My Co-Pilot Sneaky

 

On The Road Again...

Behind the Mask – Our Stories is both a witnessing and a documenting of this unprecedented time. As an Alaskan writer, photographer, artist and adventure traveler, I have been chronicling life during the pandemic since March 2020, capturing images and videos, and collecting stories of everyday people across American and how their lives have been impacted. I believe that sharing our stories keeps us connected by providing a sense of belonging and community, and I believe that documenting this time is extremely important. Behind the Mark melds the two. 

 

During the past year, I have driven more than 10,000 miles, crisscrossing the Northwestern United States and Alaska, capturing photos and videos of people, places, and landscapes, and recording interviews. Now, I am returning to the road with Sneaky, my feline companion, to spend six months driving across the country to complete my documentation of life in the Pacific Northwest, the Southern states, along the East Coast, and through the Midwest, as well as revisiting numerous people and places I previously encountered. My immediate goal is to document everyday life in all 50 states by spring 2022, and my extended goals include creating a coffee table book, a traveling art exhibit, and a documentary film that will showcase these people, these places, and these stories.  Behind the Mask – Our Stories is a project that encourages storytelling, nurtures community and connection, and documents this critical time. 

 

Social Media Links To Behind the Mask:

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Media Stories About Behind the Mask:

Homer artist takes pandemic project on the road

Local goes behind the mask of Americans

Become a Behind the Mask Project Supporter - Go Fund Me

Receive postcards from the road and recognition within this blog, my social media sites and in the book, exhibit and film I'll be creating down the road.

Thank you to these individuals who have already donated to this next phase of documentation - Emily Ward, Janet Higley, Lorraine Stoby, Taz Tally and Terry Talbot. Thank you to TOTE Maritime Alaska for coming on board as my first business/corporate sponsor, providing transport for my car between Anchorage and Tacoma. AND a very special thank you to the following individuals who helped me launch this project one year ago, and keep it and me moving forward -  Barbara Russell Glidden, Bud Johnson, Chet Ross, Chris Long, Deb Williams, Ed and Sara Berg, Emily Ward, Evie Carpenter, Gail Baker, Ginger Drais, Jamie Bauer, Janet Higley, Jon Stoby, Jody Bone, Karri Wickstrom, Linda S. White-Canfield, Lois Lane-Plampin, Lorraine Stoby, Maria Felland, Monica Sallee, Pam Breckenridge, Rika Mouw, Scott Price, Susan Braund, Susan Ford, Taz Tally, Terry Talbot, Tina Day, and several anonymous individuals. 

 

 

Follow My Project on Facebook

Hello out there! With very limited cell service as I drive America's backroads, I am only able to share photos and stories on one social media platform. I hope you will follow along on my Facebook page - Behind the Mask - Our Stories. Once I have more regular access to service, I will catch up and continue to share on this blog. Stay safe out there. Happy holidays. Christina

Arizona bound, but first...

 Arizona bound, but first...

After leaving the beauty and heat of the desert, I found myself exploring a Bristlecone Forest, the greenery a beautiful and stark difference from days of golden, sand-filled landscapes. Heading for Route 50, America's Loneliest Highway, nights fell to just above freezing and the wide open road lulled me continue my backroad meandering. I rarely refer to guidebooks, occasionally use printed maps, but more often than not, just follow my nose and instincts and I love coming across treasures, like Cathedral Gorge, miles and miles of pink and orange rock resembling sculpted, melted icing. And later, looking for a spot to camp out for the night, finding shade by a sweet juniper tree next to a highway sign reading, Extraterrestrial Highway. Realizing then my proximity to Area 51 as well as the town, Rachel whose claim to fame is the Ale'Inn and all things alien, how could I resist?

Waking at 6:30 to first light, I headed off down the bumpy, dusty road, 46 miles to alien-themed fun the sign promises. I am a bit embarrassed to admit how excited I was about all of this. While natural wonders are well, wonderful, I'm also a big fan of weird, dorky, off the beaten path things, places and people. Testing my brakes when I took a corner and saw a signpost for the Area 51 Alien Research Center started off my morning adventure and as I continued the highway on and on and on towards alienville, I found myself laughing, surmising if the donkeys in the fields were really donkeys, or aliens in disguise. It doesn't take much to get the imagination going when you're out on the road all by yourself. The AleInn was well worth the journey, not only for immersing myself in an environment of whacky silliness, with 23 individuals coming in and out for the hour I was there, asking questions about Area 51, alien sightings and buying chotchkes, from alien Christmas stockings to bumper stickers, shot glasses and t-shirts, but I also struck up a conversation with a couple from Utah who shared the stories of their ongoing recovery from having been diagnosed with Covid back in April, the first individuals I've ever met who tested positive. They are gracious and kind, funny and willing to answer my many questions, for which I'm very grateful for many reasons.

Leaving this fun area behind, I make my way back the way I came that morning and prepare to leave the backroads and hit the highway, returning to Las Vegas to pick up the boxes I mailed to myself from home and that didn't arrive before I headed off. Anyone who knows me will not be surprised to know that the two boxes contained painted rocks from members of Homer Rocks, that I'll be hiding and gifting throughout my trip. 150 painted rocks to be exact! And, I got to see my friend Karri again and meet two of her coworkers, dressed as Superheros for Halloween, including one who shared her story of her own journey recovering from Covid.

And so, going into week two, I continue to bump into beautiful and interesting sights and beautiful and interesting people. I've been delighted to see most everyone wearing masks here in Nevada, and am curious about mask mandates in Arizona, where I'm heading next to explore historic Route 66, other backroads and finally, at 51, visit the Grand Canyon. After reorganizing my van several times, I finally figured out my favorite sleeping spot to tuck in and listen - to the wind-rustled leaves when I'm camped in a forest, coyotes howling and owls hooting when I'm parked deep off the road and people murmuring when I'm nestled among others in a campground. Even the night I slept at a truckstop, listening to the engines purring dusk to dawn was lovely in its own way, reminding me that while I'm on this trip alone, I'm not alone out here. 

Hugs from the highway. Stay safe out there! 

Death Valley - Incredibly beautiful, incredibly hot

 Death Valley, Nevada - Incredibly beautiful, incredibly diverse, incredibly hot...

Three fantastic days in no cell signal range, in awe of the views, and in search of shade (no luck there) - exploring fascinating ghost towns and incredibly creative outdoor art exhibits, sweating along winding hiking trails with fantastic panoramic views, driving switchbacking, straight-as-an-arrow cutting across the landscape, scenic and, for one 20-mile stretch, white-knuckled, cliff-edged roads, noodling amongst colorful and the definition of majestic mountainscapes, walking the salt flats at the lowest place in the Western Hemisphere, watching the sun rise and set on spectacular sand dunes, and meeting interesting locals and other travelers, all with intriguing stories, pandemic-related and otherwise.

On day one, I was reminded to mind the direction of the wind when peeing outdoors. On day two, I discovered that what I thought was a trapped fly buzzing inside a cupboard in my van was actually the sound of the little fridge recharging. On day three, I finally figured out how to recline my driver's seat and discovered some really neat features about my van, like the tires all have auto sensors that read air inflation levels and the brakes have a setting for grade control, coming in very handy on some of the steep roads! On day four, I bid farewell to this incredibly beautiful, incredibly diverse and incredibly hot place, and began making my way north to another dream destination - Route 50, America's Loneliest Highway. From 96 degrees and waiting for midnight to at long last have it be cool enough to fall asleep, to a forecasted 36 degrees, I'm happy I purchased the winter camping pack with my van rental, which includes a hot water bottle and two extra sleeping bags! 

I feel blessed to be out here, grateful to feel safe traveling on my own and in this way, and overjoyed at being able to interact with others. Everywhere I go, most people are wearing masks, even outdoors on trails and wide open spaces, and every small business, gas station and store I've been in are requiring them, although like in Homer, not actively enforcing that. 

The people I met during my time in the desert include Tyler from Fairbanks on a trip to visit a friend in California and see a part of the country he's never explored; George, a retired school teacher in her 60's revisiting her former nomadic lifestyle; Jason, a functional art artist from Las Vegas who moved from the city to the small town where his mom lives, and built and operates a shaved ice in the summer/coffee stand in the fall/winter to make ends meet until he can return to his art; Darren and Lindsey, a couple who met in and work year round in Yosemite, he for 24 seasons and her for 13 and who spend their downtime wandering about in a 1982 VW van with their two dogs, and Charlie, 81 who walks three miles a day, twice a day, around his hometown, is excited to vote for Trump again on election day, and loves to play pranks on local youth. 

Thank you to each of my project supporters who have made donations through my Go Fund Me and to me directly, and/or in-kind support! I couldn't be out here without your encouragement in so many ways! Chris Long, Ed and Sara Berg, Emily Ward, Janet Higley, Karri Wickstrom, Linda S. White-Canfield, Lorraine Stoby, Monica Sallee, Pam Breckenridge, Rika Mouw, Susan Braund, Taz Tally, Terry Talbot, Tina Day, and two Anonymous individuals. Thank you all!

Later Las Vegas, Hello Big Dune!

After relaxing and exploring the Las Vegas area with a friend for two days, I picked up my van this morning, heading for Death Valley. I didn't make it far along the wide open road, after shopping for groceries, snacks and supplies (aka: hand sanitizer), only about 70 miles, when I was distracted by a road sign that read, Big Dune! Nearing sunset and with my awesome home away from home van that is spectacular in nearly every way except that I can't take it off road, I am camped nearby with a front seat view, literally, watching the sky meld from blue to pink to red to orange to grey. Tomorrow morning, I'll wake early and make the walk in for sunrise. Or I'll sleep in and enjoy the view from my campchair. Either way, there's so much to see out in this vast expanse of landscape!

Dark now at 8pm, and finally cooling from 92 degrees to 79, I'm nesting, putting this here and that there, and preparing my first dinner in the desert - fruit salad and a pb and j sandwich. Kneading a twinge of homesickness that's been growing all day, twisting deep inside my chest, I finally give space to let my tears fall, acknowledging my feelings of loneliness, nervousness, and gratitude. My mom, who lives in Alberta, sent a package to me via my friend in Vegas and I just now opened it up to find some of my favorite Canadian candies, which I will be sharing with my sister and niece and nephew in Colorado, as well as a colorful array of hand knit hats, washcloths and socks, to be given to people I meet along the way. What a fun and thoughtful gift! Thanks mom! Between these, the nearly 15 pounds of painted rocks given to be by my Homer rocks friends, and the dozens of facemasks Karri made, I have oodles of thank you's to give out as I meander my way, collecting stories and memories and hopefully, making new friends! Grateful to be out here! 

And So It Begins...

And so it begins - taking my documentary project Behind the Mask - Our Stories on the road! Follow here for stories, photos and audio and video clips of the people and places I encounter!

Vegas Baby! After a beautiful fall drive to Anchorage and time with my friend, Tina Day, I flew into Vegas on Tuesday, greeted by another friend, Karri Wickstrom and 90 degrees! We spent two days hanging out and exploring the area, and now this morning, I pick up my camper van, my home away from home for the next two months, and hit the highway!

Exhausted from the long drive to Anchorage, getting just a few hours of sleep before catching my 6am flight out, and the stress of flying during Covid-19, it took a bit for me to shake off the ickies and start reaching out to strangers, asking if I could take their photos and hear stories, but once I got going, I was all in, making connections! Coming from a small town Homer, Alaska, Las Vegas is almost other worldly! Only my second time here, it's not difficult to connect with people, even during a pandemic, even in a large city. You just have to be willing to be open, vulnerable and interested in others. I believe that all stories are important, that all stories matter, and that we all deserve to be heard.

I'm excited and nervous to embark on this documentary project, out here in the big, wild, Lower 48 world, and here I go.

If you'd like to receive personalized emails with photos and stories before they're posted, as well as postcards from the road, and to be recognized in the coffee table book and traveling exhibit I'll be creating from this project, come along for the ride as a project supporter, gofundme.com/f/behind-the-mask-our-stories. A big thank you to each of these individuals for participating in this way - Chris Long, Ed and Sara Berg, Emily Ward, Janet Higley, Karri Wickstrom, Lorraine Stoby, Rika Mouw, Susan Braund, Taz Tally, Terry Talbot, Tina Day and two Anonymous individuals.

Care to share your story with me? Catch me at 907-435-7969 and behindthemaskourstories@gmail.com or post at Behind the Mask - Our Stories on Facebook. Stay safe out there!