ENCOUNTERING SPACE: THE FIRE LOOKOUTS OF MONTANA

"Working deep in the back country of Montana’s rugged Rocky Mountains, Pittsburgh-based photographer Tom Persinger photographed three men who spend their summers perched high atop peaks keeping watch over some of our nation’s most pristine places miles from the nearest road or modern convenience. Day and night they scan the horizon for curly gray wisps of smoke rising from the forest below: a tell tale sign of fire."

Read more about the project and check out some of Tom's beautiful photographs by visiting his site.  And make sure you watch his short video interviewing the 3 lookouts.

I found out about this project after I got home from my 8 day trip to Glacier National Park back in August.  During my second day in the park I hiked to the Swiftcurrent Lookout at the summit of Swiftcurrent Mountain.  The following photo shows me standing in front of the fire lookout and Alex Hassan is standing on the steps behind me -- small world.  Hands down, this was my favorite spot in the park.

PENN'S EASYTRIM

How did Dick Proenneke cut his hair out in the wild?  With a Penn's patent "Easytrim" of course.

July 7th. An odds-and-ends day.
I put out a good-sized laundry to flutter and snap in a warm wind. Did some mending. Wrote letters and tossed them into the pile ready to go out on Babe’s express. Then a visit to the Twin Lakes’ barbershop. That little Penn’s Easy Trim is the best investment I have made for a long time.

-Excerpt from "One Man's Wilderness: An Alaskan Odyssey"

IF A TREE FALLS

Go watch the documentary If a Tree Falls: A Story of the Earth Liberation Front on PBS. The film is streaming for free until October 13th.

The documentary takes you into the life of Daniel McGowan, an environmental activist, and the ELF.  McGowan was a target in Operation Backfire for the arson of Superior Lumber company and Jefferson Poplar Farms in 2001.  He was arrested and charged with arson, property destruction and conspiracy.  He was also labeled a domestic terrorist.  In 2006 Daniel signed a non-cooperation plea agreement with the government and in 2007 was sentenced to 7 years in federal prison and ordered to pay $1.9 million in restitution.

GROWING IS FOREVER

Photo by Jeremy Mineweaser

If you have 3 minutes to spare check out Growing is Forever -- a short film by Jesse Rosten about the Redwoods of northern California. This is one of the nicest shorts I have seen recently.  I hope you enjoy.

YOSEMITE: THE FATE OF HEAVEN

In 1851 the Mariposa Battalion came upon an unexplored valley in the Sierra Nevada while pursuing Native Americans.  Lafayette Bunnell, a doctor who accompanied the battalion, kept a diary during the mission.  They would be the first and last white men ever to see Yosemite unspoiled.

The documentary Yosemite: The Fate of Heaven was made in the late 80's and was part of the PBS series titled American Experience (season 2 episode 14).  The film is narrated by none other than Robert Redford, in which he recites passages from Bunnell's diary.  The film contrasts present-day Yosemite with Bunnell's experiences illustrating the devastation caused by millions of nature lovers.  Enjoy the film!

COLD

For the past 26 years 16 expeditions have tried and failed to climb one of pakistan's 8,000 meter peaks in winter. On february 2, 2011, Simone Moro, Denis Urubko and Cory Richards became the first. Cory is now the only American to summit any 8,000 meter peak in winter. The journey nearly killed them. Cory carried a small camera and filmed the ordeal constantly. This is their story, as seen from the raw, honest perspective of Cory's lens.

Awards:

• Best Adventure Film, 5 Point Film Festival - 2011
• Charlie Fowler Award, Telluride Mountain Film Festival - 2011

Watch the trailer! 

Produced by Forge Motion Pictures.

NO PLACE LIKE TWIN LAKES

Talking Circle Media, of Anchorage Alaska, put together a short film titled No Place Like Twin Lakes.  The film is about Dick Proenneke's life at Twin Lakes.in Lake Clark National Park and Preserve.  The film is narrated by Jay Hammond, former Governor of Alaska (1974-1982).  It also features Leon Alsworth grandson of Babe Alsworth who flew Dick to Twin Lakes in the late 60's when he built his cabin.