Upload
genevieve-rosengren
View
227
Download
0
Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
8/7/2019 Urban Nomad Booklet
1/12
UR
BANNOMAD
URBANNOMAD
hike
thecity.
hike
thecity.
8/7/2019 Urban Nomad Booklet
2/12
UR
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.
8/7/2019 Urban Nomad Booklet
3/12
UR
BANNOMAD
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.
8/7/2019 Urban Nomad Booklet
4/12
UR
BANNOMAD
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.
8/7/2019 Urban Nomad Booklet
5/12
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.
8/7/2019 Urban Nomad Booklet
6/12
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.
8/7/2019 Urban Nomad Booklet
7/12
URBANNOMAD
both nature andthe city are verystrange places.
they are polaropposites, but justas easy to get lostin and equallyisolating. they canmake you feel tiny.
8/7/2019 Urban Nomad Booklet
8/12
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.
8/7/2019 Urban Nomad Booklet
9/12
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.
8/7/2019 Urban Nomad Booklet
10/12
URBAN
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.
8/7/2019 Urban Nomad Booklet
11/12
URBAN
NOMAD
8/7/2019 Urban Nomad Booklet
12/12
URBAN
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.