Tipper & Friends.

     

       Music festivals have become a serious thing. What with big name festivals like Bonnaroo, Coachella & Lollapalooza gaining momentum and popularity, hundreds if not thousands of smaller festivals (often playing less 'mainstream' music) have sprouted and grown. Creating mini subcultures, communities, and friendships, while supporting many different types of artists. When I was eighteen I went to a single day of the Forecastle Festival in Louisville KY and when I was twenty I spent two muddy days at Music Midtown (which is no longer around), besides those two experiences i've never really attended a music festival until now. The photographs below depict documentation of the people I met during my time attending Tipper & Friends music festival in the Spirit of Suwanee Music Park.

Grace & Jenn

These two ladies made the best food, gave off the most loving and genuine vibes, welcomed me with open arms & are amazing humans.

A lot of the people I met and camped with lived all of the united states but converged as friends using their common love for music as a medium for friendship. Laughter could be heard, seen and felt wherever I wandered.

Alligator, is fucking adorable and I am happy I was able to capture some of her cute mannerisms. 

This is Papa Bear, he is a talented artist, check him out by clicking here.

Our camping area before it exploded with tents, a geodesic dome and easy ups.

All of the luxuries of car camping neatly packed into my van.

A year ago I was hiking 2,189.2 miles across fourteen states, camping nightly with only the gear and supplies that fit into my 65L backpack. Festival and car camping is so much more luxurious. I laughed to myself every time I looked into my tent and saw an air mattress, cot, rug and plastic storage containers thinking that none of this would fit in a backpack.

Geodesic dome.

This lady right here is such a beautiful human.

Meow.

The morning struggle is real.

Vendors suppling beautiful textiles and tapestries.

Suwanee Music Park is a beautiful natural venue. The trees covered in spanish moss engulfing festival goers in a canopy of green. 

& theres dozens of hammocks set up beyond the sign, damn hippies..

I had a good time Tipper & Friends music festival, I was able to connect with some truly awesome people and Suwanee was a breath taking venue that I would gladly visit again.

IG: @madelineire

Ciao

The mountains call my name.

       After finishing my Appalachian Trail thru hike I was experiencing severe lower back pain that on bad days extended throughout my whole body. Turns out I had some major issues including a Sacroiliac problem and two bulging disks. I did two months of physical therapy with an amazing physical therapist, my Sacroiliac problem is now stabilized and my two bulging disks are still healing. Due to my recovery I wasn't able to maintain the amount of hiking/physical activity that I would've liked to. But I still managed to get outside and maintain my sanity, here are some photographs from the handful of outdoor adventures i've had since arriving back home after summiting mama K. 

Trey Mountain

Elevation 4,430 ft

Trey Mountain is my favorite mountain in North Georgia.

Blue Hole Falls.

Blood Mountain

Elevation 4,458 ft

Yonah Mountain
Elevation 3.166 ft

Yonah Mountain has a lot to offer. The trail leading to the top offers a moderately challenging hike and is littered with climbing & bouldering making it a great spot for hikers and climbers alike.

We went up Yonah the hard way.

Lake Lanier
Slack lining and swimming.

Tallulah Gorge

Clayton, Ga

Ciao & Happy Trails!

I am currently selling prints of my photographs on my ETSY shop.
I am trying to make enough money to purchase a water proof camera backpack in order to keep my gear safe for all of my future adventures. Thank you for your support!

IG: @madelineire

Panther Creek Falls Trail

Panther Creek Falls
Fannin County, GA
3.5 miles to Panther Falls

       It's well into the new year and I must say this year has been a strange one so far. It seems as if everything shifted leaving things scattered, chaotic and in need of growth in order to regain balance. I know i'm not the only one thats felt this shift that happened, many around me, far and near have been experiencing it as well. This escape into the woods helped clear my head, recharge my energy and allowed me time and space to digest the everything thats been happening since the stars and planets came into such a rare alignment earlier this year.

       It had been too long since i'd laid my head down to sleep under the stars whilst listening to natures sweet lullaby. I excitedly packed my smelly backpack and joined some friends for an overnight trip to Panther Creek Falls in North Georgia. The hike in gradually declined, playing peek a boo with Panther Creek, providing a good warm up before it leveled out to a quiet and forgiving trail with a small scramble just before reaching the falls.