Faroes-wildly beautiful, wandering alone, windswept...

Faroes-wildly beautiful, wandering alone, windswept thoughts

  • Mar 26, 2017
  • 721 Views
  • 7 Photos
  1. blissfulwanderlust's Gallery
  2. blissfulwanderlust's Photoblog
  3. Faroes-wildly beautiful, wandering alone, windswept thoughtsFaroes-wildly beautiful, wandering alone, windswept thoughts
SlickPic.com
Faroes-wildly beautiful, wandering alone, windswept thoughts

No sheep on the mountainside today. I was alone, with only the weather and it's unpredictability and the occasional ray of sunshine, which was a welcome relief to snow, hail, rain, wind and any other kind of weather one can experience... I spent most of the day trying to take in as much sunshine as humanly possible. And you guessed it, as soon as I came off the mountain, the storm rolled in. The beauty of being on top of the world, is that you can see weather approaching...for this, I was grateful. I was not scared hiking today, the winds were calm, and even though I was still on the side of a cliff, I was happy and content. No fear until the snow and driving collided as one. Down switchbacks I went, over a pass, with limited guardrails...and after a few unanswered texts that I sent to a friend for comfort, I continued onward and downward on my own...as the snow continued to fall, I tried to connect to my surroundings. They were raw, ready for anything, and strong. I took their advice and found myself at sea level safe and sound...full of gratitude.

Mar 26, 2017
No sheep on the mountainside today. I was alone, with only the weather and it's unpredictability and the occasional ray of sunshine, which was a welcome relief to snow, hail, rain, wind and any other kind of weather one can experience... I spent most of the day trying to take in as much sunshine as humanly possible. And you guessed it, as soon as I came off the mountain, the storm rolled in. The beauty of being on top of the world, is that you can see weather approaching...for this, I was grateful. I was not scared hiking today, the winds were calm, and even though I was still on the side of a cliff, I was happy and content. No fear until the snow and driving collided as one. Down switchbacks I went, over a pass, with limited guardrails...and after a few unanswered texts that I sent to a friend for comfort, I continued onward and downward on my own...as the snow continued to fall, I tried to connect to my surroundings. They were raw, ready for anything, and strong. I took their advice and found myself at sea level safe and sound...full of gratitude.
There are no trails in the Faroes, only the ones carved into the mountainside by sheep. I am not used to hiking without a trail, or signs at every intersect and/or markers to show the way. All I had was snow covered rocks, a really steep hill to climb, and an unknown view to anticipate from the top. As I crested the peak I was presented with this view, ever changing as it is depending on the winds and weather, but here is what it presented to me. I couldn't get my camera out fast enough. I knew the sun was going to disappear sooner rather than later. The winds picked up, and my fingers began to freeze as I was finding the setting I wanted to capture this raw beauty of a landscape. 
Faroe Islands

There are no trails in the Faroes, only the ones carved into the mountainside by sheep. I am not used to hiking without a trail, or signs at every intersect and/or markers to show the way. All I had was snow covered rocks, a really steep hill to climb, and an unknown view to anticipate from the top. As I crested the peak I was presented with this view, ever changing as it is depending on the winds and weather, but here is what it presented to me. I couldn't get my camera out fast enough. I knew the sun was going to disappear sooner rather than later. The winds picked up, and my fingers began to freeze as I was finding the setting I wanted to capture this raw beauty of a landscape. 

Mar 26, 2017
SlickPic.com
Faroe Islands Capture Date: Jan 1, 2017 12:27 PM
Camera:SONY ILCE-5100ISO Speed:100Exposure:1/100 secAperture:f / 9.0Focal Length:30 mmFlash:Did not Fire
Show Photo Info

Close

My biggest compliment has come from this photo, by an 8 year old...he told his mom, "This picture is photoshopped." Kenyon, thank you my friend...and, there was no editing at all done to it.
This photo is one of my favorites. I like the light, and the warmth of the photo. 
DSC09370

This photo is one of my favorites. I like the light, and the warmth of the photo. 

Mar 26, 2017
SlickPic.com
DSC09370 Capture Date: Jan 1, 2017 12:26 PM
Camera:SONY ILCE-5100ISO Speed:100Exposure:1/100 secAperture:f / 9.0Focal Length:30 mmFlash:Did not Fire
Show Photo Info

Close

Same photo as the one above, but the light has changed. The warmth is gone and this picture represents more of what I felt on my body...icy, chill, frozen, windswept and raw.
Gjorjv

Same photo as the one above, but the light has changed. The warmth is gone and this picture represents more of what I felt on my body...icy, chill, frozen, windswept and raw.

Mar 26, 2017
SlickPic.com
Gjorjv Capture Date: Jan 1, 2017 12:28 PM
Camera:SONY ILCE-5100ISO Speed:100Exposure:1/100 secAperture:f / 9.0Focal Length:30 mmFlash:Did not Fire
Show Photo Info

Close

After my first hike, I spent a few moments warming up in the car with a cup of hot tea, contemplating whether or not I should get out in the cold to trek up the other side of the valley. The wind had died down, and with only a few clouds in the sky,  I felt confident that walking along a ridge would be safe. I went for it. I was chilly when I first stepped out of the car, but not too soon after, I warmed right up. I followed the sheep fence up along the ridge line, one because the fence worked as a tripod (see photo below), and two, I could use it to hold on to, if a strong wind came my way...
DSC09390

After my first hike, I spent a few moments warming up in the car with a cup of hot tea, contemplating whether or not I should get out in the cold to trek up the other side of the valley. The wind had died down, and with only a few clouds in the sky,  I felt confident that walking along a ridge would be safe. I went for it. I was chilly when I first stepped out of the car, but not too soon after, I warmed right up. I followed the sheep fence up along the ridge line, one because the fence worked as a tripod (see photo below), and two, I could use it to hold on to, if a strong wind came my way...

Mar 26, 2017
SlickPic.com
DSC09390 Capture Date: Jan 1, 2017 12:29 PM
Camera:SONY ILCE-5100ISO Speed:100Exposure:1/100 secAperture:f / 8.0Focal Length:30 mmFlash:Did not Fire
Show Photo Info

Close

There's the ridge line...up to the first cluster of rocks I went. Stumbled my way around figuring out where I wanted to go, feeling like a trespasser, or maybe just a tourist. There were no sheep to greet me at the gate looking for food, no trailhead to direct me onward, just a vast open wild landscape all for me. I couldn't help but feel giddy. At one point, I started to just run and jump and say, "Seriously!? Is this for real?" without a care in the world, I continued upward along the sheep fence. With no cell phone to check, no backpack to carry...just me, alone, in the world. I was grateful and for the first time, in a long while, I felt alive. 
DSC09392

There's the ridge line...up to the first cluster of rocks I went. Stumbled my way around figuring out where I wanted to go, feeling like a trespasser, or maybe just a tourist. There were no sheep to greet me at the gate looking for food, no trailhead to direct me onward, just a vast open wild landscape all for me. I couldn't help but feel giddy. At one point, I started to just run and jump and say, "Seriously!? Is this for real?" without a care in the world, I continued upward along the sheep fence. With no cell phone to check, no backpack to carry...just me, alone, in the world. I was grateful and for the first time, in a long while, I felt alive. 

Mar 26, 2017
SlickPic.com
DSC09392 Capture Date: Jan 1, 2017 12:31 PM
Camera:SONY ILCE-5100ISO Speed:100Exposure:1/200 secAperture:f / 6.3Focal Length:30 mmFlash:Did not Fire
Show Photo Info

Close

At this point in my hike, I had realized that I had never hiked alone before. What a realization...I had been hiking for the last 10 years, and I had never gone on a hike alone. I smiled. I was happy that I could move at my own pace, without feeling like I had to wait or keep up. I was happy to stop and take all the photos I wanted without the fear of disappointing anyone. I was happy alone. For the first time in my life. I was alone. I was content. I could breathe and feel and love me. This is a moment, that I will always remember.
DSC09406

At this point in my hike, I had realized that I had never hiked alone before. What a realization...I had been hiking for the last 10 years, and I had never gone on a hike alone. I smiled. I was happy that I could move at my own pace, without feeling like I had to wait or keep up. I was happy to stop and take all the photos I wanted without the fear of disappointing anyone. I was happy alone. For the first time in my life. I was alone. I was content. I could breathe and feel and love me. This is a moment, that I will always remember.

Mar 26, 2017
SlickPic.com
DSC09406 Capture Date: Jan 1, 2017 12:32 PM
Camera:SONY ILCE-5100ISO Speed:100Exposure:1/100 secAperture:f / 9.0Focal Length:30 mmFlash:Did not Fire
Show Photo Info

Close

I could feel a shift happening. The winds were changing...I decided to head back down, but before I did, the sun peaked through the clouds to remind me to stop, enjoy the moment, capture it, look around, breathe deeply and continue moving forward, which doesn't always mean up, but it means in whatever direction you need to move to get where you are going. Which is exactly what I did. 
DSC09414

I could feel a shift happening. The winds were changing...I decided to head back down, but before I did, the sun peaked through the clouds to remind me to stop, enjoy the moment, capture it, look around, breathe deeply and continue moving forward, which doesn't always mean up, but it means in whatever direction you need to move to get where you are going. Which is exactly what I did. 

Mar 26, 2017
SlickPic.com
DSC09414 Capture Date: Jan 1, 2017 12:32 PM
Camera:SONY ILCE-5100ISO Speed:100Exposure:1/125 secAperture:f / 11.0Focal Length:30 mmFlash:Did not Fire
Show Photo Info

Close

Back
No comments yet.
Comments

All fields are required.

Comment successfully added.

Prev Next
Scroll To Top

Audio Mute
Prev
Play
Next
Shuffle
Include
Privacy and cookie policy
This site uses cookies to enhance your browsing experience, serve personalized content, and analyze traffic. By continuing to use this site you agree to use of cookies and stewardship of your data.