Greetings, everyone.
I hope you all are enjoying the dog days of summer. Now that 2026 is more than halfway over, I wanted to write to all of my beautiful readers, explaining why MLGHikes has been a bit quieter this year. Normally, by mid-July, I would have gone on multiple adventures and written about them, but due to some big life events, I’ve had to curtail some of my plans.
That is not to say I have been completely AWOL. In February, I completed a winter hike of the Knobstone Trail, and I have written a few gear/product reviews. You should check those out if you haven’t already. Additionally, if you really miss me, might I suggest checking out the MLGHikes archive? There is lots of stuff to keep you entertained!
Anyways, back to the purpose of this post, which, WARNING, is going to be way more self-involved. It is going to be all about me and the cool moments I have experienced in the past year. In my meager defense, a lot of stuff has happened, and since I’ve been meaning to write more, you all are going to have to deal with it…or you can skip it, since I literally cannot make you stay (believe me, I would if I could).
Don’t you worry, though; I am not going to start spamming you with tons of posts about my life. I will do my best to keep the main thing the main thing.
A New Addition
First and foremost, the biggest and best update: in April 2026, my wife and I welcomed a beautiful baby girl into the world. She is now 3+ months old and is an absolute delight. Her older brother is obsessed with her, and despite our lack of sleep, we are so ecstatic to have our family grow by one.
Photography Achievements
In the past year, I have really started to emphasize my photography more on my adventures. I have added another lens, a 70-200 telephoto, and lighter accessories, like the Aziak Backcountry Lite Tripod and Ballhead. I have mentioned it before, but bringing a dedicated photography system has added so much depth and fun to my hikes.
It has also allowed me to find new ways to share my passion for the outdoors, partner with some really cool organizations, and, quite frankly, win some prize money that helps fund my hikes. Since the summer of 2025, I have won numerous photo contests and been featured in some great publications and galleries. Listed below are just a few of my favorites.
-Highland Outdoors Magazine
Highland Outdoors Magazine is a quarterly print publication dedicated to covering West Virginia’s outdoor recreation, conservation, and mountain culture. In 2025, I pitched them a story about the October 2024 solar storm that brought the Northern Lights to parts of the United States that rarely see them. It turns out they were already working on that story for their fall 2025 issue, and they wanted to use a few of my photos for it. My two photos, Celestial Light Show & When the Northern Lights Came South, were selected for the cover shot of the magazine and a center spread for the article, respectively. In addition, I was interviewed for the story titled “A Shot in the Dark,” on pages 34-39.
My photo, Aurora’s Dance, won runner-up in the Landscape Category of the Annual Highland Outdoors Photo Contest and was featured in their Winter 2025 issue.
Highland Outdoors was the first printed publication that I was ever featured in, and they are great to work with. If you are interested in learning more, you can check them out HERE.
-Trails Magazine
Launched in 2022, Trails Magazine is a print-only, quarterly magazine created specifically for backpackers, thru-hikers, and multi-day adventurers. In the fall of 2025, I pitched them a photo of Emerald Ridge during my 2025 Wonderland Trail hike. That photo was selected to be included as a Vantage Point in Issue 12, their annual Photography Issue.
It was an honor to contribute to Trails. Each issue they release contains important journalism, exciting adventures, and striking photography, all catered to the outdoor community. If you enjoy the posts and photography from my site, I’m confident in saying you would enjoy Tails Magazine too. I’m proud to say I support them as a subscriber. You can learn more about Trails HERE.
-2025 Cortland Acres Foundation Photo Contest (as of 2026, it is now known as the Blackwater Ridge Foundation Photo Contest)
In August 2025, my photo, titled Aurora’s Dance (also from the October 2024 solar storm), was chosen as one of fourteen images for the large print winners of the annual Cortland Foundation Photo Contest. The CFPC is a very prestigious contest that celebrates the highlands of West Virginia and western Maryland. The 2025 theme was “Highlands Unfiltered.” The foundation printed it on a 45″ x 30″ canvas, and it is currently displayed in a yearlong exhibition at the Cortland Acres Health & Rehab facility. This year, it will be available for purchase, with proceeds benefiting the Cortland Foundation’s mission to support essential programs and services. It was truly an honor to be chosen with so many other great photographers and to help support a fantastic cause. I even got to meet David S. Johnston, who is one of my personal favorite photographers.
If you are interested in learning more or submitting your own photos to the contest, check it out HERE.
-23rd Annual Appalachian Mountain Photography Competition
The AMPC is a decades-old collaborative initiative hosted by Appalachian State University’s Turchin Center in partnership with the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation. It is an open competition that invites amateur and professional photographers to celebrate the culture and landscapes of the Appalachian Mountains. In 2025, my photo, Fire & Ice, was selected as a finalist for the 23rd edition. It was printed and displayed at the Turchin Gallery for Visual Arts from February 6th, 2026, through May 2nd, 2026. This was a tremendous privilege, as it is a very difficult gallery to get accepted into. When I attended the gala, I was in awe of all the great works of the other photographers I was included with. Listed below is an excerpt from the exhibition guide with my photo and statement. You can see the entire guide here.
-2025 Virginia Forests Magazine Photo Contest
For the past few years, the Virginia Forestry Foundation has issued Virginia Forests Magazine, a quarterly digital and print publication. The magazine has an annual photo contest, and I entered a few of my photos into it. My photo, Three Ridges Sunset, from my Three Ridges hike, won 1st place in the 2025 Virginia Forests Magazine Photo Contest (Landscape Category), and my photo, Coralberry, from my Cole Mountain hike, won 3rd place (Flora Category). You can check out the entire issue that includes all the winning images here.
-National Forest Foundation NOSO Patch Card Mailer
In Spring 2025, the National Forest Foundation offered a free NOSO patch to anyone who signed up for its newsletter. My photo, Three Ridges Sunset, from my Three Ridges hike, was chosen over 6,000+ other entrants to be the photo on the accompanying mailer card that came with the patch. I received mine in April 2026, and so did everyone else who signed up. If you got one, let me know what you thought!!!
-2026 Michigan Trails Magazine Photo Contest
My photo, The Seeker, from my Pictured Rocks hike won the grand prize of the 2026 Michigan Trails Magazine Photo Contest. It was featured in their 2026 issue.
-2025 20th Annual Share the Experience Photo Contest
In June 2026, my photo Wonderland from the final day of my 2025 Wonderland Trail hike was chosen as the Scenery & Seasons Category winner of the 20th Annual Share the Experience Photo Contest. This contest is the official amateur photography competition for America’s national parks and federal lands, with a rich history spanning more than two decades. My photo was one of 8 winners selected from nearly 9,000 entries. Check out all of the winning images HERE.
I didn’t get into photography to win contests or get published, but I’m not going to lie, it’s a little cool to have my work recognized the way it has been. I have added a few galleries of my work to MLGHikes, and I would love for you to check them out and let me know what you think!
Yes, that was a whole section bragging about myself and inflating my already large ego; I promise I won’t make a habit out of it. I will ensure my site remains focused primarily on trail guides, trip reports, gear reviews, and related topics.
What’s Next
Unfortunately, with a newborn and a 3-year-old now, there are going to be precious few trip guides/reports this year. Don’t worry, though, I am not disappearing completely. I do have one hike penciled in for this year, and it is going to be a good one.
In November, I will be hiking the Trans Catalina Trail, located on Catalina Island (yes, that one). 50+ miles of scenic hills, forests, and beaches all contained on a beautiful island right off the coast of California. This is one I’ve had on my radar for a while now, and I am very much looking forward to it. I will be reunited with some familiar faces and some new ones who will be backpacking the TCT with me.
Last Word
Lastly, I would like to shine a spotlight on one of my favorite podcasts, Backpacker Radio. If you are into hiking/backpacking even a little, you are probably already familiar with BPR, but if not, then allow me to sing its praises. Specifically, I want to give shouts to one of its original and longtime co-hosts, Juliana Chauncey, aka “Chaunce,” who is leaving the main show after 8 years.
I have been listening to her and fellow co-host Zach “Badger” Davis since the early days of the pod in 2018, and it has been and continues to be a huge influence on me and my hiking career, for lack of a better word. 2018 was the year I attempted my first backpacking trip, which was an utter disaster. Afterwards, I discovered BPR and their advice, stories, and guests (which include some legendary adventurers) inspired me to keep at it. Throughout their 360+ episode run together, I have laughed, cried, and been thoroughly entertained.
So, shouts to you, Chaunce; you will be greatly missed. Congrats on your move, and welcome to the East Coast! Also, if you are reading this. My wife is an Elon graduate who was there the same time as your husband—small world.