Heading to the Enchantments

August 20th. 5 hours from departure. This trip has been in the making since my buddy won the lottery March 15th. The plan is to hike through the night tonight to make the crest of Aasgard a few hours before the Solar Eclipse.

6 dudes will embark from Stuart Lake Trailhead between 1 and 2 a.m. The eclipse is at 10. For most of us it will be the longest hike with heavy packs of our lives. The mental and physical challenge won’t be easy, but the eclipse has us on a time frame, with a huge reward at the top.

The photo above is from my GoPro, on the side of Lake Colchuck in Summer 2014. The beauty of Colchuck is just the beginning of the Enchantments. With 29 named Lakes in the Core zone, which lake is each of our favorites naturally becomes a topic of conversation. Hopefully the gear we’ve got prepped will be enough. Weather is supposed to be clear with lows in the 40s at night and 70s in the daytime.

This trip is special for multiple reasons. Our group of friends is on the cusp of a new chapter in our lives, and this trip is a chance to get energized and ready to attack the future. Justin, who recently starting working at a start-up firm will be hiking straight from the core zone to his car and directly to work on Wednesday (talk about GRIT). Matt, our photographer on the trip will be sporting his brand new Nikon camera. Ready for beauty to fill the lens, Matt’s photos will be highlights in the film.

Speaking of the film: the title/theme is “When our Path’s Cross”

The adventure-style, interview-based film will focus on a revelation I had a few years ago, while backpacking with a few friends. What I realized was that even though we were great friends and had known each other since we were kids, we are all on our own paths. Unlike the transition from high school to college, graduating college means choosing a more specific, distinct life path. The film will investigate the value of friends’ support and how it can impact one’s internal compass and decision making.

I want to challenge the viewers of this film to consider their own lives. Where do you find support? What gives you the confidence to take a risk or embark on something new? Of course, some of it comes from within, but support from peers and family is crucial. I was reading a study  recently that:

“the total number of people receiving general medical services for mental health problems was reduced by about 50% when there was a higher than median level of social support from relatives.” via Role of Social Networks in Mental Health.

We have an opportunity to share a week of adventure, photography and enjoyment away from the constant hyperactivity of daily life. I have three goals. 1. Capture a compelling adventure film 2. Keep everyone safe 3. Come back revitalized and energized for the Fall.

Video: BC Wildfire Smoke in Seattle

August 2nd, 2017 outside Seattle, WA

The smoke is blowing in from massive wildfires burning in central British Columbia. More than 800 fires have charred about 2,600 square miles across British Columbia since April 1 and 6,000 people are currently displaced by the flames. The prevailing winds in July had blown the smoke toward the east, but the current heat wave has switched the upper level winds to the north/northeast, carrying the smoke south into Washington. – Full Article at Komo News

My First Post: Multimedia Literacy

July’s last day, my blog’s first. For now, my goal is to use this blog as a medium to share my un-polished ideas and thoughts in order to facilitate more in-depth research and writing.

This year, I’ve continued to grow my appreciation for life. I am grateful for the opportunity to make a difference, be an inspiration, and leave a lasting legacy.

Some of the topics of research on the forefront of my mind lately have been:

Digital Ethics
Innovation in Impoverished Areas
Adventure and Travel
Addiction and Rehabilitation
Drone Ethics and Regulation
International Conflict
Refugee Challenges

Expect to see more of my research on the aforementioned topics on blogs and articles to come.

But for today, a random topic, Multimedia Literacy.
Defined: Media literacy is the ability to access, analyze, evaluate, and create media. Media literate youth and adults are better able to understand the complex messages we receive from television, radio, Internet, newspapers, magazines, books, billboards, video games, music, and all other forms of media.

Two main points:

  1. Technology allows for accelerated development of individuals’ perspectives, understandings.
  2. “Knowing things” has become outdated

“No way. Google it…”

Enter the scene of two friends, Mike and Larry on a road trip.

After driving by a hillside of sunflowers, Larry confidently remarks, “Did you know sunflowers always face the sun?”
Mike paused, thought about it, and laughed, “There’s no way man!”
The pair rallied speculation back and forth before Mike dropped the hammer.
“Nope. Google it. I promise you’re wrong.”

A minute later, Larry says, “Well… They do follow the sun, but only in their immature stage.”
“So once they bloom they don’t face the sun?” Mike replied.
“They face East once they bloom, apparently due to photoreceptors called phototropins. Scientists think they develop a preference for facing east while they are young because it gives them an advantage to be warm in the morning.” (https://www.nytimes.com/2016/08/05/science/how-sunflowers-follow-the-sun-day-after-day.html)

We’ve all had some form of the previous scene unravel. A disagreement followed by a moment of learning. Through a standard application of their mobile search engine, Mike and Larry uncovered the truth about sunflowers and how they function. They altered their previous perspectives to align with new information.

Although the Sunflower example might not be the most practical, or important, it highlights the simple way that using a search engine can accelerate the development of individuals’ perspectives and understandings. Prior to the Internet Era, Mike and Larry would have had a hard time settling their meaningless road trip dispute.

Less misconception = better decision making. For example, a misconception that someone has about how financial markets work might lead them to make an ill-advised investment, threatening their family’s financial security and well-being.

Technology and the proliferation of mobile devices provide tools for people to avoid misconceptions, accelerate their learning on-the-go, and ultimately use better information to make better decisions.

The integration of technology into our daily lives: “Knowing things” is becoming outdated. It is no longer necessary to memorize facts because the answer to almost any question is at a person’s fingertips, and accessible at any time.