Mountain High: A New Collection in the Making

June 12, 2026 | author: Erika Carruth‍ ‍

“Are you a mountain person or an ocean person?” Have you ever had that question tossed your way? I have—more times than I can count—and every time I give a the same answer: while my photography will always lean toward the ocean (I do live by it, after all), I find great solace in the mountains too. I suppose you could just call me a nature person. I get the ocean all year in my warm climate, and I chase the mountains in their seasons.

Why all this talk about oceans and mountains? Well, if you have been following me on socials, you already know my lens wanders from the waves to the snow, from saltwater spray to alpine frost. I have collected so many images from both worlds that sometimes even I lose track of them.

From climbing toward the base camp of Mont Blanc from Chamonix, to wandering the Jungfrau region in Switzerland, coming back to the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Rockies, there is one thing I know to be true: the smell of mountain air is like nothing else. I love it in the summer, in the winter, and in those glorious altitudes where one can actually breathe. The views are breathtaking—sometimes literally.

Just as the ocean reminds us how vast this planet is (more than 70% of Earth’s surface is water, mostly ocean), the mountains remind us of something else entirely: permanence, scale, and the humbling truth that the world is much bigger than us. They stood long before we arrived, and they will stand long after we are gone. I have driven down mountain roads that made me feel small in the best possible way—small, and wildly excited about whatever might be waiting around the next bend. Mountains have a way of reminding us of nature’s beauty and power. And if you don’t see it yet, I invite you to climb one. Your lungs will quickly explain how much bigger everything else is around you.

In my photography, I often share little glimpses—sights, sounds, behind-the-scenes moments—while editing and cherry-picking my favorites in the background. It definitely doesn’t happen overnight. I thoroughly enjoy the process so much that sometimes I move on to the next adventure before finalizing a series or making prints available. I get swept up in the moment, savor it, and occasionally forget to share it.

But my work is all about sharing—sharing the environment, uplifting nonprofits and charities that protect it, and using my images to raise awareness for causes that matter. The purpose is to celebrate the beauty of our natural world (and sometimes our man-made one—hello, architecture) and help us all pause long enough to “smell the roses,” or in this case, the pine needles and sea breeze.

For this reason, I have decided to take a brief pause to revisit some of the mountain images I have captured over the years, including those from my more recent series of the same name (Mountain High). I am in the process of curating a collection of mountain escapes—tropical peaks, icy summits, red rock ridges, and more—because if there’s one thing my travels have taught me, it is that beauty comes in countless forms.

And I can’t say that there has ever been a moment on a trail, a climb, or a rock face when I have thought, “That wasn’t worth it.” It’s always worth it. Every ascent, every scramble, every ridgeline. Just like life, the magic is in the journey (yes, cliché, but just go with it)—it is in the steps, the sweat, the surprises, the lessons, and the shots you may never get the chance to take again. Every trail leads somewhere new. That’s the best part.

As with all of my work, a portion of proceeds from the “Mountain High” collection will be donated to nonprofits dedicated to preserving and protecting our environment.

So, tell me—are you a mountain person or an ocean person? Truthfully, it doesn’t matter because you can’t go wrong. What matters is that we get outside, reduce our carbon footprint when and where we can, and enjoy this beautiful planet we call home.

Select images from “Mountain High” are now available. Looking forward to making the complete collection available soon!