You’re here early! Very kind. Although it’s a little sparse, you can expect it to become more populated over time. Reversed has a couple goals. Some near term, while others longer-term.
Reversed aspires to generate connections, drawing inspiration from a variety of sources. Given its nascent stage, we can establish a rough position by listing some of these sources and discussing their influence.
Prolific trip reporters, including these individuals:
- Bob Burd from Snwburd has been chronicling his adventures for decades through a combination of casual photos and in-depth writing. As of this writing, his account features 8,417 unique summits documented in 2,789 individual reports.
- Andy Lewicky of SierraDescents has, for many years, been capturing lesser-known backcountry ski objectives using written descriptions, raw video footage, and edited short films.
- Sean O’Rourke from Dr. Dirtbag focuses on "alpinism done fast, light, and cheap." Identifying himself as a "peak-bagger, trail-runner, and climber (in that order)," he has been sharing his trip experiences for over a decade.
These resources serve not only as sources of entertainment, allowing us to momentarily immerse ourselves in these locations when we are elsewhere, but they also offer valuable information about lesser-known destinations. In doing so, they contribute to a shared pool of knowledge for the benefit of the community.
Individuals who uncover and showcase their unique perspectives through various practices include:
- Geoff Manaugh of BLDGBLOG, a consistent favorite for over a decade. Its goal is to “explore topics related to architecture and the built environment through a lens of technology, literature, crime, history, archaeology, acoustics, science fiction, subterranean space, warfare, the planetary sciences, and more.” BLDGBLOG's speculative and whimsical approach to the environment complements the more athletically focused content in the list so far. I had the pleasure of collaborating with Geoff on Venue, a project that rhymes with Reversed.
- Kirsten Dirksen of Fair Companies produces “videos about simple living, self-sufficiency, small (and tiny) homes, backyard gardens (and livestock), alternative transport, DIY, craftsmanship, and philosophies of life.”
- John McPhee, an accomplished author whose Pulitzer-winning Annals of a Former World uncovers deep geological history by following a group of geographers. McPhee makes the often dense scientific content accessible through engaging narrative storytelling.
Reversed aspires to be an arrow that points, amplifying voices by identifying shared values and raising awareness for activist causes. Specific to the Eastern Sierra, some of these initiatives include:
- Indigenous Women Hike, a project that highlights both the history of the Eastern Sierra and the systemic erasure of its original inhabitants, while also providing opportunities for the descendants of those inhabitants to reconnect with the land.
- No Hot Creek Mine, an organization focused on raising awareness and mobilizing efforts to prevent the establishment of an open-pit, cyanide heap leach mine, thereby protecting the fragile headwaters of the Owens and adjacent ecosystems, as well as supporting local small-town economies.
- Keep Long Valley Green, a group that seeks to collaborate with the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, which has historically diverted vast amounts of water from the local environment. Their goal is to secure a binding yearly water supply for Long Valley and Little Round Valley.
Reversed seeks to delve into both familiar and emerging formats, spanning short-form videos to long-form writing. The landscape of publishing is constantly evolving, as are the methods for funding and maintaining creative publishing practices—another aspect that sparks interest.
It’s with great excitement Reversed soft launches. To stay informed, subscribe to the newsletter and follow on Instagram. Perhaps now would be a good time to set aside your device for a while and enjoy a short walk?
