Kelly took my picture at the Southern Terminus of the Bruce Trail in Queenston. She laughed as she watched me start my grand adventure in a well manicured park. I walked across the green lawn that appeared to go on forever. As I turned back to wave, she had already turned to go. Kelly’s not one to drag out a long goodbye.
I enjoy documenting life experiences through photographs. My previous outdoor adventures were made with friends, students, or family so I always had a cast of characters to photograph in my effort to tell the stories. This time, I was going to thruhike (hike the trail from end to end in one go) the Bruce Trail alone and if I wanted to take more than landscapes and selfies, I would have to approach strangers I met along the way. And that’s what I did.
I have no problem striking up a conversation with strangers in almost any situation, but asking to take their portraits was a new challenge. I would start a conversation with a question or two and let them lead where they may. When and if the peperson learned of my thruhike, they were usually pretty interested. I would then ask if I could take their portrait. Surprising to me, many people also asked if they could take my photo. Many conversations never got far enough for me to even ask comfortably. Portraits alone, with no sense of whom I was shooting, didn’t interest me.
I didn’t meet many people on my first few days, but luckily, those I did meet, were friendly and willing to have their portraits taken. I found runners would wave, but rarely stop and speak; dog walkers were willing to chat when I engaged their dogs; day hikers most often stopped to compare distances and routes being covered; and thruhikers greeted me like a long lost relative. Weekends were most productive for portrait taking while early weekdays were quiet.
In reflecting on my hike over the eight months that have passed, I’ve come to realize that those who have not experienced a hike like this usually ask about the physical trail, weather, and logistics. I find myself, however, reflecting on the people I met along the way. Even though I set out alone, I couldn’t have completed it alone. People graciously filled my water bottles when I knocked at their doors. Friends, relatives, and friends of friends gave me transportation, shelter, and warm meals. My memories of the people I met are intertwined with my memories of the landscape. The Beaver Valley, for example, is a beautiful area that I hiked with the aid of Ron Hunt, a friend that arranged accommodations and shuttles for nearly half my hike. I can still see the spots we met for lunch and remember the conversations we had. They are good memories. I don’t remember the place names nearly so well. Elina Osborne, a New Zealand filmmaker who thruhiked the Pacific Crest Trail in 2019, titled her thruhike film “It Is The People”. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hiVbB7Pf2lY I whole heartedly agree with her message that the people make the experience.
I will post regular blog entries with portraits from my hike. With each portrait, I will include a description introducing the subject of the portrait, the location of the portrait, and some insight into my journey the hike at that point in time.
Jamie