Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one’s lifetime.~Mark Twain, Innocents Abroad

Marathon

I’m experimenting with writing prompts…today’s was the word Marathon (don’t worry, I’m ok – it’s a gloomy reflection, not my present state).

 

caught in a storm on a slippery street, they pass me by faster, stronger, more determined.  they will cross the finish line, rewarded for perseverance, off to handling the next mundane or spectacular details of their stable lives, while I, again, fall behind…

the lazy one behind a stream of normalcy, the anxious one behind  high fives and warm blankets and congratulatory signs…the doubtful one behind everything and behind what i once thought could be my self.

in some primordial time i bought the t-shirt and was sent to Earth to run this marathon of mental servitude…therefore I can not quit the race.

 

Tired

Hi Folks. I love you. Just so you know =)

Kate Spade and Pure Grit

When I opened the trunk today to organize the contents of my life in a Chevy Aveo, I saw a perfect vision of paradox. The items in my vehicle were selected carefully and with great consideration; having no known place to live when they were packed I chose the things I knew I’d use, the things that would make me feel the most comfortable anywhere I ended up, and the tools/gear I’d need to do what makes me me.

Climbing Giants in the Pacific Northwest

When I worked for Cascadia Wildlands, one of our sponsors was Pacific Tree Climbing Institute. They took groups out to climb Douglas Fir trees and gave adventurers an education in ecology. It’s a super cool company, and I was pretty lucky to partake in the tree climbing. Here you see me rappelling from a 150 foot Doug Fir, and you can see above my head the tree boats we slept in. I got to bring my friend Kathryn along, which was really neat because we got to stay up talking in the tree boat all night. I will admit, climbing the tree was a bit scarier than descending!

Some Lake in Some Town, Oregon

Summer 2008 – I so don’t remember the name of this lake or even the town it was in. But I rode on the back of my friend’s dirtbike with a backpack full of PBR and a bathing suit. That’s all you need for a last minute adventure, right? It was so awesome watching the sun set over the lake and feeling the Northwest evening air turn chilly. I wore a yellow hoody that turned brown from exposure and bugs. There was no room for disappointment over material things.

 

 

How Hiking Changes Your Brain

Check out this article! You’ve heard me say a lot of this if you kept up with my Appalachian Trail journal, and  you’ve most likely picked up on it just by reading how I work through stuff on the trail. It’s lovely to have some scientific validation for my experiences.

How Hiking Actually Changes Our Brains

Peralta Canyon, Superstition Wilderness, Arizona

That’s Weaver’s Needle in the background. It doesn’t look like a needle to me…but I didn’t name it. Whatever people have decided to call it, the formation is stunning. This day I hiked with my friends Trent and Jason from herb school on a spring afternoon. I remember seeing a diamond back rattler for the first time…We got all sweaty and sunburned and still went to class that evening. This is one of my favorite pictures.

Looking closely you can see how mountainous the desert really is. The trail head for Peralta Canyon was about 40 minutes drive from Phoenix.  I sometimes miss the close proximity to wild space and the vibe of cowboy freedom I experienced in the American Southwest.

Rogue River Valley, Oregon

One of many waterfalls in the Rogue River Valley. This day I hit up 3 or 4 on the way to and from Crater Lake National Park. This part of Southern Oregon is GORGEOUS!

 

Malibu, California

January 2013. Just passing through….I really miss those Dickies. I wore them everywhere, even though they were too big. You’ll probably see em in at least 50% of my adventure pictures…they came from a clothing swap in Eugene…one day I’ll find a replacement!

Had to share this one because I’m going to be in Malibu a week from today! Stoked!