Community Highlights: Meet Blayne Ippolito of Transcendent Adventures

Today we’d like to introduce you to Blayne Ippolito. 

Hi Blayne, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Growing up I always felt as if I was an outcast. I never truly felt I fit in anywhere at all. From an early age I was plagued with constant thoughts of not being enough, being unlovable, ugly, the list goes on and on. My mind constantly raced as I was filled with anxiety. I would try many different hairstyles, wear different clothes, and I even purposely failed an eye exam to get glasses all to try and feel like I fit in somewhere. Imagine feeling like you’re drowning in quicksand, suffocated, and alone. Feeling outcast from the world, I made an attempt on my life at nine years old. A letter to my parents folded, sitting on my bed to my left, wood grain shotgun in hand, cold dark steel barrel in my mouth; I pulled the trigger. The gun clicked and as I opened my eyes they pooled with water; the essence of failure became palpable in the air. Broken and afraid I sat there crying, cursing myself for weakling, saying to myself, “You’re so dumb you can’t even kill yourself right.” Moving forward from that experience I made many more attempts to try and fit in until one day I found a temporary fix within drugs and alcohol. During this spout I also found photography. I used to love taking my mom’s camera and going around and shooting photos. I would grab it from her every chance I had. There was something about capturing a physical moment in time and being able to share that with the people around me. Just the act of catching a good shot was like an adventure all in itself. Sadly, drugs and alcohol took over and for a long time, I didn’t touch a camera. 

My debut with drugs (specifically heroin) led me to a very dark place. The thing that had pulled me from feeling like an outcast, alone, and not enough turned on me- and my life went to shambles quickly. That same feeling of drowning in quicksand came back except worse. self-pity poured over me daily and my life increasingly got worse. I had no friends, I burned bridges with my family, and all the while life just passed by me. I was an outsider looking into the world around me. I had two goals in life at this time- to be numb or to be dead- that was it. Countless overdoses, rehabs, and pleading from my family wasn’t enough because in my head- no matter what anyone else told me- I thought the world would be a better place without me in it. 

Eventually, things got so low that I couldn’t imagine going on the way I was living or living a sober life. That’s when I met a man named Jamie who guided me to a life, I never knew I wanted. I remember waking up one day after committing to this process he laid before me and I started laughing. I was laughing because my mind wasn’t racing anymore, there was no more quicksand, I was finally at peace. Life took on a whole new meaning to me. Walking outside I remember the world around me looked so fresh and new. Colors seemed brighter, the birds sang tunes of music, and every little detail of the world I appreciated. With this new look on life, photography came back into the picture along with writing, and many other ideas for life. 

I feel as though I’m on borrowed time for lack of a better term and my presence here has to mean something or I wouldn’t be here. My goal is to help as many people as I possibly can through whatever outlet that may be. I love shooting photography so that’s a big endeavor I have started to pursue. 

I spend a lot of time in the outdoors climbing, backpacking, hiking, anything that is adventurous I wish to be a part of. I get to go places people may never get to see so why would I want to hold all this beauty and keep it to myself? I share my art with the world to inspire, to bring satisfaction, and light into the world. It may inspire someone to do something they have never done before, it may inspire someone to write something, or just bring joy to people who may never get to see these sights in real life. I also love taking people on trips or just showing up with my camera and taking a shot that holds a memory for the people I’m with. Seeing someone’s eyes light up with adoration of a sight they have never seen before, an adventure they never thought they could conquer, or a shot I took of them or for them are moments that you can’t buy- absolutely priceless. That feeling alone makes everything I do worth it. 

I am originally from Rochester, NY and came out here to chase my dreams. On Jan. 5th, 2020 I was laid off from work which allowed me some time to contemplate my life and what I wanted to do with it. Before I had any idea on what I was going to do I was approached by a woman who was a part of a church. She had no idea of anything going on in my life and she told me that there were big plans for me in life, that I was a big book of pages waiting to be written upon, that I needed to be patient and a door (opportunity) that I had never seen before would show itself. She said that I may have fear but I needed to walk through that door and keep walking and trust that the path would show itself as I went. 

Shortly after that, I was on a trip in the Adirondack mountains when weather came in and I couldn’t set out on the trail I had wished to do. Driving along the road I stumbled across a car crashed in a ditch. I stopped to see if they needed any help and ended up meeting an angel of a women who changed the course of my life. She told me how she couldn’t see when she was driving because of the snowstorm, and I had offered to give her a ride to wherever she needed to go once her car got unstuck. She asked if I was sure and I told her yes. We swapped numbers and I went to wait for the tow truck in my car as it was white-out conditions. She texted me thanking me and asked if I would like to join her and her daughter at their cabin they rented as it had an upstairs apartment that no one was using. On the ride to the cabin, she told me of her life, the wild and wonderful things she had done, and how she had reached every dream she had ever set out to conquer. 

The conversation then turned to me- she asked what it was that I did. At the time I was an electrician recently laid off questioning what it was that I wanted to do. She turned and looked at me and asked “What’s your dream?” to which I replied, “I want to climb mountains for a living.” Although this was true it wasn’t the whole truth. I really wanted to climb mountains, take pictures, maybe work for National Geographic, and of course, I want to help people everywhere I go (which honestly feels weird writing as I don’t do it for the notoriety). To which she replied, “write it down- every dream I have ever had came true because I wrote it down and took tangible steps each day towards my dreams.” This moment changed my life forever. 

Fear was the only thing that was stopping me from chasing what I really wanted in life. So, when I got home, I wrote it down. The steps I needed to take landed me here in Colorado attending an outdoor school to refine my outdoor skills. Next semester I will be taking a business course as well. I have started a website sharing my photography that will eventually be turned into a website for the guide service I wish to start. My outlook on this life is to touch as many hearts as I possibly can before I die. Whether that be behind a camera or leading people through the wilderness or both- It will happen. In addition to going to school, I am currently attempting to grow my photography business on the daily, planning my guiding service, and when opportunities arise- I take them. The leap I took to get out here, the people I have met along the way, and all the people I haven’t met yet make it clear that I’m on the path that I am supposed to be on, I am here for a reason, and I have no reasons to regret my decision to chase the life I want to have. 

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
To say the road has been smooth wouldn’t be telling the whole truth. As I can say doors and opportunities have opened for me and the walk has been one that hasn’t had too much struggle there are always bumps in the road. 

With my addiction- the hard part was taking an honest look at myself. Looking at all the ways I had hurt people, all the ways I reacted to situations because of fear and trauma, and giving up that way of life and turning around 180 degrees to live a new life. It’s a simple concept but not one that is easy to execute. This meant that almost every single way I had been living needed to change and I needed to grow into a new person and take on a new outlook and meaning on life. It meant every single person I had ever harmed, I had to go sit face to face with them and make it right in whatever way I possibly could. Imagine a giant barrel that represents you. The contents of the barrel consist of everything that makes you you- from thoughts to trauma, to fear, to emotions. may barrel was filled with sludge and we had to dump that barrel out- find the few diamonds that were in there and start filling it back up with good stuff. The process is a lifelong commitment to continue to grow and learn as I go. 

The decision to make the jump and head west came with a lot of sacrifice. Hundreds of friends left behind, an intimate relationship of 2 years left behind, and the security of the life I had created before was left. Now leaving these things to chase my dream, my purpose is a small price to pay but not necessarily easy. Before the move leaving my career, and all my loved ones behind was a huge transition that hurt quite a bit- but moving out here also meant a whole new set of people, new personalities to meet, new relationships to form, and a dream to chase. The hardest thing to leave behind was and is my little brother Niko. We are very close and he means the world to me and I miss him daily. He will be graduating high school next year and pursuing his dreams to work with diesel engines. Hopefully one day we’ll be physically living closer together but for now its video game nights and chats. There are many bumps along the road hereafter though. Building a new community of friends, a new recovery community, and remaining vigilant to continue going. I had a moment with my grandfather before I left for Colorado in which he said “I’m a hard man, I think you know that about me- I’m just not strong anymore, the only reason I stay around is for you kids. You’re still strong though, I want you to go out west and chase your dreams and don’t look back and when times get tough keep pushing, and if they get really hard and you feel like quitting, I want you to remember me in this wheelchair and keep going.” Whether he knows it or not those words echo in my head when I find myself up against a bump in the road or falling victim to my own self-doubt. Starting the website and pursuing this is not very lucrative- at least not to start. You have to build from the ground up which may mean taking jobs you don’t want to do, it may mean you can’t buy the things you want to buy or eat the things you wish to eat. It may mean loss of free time to do the things you love to do, and long hours working on things that bring you no joy. In the end, all of its worth it to me, as I feel I am grounded in purpose. So, when I’m up late at night sifting through photos, editing, waking up early for the job I don’t like, not getting the results from my social media or website that I’d like, or feel like I’m hitting a wall I keep moving. I persevere through it all because if I don’t it’s my dream that will die and it will die with me knowing I didn’t give it my all. Most of the time though it doesn’t seem like work, it’s all stepping stones, it’s all a part of the walk into the unknow, into what’s to come. Rather than focusing all my attention on what isn’t going my way, I focus on whatever is in front of me to be done right now- in this moment, because that’s all I have. If I get a phone call and something else needs my attention I go. I’m not so rigid in my work as if I were to be I would be useless to everyone around me and be so caught up in myself that nothing would ever get done. Feeling alone would be the last thing that I probably struggle with the most. Although recently I have been diving into my own independence and as a result, I’m becoming more and more comfortable with just being alone (not romantically involved) and actually find peace and serenity within it. The biggest hurdle which all these “struggles” can be tied to come down to one thing– fear. Fear of not being enough, not being successful, not being loved, of being alone, of making a wrong decision, not having enough money, the list goes on and on. In reality, this is just mental garbage, a certain level of fear can be good- the kind that stops you from jumping off a cliff, etc., but most fear is made up in your mind and the only way to triumph is to face it and move forward. If I were tall victim to fear I would live a life that in my eyes wouldn’t be worth living. I’d rather jump into the unknown and chase whatever it is that makes my heart sing rather than let fear run my entire life and never live a meaningful existence. 

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Right now, my business is mainly focused on photography. I do a lot of landscape photography- but I also do adventure photography and personal portrait photography. I will be running a promo soon for some free photoshoots to help get my brand out there and also bring people some joy while doing it. My website www.transcendentadventures.com has merch, prints, posters, and other home goods for sale that have my original photography on them. I update it frequently so stay tuned on it for new pictures, and different kinds of merch. 

The goal is to eventually move from only photography to a guiding company that not only takes you on a physical adventure but also focuses on a journey within yourself that will hopefully have you leave feeling like a brand new, grounded, and better person than before. Deep impactful experiences through adventure that focus on spiritual, mental, and physical wellbeing will be the main focus of the company. What sets us apart from others is our dedication to engulf you in an experience rather than just a photoshoot with some random photographer or just an adventure in the outdoors with a random guide. My brand puts your experience first and wishes to make every interaction that you have with us a meaningful and fulfilling escapade no matter what service you are here to receive! 

If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
Honesty, Open-mindedness, and willingness to grow. Knowing that I won’t have all the answers and accepting people’s criticism, and being open to hearing others’ ideas. I have to remain a sponge and be able to grow and learn throughout this entire process or I will be doomed to fail. I have to be willing to take a look at the company, myself, and every interaction and say what could I do better, what can I learn, where can I grow, and when something doesn’t pan out the way I wish it to take advantage of the opportunity to learn even more not give up because I didn’t get my way. Remain teachable and continue to show up with love and service to the world. 

Contact Info:

• Email: Transcendent.blayne@gmail.com
• Website: www.transcendentadventures.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/transcendent_traveler/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Transcendent-Adventures-105824595251566

Image Credits
Blayne Ippolito