Life in July and More Inversion

Field Notes III.XXX: A difficult July and a look back into the archives

Welcome to Field Notes!

July has been rough. I’m not the only one experiencing this, am I right? Maybe the Fates grew bored in the stifling summer heat of the South. I picture them glancing at one another, saying “let’s knock him off course a bit. This’ll be interesting!”

It was an ordinary morning in the beginning of the month. I gathered my things to head to work and inattentively committed the sin of bending down to put on my shoe. POW! A lightning bolt struck through my lower back, leaving me scarcely able to walk for a couple of days.

I’ve had issues like this before, just not recently. I thought I’d cured them, in fact. Its not so much scary as it is frustrating and requiring of patience. Fortunately, I had the whole Zen and the Art of Wildflower Hunting series to work on in the meantime. Also fortunately, I had time before my next backpacking trip in early August. As you’re reading this I’m back to deadlifting and ready to go. So perhaps the Fates just gave me a rest that I didn’t know I needed.

But then my mother fell. Reaching to pick up her cat her walker shifted. The bush did not catch her. She landed on her hip and hit her head. It wasn’t so bad at the time, but when she was too weak to get out of bed in the morning we ended up in the hospital in Atlanta.

The scans were ok, but the docs wanted to keep her for observation. It is hard to plan around “we’ll see how it goes,” when I live an hour and a half away. And, this dragged on into five days of observation before she was finally released to go home. Mom was frustrated and ready to go, but she was very lucky. I was prepared for much worse.

All of this is just to say that focusing creatively has been a challenge this month. The wildflower series concluded last week and here I am without much new to offer. Readers seemed to like the cloud inversion at the end of the series, so how about some other cloud inversions from the archives this week?

These next few photos are of a cloud inversion in the Shining Rock Wilderness, North Carolina, in October of 2021. I believe this was only the second trip I’d ever done while bringing my photography equipment with me.

I haven’t researched what weather conditions cause inversions. The evening before was clear, warm for October. And the night was breezy. In the morning the clouds flowed like water through the peaks.

I don’t remember how I edited these photos, but look at the blue color cast on the rocks in this one! Today I’d certainly fix that.

These next two were made in September of 2022 in the Southern Nantahala Wilderness of North Carolina. Those clouds were a little bit distant, but captivating none the less.

The first image is pretty obviously too dark. Looking at it now, I’m tempted to re-work the original file. It was a special sunrise- the morning of my mom’s birthday.

Now we have a series from the Joyce Kilmer-Slickrock Wilderness, North Carolina. It was August of 2023. I planned a trip with higher elevation to try to escape the heat. It didn’t work.

Wildfires burned in Canada at the time, and their effects were apparent this far south. A hazy redness lingered in the sky. The night and pre-dawn were very pleasant. Yet, as soon as the sun crested the horizon the sweat started rolling down my brow.

Not only was this a fantastic vantage point to view the cloud inversion, but on this trip I had a new lens. This long telephoto lens gave me the ability to hone in closely on distant peaks for more specific compositions.

Cloud inversions likely happen pretty frequently in the Southern Appalachian Mountains. The problem is that these old hills are mostly thickly forested. Finding a spot to see them is challenging.

I have a few places on my list now, and will always be seeking others. Photographing the inversions is a matter of being in the right place at the right time.

Guys, that’s all I have for this week. I have been working on a new Field Notes Film, though. I didn’t get it finished for today and did not want to rush it. Hopefully I can have it for you next Sunday.

This one is the film of the Pin-Chin-Sky Loop from last November. Yep, it’s been that long and I’m just now getting around to editing the footage. If you’re interested in checking out the adventure story before the film comes out, find it here-

Pin-Chin-Sky Loop, Day 1

Pin-Chin-Sky Loop, Day 2

Pin-Chin-Sky Loop, Day 3

If you’ve made it this far into the post it’s pretty clear that you can read. But isn’t reading a physical book so much better than reading on a computer or a device? Well, if we’re reading physical books we need a bookmark. Luckily, I have one to offer! This bookmark of a sunset on Sam Knob in the Shining Rock Wilderness is $5. That includes tax and postage to mail it to any country in the world. Purchase it via the PayPal link below.

Field Notes is a value-for-value proposition. If you get value from it, please consider contributing back by sharing, subscribing, or upgrading. Also, a one time tip of any amount goes a long way. Your support goes directly towards the food, supplies, or gear necessary for the photography, writing, and adventures that I share-