Portraits of Adventure: Josh Reuck on the Everyday Trail Heroes Behind the Buckeye Trail

When photographer Josh Reuck began Portraits of Adventure in March 2024, his goal was simple: make more portraits. An outdoor enthusiast with an interest in landscape photography, Josh wanted to shift his focus toward the people he shared the trails with. What he didn’t expect was that the project would lead to a powerful collaboration with the Buckeye Trail Association (BTA), spotlighting the volunteers who quietly sustain Ohio’s trail.

After moving to Ohio, Josh was eager to learn more about the state’s outdoor scene. That curiosity led him to the Ohio Outdoor Recreation Economy Conference in Athens, where a conversation with BTA staff sparked the idea of using Portraits of Adventure to support the BTA’s Fall Fundraising Campaign. The result: a portrait and interview series featuring volunteers from across the Buckeye Trail.

Spending time with volunteers out on the trail gave Josh a deeper appreciation for the work that often goes unseen. “People overlook how much work it takes to physically build and maintain trails,” he reflected. “Seeing cut trees miles into the woods or carefully built steps takes on new meaning when you realize someone carried the tools, moved the rocks, and put in the hours to make it happen.”

What struck him most was the volunteers’ passion and pride. “That sense of ownership was awesome to see,” Josh said. “Many described trail work as refreshing and grounding, and the trail as a place where effort turns into lasting impact.”

Josh approached photographing these behind-the-scenes stewards with great care and an open mind. He met each volunteer on their section of trail, without any expectations. “I walked into each portrait trying not to have any preconceived notions. I really saw it as a space for understanding and appreciating who they are as people,”. His goal was to capture people in their “happy place,” portraying them as the everyday heroes behind the trail we all know and love.

Throughout the project, Josh was surprised by the volunteers’ humility. Many expressed disbelief at being chosen for a feature, even as their pride in the trail shone through. That humility, paired with deep dedication, shaped Josh’s view of the BTA. He came to see it as a tightly knit and driven community whose behind-the-scenes work brings the Buckeye Trail to life.

Josh hopes his audience comes away with a renewed awareness of the human side of the outdoors. “We take in the beauty of the landscape,” he said, “but there are all these other people out there experiencing and taking care of it too.”

The Buckeye Trail, he believes, is common ground: a place where stories are written, community is built, and everyone belongs.