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The love for skiing has vanished from our eyes; there is something quite different about the area we have set foot in. Casino slots instantly fill our ears. Our bodies stretch and eyes search for food as we break in traveling. “Jackass Café and Ice Cream Parlor” are ahead to the left, while saloons and casinos overwhelm the long but narrow street. (more…)

“Please explain to me, why forests march to desert speed. Why snowcapped mountains melt away…” These lyrics echo through the speakers while driving to the next destination. It is ironic that our surroundings match up to what this song is trying to convey. We leave a small-patriotic hometown, and with a blink of an eye, we find ourselves in a place populated with a walking strip mall of ski stores and cupcake boutiques for miles ahead. We look to the sky; ski lifts are above us. It is July, and you can still sense the worship for skiing. (more…)

It is a day off from filming today.  For the past 6 days, we have been exploring extinct, but not forgotten mining towns along the Colorado Rockies.  But today, we are taking some time for ourselves, and Yankee Boy Basin is as good a place to do it as any area here!  We gather in the morning and begin our climb out of Ouray towards the basin.

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As the photographer, my experience with the Colorado landscapes has been mainly through my camera lens’s eye.  I’m so focused on capturing the beauty and grandeur of my surroundings that I sometimes forget to put down my camera and take in the scenery for myself, for my own memory.  Sometimes I forget where I am; sometimes I forget how much forgotten history surrounds me. (more…)

“Meet me at the Golden Burro,” a local of Leadville commands. So, we do just that.

We walk in this small town diner, across from other local hang outs and clichéd gift shops. This town smells historical and looks like it is trying so hard to keep it that way. I look at black and white pictures on the wall, representing Leadville’s mining days with the historical figures who made it memorable.  Each clipping is surrounded with a brown wooden frame; fits well with the contents.

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As a rider on this project, let me say a few words about the Colorado Rockies. It is very important to point out that, when it comes to the Rockies, there is no substitute for the mind’s eye. There is no bit of photography or video that can capture the sheer grandeur and ruggedness in these areas of the Nation. Size, depth, angle, texture are all lost to a certain extent when placed within the frame. This land is greater than we! Stronger than we! It was here before us, and it will be here long after us. I can almost hear the landscape laughing at us measly little humans, running around with our modern problems. I am made aware of my insignificance with every jolt I get from rocks underneath my tires. We’ve been on journeys before, but the Rockies are going to make us truly earn this one. They keep Dave and me on our guard, constantly reminding us where we are.

The ALT Project Crew for 2011

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It seems like every morning, I look at the car and feel like we have too much to pack for such short distances to travel. I just wish that we could snap our fingers and every single thing could be in the car. We either pack up from a campsite or leave a hotel. Then, we are on the road to the next location. But once we are in that car or on that bike, we are excited for the next scenic route and the next adventure awaiting. We forget about all of the essentials we just stuffed in the car. We forget about having to take it out all over again.

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You can set the stage for distance,

But life persistently follows.

Ignore the phone calls,

But they’re still calling!!

And loose ends

Always exist somewhere.

Focus attention forward. (more…)

The drive across country, from Pittsburgh to the mid-west, is draining everyone out, especially the motorcycle riders. The fear of dehydration, and the constant reminder of the high altitude from crewmember, Charley, never leaves our ears. We are prepared and we are tired, but we are ready to start.

Durango, Colo. is our first stop and the Durango/Silverton Train calls our names. Duane, a professor at Fort Lewis College and has written over 30 books on Colorado history and mining, stands in front of the station. You could hear his passion in his words as he shared about the legacy of the train and the vibrancy of Main Street. He explains how people are interested in the history and the scenery when it comes to the train. Duane paints a picture while walking past tourist horse and buggies. I blink my eyes and visualize a town of hard workers and a nightlife scene. His fingers point to certain buildings on the street, simultaneously portraying miners in the San Juan Mountains, who once walked here looking for prostitutes in the Red Light District. (more…)

When we left Pittsburgh the morning of July 6, I don’t think any of us could have imagined the extent of difficulty of the roads ahead. With Colorado as our destination, we were aware that we were entering Rocky Mountain territory. We all packed accordingly, and made sure to pick up some bear spray, just in case. But despite our extensive preparation and research, nothing but experience could prepare us for the roads ahead. Loose rock, gravel and shale have challenged our entire group – especially our riders – almost to the point of mental and physical exhaustion. However, our excitement toward the experience of travel and our interest in exploring western history and character has given us the strength to keep moving forward, chins and wheels up.

We are all feeling the effects of thousands of miles of travel and heightened elevation. Luckily, we have been fortunate with the weather. We have encountered a few storms, but the rain is mostly welcome during these summer months. We enjoy its fresh smell, and admire how it hydrates the farmland and feeds the trees and flowers. The lightning we’ve seen across the plains and in the mountains, while slightly frightening, has inspired us to attempt to capture the awesome power of nature through documentation and sheer memory. (more…)