Update ~ 6/21/2011

I've been gone a while, but I've decided to come back and write again; whether anybody reads this or not.

If you read from the first post through to this post, you will see that I made many big claims to even bigger goals. I had training days and dreams for the future. Then I became very demoralized with everything when it seemed it would be a long time before anything came out of my training efforts. Additionally, I was struggling with my parents divorce (they have since changed their mind). For these reasons, I stopped writing.

I spent last year at Cal State, Northridge. It was my first year of college, and I was majoring in business. I was dorming with 3 roommates and about 10 other people who practically lived in my room. Long story short, I was unhappy with this situation.

There was however one major shining light in the whole situation. My job with AS Rec Outdoors, a campus organization that runs the campus rock wall and leads outdoor trips. I absolutely love my job. My average day can be a little boring, but the part I love is leading trips.

In addition to working with AS Outdoors, I was also able to meet several people who have helped in my progression into the outdoor world. Mike Taylor (pictured with me in my profile picture) was a great person to meet, as he and I went on my first backpacking trip. This trip was not in the least mild. We did a winter alpine ascent of Mt. San Jacinto (10,834 ft) just outside Idyllwild, CA. A 4 day trip and one of my most fun weekends. Other people are my boss Tim, who has been a great mentor for me, my coworker Ian, another great mentor, and Anthony.

So that is very briefly what brought me to where I am now. As of today, I resumed training after being sick the past few weeks. I am training for a 1 month trip to the Waddington Range in British Columbia, Canada with NOLS, the National Outdoor Leadership School. I am beyond excited. I leave in less than 3 weeks and will be home August 17th.

I will begin posting again as I train and during my trip as is possible. I apologize for what I'm sure is choppy writing. It has been a while since I've done any real creative and fun writing, so I'll just need a post or two before I gain my flow again.

Stagnate Weekend

Just wanted to fill in the world. I went surfing Thursday evening for the first time. It was great fun, even though I'm not very good. Toward the end, however, I got a really bad cramp in my leg. It's lame I know, but because of that I didn't go climbing this weekend. It was still sore throughout the weekend, and since I will be graduating this week I didn't want to risk further injury. Last Chance Lovers will go next weekend.

First Time Trad

Where to start? I guess it's best to start by saying what an amazing and scary experience it was. The height wasn't a problem. On a top-rope, difficult moves aren't scary in the least, because if I fall I have no more than the stretch of the rope to fall. Today, however, was different. Today is the first time I climbed traditional on a local crack. I am confident in placing anchors, so that wasn't a problem, but to be 15 above my last placement with choss rock impossible to place an anchor on, now that's scary. I haven't felt this kind of fear before, even though my anchors were solid.

For those unfamiliar with climbing terms, traditional or trad is, in the most basic sense, placing anchors while climbing as opposed to climbing with the rope above you (top-roping) or climbing on pre-placed, bolted anchors (sport).

The stellar outcropping is located off of the north end of Nesthorn in Pine Mountain Club, CA. It's no J-Tree, but it's challenging, new, and local. My chosen route is Last Chance Lovers, named by me. The route starts on a 25-30 foot vertical crack, leading to a crack traverse on a slight overhang, then up the final 15 feet of face climbing. Technically speaking, the climb is rather easy, rating maybe 5.7 at the very hardest. What made this difficult for me was the fact that I was introducing myself to a new aspect of verticulture.

Today, I climbed the first "pitch," however short. This allowed me to gain some further confidence in my abilities. My anchor placements were solid, to the point where rapping off them was not a problem in the least. I intend to go back very soon to complete Last Chance Lovers, hopefully next weekend. When I do, I will give a full report on the climb, and hopefully have photos to bring it all together.

P.S. To climbers of epics like El Cap, a dream of mine, my humble beginnings are just that, humble. The point is to illustrate my personal growth in my passionate existence.

Climbing Season Will Be Back Soon

Oh how I love California's short winters. In just a few short, but cabin fever inducing months winter has come and is nearly gone it seems. I love winter, and am glad I got to try skiing for the first time, warm months allow me to climb outdoors. Until I get my license, I am limited to local climbing which becomes too icy for rock climbing, but not icy enough for ice climbing. I am endlessly grateful for the climbing wall in my garage that my parents generously allowed me to build two years ago. It is often my fix for long periods without gripping granite. Warm months are welcomed with friendly arms. I can't wait to hit the "crag" (if you can call it that).

Why Ski?

This weekend, I tried cross country skiing for the first time. It was amazing. This new form of travel is so much fun. It's great to glide over the snow, instead of trudging through it.

To recap for those of you not living in California, we were pounded with some of the most extreme weather we've seen in years. Where I live, we were hit with three major storms leaving us a very thick blanket of snow. 2 wonderful feet. In areas like LA, flooding and mudslides were commonplace, and California even saw tornadoes. To help put it in perspective, the barometer dropped to the lowest ever recorded pressure. As I said in a previous post, I went to school only half a day last week, because of the extreme weather.

I had never had the urge to ski before. Skiing to me was one of those "that looks like fun" activities. My schools snowboarding and ski club, which heads to Mountain High in February, doesn't include me. Now, though, I wish it did. Why couldn't this obsession have hit me sooner?

My sudden urge to ski is the result of a couple of things. First, I recently watched a bonus episode of The Rest of Everest, in which Ben Clark skied from Ophir, Colorado to Telluride, Colorado. This made me realize what skis enable when it comes to mountaineering. Second, like I said above, we were pounded with snow. While I love snow days, they can create a sort of cabin fever. Friday afternoon, I was able to rent a pair of skis for the weekend, and I used them every possible minute of it.

Saturday, I headed down to the park, because of the large, flat baseball field. I knew I could go there and ski without worrying about running into anything. I walked right next to the baseball field, which had a bench that I used to go from snow boots to ski boots. To get there required about 100 feet of plodding through virgin snow. After getting the skis on and my feet properly underneath me, all I had to do was do it, so I did. I had watch a tutorial video the night before, so I had a bit of an idea how to do it. Also, I figure skated for years when I was younger, so I was comfortable enough with balance. I simply had to accept that I would fall.

I started slowly, making a circle around the field. It was easy enough, but I felt quite clumsy. After I was comfortable on flat ground, I started toward the small hills throughout the park. Both going up and going down required technique adjustment and a fall or two. Saturday resulted in a tired, hungry, happy person. What fun!

Sunday, I spent hours on the skis. When I learned I wouldn't be able to try some local trails that I felt I could handle, I decided to put on the skis and practice in my front yard and the vacant lot directly next my house. This was fun, though I received several bewildered looks from passers by. This was kind of embarrassing, but I was having too much fun to care.

In the afternoon, I was joined by Alannah, my best friend and victim of my outdoors obsession. She used my mom's skis, which she bought a few years ago and used only a few times. Alannah, by a convenient twist of fate, is exactly the same size as my mom. We went to the park and did nearly the same thing I had done alone on Saturday. An hour and a half was gone before I could blink.

In the future, I look forward to trying telemark skiing. Telemark skis are like cross country skis, in that they have a free heal, but are just as strong in downhill skiing as alpine skis. It will happen soon enough, but right now, nothing feels soon enough.

Weekend Update

I thought I'd report on new and upcoming things in my life and for Adventure Post. First of all, I rented a pair of cross country skis, and am going to try for the first time tomorrow. I will be going with my best friend, Alannah, who is also going for the first time. We will be using the baseball field at the park, as it's covered in 2 feet of snow and is flat. An article and photos will follow.Second, and much more exciting, I will be starting a new post titled Adventure Profiles. This will be a sub-series where I will interview others who are already established in an adventure sport, journalistic work, or both. My first interview will be coming up soon and will feature Jon Miller, producer of The Rest of Everest (therestofeverest.com), a video podcast on the topic of mountaineering. Lots of milestones coming up for me.

P.S. I realize there is a problem with this post. I will attempt to fix it, but in the mean time this will have to suffice.

Snowbound Mishaps and Magic

Living in the mountains of southern California is great. While much of the state braces in the midst of wide-spread flooding, we get to bask in the warm glow of morning snow.

The snow began late Tuesday morning, and has hardly ceased. Being a senior of Frazier Mountain High School, this means many great things. We were released at 12:30 on Tuesday, because of the large volume of snow that had already fallen to that point. Today was a snow day, and we have already received the call stating tomorrow's snow day as well. Snow days are incredible.

A typical snow day for me consists of guilt free laziness. Aside from a few household chores, lengthened slightly by the snow, I am free to do as I please. Chores consist of maintaining a fire (as per winter days), standard mealtime chores, and shoveling out the car.

Today, even after shoveling out the car, it was still stuck. 2 inches of ice, and nothing to use to gain more traction means our Subaru Forester is imprisoned in the drive way. However, our poor dog, Kramer, was low on food. I decided I would trek the half mile down to the store to pick up the few things we needed. Upon the failure to rescue the Sube, my mom decided to join me.

The walk was largely uneventful, with a couple exceptions. The first being the store's closure. The very reason for our evening ice stroll was closed for the night, we guessed for a lack of customers. Second, I lost one of my ice cleats. They are a simple rubber webbing with 6 strategically placed spikes that pull over the boot to help on ice. I had been checking every few hundred feet, but it just happened to fall off. We turned back to search. The light of my headlamp not bright enough in the search. As we continued walking, what else turned the corner but a snow plow! The search became dire. I had seconds to find my cleat before it was consumed by the snow plow and lost until the eventual snow melt. Closer it got, I looked more frantically. Nothing. Closer still, and still nothing. 25 feet, and still nothing. Found it! Completely in the path of the plow and only moments before missing one left cleat and having one cleat left. Crisis (however small) averted. Time to head home to the cozy fire and the soon hungry dog. Sorry Kramer. Tomorrow for sure.

Otherwise, the snow is incredible. It's always amazing how fast the mountain can change. I only wish I had some skis... And knew how to use them.

College and the Rest of My Life

This is not a story of adventure sports, but rather of new adventures I soon face. I've been accepted to Cal State Northridge, and plan to attend in the fall to major in journalism. What a world of new experiences awaits me. I'm so excited to see what life has in store. What is college going to be like? What is it going to be like moving away from home? What is it going to be like moving in with complete strangers? I just have to wait and see. It will be a grand chapter in my life, whatever happens.

Weather today, and probably for the rest of the week, rainy. No outdoor training for me. Oh well. I'm working on plans for camping next weekend, if weather permits.

Camping Follow Up

Taken while on a hike on Saturday, January 2nd.

The camping trip with Naturalist For You (NFY) [www.naturalist-for-you.org] on January 1st to January 3rd was spectacular. To share my boundless experience in this blog would be impossible, however I will share an overview of the weekend.

The weekend began at the Chuchupate Ranger Station in Lockwood Valley, California. Here, we met and Joel Robinson, the guide and naturalist trainer for the weekend, took our information. Following this, the five volunteer naturalist trainees, myself included, and Joel heard a presentation by Alan Salazar on the Chumash natives. I was intrigued to hear the history of the tribe that used to live in the mountains I currently roam. Their stories and their seemingly endless, yet harmonious, uses for the world around them were a wonder and Alan was a wealth of knowledge on the subject. [Side note: Alan Salazar can be found at www.chumashstories.com.]

After this, we went on a short tour around the ranger station, where Joel told us about the local plants and I got the opportunity to eat the first of many new food sources that I had never thought of. Pine needles. Needles from the piñon pine tree have a surprisingly refreshing citrus flavor. However, I have to caution you to eat them at your own risk.

From here, we went to our campsite and got settled in for the night. We made camp, which consisted of 4 separate tents, a small fire pit, and, eventually, a very warm fire for the freezing nights. That night, we went on a nocturnal hike after sundown, ate dinner, and talked about the many subjects of life around the camp fire well into the night.

The next morning began with the sort of comfort and serenity that only comes from spending extended periods of time in nature. The day was spent hiking and learning to identify local flora and fauna.

The evening was spent around the campfire talking and eating. Eventually, drums emerged and we all had fun with the freedom of music. Later in the evening, Sarah-Jane, another of the trainees, told us a native story, then introduced us further into native culture. Take this next bit as you like. It delves into the spiritual and metaphysical aspects of native life. We went on a journey. Not of the physical, but of the spiritual. In a meditative state, as taught by Sarah-Jane, we searched for our spirit animals. This was a very interesting experience, though in all honesty, I don't know how much I truly believe. In any case, through my journey I discovered I had two spirit guides; Eagle and Wolf.

Sunday was spent with further hiking and learning of the local environment. In the afternoon, each trainee made an Interpretive presentation, and graduated from the training course.

I am now a volunteer naturalist with NFY and I can't wait to guide my first tour. This weekend gave me many incredible memories and also connected me to more people who can help me on the path to my goals.

Packed and Ready

I just finished packing for my weekend trip. Everything I need is either in my pack or attached to the outside. Warm clothes, pots, water, and everything else. The total weight is 65 pounds; 20 more than I've been training with. Good thing I don't have to walk far.

I'm not entirely sure what's in store for me, but new experiences are always the catalyst for growth, and this one won't be an exception.

I've never made New Years resolutions, but I can't help but see the coincidences with this trip. It begins on January first and starts my official trips. This will be my first trip since turning 18. And, like I said in an earlier post, my first trip in winter. I can't wait.

One Week 'Till Camping

I will be camping next weekend from Friday through Sunday. I will be spending the weekend with a group of people I've never met in a place I've never been at temperatures I have yet to sleep in. We will be camping on Frazier Mountain, and though it is in the same mountain range as where I live, I have never been there. The trip was organized by Naturalist For You (http://www.naturalist-for-you.org/), a local organization and guide service aimed at promoting environmental appreciation and protection.

I have spent the last several weeks gathering all the needed items in order to have a successful and warm weekend. Though I had many of the components necessary for backpacking, I lacked a compact tent, stove, and cookware. I borrowed all three items from a friend, who backpacked often in his younger days. However, he hadn't used any of them in over a decade. As a result, there was a bit of re-education needed to use them. The tent was very simple to put together, with similar construction to the large 4 person tent my family used on our car camping trips, but I had to do some troubleshooting for one simple and minor problem, but a problem that would take away from the experience greatly. Since the tent hadn't been used in several years, it picked up a peculiar odor that was very uncomfortable to be around. The musty smell resembled old cheese. It was an easy fix, but took me a little while to think of. In the end, I built the tent in my garage and sprayed it with a largess coating of Febreeze to hopefully remove the smell entirely. This worked amazingly and the tent now has a much more pleasant smell. However, it is still airing out, as I'd prefer to smell the crisp winter air and the pine trees over the smell of Febreeze.

The next problem came when I lit the small MSR stove for the first time. The stove burns liquid propane through a hand pump which attaches to the canister. Given the small size of the pump, I felt that it needed several pumps to build adequate pressure. I pumped it nine or ten times, then lit it as the instructions dictated. It lit with ease, but the amount of fuel that I had forced into the fuel line quickly escaped and leaked in a liquid to directly under the stove. The excess fuel then caught fire. The small, controlled burn turned to a large fireball on my stove. Even after I had turned the fuel off, it continued to burn as a result of the fuel that had leaked underneath for 10 minutes until it had all burned off. I then returned to visit John, the friend who loaned me the equipment, to figure out the problem. We encountered the same situation. After some trial and error we solved it. Three pumps seems to be the proper amount to ensure no fireballs followed.

In the next few days I will be buying the last of the things on my list. Namely food and a pair of snow pants. Following those final purchases, I will be packing everything into the 85 liter pack that I've been using to train with. My first winter camping experience is just days away. I hope my feet stay warm.

I'll Post More Soon

Hey. I just wanted to apologize for not posting anything recently. I'm taking finals. I'll be finished this week, and when I am I'll post more again. If you're new, read the earlier posts to see my plans.

Climbing Season Over

Climbing season is officially over, here on the mountain. Last night, we got pounded with 4 inches of snow in the lightest of a series of storms to take place throughout the week. I have no doubt that my bouldering spots, all hovering around 8,000 feet, are now unclimbable.

This is another of winters bittersweet aspects. I love the incredible beauty of fresh powder on the ground, but I'm a summer sports kind of guy. I have never gone skiing or snowboarding, in favor of spending my money on climbing and mountain biking gear.

I am realizing, though, in a nice twist, that I am going to gain experience with winter hiking and mountaineering as I continue my training through the cold months.

My trip list was expanded this week to my first winter camping experience. I will be spending New Years weekend on Frazier Mountain with Naturalist For You, a nonprofit organization aimed at creating a broader appreciation of nature. The trip is a three day two night training trip, during which time I will become a certified naturalist guide. Naturalist guides volunteer their time to teach the public about nature, while on hikes or otherwise. I will be posting more information as I receive it.

My First Solo Alpine Ascent

Me with my pack with 45 pounds of weights. I can't wait for spring.

I asked my friend to take this picture of me more for the purposes of my profile, so the reader can get a better idea of who I am. However, it showcases my first mountain. My first dream and obsession and, as of last summer, my first alpine style ascent.

The mountain in the center of the background is Sawmill Mountain. The 8,818 foot peak is relatively small compared to some of my other mountain obsessions such as Mount Whitney and Mount Everest, however it was a major personal movement forward.

I moved to Pine Mountain Club, California during the summer before seventh grade. Sawmill Mountain immediately caught my eye. The scree gully, which later became my route up the mountain, was so reminiscent of the classic peaks of the world. Its jagged, exposed face was captivating. I had to climb it.

I had made several plans with different friends to climb it, but every time one thing or another prohibited us from doing so. For 5 years, I had the mountain calling me. I had to answer it. I couldn't wait any longer.

I knew where I was going and what I needed to do it successfully. Hours of starring at the map gave me confidence that I could do it. I could stand it no longer. I left my home in the early afternoon and began walking. I packed a day pack with 1 liter of water, trail mix, and my 5.10 rock shoes.

The first mile and a half are on very easy trail with less than 1,000 feet of elevation gain. The final half mile, however, were a trial of everything I had. The slope is a very choss scree slope. For those of you who don't know, choss is very crumbly rock.

I continued up the route that my planning and speculating had shown. I was quickly scaling the face, occasionally turning to check the view. 100 feet, nice view and comfortable height. "I can't believe this," I thought as I reached 300 feet. 500 feet, incredibly exposed, I'm so glad I brought those rock shoes, I hope this next hold stays. After passing the more exposed section, the forest again explodes out of the mountain. I thought My main troubles were over.

As I continued through the trees, still on steep ground, I encountered a new problem: natural rose bushes and shorts. By the time I plowed all the way through the thicket, my legs were bloody and shaky.

The accomplishment I felt when I reached the summit was more than ever before. As I stood overlooking where I had come from, I realized how late in the afternoon it was. It would be dark in an hour and a half, returning by the way I had come was too dangerous and staying the night was not an option. I had to find the trail that runs along the top of the mountain and head east until I reached the road and would be able to hitchhike home. I started walking again at a hasty pace.

The trail seemed endless as I walked totally exhausted and out of water. "Shouldn't there be another hiker?" I wondered as I watched my shadows grow longer. There wasn't another hiker until I reached Mount Pinos where I was able to convince a departing family to give me a ride home. I was incredibly grateful for their ride and they seemed to enjoy me recounting my day.

I arrived home exhausted, hungry, and cut, but I arrived intensely satisfied that I had accomplished this goal. This first alpine ascent was the first of many to come. My life as a climber was undeniable. This is what I was supposed to do.

Old Friends, New Experiences

View from my back deck.

Yesterday was a very nice change of pace in my training. I love training solo, because it brings me closer to nature than most other things. However, nothing compares to new stories from an old friend.

My great friend, Christian, graduated last year (a year before I will) and began attending Cuesta College in San Luis Obispo, California. Since he moved away the only way we've been able to talk is through Facebook and only for short periods of time. He came home for Thanksgiving and was up for the weekend.

I had just finished a fairly large lunch of the left over burritos from a few nights earlier and began organizing my pack and the warmer clothes I needed for my walk when he called. "Hey," he said when I answered. "What's up?" I asked. He told me he was bored at home, so I invited him to come with me.

We walked somewhere between 3 and 4 miles. I'm not sure, because I'd never walked that way before and hadn't mapped it out. We talked about life as we walked.

Topics ranged from his classes and work, downloading tons of movies and TV shows to the point that he and his roommate received notice letters, and , briefly, the endless high school drama (which always follows the same plot). "The differences," he says, "between high school and college is that there is more work and the writing on the bathroom stalls has proper grammar."

As we walked, and the sun continued on it's westward path behind the mountain, the weather went from a cool, but comfortable sunny winter day to a fairly cold evening. This drop in temperature turned the snowmelt from the day into a thin but smooth sheet of ice. It's always a comical challenge when one is forced to walk on icy, hilly roads with little more than hiking boots. Though, neither of us fell, we definitely struggled to maintain our balance.

To conclude the day, we stopped at our friend Alannah's house. This was a bit of a reunion of our old trio. The summer after my sophomore year (one where I grew immensely) and the school year following was spent almost entirely with Christian and Alannah. The three of us sat around her warm fire and, just like old times, talking about the wonderful minutia of life.

The photos included were taken while walking the hills of Pine Mountain Club on the day of the first annual snowfall.

Writing From My Younger Days

This was written on Friday July 11, 2008. I am posting it, because I feel it gives some insight into my life and thus, the adventurer's heart.

It seems that when I get away from the usual comforts of the home I find a better balance with myself. The daily comforts of a couch, a TV, or even something so simple as a house: that so many enjoy and depend on for personal pleasure. As I walk through nature I find myself questioning whether I truly want to live in this standard of life that I have been so well acquainted. It seems so apparent that those who seek a house and furnishings for that house often become very stressed. Once someone has a "possession" they often fall under the belief that it is actually theirs and they start to guard it. They want to keep it forever or find something better to keep forever. This does not seem healthy.

On the other hand, take a metaphysical look at a tree. A tree starts out as something simple such as an acorn or a pinecone. That simple beginning (not unlike the beginning of a human) leads to a series of events which over time ends with it becoming buried and beginning to grow. Like infant humans, it does not know where it is or how it got there, but it is purely content with simply living. After that initial stage of infancy is when the major difference become noticeable. The sapling is still happy with existing and growing, but a toddler wants more than that. A toddler seeks, not only sustenance, but also physical things. A toddler will see a toy and might not even know what it is, but the toddler does know that he wants it. Why can we not be like the tree or like many animals? Why is it so hard to live with the goal of sustenance and after that simply enjoy the experience of the reality around us? What will lead me to this ability?

While I was sitting by a stream in a natural setting I was very content. I was not seeking to gain property. I was enjoying the beauty of the reality all around me. Is there a reason that I must acquire a house or can I live in nature? There are many who would consider not owning a house a lack in personal quality. I do not believe that not owning a house is a bad thing. Right now, I am seeking two things. The first is a peaceful life and the second is a role in society that allows me to make a difference in the lives of others while allowing me to live the way I want to.

Inspiration

I know I am technically writing this on the 24th of November, but keep in mind that it is 12:14 in the morning. This means that it still feels like the same day. It still feels as though it is Monday. And for many, that is true. The next day doesn't occur until they awaken in the morning. So this is my post for Monday. That noted, I wanted to take a moment and go the the beginnings of my life and share my first experiences with adventure.

I've always loved to climb and am told that I once threw a tantrum when, upon arriving home from shopping, I realized that my parents were not going to get me the ladder that I was asking for. I have no recollection of this, but for those in support of nature over nurture, I guess this can be taken as some evidence. I do, however, remember my first exposure to backpacking and mountaineering. In 1996, the adventure film "Alaska" was released. The movie chronicles a brother and sister in their teens (probably pretty close to the age I am now) as they search for their missing father, all the while battling poachers and growing into strong individuals. I've had a passion for Alaska and everything wilderness ever since. I guess those childhood dreams don't fade easily, because that movie has more or less defined my life.

A few years later I was in 3rd grade and beginning to read bigger, more grown up books. My elementary school annually held a book fair in which students could purchase age appropriate books. This is when I bought my first survival book. I was so excited. I couldn't wait to read it. I tore open the pages and began reading before I even walked out the door. (This seemed to annoy my older brother who was 2 grades above me and had to walk home with me and ensure I made it safely.) This was the first "chapter" book I ever read in it's entirety. Though I can no longer remember the title, I remember fondly reading about how to escape from a sinking car and how to build a proper fire. I even kept a first aid kit in my bedroom.

More recently, the film "Into the Wild" was released, which tells the incredible story if Chris McCandless. I had never seen my dreams so vividly personified. I instantly identified with Chris and my dreams that had been always there, but quieted, exploded to the world. Much to the worry of my parents, and the cause of their current fears. One similarity between Chris and I still interests me, most likely because it is so recent a part of my life, is that Chris was Captain on his cross country team in high school and this year, I served as captain on my cross country team. I first found this similarity when reading Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer, though I wasn't captain last year, I had earned Most Outstanding Runner. I do realize that that sounds like a cocky ego stroke, but I add it to better illustrate my life.

I still dream of Alaska (and watch the movie of the same title often). I know I will one day spend time there and will see the Northern Lights in my life.

I'm currently working on a photo journal and that should be ready to share soon. Other upcoming topics, future trips and goals.

New Personal Record

Today was my forth day walking with a weighted pack. The pack was again weighted at 40 pounds. I reached a new personal best. I walked 7 miles today, marking the farthest distance I've traveled on foot. I was surprised again to find that I had the endurance to physically cover this distance with little struggle. Though, the last push (a quarter mile up hill) to make it home was quite hard. The hardest part was my back acting up. I was again surprised, however, to find that a brief break when I could no longer take it enabled me to continue for a few more miles.

All in all, the trek was fantastic. A beautiful sunset and occasional conversations with strangers make for a great day. It looks to me that my biggest obstacle at the moment is my friends and family who are worried. Thanks for caring, but please allow me the freedom I've earned.

Winter

Winter sure feels like it's here. Clouds, low fog, and ice. Time to break out the winter gear. Snow shoes, thermals, and beanies. Can't wait for snow.

Winter, for me, is always a bittersweet time of reflection. I love the beauty of the snow and the cozy warmth of family, hot chocolate, and fire in the fire place. On the other hand, climbing is put to a near stand still. Winter hiking is still in the mix, and some of the most amazing environments can be seen when one finds a snow covered, ice ladened waterfall, but the fast paced lifestyle slows to a crawl.

Goals for the season, continue trekking with progressively heavier packs for progressively longer distances, work out my scrawny upper body, capture natures lovely landscapes with my camera, and stay warm with my amazing friends and family.

Training Day

Today was the second day of training with a weighted backpack. The backpack used was the Supernova 85 (85 liter) weighted to 41 pounds.

I walked a little over 3 miles with an elevation gain of 600 feet from 5,400 feet to 6,000. This was harder than I originally thought. I didn't struggle in the least with endurance. I did however experience back pain as a result of a car accident in the seventh grade. Most of my pain was in my shoulders, I had no problem finishing the walk and after a short break without the pack my shoulders recovered. This gives me great hope that my back will not handicap me from achieving my dreams.

Spring trips are coming fast. I can't wait

I have to give thanks to Mrs. Hardesty. I wouldn't have started this blog if it weren't for her inspiration. Thanks.