In September of 2025, my work is generating the most income it ever has in my career. Yet, I'm being forced to shut down my successul operation, against my will, due to one cause alone: 95% of that revenue is being stolen by piracy and copyright infringement. I've lost more than $1 million to copyright infringement in the last 15 years, and it's finally brought an end to my professional storm chasing operation. Do not be misled by the lies of infringers, anti-copyright activists and organized piracy cartels. This page is a detailed, evidenced account of my battle I had to undertake to just barely stay in business, and eventually could not overcome. It's a problem faced by all of my colleagues and most other creators in the field.
One more post from the neglected non-weather subject queue before the next flurry of severe storms arrives later today. I discovered this nice little-known overlook last week on Route 52 on Big Walker Mountain just south of Bland, Virginia (just a couple miles off of I-77, about 15 miles south of the WV border). There is a little country store on the ridge there that owns a very high fire tower that for $5, you can climb the ~200 stairs to the top of. Unfortunately, they were closed for the day when I stopped there last Saturday. The view to the southeast is pretty impressive even from ground level. I am planning on stopping here again the next time I travel to Raleigh, hopefully climbing the tower on a nice clear morning with good sky contrast. If I ever move away from the Appalachians, I will definately miss views like this.
On a note related to this area, if you've ever traveled through this region you probably know that Wytheville, VA has the lowest gas prices of most places within a 300-mile radius, and consequently is a popular stop for I-81 and I-77 drivers. The drawback is that the gas stations in Wytheville are also truck stops, and as such are very crowded with heavy tractor-trailer and car traffic at the exits. What most don't know about is the little towns of Bland and Bastian, just north of Wytheville on I-77. Both of these obscure exits have gas stations that usually match Wytheville's prices, without the traffic congestion and long lines. Bland even has free WIFI. Unfortunately, the Bland station is beginning to attract the crowds too now, but Bastian remains another welcome alternative to the Wytheville madhouse. It's become my regular stopping point now on Charleston-Raleigh trips.
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From Dan: Please Read
Please do not copy/upload this site's content to social media or other web sites. Those copies have been a critical problem for me, seriously harming this site and my photography/storm chasing operation by diverting traffic, viewers, engagement and income. "Credit" and "exposure" does not benefit this site or my operation, rather they threaten my ability to cover my operating expenses. Please read my full explanation for this notice here.
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