until June to return to the east coast for the assignment, but it worked out in the end. Learning to ask for the work you want was a learning lesson for me right then and there. After that summer, I still substitute taught, but less and less each year as I built my photography career. It took three years before I was able to completely stop teaching and focus full time on photography.
The biggest difference, learning how to sell and submit images. Once I had a large enough network to do this, I was able to sustain myself as a creative.
"Opinion" a Poem by Dalton Johnson
"Opinion" is a poem by Dalton Johnson published in his first book 51 Poems For Humankind To Think About. This article also has a video of Dalton reading aloud his poem. You can purchase this book on Dalton Johnson's website or on Amazon.
OPINION
What is that, which I hear? A voice cries out,
to my brothers, to the world.
It screams!
It shouts!
It has an idea, a voice, a thought; which has developed,
over time.
Development which manifested inside, too long.
But where does this voice come from? Is it billowing out, fromme?
It seems to have been noticed and heard. But, what am I saying?
My voice becomes clear, Oh No, That’s Not Good!
IT’S MY OPINION Slipping through my teeth, for the world to hear.
Order Your Copy Today: Buy on Amazon
Order Your Signed Copy Today:
Get your signed copy of 51 Poems For Humankind To Think About. Dalton Johnson's first book of poetry. These 51 poems are his critique of American hustle culture told from the perspective of a young man returning to the world after years of living off the grid on less than $500 a month.
These poems capture the internal battle of consumerism, American greed, humans loss of connection with the natural world, and pokes fun at some of the absurd cultural norms of adulting. Each poem touches on different parts of American's superficial society in hopes of promoting the change from group thought to individuality. For it is at the individual level Johnson belives you unlock your true self.
As you read these poems take some time to think about what stirs inside of yourself to find where you can change and grow into the human you want to be today and tomorrow.
Please Note: Signed paperback will be shipping the middle of April, 2025 and should arrive by the end of April
"Death By Societal Norms" a Poem by Dalton Johnson
"Death By Societal Norms" is a poem by Dalton Johnson published in his first book 51 Poems For Humankind To Think About. This article also has a video of Dalton reading aloud his poem. You can purchase this book on Dalton Johnson's website or on Amazon.
DEATH BY SOCIETAL NORMS
Weighed down by societal norms, struggling to stay afloat;
mouth, nearly breaching the water’s surface. A gasp for air, afraid it will be
the last.
Thoughts, dreams, memories, hope, all clear
the mind, as the water’s surface floats too far
above the head.
A flash of what life could have been, if only, societal norms weren't pulling me down.
Order Your Copy Today: Buy on Amazon
Order Your Signed Copy Today:
Get your signed copy of 51 Poems For Humankind To Think About. Dalton Johnson's first book of poetry. These 51 poems are his critique of American hustle culture told from the perspective of a young man returning to the world after years of living off the grid on less than $500 a month.
These poems capture the internal battle of consumerism, American greed, humans loss of connection with the natural world, and pokes fun at some of the absurd cultural norms of adulting. Each poem touches on different parts of American's superficial society in hopes of promoting the change from group thought to individuality. For it is at the individual level Johnson belives you unlock your true self.
As you read these poems take some time to think about what stirs inside of yourself to find where you can change and grow into the human you want to be today and tomorrow.
Please Note: Signed paperback will be shipping the middle of April, 2025 and should arrive by the end of April
"Bottled Up" a Poem by Dalton Johnson
"Bottled Up" is a poem by Dalton Johnson published in his first book 51 Poems For Humankind To Think About. This article also has a video of Dalton reading aloud his poem. You can purchase this book on Dalton Johnson's website or on Amazon.
BOTTLED UP
My emotions dwell inside,
Like a glass bottle with the cap too tight, Resting atop a hot plate.
The plate turns on And I get heated.
With the cap so tight
There is no way
For the building gas to escape.
The pressure builds and Builds and builds, eventually The only solution is for
The bottle to burst.
From inside of me,
There can be only one result,
That of death from the shrapnel shards of broken glass.
Unless, somehow,
I can pop my top and Release these emotions, free.
Order Your Copy Today: Buy on Amazon
Order Your Signed Copy Today:
Get your signed copy of 51 Poems For Humankind To Think About. Dalton Johnson's first book of poetry. These 51 poems are his critique of American hustle culture told from the perspective of a young man returning to the world after years of living off the grid on less than $500 a month.
These poems capture the internal battle of consumerism, American greed, humans loss of connection with the natural world, and pokes fun at some of the absurd cultural norms of adulting. Each poem touches on different parts of American's superficial society in hopes of promoting the change from group thought to individuality. For it is at the individual level Johnson belives you unlock your true self.
As you read these poems take some time to think about what stirs inside of yourself to find where you can change and grow into the human you want to be today and tomorrow.
Please Note: Signed paperback will be shipping the middle of April, 2025 and should arrive by the end of April
"Rocking Vessel" a Poem by Dalton Johnson
"Rocking Vessel" is a poem by Dalton Johnson published in his first book 51 Poems For Humankind To Think About. This article also has a video of Dalton reading aloud his poem. You can purchase this book on Dalton Johnson's website or on Amazon.
ROCKING VESSEL
Rocking atop the deep blue, it floats.
Waves crash into its sides, rocking everything, from side to side, however
it could be empty.
If the vessel is empty, it will float on practically forever.
However, if loaded, it may sink to the deepest, darkest depths. Where nothing is recoverable; where nothing can live.
The catch...
If it remains empty,
the vessel will be worthless.
Transporting nothing, wandering
the ocean till the waves deteriorate its wooded sides, and consume the vessel, to the darkest depths.
So, why not take the risk?
The results are the same, one path, just takes longer!
So, load your vessel and set sail.
Order Your Copy Today: Buy on Amazon
Order Your Signed Copy Today:
Get your signed copy of 51 Poems For Humankind To Think About. Dalton Johnson's first book of poetry. These 51 poems are his critique of American hustle culture told from the perspective of a young man returning to the world after years of living off the grid on less than $500 a month.
These poems capture the internal battle of consumerism, American greed, humans loss of connection with the natural world, and pokes fun at some of the absurd cultural norms of adulting. Each poem touches on different parts of American's superficial society in hopes of promoting the change from group thought to individuality. For it is at the individual level Johnson belives you unlock your true self.
As you read these poems take some time to think about what stirs inside of yourself to find where you can change and grow into the human you want to be today and tomorrow.
Please Note: Signed paperback will be shipping the middle of April, 2025 and should arrive by the end of April