“My real self wanders elsewhere, far away, wanders on and on invisibly and has nothing to do with my life.”
― Hermann Hesse
This is the part where I explain or validate what I do, and why. But to be honest, I’m having trouble coming up with an angle on this. Admittedly, I’ve always found talking about myself to be pretty frustrating. But, I’ll give this a shot. Whenever someone asks me why I do what I do, (and they do) I could never give any sort of psychoanalytic response besides the obvious; I just am. I guess it’s somewhere in my framework.
From a young age I have always been a curious person. As time progressed, and I grew older, not much really changed. I’ve always felt unfulfilled and uninvolved in society, and have never felt like I understood the world around me. That’s where exploring entered my life at the age of 11.
Instead of settling for the pre-packaged, sterilized adventures and meaningless spectacles of velvet ropes, gift shops and video games, I strive to create authentic experiences by making discoveries that allow me to participate in the inner workings of the world, and nourished a sense of wonder, appreciation and reverence for the fantastic and obscure places around me, and their complexities. Sometimes, it makes me look around and wonder just how flimsy what we call reality actually is.
It helps greatly that Vermonters, and as artist and humorist Francis Colburn once said – ‘the odd state they’re in’, have a history made up of excellent stories, and our folklore has both outlasted and remains more interesting to me than anything Hollywood pathetically panders too nowadays.
These stories and things found within my blog are real, in the sense where someone has said they allegedly happened. But are they true? Who knows for sure. I know I end most of the ‘yarns’ I spin with that statement.
Today I devote much of my time and all of my passion into chasing those feelings through exploring and photographing that world, and it’s a rush.
I started my blog Obscure Vermont in 2012 as a way to document the venerable weirdness of my home state, which is a place I grew to love. And to my fervor, Vermont had plenty of curio to dig up.
As someone who has always felt like an outcast, this practice has proven to be very therapeutic to me. Not only do my strange travels help me to better understand the greater world around me, but it has given my life a much more focused purpose. Through this continued practice and perseverance, I taught myself to become a writer and photographer and to grow as a human being.
As it would turn out, other people really seemed to like what I was doing, and that really meant the world to me. however, Obscure Vermont was never a business venture for me, and at its core, it remains what it was when I first created it – an obsessive hobby.
I was diagnosed with Aspergers, a form of autism, when I was 8, and though it provided me with some difficulties in life, my differences also turned out to be the gifts that set me apart. This blog is partially the constantly morphing product of an obsessive Aspergian mind.
Even though I live in Vermont, I’m not limiting myself to staying within the state’s borders, and sometimes find myself exploring across New England, New York and Quebec.
Armchair Archaeology:
The photographs and information on this blog is for entertainment purposes only, with the intention of celebrating and respecting the locations, relics, and people featured here.
If you decide to adventure for yourself, please remember that many of these abandoned places are private property, and are patrolled by police, security guards, or the owners themselves. It is possible that you may be ticketed, arrested or even shot at should you decide to trespass.
Since the buildings are not maintained, their dangerous conditions also harbor health problems related to asbestos, lead, contaminated water, and mold.
Remember, you are responsible for your own actions, not myself or this blog. Explore at your own risk.
Getting Involved:
I apologize in advance – I tend to be intensely internet-anti-social for one reason or another. But, I do enjoy meeting new people and learning new things – especially if you’re a fellow local weird worker! I’m always looking for stories of Vermont and Vermonters, but am totally interested in oddities in New England and Quebec.
If you’d like to chat or keep in touch, the best place to reach me is my Instagram page, which I’m on pretty frequently. It’s my favorite of the social medias.
Feel free to send me an email at chad.abramovich@gmail.com if Instagram isn’t your thing. I also have a very neglected Facebook page which I often ponder deleting.
If you have a smartphone, I am also a contributor to the app Field Trip. If you’re interested, give it a download and get legal travel suggestions to some of Vermont’s more weird locales.
Press
I was very complimented to be interviewed by Stuck in Vermont and Seven Days, including a nomination for a ‘Seven Daysies’ in 2016!
I’ve helped contribute to a book; Off The Beaten Path, Vermont by Cindi D. Pietrzyk
I was also awkward on national TV once, – on a show called Monsters and Mysteries, talking about a Vermont legend known as The Pigman.
You can check out my interview with Stuck In Vermont below:
Film maker Jaclyn Triebel also made a documentary about me and urban exploration in 2013. You can watch her great documentary here.
http://youtu.be/xIq1NRguPeA
Photography:
I use photography as a key component of my blog. I try to use my photos to further tell and add depth to the story that I am writing about – using my lens as another representation of how I see my world. All photos have been taken by myself unless noted otherwise.
Credits and Appreciations: A huge thanks to my compadre and fellow explorer Zack for designing the great mountain artwork that I inserted into my blog’s header image. It definitely has that thematic Vermont-y vibe I wanted. You can check out his photography and cool Colorado based explores on his Instagram.
Myself:
A self-described local weird worker, writer, photographer and adventurer, My name is Chad Abramovich. I’m a 28 year old Aspergian and a native Vermonter. I drink too much coffee and have a huge penchant for Vermont craft beer. I have some background in graphic design, and love activities such as Geocaching, home brewing, and anything outdoorsy. I’m cynical, socially awkward, have been struggling with depression and anxiety most of my life, and the most uncoordinated person I know.
Disclaimer: Unless stated otherwise, all photographs in this blog are my personal property and copyright Obscure Vermont/myself.
Donate? If you enjoy what I’m doing here and would like to see more material like this, perhaps consider making a donation?
