Remember how I said that on Day 2 I began loving this journey? Well on Day 3, we finally found out what the “hell” part of the Hell Hike and Raft was all about. Frozen… We awoke to freezing temperatures. Being from the Deep South,…

As some of you know, I’m originally from the Sunshine State. Which means I have lots of extended family strewn about the peninsula. So this year I met my parents and my brother’s family in Amelia Island for Thanksgiving as sort of a mid-way rendezvous…

One of the subjects much-discussed among the outdoor community is risk. And the very incorrect perception that our pursuits are often very risky, dangerous, or even downright irresponsible. As I’ve dealt with the hand injury has dominated my life for the last six months, I’ve…

Last week marked my 43rd birthday. And I left you hanging as to what I’ll be taking on as my travels shift towards solo. Granted, it’s not exactly a well-kept secret but I guess I should just make it official here on the blog anyway.…

Today marks another year under my belt. Like any year, forty-two presented it’s triumphs and challenges. I’m thrilled with the adventures I was able to have both solo and with the boys, though. For me, that’s the big picture as I look back at the…

I’m a fan of black-and-white photography, particularly infrared conversions. There’s something so simple yet visually intricate about the tones. Recently jamming out to some Live while I was working away behind the scenes here at Val in Real Life HQ, I revisited one of my…

After a demanding but exhilarating first day of the Hell Hike and Raft, you’d think I would have slept soundly. Not so much. My first night nestled in the forest of the Seven Devils was fitful. But that’s normal for me. It’s part of what…

If you follow along on the various social media outlets like Facebook and Instagram, you know I’ve been battling a fairly significant hand injury that I sustained back in June on the Pacific Northwest Tour. It’s been a doozie to deal with. Having postponed surgery…

Last time around, I talked about the beginning of the Hell Hike and Raft, what it took to prepare, and some of the logistics involved. Now we get to the good stuff, the actual adventure. The funny part about this trip for me was that…

My forty-third birthday is a mere four weeks away. And with autumn in full swing and the leaves turning, I’m facing my own change. Yep… I have officially found my first gray hairs. I can’t help but consider the corollary. While trees go through a…