Positive Envy by tpoulton001

There is an old saying that crops up in my mind every now and then: “the grass is always greener on the other side.”

Not really for the means of desiring something they believe would improve his or her life, yet sadly would not. Instead, it is because I think about where I am now, and the possibilities of what could be.

To dream of being in a totally different situation, wondering how great life would be compared to the current situation is intriguing. The mind is unrealistically focused on what could be gained, with little attention to what would be lost.

I believe we should relish life as we live it. Find joy in the journey and share that joy with the people who will listen, but forgive the ones that can’t.

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Reverence by tpoulton001

The first time you see a sunset in Patagonia, it fills you with wonder. Watching the stars above Cerro Torre clouded by snow drift and avalanches you get a sense of power and feel at one with the universe. Being present for a sunrise at the Torres del Paine inspires a sense of reverence in you that you weren’t sure you were still capable of feeling. Another word for all of these perceptions is “awe”.

While awe is a definite mental mood enhancer I would even go one step further to say that it also provides physical health benefits. It makes me feel younger, more virile, and gets the creative juices going every time I go on a photography adventure! Even thinking about my next trip gives me such a tingle of excitement and anticipation that I go through my days joyfully and get to experience that thing that everyone seems to be chasing – happiness!

I’m off to explore the US and then to Canada to run a Panoramic Workshop for Novoflex with Sarah Hatton and Chris Collacott.

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Intestinal Fortitude by tpoulton001

I’ve been holding this one back for my last panoramic from Patagonia and this time it’s from Laguna De los Tres Mt Fitz Roy Argentina.

After a big hike from Cerro Torre I was the only one that would push on for sunset at this location after everyone had heard stories from other hikers that the trail up was covered in ice and treacherous. Knowing the tour was coming to an end I wanted to capture this location so bad I decided to go alone.

The slope is quite steep during the first hour until you reach Del Salto stream valley towards the Mt. Fitz Roy. You will notice that the Antarctic Beech become more and more numerous along the path and approximately after an hour and a half further down the way you will reach a well marked natural viewpoint. There you will find a sign that interprets the whole landscape right in front of you. The trail continues up along the Del Salto stream until reaching the drainage of the Lagunas Madre e Hija.

Four hours ahead from the starting point you will arrive to Poincenot base camp (big free campsite) and after crossing the Río Blanco you will arrive to Río Blanco base camp (only for climbers). From there the path continues in ascent approximately 400m. until you reach Laguna de los Tres.

I was fortunate enough to meet this amazing German girl who was half my size and had been hitchhiking around South America for months and would put most of us to shame with her amazing hiking skills and determination. We made the hike back down in the dark slipping a sliding along the path.

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