The Trailhead
Start the Journey Here!
Welcome to Field Notes!
Beams of golden sunlight illuminate esoteric truths written on distant mountain sides for those who would see it. The gentle breath of wind moving through treetops whispers sublime secrets for those who listen. The natural world is profound. There are infinite uncharted layers to this life, and I want to explore them. I suspect that you sense this as well, and this is what brought you here.
This is not a newsletter. Field Notes is a journey of exploration. I’m Erik Hogan and I have experienced much in this life. I seek to earn a voice by confronting hardship, uncertainty, and peril. I’ve seen death, and also the first breath of new life. Through sacrifice, I have had glimpses of the sacred wisdom of nature.
I don’t have the answers. In Field Notes I seek them. I convey my experiences and insight through artistic photography, creative words, and film. Art speaks to the soul, and perhaps through my attempts at it you will find some truths of your own.
In Field Notes I write a lot about the backpacking adventures I take. These stories include the photographs I make along the way. More recently, I have begun making experiential films of these journeys. Occasionally, I branch out to write creatively or to explore other aspects of nature and life photographically and philosophically.
Adventure, for me, is philosophy with skin-in-the-game. Do my ideas about life hold strong when the stakes are high, when the elements are harsh, and when alone with no one coming to help? I am trying to find out, and I am reporting back here what I learn.
I have a website- erikhoganphotography.com. This is where you can access my full photo galleries. I have a lot of images there, and I frequently add to it. I am beginning to go back and title each one for reference and to give you some context of where it was taken.
I would be thrilled if you took some time to view these photos. If you have any questions about them, don’t hesitate to reach out!
I began writing Field Notes in earnest in May of 2023. This post gives you a good overview of the first year of Field Notes and a few adventures I took before starting the blog-
I took the adventure stories from the first season of Field Notes and re-worked it into a PDF ebook. This removes all of the extra (dated) info, email headers, subscribe buttons, etc, and presents the material in a much more pleasing format. It might be worthwhile printing it out? However you want to read it, here it is as a free gift-
In Field Notes I organize my posts into several categories. All of my backpacking and longer trips fall into the Adventure Stories category. In addition, you will find sections on the Field Notes homepage for Waterfall Chasing (generally a day trip specifically to photograph a waterfall), Field Notes Film, and Artful Words and Philosophical Hatchetwork. Here are some past examples of works I am particularly proud of to get you started.
Adventure Stories
I thru hiked the 112 mile long Bartram Trail in October of 2025 after my plans were derailed by natural disasters two times before. That series is titled The Pulse of Autumn.
The Georgia Loop is a 60 mile loop that uses the Duncan Ridge Trail to connect two points on the Appalachian Trail. I hiked this in late March/early April 2025.
In May of 2024 I thru hiked the 76 mile Foothills Trail in South Carolina. The Woodlands and Water series covers that trip. I made this series into a print magazine. It is available for purchase, or the series is available to read for paid supporters of Field Notes.
Waterfall Chasing
Artful Words and Philosophical Hatchetwork
Field Notes Film
You can find each of these categories by scrolling down on the Field Notes homepage. All of this is a work-in-progress, so these categories are subject to change in the future, if I feel the need. But, I will update you if or when that happens.
I am also on social media but, to be honest, Substack and Substack Notes has become my home and I find myself spending very little time anywhere else. I do have Instagram and a YouTube Channel. Facebook, too, but that is mostly for family.
I want to thank you for taking the time to look at what I’m doing here in Field Notes and/or on my website! This space is developing into a community and I really enjoy interacting with readers. I’ve made good friends through this endeavor, and their feedback has been both inspiring and educational for me.
I would be grateful for your company on this path. As a part of the community here I encourage you to share your own insights, earned on your own journeys. Together we will light the way.
Erik, your photo of the rocky path is exceptional!