Its Never A Bad Idea To Pick Up A Hitch Hiker

This is Mike. He was walking the long Colorado country roads waiting for some kind soul to pick him up. Adam and I were those kind souls, and Mike was stoked out of his mind.

"I came here to Telluride for a girl. Things were going great until her husband found out..."

Way to go Mikey!!! Goin after those married women.

Today while I was purchasing two cold bottled classic cokes for the road Adam headed out to the car and heard someone yell his name. He looked, and to his surprise it was Mike, 4 days later, strolling around with his one and only girlfriend. He couldn't have been more happy to see Adam.

Its never a bad idea to pick up hitch-hiker. For those of us that have actually thumbed our way, we know just how great it feels when someone finally stops and picks you up! (I recently hitch-hiked up to Jackson Wyoming after a great trip to the wind rivers).

Nate Sorensen

Bucket List

Nate and I have both had a few life changing experiences in our short twenty somewhat years on this planet where we have made a few realizations. Life is short. Everyday is truly a gift from god, something that should be cherished and used to the fullest. We have started compiling a bucket list, with a few items we want to shred in life.

1. Conquer cancer
2. Live in new zealand
3. Ride across south America
4. Throw a legit bloc party
5. Go base jumping
6. Go on a mission
7. Get on stage at a concert**
8. Be a crossing guard
9. Throw a surprise party
10. Fall in love and get married
11. Win a radio giveaway
12. Learn to play the harmonica** (y I'm in lessons right now)
13. Outbike a bike cop
14. Rv across America
15. Ride an endure through the baja
16. Go to a daft punk concert
17. Go to the jelly belly factory
18. Write a book with nathan sorenson
19. Boost the wake on a wake board naked
20. Scream at the top of my lungs
21.Participate in la tomatina (big food fight in the streets of Spain)
22. Get in the guiness book of world records for something
23. Create my own fake I.d**
24. get into a concert with my fake Id**
25. see Talib Kweli live**
26. Go to burning man
27. Sleep overnight in a haunted house
28. Pay for someones groceries
29. Get a date with the girl of my dreams
30. Be part of a riot or protest
31. Lead a parade
32. Approach the most beautiful girl I have ever seen and kiss her
33.start the wave or a chant at a massive event
34. Sing the national anthem at a major event

Nates Additions
get a song on the radio top 20 yeee
go to lunch with talib kweli
meet wyclef jean again
chill with KRS one once
travel to and take an epic photo on all 7 continents
learn chinese
return to praguay and send off some missionaries
marry a gorgeous mellow chic in the temple
learn to surf
go on a mountain man adventure wuth my uncle scott the mountain man
take photos at an x games
at an olympics
meet travis pastrana
sing national anthem at a big event
write our book
go on a trip with a semi truck driver
etc and all your stuff

hella stoked to be vlogging

tester

A soul memory and another defining moment

For the past week I have been on yet another great adventure in Telluride Colorado working with Adam Barker and helping out as he instructed 7 diverse people in an epic photography workshop. I learned more in the last three days than I would have in a semester of study at the University. And thus it is when we travel, experience, and observe. It was a hectic few days as we were completely immersed in instructing the participants and exploring over 200 miles of terrain in the Subaru in search for great shooting locations. We have done 4 sunrises and sunsets in a row, making an early rising at 5am each day. When passion is involved, our bodies and minds are capable of reaching heights that the un-passionate soul simply cannot reach.

Today we wrapped up the workshop on a great note, and walked away stoked from a job well done and ready for more adventure and rest(though we never get around to resting). My good brother Garett Smith(who was killed lastMarch in an avalanche) was present in my thoughts throughout the entire day. He is an inspiration, the father of my photographic pursuits, my greatest mentor. Through Garrett and his sweet wife Molly I have known Adam and many others to whom I owe the world. Adam and I took off this afternoon stoked to have some quiet sunset shooting. We scouted out some locations and rallied the Subaru on the winding dirt roads, until last minute decided to cruise over to the Dallas Divide, an iconic yet beautiful landscape where we would capture the sunset.

We arrived a few minutes later than we wanted, but we weren't too late. The sun was making its way west beyond the horizon, and the last light of the evening was reflecting off the tall, majestic mountains to the south-east. As I gazed over the landscape I began to have flashbacks of a trip I took with my family as a young child through this part of the country. I distinctly remembered driving this road with Dad behind the wheel as the grand scenery surrounding my small body showing me how big this world really is. I remember a feeling, maybe more than visual memories, of the spirit that was released from the mountains and in to my soul, planting a seed of adventure, exploration, outdoors, passion, and appreciation for this wonderful life.

I felt those same feelings this evening as I now years later, through the mysterious ways of God, have returned to this land to capture images and share yet another precious moment with those who have gone before me.

Nate Sorensen

I Think I'd Rather Be a Cowboy

As I sit here in my loft at the lodge in Telluride Colorado I am inspired by the epic lyrics from John Denver's I Think I'd Rather Be A Cowboy. Believe it or not this song portrays a great life lesson for all of us when it comes to relationships, or would I dare say love?

I have found myself thinking about this topic a lot recently as I have had to sift out a number of feelings in my heart in pursuit of a young lady, and leave one behind. There are a few verses in this song that help us understand that though there are often good vibes and feelings of love between a man and a women, it is not always the right time for the two to come together. In this verse John describes this dilemma well: "We were just beginning, it was such an easy way, layin back up in the mountains makin songs for summer days. She got tired of pickin daisies, and cookin my meals for me, she can live the life she wants to, yes, it's alright with me." Haven't we all felt this at some point? Where either we were tired of picking daisies, or letting a loved on take off on their own path of interest? In the past few months I have experienced both sides. I have left a great gal behind in pursuit of other interests, and I am currently watching the other take off on her own highway of discovery and interest. In both situations we feel anxiety of the "what ifs" and unknowns. But in the end, we cannot change the course of the wind, we can only adjust our sails. In John's next verse he describes these feelings: "Oh but I miss her in the morning, when I wake alone. The absence of her laughter is a cold and empty sound. But her memory always makes me smile, and I want you to know, I love her, yes, I love her, just enough to let her go."

I am grateful for the memories I have out under the stars, laughing and enjoying life with Her, and thats the only thing I can walk away with. I care about her, yes, enough to let her go. I could go after her, I could follow her every footstep and attempt a rescue mission, but it would be to no avail. I think I'd rather be a cowboy, live MY life, go after my dreams, and when the time comes to share this adventure with another great young lady, well, I'll be stoked to share some beautiful moments with her as well.

Nate Sorensen

So Far Gone

I have been inspired recently by the latest high-adventure snowboard film The Art Of Flight featuring pro rider Travis Rice. The entire film was captivating and brought snowboarding and film making to a new level. In the film Travis says: "You know its funny what is happening to us. Our lives have become digital. Our friend is now virtual. And everything you could want to know is just a click away. Experiencing the world through endless second hand information isn't enough. If we want authenticity, we have to initiate it." This thought has been running through my mind since I first heard it, and it has stirred up anxiety both in my soul and creative mind. We live in a world filled with information, technologies, and opportunities available to the masses, and so who are we to create anything original or authentic? This is my journey, to create, produce, find, present, and share authenticity through photography and film. Is it an overwhelming thought? Yes. Will I be successful in this journey? Only God knows, and whether I make it big, or fail trying, I am stoked to embark on this journey through the next phase of creativity and life.

Nate Sorensen

Lame dance, nice hit to the face