A night atop Abe.

A last minute decision to head for a night stay at Battell shelter and come down early for work was well in typical fashion for Sarah, Odin and I. We reached the top just in time to set up camp, eat, enjoy the sunset and have a quick game of solitaire then to bed. With the temps in the low 40's and a light to moderate breeze we had the whole mountain to ourselves. With morning came a brisk hike down to Lincoln Gap then off to work. This is and will always be my favorite way to start the work day.

Tis a good one as always.

It's a beautiful life.

A memeorial service at the GMC headquarters will take place and then a hike for Dave lead by Lexi. In celebration of a life truly well lived. Heres to Dave.

A Sad Day

It started as a very good day in our household - T got his cast off! - and we celebrated with breakfast and coffee in Stowe. Then, we came home and rallied on what is hopefully to be a stellar tag sale - we organized, priced, and prepped. We decided to cap off this day with a beer downtown, and that is where we learned the news: Dave Blumenthal did not survive yesterday's collision with a car. Our neighborhood, town, and the greater cycling community - and outdoors community at large - is devastated. With this, we are going to go outside, find something beautiful to look at, and think how lucky we are. We're lucky to have the fortunate lives we do and to have now. When we try to make sense of someones death, we both turn inwards and we look to others. For me, I'm amazed at how life works: we talked with Dave the day before he left - he was so excited - and we wouldn't have known this was the last time we would talk with him. I talked with his wife and daughter the other day in the neighborhood. I told his wife we were following his progress, and his daughter peered out of her stroller to tell me her daddy was in a big bike race; she was elated. My heart breaks for them; my heart breaks for how short life can be. And I marvel at how we will just never know what the future holds.

Tristan and I try to show that life is what you make it; we try to inspire others to enjoy the now. We are not very concerned with status symbols, resumes and titles, fancy degrees, hours logged at work, or other markers of "success" as the modern world would define it. These are not the things that matter; these are not the things that you take with you. In the memory of Dave and in the spirit of a life lived with only the next adventure in mind, I am going to solidify the importance I place on enjoying the now, in the spirit of adventure, and in loving life and what it gives you.

A two wrist day.

So after five weeks June 24th is the first of many days with my brand new wrist! With my cast gone I look forward to not having to retell my broken wrist story ever again! Back in the saddle again, watch out here I come.

Every Adventure is a Blessing

The Tour Divide is a self-supported long-distance mountain bike ride that starts in BC and follows the spine of the mountains all the way down to Mexico. Some folks treat it as a race, others as a great adventure. Our neighbor, Dave Blumenthal, sought to re-create the feeling and lifestyle of a "thru-something." For those who have not done a long distance trip, this lifestyle is one of pain, endurance, beauty, and wonderful times shared with wonderful people. Unfortunately, Dave's trip ended abruptly this morning when he suffered a head-on collision with a car. My heart breaks to think about him and his family.

Tristan and I decided that we have to assume the best, but it's hard not to imagine the worst outcomes. We tried to distract ourselves with a hike and dinner out, which was nice, but as soon as I got home I looked for an update on Dave. Nothing yet, but I'm still hoping for the best. In the meantime, it reminds me that everything can change in an instant, nothing is a given, and every adventure is a blessing.

A Perfect Sunday

Tristan and I got out today for a really nice hike on the Long Trail, starting at Appalachian Gap (Rte 17) and up to Molly Stark's balcony, which is a nice little overlook with expansive views. But before our hike, we stopped by a favorite spot, with a certain amount of significance for us, to have a sandwich: If you haven't been, the Warren village general store is fabulous, so yummy, has great hiking snacks, and the river right below the deck is a great spot to swim and hang out. (Or wait for hours for someone to come pick you up...twice.)

We hadn't been on this particular section of the LT since 2001, the year we hiked the trail in its entirety. It was beatiful hiking weather, the views were spectacular, and it was so nice to just walk in the woods.
Tristan had a memory of stopping during our LT hike in '01 on this section of trail to cook a ramen noodle; I couldn't recall this at all, until I got to this exact spot in the trail. It just hit me, and it felt so nice to remember.
Today was a classic example of our approach to adventure: we headed out with a general sense of direction (which was dictated more by a craving for that general store sandwich than anything else), the minimum basics for a few different types of outdoor pursuits, and absolutely no plan. We found ourselves at Molly Stark's balcony on a beautiful day. Life is always the best when you open yourself up to just letting it unfold. The first - and only real - step is to get out there.
We ended the whole thing with one of the more beautiful salads I've ever eaten, corn on the cob, and a chewy, yeasty, delicous ciabata bread from the general store. (Seriously, go there!) This is how Sundays are meant to be lived!

Dirt or snow it's all about the line and the excitment that comes with it.

Sunday after work; enough said.

ORS in bicycling mag; wicked.

Back at it

Somehow I managed to have some good friends invite me on a ride up county Rd to Morse farm for a road slash mountain ride. The climb was great but found my cast too awkward for the descents. That being said I still had a great time and found the time I put on the trainer was well spent! I think this plaster of paris comes off in one to two weeks? Cant wait! Here's to a great time thanks everyone.