ADIRONDACKS MOUNTAINS, NEW YORK

It started back in 2019 with a pretty simple idea — I wanted to camp, hike, and photograph some mountains. The Adirondacks felt like the right place to start. What I didn't expect was just how deeply those peaks would get under my skin.

From my very first trip, I was hooked. The scale of the High Peaks, the way the light hits the ridgelines, the feeling of earning a view after hours on the trail — it all clicked. It wasn't long before I heard about the ADK 46er Club, a community of hikers on a mission to summit all 46 High Peaks of the Adirondacks. The moment I learned about it, I knew I wanted in.

I'll be honest — this isn't a challenge you knock out in a season. These mountains demand respect. The trails are rugged, the weather is unpredictable, and proper preparation isn't optional — it's survival. I've learned to study each summit carefully, pack for conditions I hope won't come, and accept that the mountains are in charge, not me. Icy scrambles, dense fog, sudden temperature drops — they're all part of it.

But that's exactly what makes photographing each summit so meaningful to me. I'm not just after the perfect clear-sky shot. I want to capture these mountains in all their moods — golden autumn light, winter snow clinging to the trees, storms rolling in over the ridgeline. Each image is a document of what it truly takes to be up there: the preparation, the physical grind, the risk, and ultimately the reward.

I'm currently 10 summits in, with 36 still ahead of me. This is a long game, and I wouldn't have it any other way.