Just Up The Trail

Getting Back on the Trail

Reconnecting with the trails and searching for ways to be creative in the outdoors

So. What’s the plan then?

I’ve been trying to come up with a way to rekindle my love for the outdoors without putting loads of pressure on myself AND tickle my creative bones at the same time.
But it needs to be deliberate. The idea of just going for a hike and documenting it is a well worn one that I’ve dabbled with in the past but I also have to serve two mistresses here. My creative side that wants to make everything into something and that other part of me that is looking for some kind of healing from the outdoors.

I think the word is reconnection. If I can reconnect with the trails and the wild places and then recreate that experience in some kind of ongoing reflective and immersive audio/visual project then maybe both aspects can feed each other.

As I start off going back out deliberately and slowly then I can ease myself back in and maybe after a spell the idea of heading out on a longer hike won’t feel as daunting as it does at the moment. At the same time I know I don’t have the skill or experience to make what I see in my head so these little hikes, trips, day camps will serve as practice/warm ups for an as yet unplanned main event.

What I really want is to create a really immersive representation of what I’m feeling as I’m trying to reconnect with the outdoors….I want to show you the things I see, play you the stuff I hear and find a way to share my thoughts and feelings.

I’ll be exploring some of my local sexy places (of which there are many) sitting down in nature, making a half decent cup of coffee and just try and enjoy being there.

I’ll film some of it, get the field recording kit out and maybe even write down some of the many thoughts that buzz in one ear and out the other and then head home and try and shape all of that into some kind of immersive representation of my experience in the outdoors.

It won’t all be gear reviews or extreme risk taking or whatever else you need to chase views or likes. It will just be me, sitting mindfully in the outdoors, drinking coffee and trying to reforge that connection that I lost. Maybe people will like it, maybe not…sometimes I find myself watching lads peel logs in Alaska for hours at time so maybe some cats will dig it.

So it’ll be here, YouTube and a completely free Patreon for behind the scenes stuff and maybe some personal thoughts and meanderings so if you want to come and play you’ll be more than welcome.

One thing I envision for this website is that it becomes a library of sorts, or a curated collection of peoples experience and adventures in the outdoors as well as some resources to help get people out into our wild spaces, so if you have anything to share, whether a written trip report, a video or even a just a voice message telling us how cool your last trip was then I’m sure we’ll find a place for it here

Thanks for all the love and support.

Rob Jones