Part six of our analysis of the Marc Adamus Manifesto, “One way to Photograph North America”.

Part six of our analysis of the Marc Adamus Manifesto, “One way to Photograph North America”.

 

Part six of our analysis of the Marc Adamus Manifesto, “One way to Photograph North America”.

See Part One here.  See Part Two here. See Part Three here. See Part Four here.  See Part Five here.

INTRO:  At Marc Adamus LIES 2.0, we have to say that Marc Adamus has really outdone himself with his latest expose. We’re certain that a better example of empty boasts, flowery rhetoric, and outright bullshit won’t be found for some time (maybe ever). Since Marc Adamus just can’t help himself, the manifesto also contains a great number of lies, unsubstantiated boasts, and some useful information that casts a new light on who Marc really is. Part six of this multi-part series:

11. After making the 2,500-mile drive north in a way-too-fast 3 days, I parked myself out on the Dempster Highway at the base of the range and decided upon the backpacking route into the peaks. After careful research and much experience, I had found a way to cram nearly two-weeks of food into one bear-proof canister rated for 7 days at a weight of about 20 pounds. Taking into account my equipment which consisted of a '4-season' tent (for extreme winds/snow), -40F sleeping bag (-10F and colder is not uncommon in October here), snowshoes, most of my camera gear including my most durable body, the 1Ds III, and all sorts of other heavy winter clothing, my pack, all told, weighed an unmerciful 80 pounds plus! At 150 pounds myself, I knew that was really pushing it. Only two other times had I shouldered such a load but ultimately the route didn't appear quite as difficult as expected and once I got there, I didn't have to move camp very far for a while. I planned 2 days for the hike in.

 “….I After making the 2,500-mile drive north in a way-too-fast 3 days…”: Whatever, so now Marc is a super-driver too.

“…and decided upon the backpacking route into the peaks…”: No doubt to pick the hardest route possible, right?

“…After careful research and much experience, I had found a way to cram nearly two-weeks of food into one bear-proof canister rated for 7 days at a weight of about 20 pounds…” Sure he did! We’re sure it took a lot of “research and experience” to overstuff a bear canister!

“…Taking into account my equipment which consisted of a ‘4-season’ tent (for extreme winds/snow), -40F sleeping bag (-10F and colder is not uncommon in October here), snowshoes, most of my camera gear including my most durable body, the 1Ds III, and all sorts of other heavy winter clothing, my pack, all told, weighed an unmerciful 80 pounds plus!...”: Sure it did! So we suppose Marc carries a thermometer, wind speed gauge, and a scale, too, everywhere he goes, so he can write all this ridiculous bullshit when he gets back from his trips! On a side note, most mountaineers will tell you that they limit their pack weight to 40-50 pounds. This includes ropes, camping supplies, ice equipment, and more. Especially since Marc is small (5’6”), light (150 pounds) and has a small penis, there’s no way his pack could possibly weigh 80 pounds (plus!), except in his lie-addled brain. 

“….Only two other times had I shouldered such a load but ultimately the route didn't appear quite as difficult as expected …”:  He means that he only lied about it being 80 pounds (plus!) two other times. And the trail to Grizzly Lake isn’t all that bad. About 8 miles in, apparently. Why Marc needed enough gear for two months is beyond our understanding, naturally. 

“…..I I planned two days for the hike in…”:  Again, not sure what this is about. Does Marc expect us to think that he only did 4 miles a day? Both the pictures he provided indicate almost no snow cover at all, so there’s no explanation for this bogus discrepancy. 

12. Over the course of the next two days I learned several things about both Arctic travel and photography. One of which was that bush-whacking through valleys laden with Arctic willow, particularly those covered in a foot of snow, was immensely more difficult than I thought and more a study in patience and mental fortitude than anything else. The going was painful and the 6-mile trek into Grizzly Lake took 8 exhausting hours after I lost a faint trail buried in the snow after the first mile. Upon arriving, I discovered this enormous lake at 5000-foot elevation to be 95% frozen and it was only the 6th of October! The next thing I learned is that while the peaks were indeed majestic, the lack of complimentary subject matter of the type that makes for dynamic and interesting photography is almost completely lacking in the absence of water or anything else of note standing out from the windswept and snow-covered tundra. I had planned on the lakes being more open, even at this northerly latitude or at least the rivers. The next day, I would attempt to cross the main divide of the range and find the North Klondike River valley.

 “…Over the course of the next two days…”: Again, we call bullshit. This is an 8 mile long trail. It doesn’t appear there was significant snow-cover, meaning he could hike the whole thing. We doubt there was any bushwhacking involved. Despite what Marc would have you believe, this lake is a popular hiking destination in the area. 

“…One of which was that bush-whacking through valleys laden with Arctic willow, particularly those covered in a foot of snow, was immensely more difficult than I thought…”: Bullshit. We don’t think Marc did any bushwhacking. And there was not a foot of snow. In his photo from Grizzly Lake (hardly recognizable because of the bogus wide angle composition, by the way), there was only a light dusting of new snow.

“…The going was painful, and the 6-mile trek into Grizzly Lake took 8 exhausting hours after I lost a faint trail buried in the snow after the first mile…”: Bullshit. If there was a foot of snow, the trail wouldn’t have been visible, period. And Marc says it took 8 hours here, where previously he said it took two days. Which one are we supposed to believe?

“…I discovered this enormous lake at 5000-foot elevation to be 95% frozen and it was only the 6^th of October…”: A telling line of bullshit that displays Marc’s ignorance. In the Arctic, 5000 feet is more like the summit of Mt Hood in the NW than like the 5,000 foot Santiam Pass. 

“…The next thing I learned is that while the peaks were indeed majestic, the lack of complimentary subject matter of the type that makes for dynamic and interesting photography is almost completely lacking in the absence of water or anything else of note standing out from the windswept and snow-covered tundra…”: Yes, the lake and its setting are indeed majestic, but you’d never be able to tell from the bullshit superwide composition Marc gave us. You’d find far better images that convey this area’s majesty on real photographer’s sites. 

“…I had planned on the lakes being more open, even at this northerly latitude or at least the rivers. The next day, I would attempt to cross the main divide of the range and find the North Klondike River valle…”: Well, why not. Anyone with the slightest knowledge of things outside Marc’s little comfort zone of the Pacific Northwest or nice US National Parks would know that Arctic weather doesn’t correspond to our weather here in the south. 

See part 7 of this soon to be extensive series soon.