Several years ago I decided to make a longtime dream a reality, and began to plan a hike of the lower third of the Appalachian Trail (the trail extends 2100 miles from Georgia to Maine). I bought a Nikon SLR, some hiking gear, and headed off for a long walk. As I made my way over 700 miles of incredibly beautiful terrain, I realized how Nature can be both simple and intricate, delicate and unbreakable. Upon returning home I began studying photography more seriously. In my photographs I try to communicate both the ruggedness and the fragility of the natural world, with the hope that my work will bring new perspectives into the lives of others.