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Urban Nomad Booklet

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    UR

    BANNOMAD

    URBANNOMAD

    hike

    thecity.

    hike

    thecity.

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    BANNOMAD

    This project is an attempt to reconcile my dierences with the urban environment. It is based on a journey taken

    in the summer o 2010 in Washington D.C. A walk: rom the northern most point o the district to the southern

    tip. Twelve miles, one day. In order to experience the entirety o what is the District o Columbia, the planned

    route wound through a diverse cluster o neighborhoods: rich, poor, sae, sketchy, urban, green, touristy, almost

    orgotten, historic, colorul and bland.

    The journey was based on the idea o hiking, something I miss every day. It was an attempt to pry my mind

    away rom the notion that a hike is not limited to a place covered in trees, ar removed rom society, but that

    it can be anywhere.

    What came to be was a guide to urban hiking. An examination o the act o wandering the urban landscape,

    rom the planning stages to the completion and celebration o the trek.

    This is or all who live in the city but have let their hearts in wide open spaces.

    artist statement.

    I dont like the city.

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    Humans have always had the urge to explore uncharted territory, to go out intothe woods, to get dirty, to live under the sun, to be sel reliant. But we also havethe need or human contact, or community, or social and amily structures.People come to the city or many dierent reasons, be it school, money, amilyor anything else. Once there, its easy to get stuck, among the noise, in a placewhere everything else alls away...

    There must exist a balance. Balance is

    necessary for life and wellbeing. How does one cope

    with living in the crazy labyrinth that exists betweenthe city walls? Where do you go to get away when

    you cant get away?

    Adaptation and evolution. If you cant

    get to the wilderness, bring the wilderness to the

    city. It doesnt take a change of latitude to grab ayour pack, throw some hiking shoes on and head

    out the door for somewhere new. It would ta ke a

    wander lost in thecity.

    Day ater day we see the same things over andover. Our commute makes us numb to our sur-roundings and becomes a means to an end. Takea second and really look at what surrounds you.Things will take on new meanings and you willstart to enjoy things that you never knew existedbut were near you all the while.

    Find your peace of mind.

    lifetime to explore an entire city; its constantly

    changing, alive with the over abundance of activity.

    An ecosystem of its own. A living, breathing entity.

    Sometimes all it takes is a change of pace, taking a

    different sidewalk to work in the morning, enjoy the

    public transportation instead of wishing you were

    somewhere else.

    S top and sme ll t he owe rs in thene igh-

    bors overly-landscaped yard. Hell, pick a few and

    bring them inside, theyll never know, theyre caught

    up in their daily routine too. Walk in the rain. Find

    a spot to watch the sunset, even if it means climbing

    the water tower in that vacant lot that you pass by

    every single day.

    Take something and make something out

    of it. Find ways to make a greenspace for yourself.

    Grow a garden. Get dirty. Be creative, let your mind

    wander outside of the boundaries set by the sardine

    can society that you live in. Being active is the best

    outlet.

    It helps to have a bit of a sense of humor

    as well... that will get you far in life... especially ifyou live in the city. Not being able to laugh and take

    a step back will s urely lead to your demise!

    So if you are frustrated, bored and feel-

    ing slightly trapped in your concrete world, take a

    hike. Dont just go for a walk in your neighborhood,

    make it an event, an excursion, something to look

    forward too. Get outside of your comfort zone. Af-

    ter all, that is what we do when wander out into the

    country on those barely blazed trails. Nothing good

    ever comes from staying inside the 9-5 lines.

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    things you will carry.

    Hiking in the urban outdoors is sometimes tricky.Since there are plenty o available resources, suchas drinking ountains, ATMs, grocery stores, payphones, directories, people, and everything inbetween, it is possible and quite easy to go ultra-lite. But or those who like to be independentand resourceul, there are several basic things thatevery urban hiker needs to bring along.

    1. A good, comfy backpack for

    carrying all of your things. Smaller is easier in

    the city. 2. Cell phone, in case of emergency

    Facebook status updates. 3. Weaponry. 4. A

    good map. Must have coffee stains and tears

    or it wont work. 5. Water. hydrate or die. 6.

    Music is essential for any excursion. 7. Mail!

    Send some mail, people will be happy and youll

    feel like youre on vacation. 8. A small journal

    for note taking and sketching. 9. Dont forget the

    dollars. City hiking can be expensive. 10. Cof-

    fee. You will need at least four shots of espresso

    to start off your journey.

    What to bring on your hike.

    1.

    2.

    3. 4.

    5.

    6.

    7.

    8. 9.

    10.

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    URBANNOMAD

    Dont do it. Dont plan your route. Dont mapout the trails you intend to ollow. Dont ollow a

    trail. Thats the best part o being in the city. Areyou ever really going to be lost? No. There willbe some random person rom which you can getdirections. Or i you pay attention, and ollow thegrid that every single city is based on, you caneasily ollow letters and numbers and get yoursel

    out o any bind.

    bushwhack.

    Dont plan your route.

    That being said, its handy to carry a

    street map. And kind of fun too. But beware, if

    there are too many people around, you may resist

    pulling out said map due to the chance you may

    be mistaken as a tourist. This will not be a good

    situation, it is hi ghly recommended that you avoid

    looking like a tourist at all times.

    If you do come to a fork in the road, take

    the most adventurous and strange looking direction,

    it will be far more rewarding. You may end up in

    an alley eating the best burrito of your life, or you

    might end up sitting along the river as the sun sets.

    The greater the risk, the greater the reward. This

    can be taken advantage of whilst in the city, as op-

    posed to the wild, where you may fall off a clif f, geteaten alive, run out of food, or become hypother-

    mic.

    Satisfy your inner wanderlust.

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    URBANNOMAD

    Plan Ahead and Prepare

    Know the regulations and special concerns for the

    area you are visiting. Prepare for extreme weather

    and emergencies. Schedule your trip to avoid times

    of high use. All you need is your smart phone. Use

    a map and compass to eliminate the use of marking

    paint,rockcairnsoragging.

    Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces

    Good campsites are found, not made. In popular ar-

    eas concentrate use on existing trails and campsites.

    The entire city is a durable surface. Camping over-

    night is not recommended, unless you have a thing

    for cardboard boxes. Keep campsites small. Focus

    on activity in areas where vegetation is absent. In

    pristine areas, disperse to prevent the creations ofcampsites and trails.

    Dispose of Waste Properly

    Pack it in, pack it out. Deposit solid human waste

    in catholes dug six to eight inches deep at least 200

    feet from water, camp, and trails. Do not deposit

    solid human waste in the city. It is illegal and you

    will get arrested. Find a Starbucks, use the restroom.

    Coveranddisguisethecatholewhennished.

    The city is your canvas.

    leave your trace.

    Leave What You Find

    Preserve the past: examine but do not touch,

    cultural or historic structures and artifacts. Leave

    rocks,plantsandothernaturalobjectsasyound

    them.Takewhatyound,itsprobablytrash.Avoid

    introducing or transporting non-native species.

    Minimize Campre Impacts

    Camprescancauselastingimpactstotheback-

    country.Whereresarepermitted,useestablished

    rerings,repans,ormoundres.Buildresonly

    in trash barrels in sketchy underpasses. Keepres

    small, use only sticks from the ground that can be

    broken by hand.

    Respect WildlifeObserve wildlife from a distance, do not follow or

    approach them. Never feed animals. Feeding wildlife

    damages their health, alters natural behaviors and

    exposes them to predators and other dangers. Do

    not feed the tourists. Protect wildlife and your food

    by storing rations and trash securely.

    Everywhere you look, everyone is leaving theirmark. Its nowhere near pristine, but its more

    interesting than staring at unmarked, untouched,boring, grey concrete. Take in the colors o thecity. The stickers, the gratti, the marker tags, theposters, the murals... the visual surroundings oyour city can give you a lot o inormation aboutyour environment. Just like the animals in the wild

    leave ootprints and scat.

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    URBANNOMAD

    both nature andthe city are verystrange places.

    they are polaropposites, but justas easy to get lostin and equallyisolating. they canmake you feel tiny.

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    URBANNOMAD

    The good news about eating while urban hik-ing you dont have to pack anything to eat at all

    i you dont want to carry extra weight. Strategi-cally plan your route so that restaurants, cas,ood carts, vending machines, dumpsters and gasstations are located at points in your journey whenyou know you will be hungry.

    So you cant afford a trek in Tibet. Australias just

    toofarawayforadaytrip.Youliveintheatlands

    but crave elevation. Add a little regional spice to

    your hike by dining at a restaurant serving regional

    cuisine. Below are some suggested culinary destina-

    tions.

    1. For the mountain lover, anyplace with that rug-

    ged feel, serving lots of meat-and-potato type fare.

    Suggestion: Outback Steakhouse.

    2. Cant make it to Baja for the weekend? Crave the

    hot sun of the desert trek? Visit Baja Fresh. Get the

    Diablo Shrimp Burrito.

    3. Want to hike the Appalachian Trail barefoot in

    the same tie-dye that you wore at Bonnaroo (three

    years in a row)? Find your local vegan joint.

    4. For any international craving, there should be

    plenty of restaurants in the city that will cater to

    your needs, from Ethiopian to Chinese, the city c an

    usually off a diverse list for your destination dining

    needs.

    the art of the dumpster.

    You can take your hike to the next level andlive like a true hunter-gatherer. NOLS would beproud. Learn the art o the dumpster dive. Itsnot as sketchy as it sounds i you ollow a ew

    guidelines.

    Stay away from hospital dumpsters.

    Avoid meat and any animal products.

    Befriend employees of bakeries and pizza joints.

    Grab the leftovers as they close.

    Hit up Whole Foods and Trader Joes.

    Never say no to a good lookin bagel.

    Have a friend keep watch while you peruse the

    selections. Sometimes diving is equivalent with

    trespassing, although you wont know it until its

    too late... Never actually get inside the dumpster. Ever.

    Watchoutforwildlife,specicallyraccoons,

    rats, possums, bees, spiders, possums, alley cats

    and rabid dogs.

    If it looks good and smells okay, eat it.

    Dont tell your mother..

    foraging in the world of steel and concrete.

    eat your way through the city.

    Enjoy your culinary trek.

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    URBANNOMAD

    One advantage o being in the urban environmentis having access to technology and electricity.

    Grab the iPod, the headphones and one o theseawesome playlists and choose to either tune intoyour environment or tune out entirely. I youreseeking that solitude that only the most isolatedbackcountry can provide, try hiking with earplugs.

    Want to embrace the concrete jungle, assimilate with

    your surroundings and listen like the natives? This

    playlist will make you eel right at home. Youve got

    two eet or walking and youre going to paint the

    town red. Just remember, nobody walks in L.A.

    1. Berlin The Metro

    2. Black Eyed Peas Electric City

    3. Electric 6 Down at McDonelzz

    4. Kiss Detroit Rock City5. U2 City of Blinding Lights

    6. Snow Patrol Take Back the City

    7. Arcade Fire City With no Children

    8. Ryan Adams City Rain, City Streets

    9. Fleetwood Mac The City

    10. Bear Naked Ladies Hello City

    11. Ryan Montbleau The City

    12. Madness In The City

    13. Pete Francis Sandcastle City

    channeling the city.

    Youve had enough o the city lie. The noise, the

    smells, the trash, dirt, grit and grime. You want a

    pristine experience, even i its all aural. The ollowing

    tracks will put a little Zen into your steps.

    1. John Butler Trio Ocean

    2. Nervous But Excited Lake Erie Late Summer

    3. Pinback Seville

    4. Xavier Rudd Better People

    5. Widespread Panic Drums

    6. Tristeza Bromas

    7. Toubab Krewe Asheville to Abidjan

    8. Sunny Day Real Estate Faces in Disguise

    9. Rusted Root Drum Trip

    10. Rodrigo y Gabriela Stairway to Heaven

    11. Phoenix Love Like a Sunset

    12. Ludovico Enaudi Eden Rock

    13. The Album Leaf Eastern Glow

    into the wild.

    Do you ever feel like your life is a movie?

    As if there should be a swelling soundtrack backing

    up your every move? What better way to spend a

    day hiking than to spend it hiking with a most excel-

    lent soundtrack in the background.

    Or maybe you want to feel the dirty

    grime of the city. Choose some hip-hop or rap. Buy

    some local mix tapes off the street and support a

    struggling artist. Put a little bounce in your step.

    If you know where you are going to

    hike, and have the time and energy, put together

    a themed playlist based on your location. Maybe

    its made of all local musicians, maybe its a list of

    songs about that particular place. Customize it to

    yourtrip,grabthoseheadphones,hitshufe,and

    immerse yourself in your newfound culture.You can even pick up new music along

    the way by visiting those of f-the-beaten-path record

    shops youve been meaning to check out but never

    had the time. Thats another perk of the urban

    wild.Youwontndthatinthewoods.

    themed shufe.

    Rock this city...

    this is the playlist page.

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    NOMAD

    Who says theres no room let in the city or wild,savage beasts? Just like youd nd a dierent eco-system in Alaska compared to Costa Rica, the cityis just another cycle o predator vs. prey, plantsand animals, ght or fight and kill or be killed.Think o it as Mother Natures newest habitat, withso many dierent species and creatures to be dis-covered. Besides, you never know when that giantalligator will escape rom the city zoo and campout in the drainage ditch next to the bus stop.

    Youve seen them before. They travel in

    large packs, ravaging anything that stands in their

    way. Theyve been spotted in every city around the

    world. Theyre completely unpredictable and have

    been known to appear out of nowhere, making

    even the easiest and safest trails some of the most

    deadly places on earth... not to mention they can

    completely upend a public transit system in a mere

    matter of minutes. Beware: the tourist.

    Best avoided altogether, most times it

    is inevitable that you will cross their path. If and

    when you should encounter a pack of tourists, DO

    NOT MAKE EYE CONTACT. And never, ever,

    ask them where they are from. They will give you

    an earful that will set you back a good hour of trail

    time, most likely in a backwoods accent that you will

    strain a muscles trying to decipher.

    If they begin to surround you, never

    bribe them with food, especially if they are travel-

    ling with children. Chances are, you wont have

    enough to feed all the young and will be left to fendfor yourself against a screaming pack of sweaty,

    slimy children. It has been speculated that the struc-

    ture of t he entire herd is often based on the males

    and females in the two t o three year age range.

    Its a dangerous world out there, but

    keeping a keen eye will help you avoid any un-

    wanted and potentially lethal encounters.

    its a jungle out there.

    Dont feed the animals.

    beware ofthe tourist.

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    NOMAD

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    NOMAD

    Your day had a beginning, and it had an end. But it

    was really about the journey in between. From point

    A to point B, what happened in the middle? If you

    walked that same route again tomorrow, it would

    be a totally different experience. It has probably

    altered your life in some small way, maybe you

    wont discover it until later.

    If youve made it this far, you have avoided all the

    perils and pitfalls of the city. Maybe you came home

    bleeding, for sure exhausted, and you might wakeup in a day or so a little sore in places you are not

    used to. But it feels good. It feels good to use your

    body, to depend only on your own two feet, and

    take the time to experience the city on foot. Its a

    youve made itout alive.

    Have a beer.

    Youre nally back at home ater a long enduringday on the trail. Your roommates think you area little strange or hiking across the entire city inone day, but you are exhausted and satised andcould care less. This calls or some celebratingand refection.

    different world when you remove yourself from the

    rush of the daily commute and slow down to really

    take in the small things. The actual terrain of the

    city holds more weight when you are moving about

    at ground level. Small things matter more and the

    big heavy stuff slowly fades away.

    Crack open that celebratory beverage youve had

    chilling in your fridge. Grab your camera and

    peruse your photos from the day. Kick back with

    your feet up and relax. Pat yourself on the back,and start planning your next excursion. There are

    so many cities out there to h ike. Its a wild, wild,

    world.

    Take a shower, you smell horrible.


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