Into The Woods

Words: By Yours Truly, Adam Jeffery

Photos: My Yellow Fellow and My Tripod, Trippy

Into the woods, over branches and across fallen leaves; on top of rocks; underneath rotten logs; trek two miles of even and untrodden paths to take in a view granted only to those who managed to reach the summit. A couple days ago my friend and I had decided to take a break from the city life and head to the hills…in Maine, USA. After having a fresh steamed lobster dinner by the wharf in Portland (Maine not Oregon) - and gelato to wash that creamy lobster down - upon arrival we prepped ourselves for the hike with a good night rest and drove westward the following day to Bald Mountain.

The path began with a small clearing beside the road at the base of the mountain and there to greet us was a guidepost mapping the routes toward the summit. After climbing up and down I will say that the map didn't do us much good considering how we did lose our way on more than one occasion. In any case, I was excited. Enthralled with the foreign idea of “exercise” and the chance to reconnect with Mother Nature again. It is imperative you understand how unfit I am. I’ve not been in a gym or yoga studio for about two years now (a tad bit more with the gym) and the only hike I’ve done recently is through the “concrete jungle where dreams are made” and a hill for me is climbing the mall escalators (and the occasional staircase or two) of Boston and beyond. Just so you know how insane I was at the time to hike a mountain at the spur of the moment after years of physical neglect.

Between living in Waltham, a quaint little town 15 minutes away from the city of Boston, for 3.5 years and living in Boston for only 8 months I will say that I’d much rather live in the city where the happenings are happening. That being said, both the town and the city, with its man-made shelters of wood and brick, artificial light, vehicular smog and pollution, and just the hustle and bustle of civilization can be be taxing to the body and stressful for the mind (and a big no-no for the health of your skin). While we network and make our riches in the city there is something more fulfilling in reconnecting with the very earth that supports us and the trees that give us so much. A sense of adventure and curiosity overwhelms you as you go about discovering the plants showered in sunlight, the creepy crawlies on the shaded forest floors, the birds in the trees, the sound of the babbling brook as it trickles down slowly over wet stone and drenched moss.

Despite extending the hike due to the occasional pitstops to take in the scenery, shoot nature in my very chic hiker outfit (but with each stop our muscles slowly gave out on us), we pressed onwards in the hope of seeing that assumed breath-taking view on top of the summit with a big sigh of relief and accomplishment!

I don’t know if it was the cleaner air, the silence of the forest, or the isolation we felt being the only two hikers within an earshot but the entire experiences felt good darn it! To those city-dwellers, couch potatoes, and the sweat-adverse I recommend a trip to the hills to enjoy the forest, the loneliness of your existence (or the company of your love ones…in this case, a dear friend), the sound of silence, and the embrace of Mother Nature.

Hiking Would Have Been Scary Without You.

Ball and Buck

Ah~ I almost forgot that this is a life+style blog so it only makes sense that I live life stylishly, non? With that in mind, I went to Ball and Buckfor my hiking outfit. I know what you’re thinking, “Adam! You’re going to hike in that? You know you’re going to sweat right?” (a direct quote from my hiking buddy). To that I say, “It doesn’t matter when or where I will always dress appropriately but with style.” Despite how dainty the shorts look it remained practically clean after all that hiking about, sitting on mossy rocks, and tumbling down here and there. The shirt was also quite breathable and I did not drown in my sweat.

I’ve walked past their store on Newbury Street plenty of time but never really got a chance to look through…that is, until now (with the hiking experience in mind). Ball and Buck is a very “typical” American brand (and it’s made in USA!) that showcases menswear with a focus on the outdoors with that hunter/gatherer feel to it. They have shorts, jeans, khakis, shirts and t-shirts, amongst many others, that can be used for an outdoor adventure in the forest, to the beach, or even the cityscape. Some of its clothes can be styled for that preppy college look that is so Boston or it can be used to turn a dude to a man that exudes a kind of lumberjack feel without having the need to look like you live in the forest chopping trees for a living or requiring those big forearms and rugged beards that have come to characterize the men who live in the Great Outdoors.

Shirt: The Angler's Shirt, Bluegill Plaid by Ball and Buck; Shorts: The 6 Point Short, Chambray by Ball and Buck; Shoes: Boots by Ralph Lauren; Socks: Goo Socks in Red, White and Blue Drippy Patterns by Happy Socks.