shawnee state forest
Ohio isn’t necessarily known for it’s hiking. or it’s climbing. or it’s canoeing. or anything that has to do with the outdoors, for that matter.
regardless, on independence day weekend 2023 i found myself at the trailhead of the north loop of the shawnee state forest gazing up the unexpectedly steep incline that marks the start of the up-to 50 mile loop through “The little smokeys”.
me, freshly emerged from the north loop of the shawnee state forest in southern ohio
after months of screens, editing, big cities, and modern conveniences, i was craving a bit of “grounding” by way of exposing myself to the elements. 48 hours in remote ohio was exactly what the doctor ordered.
view from my tent, hastily assembled in the rain
my wish to be “exposed to the elements” was granted almost immediately. less than a mile into the trail, one thunder clap ushered in a pretty serious downpour.
my salomons, drying under the rain fly after a bit of rain
a very pnw-esque fern in southern ohio
to me, one of the most enjoyable things about spending extended time outdoors is the meals.
a pb&j has never tasted so good as when it’s made with warm, misshapen bread. thick, lukewarm oatmeal has never been such a welcomed treat in the morning, and i won’t even touch instant coffee in my day-to-day.
oatmeal, plain and simple
it had been months since i last photographed nature. it was nice to look at the textures, light habits, and details of the outdoors with refreshed eyes.
i’ve always loved photographing while hiking. while physically moving through the space i’m trying to shoot, i feel like i’m observing it beyond the surface level.
one of very few flat segments of the north loop
a shaky image of my hike, likely shaky as a result of big, desperate breaths at the top of a hill
a hypnotizing view through my uncovered tent
ohio may not be known for its outdoor experiences, but if you’re searching for a fun, beautiful, safe, (and fairly humbling) trail, i can’t recommend shawnee state forest enough.