Durnye on a Journey

Durnye on a Journey Durnye on a Journey is dedicated to posting educational content on natural/cultural history.
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08/28/2026

Video #1 of 1 (8/14/2026):

Just as a heads up, there might be some sound quality issues due to the high winds.

Welcome to Mt. Washington! It's the tallest mountain in all of the New England region of the United States! As the summit reaches 6,288 feet in height, it has its own weather up here. Even in the summer with the wind gusts, the temperatures were only in the 30-40°F range. The gusts alone reached up to 70 miles per hour! As a matter of fact, alpine range has its own designated weather station!

The saunter included following the Crawford Path, which is one of the oldest trail networks in the United States as it dates back 200+ years. The cairns (rock stacks) that you see serve as a guide, so you should never tamper with them. As it turns out, the Appalachian Trail does follow Mt. Washington and the Presidential Range of New Hampshire.

The trail that led me from the base included the Ammonoosuc Ravine Trail. The term comes from Abenaki, which means "small, narrow fishing place." Despite that it was a 10-11 mile round trip with elevation gain and decline, it was one of the most tempestuous experiences going up a mountain. There were only some brief moments in which at the summit specifically that you could have a panoramic view.

More or less my head was in the clouds in the most literal sense 😆
It was quite of a surreal moment. I just knew that while I was in New England, I had to witness Mt. Washington ⛰️

It's been a minute since a photography post was last published. Here's a few highlight photos from my time spent in New ...
08/17/2026

It's been a minute since a photography post was last published. Here's a few highlight photos from my time spent in New England in the past few months. Enjoy! I've certainly been grateful to revisit the region again after several years and to remain present in this chapter 😁

08/16/2026

Video #2 of 2 (8/10/2026):

Here's a part two from Acadia National Park! The focus is more on the natural history with this film. Acadia was part of a landmass that was called Ganderia. It made a collision with Laurentia, which is now known as North America. Gondwana, which is now parts of Europe and Africa, followed suit after Ganderia. As a result? There became the supercontinent called Pangaea.

The continental collisions created volcanic activity, which resulted in majestic mountains like that of the Rockies. This is a primary explanation as to why Acadia has granite as the predominant bedrock. Granite is an igneous rock that only forms during volcanic activity.

Over the course of time and erosion, glaciers had made their way through here. As a result of that, there are a number of valleys and lakes in the region. It's such a unique area because you have the mountains and the Atlantic Ocean neighboring each other. It is truly a spectacle!

08/13/2026

Video #1 of 2 (8/10/2026):

In which, a beckoning had me return to the state of Maine during my mid-season break. The last that I visited the area was just over a decade ago. Welcome to Acadia National Park! While knowing that I would be in New England for a few months, I made a promise to myself to have a more immersive visit and return. More or less, I have appreciated my time spent out here more so than I did in 2016. The first film covers some of the park's cultural history.

Acadia is a term from the Mi'kmaq (Wabanaki) meaning "place of" fertile land. Acadia National Park lies on Mount Desert Island, which is the largest island on Maine's North Atlantic Coast. The indigenous history goes as far back as 5,000 years. The region was of great interest between the French and English in the 17th and 18th centuries. One of the first accounted Europeans was Samuel Champlain (a Frenchman) who led an expedition in 1604. Though for the next few decades, the land was contested between the French and English.

In 1688, Antoine Laumet, who immigrated to this region, gave himself the title of Sieur de la Mothe Cadillac. He lived there for a time to establish a feudal estate but it failed. Cadillac Mountain, which is the tallest mountain in the park, is named after him. Though as it got into the early 19th century, more settlers began to live on Mount Desert Island.

George B. Dorr, a steadfast spokesman for conservation, along with other affluent individuals had much to do with preserving the landscape as known today. Given some of the development, Dorr offered some of the land to the federal government. By 1916, President Woodrow Wilson announced the Sieur de Monts National Monument. By 1919 with the help of Mr. Dorr, President Wilson successfully signed and established the Lafayette National Park. Dorr became the first park superintendent and it would be in 1929 that the name changed to Acadia National Park.

Stay tuned for the next film as it covers more on the natural history of Acadia!

08/08/2026

Video #1 of 1 (7/31/2026):

I've made a return to Mount Monadnock! Though my time spent there for nearly the past two weeks wasn't just for leisure. The company I work for was contracted by the New Hampshire State Parks to install some retaining walls using granite and schist. Some sections of the White Cross trail had some severe erosion. Therefore my crew and I used a rigging system to move large rocks to fixed and set locations. It was hard work, but was also quite rewarding.

Last Friday (7/31) was my only opportunity to visit the summit during my hitch. Given that I went up later in the afternoon, I had to follow the white dot trail. It's a steep climb from that trail. Whereas during my 1st visit in June, I was able to follow the Cascade and Pumpelly trails that were much more gradual in ascent.

Nevertheless, Mount Monadnock is one of North America's most visited mountains. Up to 125,000 people visit every year. For a state park, that is quite a high number! Enjoy the film!

07/25/2026

Video #1 of 1 (7/12/2026):

Welcome to Cape Cod! The namesake comes from Bartholomew Gosnold, who was one of the earlier recognized European explorers. During his voyage in 1602, he had noticed that the region had an abundance of Atlantic Cod. Though according to the NOAA, their current population is a tenth of what it once was for a time.

The journey included going to Sandy Neck beach, which lies near Barnstable. The park showcases an exquisite example of back dunes that are found within the peninsula. Over the past few months, I have come to realize that Massachusetts has grown on me. The state is quite diverse in its topography whether you're in the eastern or western regions. Anyway, the film goes over some of the biosphere features of the Cape Cod region 🤙

PS - It was quite a fulfilling weekend, considering that the day before I had spent some time in Nantucket 😁

07/13/2026

Video #1 of 1 (7/11/2026):

In which, the most recent sauntering included a journey to Nantucket, MA! It had been a month since I had last seen the Atlantic Ocean, so I had to fulfill my thalassophile. It's an island that lies to the south of the Massachusetts mainland. It lies alongside Martha's Vineyard to the east.

Nantucket is a great example of a glacial moraine. When the Laurentide glacier passed through here approximately 12,000-13,000 years ago, Nantucket was where the glacier had ended. As a result, Nantucket is an island made out of unconsolidated sediment that was transported by glacial activity.

In such cases, that often makes erosion much more apparent. Marine transgression has continued to happen due to the sea levels rising over the past few decades. Because of that, the Sankaty Lighthouse (as shown in film) was actually relocated back in 2007. Before it was moved, the lighthouse was only 76 feet from the cliff!

Nantucket was also one of the whaling capitals of the world in the early 19th century. As a matter of fact, the Essex ship was launched from this island. The tragedy of the Essex getting sunk by a S***m Whale gave the story called "In the Heart of the Sea." The true story inspired Herman Melville to write his fictional novel titled "Moby Dick."

New post alert! As I begin a voyage to my next adventure, I have recently finished a fulfilling book worth reading. Give...
07/11/2026

New post alert!

As I begin a voyage to my next adventure, I have recently finished a fulfilling book worth reading. Given my admiration for John Muir, I knew that getting my hands on this book was going to be thought provoking. An acquaintance of mine from when I worked at the Brundage Ski Resort in Idaho over the winter gave this book to me as a gift. He said somewhere along the lines, "I feel that you'd appreciate this book because your personality reminds me of John Muir 🙂." It took me nearly five months to read because I chose to take my time with understanding Muir's writing ✍️.

For those not as familiar, John Muir is often a name that comes up on the subject of wildland/wilderness protection in the US and Britain. Muir was born in Dunbar, which is located in Scotland during 1838. Him and his family eventually immigrated to Wisconsin by the time he was in his teens. He grew up in the Montello region and farmed. As he approached into his twenties/thirties, that was when his sauntering days began. He used the term saunter because he chose to take his time during his journeys. Rather than going through a region quickly, he embraced curiosity and moderation.

Muir is often described as one of the few fathers of American conservation and often promoted the ideas of establishing National Parks before the Department of Interior (DOI) didn't even exist yet. His writing combines observation and a sense of inner discovery. The book combines various journals and essays that he wrote himself from his youth as well as his other experiences. Most include his time spent in Florida, Oregon, Washington, the Carolinas, Alaska, and most of all his time in the Yosemite and Sierra Valleys of California. Personally, I really hope that I can experience those regions more in California when the right time comes. I've only gone through Northern California.

The journals do provide a marriage of scientific survey of natural history using lyrical and amusing anecdotes. His writing provides a fresh perspective and honesty that showcases his writing ability. Honestly, even I find myself quite inspired by his way of articulating. The book gives a glimpse of his vision, passion, and generosity.
It cannot be recommended enough 👌

06/29/2026

Video #1 of 1 (6/25/2026):

Howdy! Here's a shorter film from when I spent some time in the backcountry between 6/16 - 6/26. One of the few projects included constructing what is called a turnpike. Such a term refers to using natural materials to prevent erosion and long-term damage to surrounding vegetation.

The premise is to create a raised platform on a section of trail that often experiences flooding/muddy conditions. A turnpike includes retaining walls that use either rocks or native timber. Therefore a drainage ditch is also alongside a turnpike to redirect water flow after a rainy period.

Crush (crushing big rocks into little rocks) found in the hills is then used as a way for water to still percolate. The crush is then topped off with mineral soil, which will also naturally redirect water flow. Nevertheless, it was one of the few projects that I worked on with a crew during a hitch 🤙

P.S. - I also forgot to mention that this is a part of the Appalachian Trail!

06/14/2026

Video #1 of 1 (6/13/2026):

In which, my heart felt rather gratified yesterday. As a long distant memory from 20 years ago, I remember coming here as a kid with my immediate family. While my memory is vague from that time, I did have the recollection of being alongside the Atlantic Ocean. I knew that while I was still in New England, I had to make my return.

Welcome to the Aquinnah Cliffs of Martha's Vineyard in Massachusetts! Aquinnah refers to a name of the nearby village that is associated with the Wampanoag tribe. The legend goes, according to the Wampanoag, that a giant by the name of Moshup resides by the cliffs. He is also believed to have created Noepe (Martha's Vineyard) from his footsteps in the Atlantic. Therefore, the Aquinnah Cliffs remain very sacred to this day. Climbing, walking, or removing material on such cliffs is forbidden 🚫. Though you are allowed to walk on the beach itself. Unfortunately erosion has remained an ongoing issue 😕

Aside from the folklore, the Aquinnah Cliffs are made of a clay material that dates back to the Triassic, Jurassic, and Cretaceous periods. That makes the clay millions of years old along with protected fossils. These layers became exposed after the last Ice Age had occurred. Nevertheless, it felt truly satisfying to come back as an adult in this region 😊

https://vineyardgazette.com/news/2015/06/04/gay-head-cliffs-ancient-glacial-story-retold

https://historyofmassachusetts.org/marthas-vineyard-name/

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