Scott Gregson

A Laodicean seeking an escape route.

On Work… The Cascadia Horizontal Rod Railing System

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I have been working on a website for horizontal railing. I find the facets of working on a website of this type very fascinating.

The first thing I find interesting is how different people from different parts of the country refer to the rod railing. In some localities, they might call it horizontal guard rail or horizontal guard railing in other places, horizontal rod rail or horizontal railing. When I started working with this railing systems company, I discovered that some people call it a “deck fence.” That last one really threw me for a loop.

Cascadia rod railing. Beautiful and easy to install!

Another aspect that interests me is the simplicity of this particular rod railing’s design. As I said, I am working on this content myself: this includes everything from presenting the information that we want people to know about the railing system, from the railing rods to how this system adapts to the horizontal stair railing application. We also need to consider what the visitor wants and needs to know. Are they interested in how to install railing? Is it that the best thing we could do for them is diagram the components used in stainless handrail? Ah, that last one makes me think. I watched videos of some railing system installations on youtube and was aghast. Some of those systems are really hard to install. Even the posts have many pieces, argh. This Cascadia railing system only has eight parts; wow!

We shot videos of the original test installation and a time-lapse (see below) of the installation.

Detail photo of an infill fitting and infill rod on the Cascadia rod railing system.

Photographing shiny metal horizontal railing components is an interesting challenge. The brushed finish on this Cascadia Railing System is easier to shoot than would be a mirror finish stainless rail. What people don’t expect when photographing polished metal railing systems is that the metal takes on and reflects the surroundings. A photographer rarely wants to be in the photo, especially by mistake! With a brushed finish used on this system, you wouldn’t be able to see the photographer, but you would see his red shirt as a distracting color reflected off the stainless rod railing posts. The infill of horizontal rods would also reflect that red color — not good!

Regarding good photos, retouching, cropping, and tone work are essential. In developing this site for Cascadia Railing, I worked closely with Carole, a Gig Harbor area graphic designer. You can’t go wrong with Carole, she’s great to work with, does a great job, and has an English accent.

I was on-site at the original test installation of this railing system. When the railing installation was complete, I told one of the company’s owners that I was jealous on behalf of the company. I was so impressed with the classy look of the horizontal railing, its fittings, and the visual contrast of the top wood handrail with the stainless posts and railing infill that I wanted the company to sell it directly rather than through distributors. Oh, well. It is a beautiful addition as a horizontal deck rail, balcony rail, or horizontal stair railing, regardless of who sells it!

Time-Lapse of the Rod Railing Install

 

Yes, another riveting detail is that the chubby old fart toting the video camera in the video above is me.

a Cheap man’s guide to Leveraging Pinterest

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Other than Pinning great content, the key to leveraging Pinterest is to capture the user’s interest and gain traffic from their interest. Although Pinterest is an image-based platform, most visual journeys start with an idea, a text search. The path is most often: Search, Visual engagement, Web traffic, and Commerce. We’ll not address the casual browser on Pinterest but the user who has intent.

Targeted traffic: How does one target relevant traffic?

  • Create Boards with Keywords in the name
  • Name the file that you intend to Pin with the keyword(s) e.g., “hamptons-beach-deck-treatment.jpg.”
  • Use captioning, alt tags, and context copy to define the image
  • Use Keyword descriptions
  • Create the Pins of your assets on each board to link to YOUR site’s/profile’s asset(s)

Put your best foot forward: Narrate a journey that speaks to the user’s interest and your service.

  • Build Boards wisely!
  • Pin YOUR asset near the first few pins on the board
  • Do not Pin direct competitor’s images
  • Pin your best, be careful not to overshadow your content with better content
  • Start with Boards that are the direct target of your business.
  • If you design residential and sell most often to homeowners — target that
  • If you have a mix of new construction and remodel, make individual boards to highlight each, and later add new boards with more specific aspects
    • – Foyer/Entry remodels
    – Master bath remodel
    – Try to find specific aspects to start as that is what they search for
  • If you are Local, be sure to include “Local”
    • – Create Boards named after the location, e.g., “Boston Porches.”
    – Create Boards named after the service your company has expertise in or your niche, e.g., “Northeast Mudrooms,” “Fresh Northeast Modern Design.”

As you build your boards and users discover your pins, traffic will increase to a constant flow of users. Pinterest is not like IG and FB in that what you do stays relevant and builds. Most other Social platforms have a limited duration of interest (mere seconds on Twitter). Pinterest content is still there, discoverable year after year.

Green Mountain — Wildcat Trail to Beaver Pond Trail Loop

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Kitsap County, WA
April 2021
10.9 miles, ~1700ft elevation gain, 6.5 hours
My AllTrails map

The way in.

Starting from the large parking area at the Wildcat Staging Area trailhead, the trail is wide and easy on the feet. As you progress and start climbing the trail, being a multi-use trail, it is not the best for foot traffic. Since dirt bikes frequent the trail, reasonable erosion control requires a heavier hand. The path varies from soft forest to exposed broken rock. At times it is flat; other times it is deeply rutted (dirt bikes).

The views are good including, Alder forest, expansive vistas, 2nd growth Fir forest, and a few creeks with bridges. More on one of the creeks later under The next visit.

There are some nice forest views and some invigorating grades (>30°) as you continue along south. As you gain elevation, you are treated to several peek-a-boo vista views. We had cloud cover limiting the view but could see east to Seattle, the Cascades remaining hidden behind the clouds.

You get a peek at the Hood Canal to the west as you take Vista Trail up to the peak.

At the top.

Along with a great view, you’ll find several picnic tables placed around the peak. On a clear day, you’d surely be able to view the Cascade range from Mt. Baker south to just north of Mt. Rainier. The rock peak is bordered with a chain-link fence on the east side for your protection. The rock face drops off sharply.

Both the Seattle Skyline and Bremerton’s PSNS with its historic crane are in view from the peak.

The way out.

After that brisk trek up to the top, the picnic tables and a hearty lunch both sat well with me. There is no water and no place to put trash so plan for that.

Back down Vista and heading east on Gold Creek trail you’re treated to expansive open views of the Olympics and Hood Canal.

You’ll continue around to Beaver Pond trail and take it back north to complete the loop. Then back on via Wildcat Trail to the trailhead.

The next visit.

I am thinking I won’t make the whole loop on the next visit but will trek in as far as this first little bridge. I could not find the name of the creek it crosses. I think I can spend a few hours there getting shots of the stream with different lighting as the sun moves across the sky. I’ll eat and take a nap between photo sessions. It’ll be fun.

Overall.

Great hike! The 10+ miles, 25+ lbs. pack, and 1700ft elevation gain was all I had in me for that 6-1/2 hour trek. I usually over-hydrate, so that was good. I had decided to carry a stove and Mountain House meals. That hearty meal at the top probably was the extra detail that ‘saved’ the day, at least for me.

We met two new friends on the trail. This is one of them (the other was chocolate-colored):