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Hello! I’m Chad, photographer and writer for The Wilder Minds.

Top Recent posts

Myrtle Beach
Gear Review – Chaco Z/1 Classic
The Kindness Rocks Project
Q&A – Volume 1
Weekend Adventure – Lake Norman

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A good pocket knife is hard to find. Ever notice that? I don’t need a weapon for a zombie apocalypse. Just something sharp enough to open bags, cut tape, maybe use as a screwdriver in a pinch. You know, everyday things. So I was pretty excited to come across these fish knives. They can handle everyday tasks, and any item with a little character is never a bad thing. A few of these things are from @bradleymountain

Seeing a Moosejaw box on the front porch is always a good kickstart to the night, and their sense of humor always gets a laugh. Plus, well there’s always goods in the box. This last spring, I picked up a sea-to-summit mattress, wrote an honest review for it (I love reviews, I’ll read others reviews on just about anything. Toothpaste...let’s see what the people think. Toilet Paper, gotta be above 4.5 stars.) Anyways, Moosejaw gave me $250 for having the best review in March. I thought I was being scammed at first. My parents always said “If it’s too good to be true, it probably is.” Looks like they were wrong this time.

Came across a backpacker trying to sort out directions on his map. He was a little crazy but seemed like a good dood. ———————————————— So I need some help. Our wedding is coming up in October, and for some reason (not sure why) Gina thinks it’s impractical for the groom to also be the photographer. It’s going to be a small thing in Asheville, NC. If you, or someone you know, would be interested in shooting it, send us a DM! Thanks 🙏

Sometimes you have to “check out” so that you can “check in”, with yourself. See how you are doing. Recalibrate. Reflect on where you’ve been, where you are trying to go. Is there enough order in your life to balance the chaos? Or are things starting to slip away from you? Are you happy? ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ I hopped onto YouTube for something the other night and one of those “recommended videos” popped up on the side. It was McConaughey (alright, alright, alright) giving a commencement speech in Houston. He had a good take on happiness worth sharing. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ He said happiness (by definition) is an emotional response to an outcome. If “this “ or “that” happens, I will be happy. If it doesn’t then I won’t. It’s a standard we simply can not sustain because we immediately raise it every time we attain it. Happiness demands a certain outcome. It is result reliant. Joy though, joy’s a different thing. It’s not a response to a result. Joy is the feeling that we have from doing what we are fashioned to do. No matter the outcome. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ In summary: chase joy. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ p.s. it’s a leather bound notebook (if you were wondering what’s in my hands). My mind seems to function better outdoors. I try to jot things down on the trail (before I get back to the Jeep and forget all about them). Ideas, random thoughts, and to do lists appear often. Remember order and chaos? Order (notepad), chaos (my mind).

Gina drops “one” Tostitos scoop and suddenly we have 25 new friends. Can’t really blame them, because who doesn’t love a good chip, but it is rather amazing how they have some sort of group telepathy when it comes to food.

Sunrise starting to peek over the distant mountain ranges. Mornings like these, we’ll never get enough of. Somehow the coffee even tastes better.

I’d like to write something thoughtful, but honestly the only thing spiraling through my head is...why does she have every scrap of food at her feet? This wasn’t staged. Is she guarding it from an invisible food thief, or just trying to signal that she’s ready for dinner?

Don’t forget to make time for the simple things. Take a walk. Feel the wind. Use a compass. Enjoy a bourbon. Watch the sunset. Catch a firefly. Release a firefly. Make a fire. Roast a marshmallow. Tell a story. Marvel at the Milky Way. Enjoy a coffee. Watch the sunrise. Laugh a bunch. Love a lot. Rinse. Repeat.

The road carving through the Appalachians on a foggy afternoon at Mt. Mitchell, the highest peak east of the Mississippi. __________________ This week seems to be flying by. Has anyone done any caving at Mammoth before? Kentucky is calling my name. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ -Chad

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