Love

It's that day where you might just want to grab the one you love and let them know how much they mean to you.

Here's to my valentine; that brown eyed girl I met over 13 years ago and am still crazy in love with.

T.

Play to live.

Odin and Buddy ruffing it up.

This weekend with the new fallen snow we couldn't help but revisit some of our favorite places. (Might I ad our friends in CT almost had us making a surprise visit home as storm Nemo dumped as much as 40" over the weekend; unbelievable.) The last time this happened I was 7 months old and it was 1978. My father had to abandon his purple Ford Pinto...yeah pretty sweet, to post hole home with diapers......it's been awhile since then. Sure we've been out scraping around after work but nothing beats hanging out with friends in fresh powder.  Some of our best friends and teachers happen to have four legs and an insatiable appetite for food, powder and play. I caught Odin and Buddy, after following us around all day in the VT back country proving that life is always more fun when shared with good friends, who also like to live and play in the mountains.

Have fun out there...

T.

Tired boots.

Guest Post from the West Coast

Introducing our newest guest blogger, Silvia, for our first edition of Guest Post from the West Coast! This is a great reminder to live in the present. And Silvia: I, too, dream of someday living out of a car -- a vintage vw van, actually.  ( :

Peace from the East,
Sarah


Author’s Note: I wanted my first “Guest Post from the West Coast” to be about adventure.  However, I recently tore my right ACL (did it last year to my left knee in a stupid telemarking breathtaking view type situation) backcountry skiing Mount Gould in the Central Sierra.  I can write a post about that later. So as a now “ACL-less” person, I’d rather talk about something else for now.  I’m not sure who will read this, as I typically don’t write blogs this long, nor with footnotes.

A few Wednesdays ago was a day of thought and revelation- more so than most days.  I sat in the library nearly all day clicking through options for how to pay for grad school, and looking up other school and job options.  It wasn’t necessarily a day where I accomplished much professionally.  I did manage to check out the first book I grabbed while taking a stretch break.  Oddly, it was by Vermont author, Chris Bohjalian. I found a little bit of comfort in that. I am not quite sure I’ll finish it before the two weeks is up, but I’m really good at starting things lately.  I’ll have to work on the finishing part.

It was a dreary day in this little and soon-to-be bankrupt town of Mammoth Lakes, CA. A town with lots of black bears eating fearful tourists' fish and garbage, people from L.A. wearing their botox, tight pants, and ray bans, and a bunch of adventure loving freaks such as myself.  People flock to the Sierras to soak up, encapsulate the beauty, and revel in the Range of Light, and rightly so.  I am by no means as adventurous as I’d like to be, nor as adventurous as people I know.  I admire all the feats the brave residents and wanderers of the Sierras partake in.  I think for me it is a warming up process, and a what-injury-will-I-get-now-that-both-my-knees-are-bad process. 

Never know who is at your local coffee shop. Gas this day was $4.69 for 87 grade

Some of my family and friends at home don’t understand the dirtbag lifestyle of the West. It’s almost that time of year where multiple rv’s, old station wagons and vans, pimped out vans, and the like start touring through more than they do in winter.  I remember being excited to see who would show up next and driving what when I worked at the Mammoth Lakes Welcome Center.  Granted some of these folk are taking their lifetime dream trip, but a good share are seasonal workers, or people who have saved up, quit their job, retired, laid off, and in general are taking life by the horns with whatever funds they have or havenot.  You get one of everything here.  I have a list that is so long of the things I want to do in the Sierras that will take a decade at least, and I may never make it to British Columbia! Maybe I need to live out of a car bigger than the one I own someday[1].  The idea of a house and garden is getting nicer sounding everyday, though.  

Taken on a sunny day where I sat along Mammoth Creek

 If you know me, you know that right about now is where I remember I am trying to make a point.  So, this revelation, you see, came after a night of visiting multiple hot springs and a morning of sleeping in  (til 11!).  Just about 4pm, my van friend and I were getting frustrated with the library and took the path from the library to a dirt path along Mammoth Creek.  Just in case my PT has time to read this, it was an “even” surface.  The sky was an indigo blue toward the Glass Mountains and Long Valley Caldera[2].  Fog and low-lying clouds were settling in the Sherwin Creek drainage (drains into Mammoth Creek). We both wanted to walk closer to the creek.  I mentioned my fear of drowning, but that I am drawn to water to calm me down and give me solace.  We sat on a rock with some pussy willow shrubs blocking the view of the creek, but the sound of the lively water was the background of our conversation.
 

It started to sprinkle.  Rain doesn’t happen a lot here, and we just sat in it for a few minutes. It wasn’t anything to be concerned with.  We decided to walk back.  That’s when the most beautiful rainbow I’ve seen appeared. Nestled at the base of the Sherwin Range and extending into the Long Valley Caldera.  It was stunning. Perhaps I’ve been watching too much of the Wonder Years lately[3], and everything is making me nostalgic and sappy. Logically, this rainbow appeared because of the weather, but there is religious symbolism to rainbows. I could start asking, “What does this mean?” but I’m pretty sure our neighbor in Yosemite did that on YouTube last year. 

To me, the slight melancholy feeling I’ve been having regarding what is next in my life is nothing new.  It happens every spring before the seasonal transition.  As Real Deal Matt Beal said in college once, “you are always looking for jobs.” It still holds true today.  I achieved my career goal of the USFS, but there isn’t much advancement for me without furthering my studies or somehow finding another in.  So debating whether to go into debt to get a Masters degree instead of hoping to move up the ladder is a big deal. Moving is a big deal.  Establishing residency or not is a big deal. Insurance and where it is based out of is a big deal.  Insurance companies don’t understand seasonal workers move where the jobs are and can’t keep switching insurance all the time, nor switching residency. In a way the government is creating a health care problem by having seasonal workers with no benefits. It is frustrating getting no support from your employer and hassle from insurance.  Either way, I came to California on a whim after listening to that Led Zepplin song[4] and I like it here.

The revelation by the creek was simply: I have to consider that current present situations may affect my decisions. I cannot get so stuck in the future as I tend to.  I have to think about it and be actively pursuing it, but make sure I sit on a rock and enjoy the present once in a while. We all need those reminders sometimes.


Studying for the GRE exam in my tent and hiking all summer as a Wilderness Ranger gave me plenty of time to reflect and revel.  A dream job some say. A job I was fortunate to get.  A job I cannot perform this year because I need to give my knees a break after multiple injuries to them since moving here.  I had a lot of opportunity to think about what I like to do and don’t like to do while backpacking in the wilderness.  I still don’t know what my dream job is, but I’m sure it’ll appear someday.  The seasonality of my resume is still a problem[5], but I’m not quite sure how to solve that.  Which is why we sat by the creek that day. To talk about life and listen to what the water had to say.

Great time to reflect and plan

Never-ending hill- great time to reflect and plan

Calderas are great for hot springs and reflecting and planning.

We all need reminders sometimes. I am thankful for my past, as it has led me to my present, and will help me define my future.  I just have to remember to take a moment to embrace the now. 


If you need any inspiration about living in the present please read this: http://adventuresportsjournal.com/uncategorized/racing-blind-how-one-person-is-changing-what’s-possible-on-a-mountain-bike


Footnotes:
[1] I ponder living out of cars, because my friend visiting lived out of his van all last winter in the Sierras, and did a fair share of couch-surfing at friends’ houses as well. Some people do it year round.
[2] The Long Valley Caldera is one of the biggest calderas in the world. A caldera is a basin-shaped volcanic depression involving magma giving way underneath. http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/volcanoes/long_valley/
[3] Season 1 has a lot of Joni Mitchell to make you feel like you’re missing something.
[4] It was a job offer. Sorry LZ.
[5] I remember Kip asked me that at ORS. Sorry Kip! Adventure called! I miss you all!

Thanksgiving; this about says it all.

Three Penny Taproom;You guys rule the day!

The Three Penny Taproom, the one and only place to get a beer and where I asked my beautiful girlfriend Sarah to marry me! Check em out on Were here for the beer!

Cheers!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PNtqdMHnUUM

Sunshine

So I was thinking about little people as of late and it just so happens that for the last two days this sweet little ray of sunshine has been in the shop and shes' all smiles and giggles. How is it that this little tiny person does it? Sure I've heard her cry and scream but this Rose cheeked kid just has something about her that well other kids just don't. So as I approach my finer years I start to think; am I going to be able to show my child how to live life? Love seems to have a large capacity for margin and error and pull us through tough times but I think raising a child has more to do with the way we look at life. What do we value and covet in life? For every person one can expect very different answers but ideally I think it takes two very special people that can show and share with that young person what life truly means through unique experiences. Those young formative years that maybe we cant remember early in life are truly very important and have more to do with who we are or end up as than we may think. So as I write I cant help but smile as I look forward to meeting my little ray of sunshine someday soon. I look forward to showing that sunshine just how fun life can be and I think I have a pretty good idea of just how to do it!

Get well soon

There are many things in life we cannot change or foresee. People in our lives who mean allot to us like family and friends come and go. As I type this my father faces challenges and changes in his life. He was diagnosed with Rheumatoid arthritis at the age of 32 and has lived with the disease ever since. He was also diagnosed with prostate cancer as well two months ago. Unfortunately these health issues have him in Saint Francis hospital in Hartford CT. I was able to see him and saw a very human side of my father I had not seen in some while; I think he saw his mortality and as he sobbed to my mother I could see just how much he truly loved her. I know my father loves his family but all to often we don't show or say it. Although you wouldn't notice it my father and I do share things in common, things he taught me as young child early in life that he may not know. I love old things; I'm sentimental, I love people even though I give them a hard time FYI: this means I like you that much more, sorry. I perform under pressure rather than ahead of time, yes its much livelier that way and much more exciting. I appreciate the simpler things in life like coffee and a good conversation with a passing stranger. These are all the things he taught me about life and didn't really realize it until much later. Who would? no single kid ever thinks or wants to be anything like his parents when he grows up! So as I sat there, I felt how much I love my father even though I don't say or show it as much as I should and as I felt this my heart hurt as I know I cant make my father get well. I can only love and make him understand just how much I truly appreciate the many wonderful ways that he showed me as young child how to live and see life the way he did. All the while having no idea just how lucky I truly was. No one is perfect we all make mistakes in life, there are things we may not be proud off, people we've hurt things left un-said. It's how we reconcile in the end and realize those we love and the mistakes we may have made. This is what makes us all human and allows us to forgive, forget and love. I love my father for who he is and who he helped me to become and this has served me well.

I love you dad and I'll see you soon.

Your son

I'm Counting My Blessings

Odin is such a great friend. This picture is from Christmas day 2009, when we skinned up Bolton with dogs and friends and I made my first tele turns on groomed powder in my new skis. When I look through our pictures, I feel so fortunate. And content.

I think this is because I have simple pleasures. I let life be, rather than trying to jam it into some shape I think it should take. Everything always works out beautifully when you just let it. I can laugh at myself. And I take the time to be grateful for the people who truly know me and continue to love me, the blue lines of hills and pink fluff of clouds through the stark trees, my fortune at being born to a place where I feel safe and free, my strong legs, heart and lungs, the way Odin huffs and prances and smiles at me, for the feeling through your body when your ski glides through fresh snow or you feel like your bike is part of you or your legs wobble from exhaustion. I have so much. And I never forget that it can all be taken away in short time; none of this is going to last for ever. What we have is now, and each other. I choose to let it be, to enjoy it thoroughly, and to be so thankful that it all happened. That is the key to contentment: look at all that you have! How lucky are we.

Be well, happy trails!

True happiness is

So I was thinking what exactly makes people happy? Is it all the same for everyone? Is there one single thing wer'e all looking for and when we finally find it, does it just make sense and we become complacent? Or is it completley personal and unique to everysingle person? I think to many times we doubt how and what we feel true happiness is. Is life really working to much?, suffer, get a college degree, suffer more, figure out how to make a lot of money? start a family? I'll be honest, I never ever thought of these things at a younger age. I guess you could say I was pretty naive? I hated school struggled my way through it and never really bought into what everyone else around me felt wich was get ready to grow up its gonna hurt! Yes I did go to a private college on a scholarship and yes I pissed it down the drain about six months later. But by then I was simply lost and tired of listening and following what everyone around me told me I " should" be doing with my life and blindly agreeing. All the while having no clue as what I really wanted to do. So where am I today? We'll alot has happened since I awkwardly graduated high school and dropped out of college. I would be the first to admit that life is trial and error. One cannot simply bat a thousand and be lead along through thier life. It took me awhile to figure out who I really was, and where I wanted to be. Who I wanted to share it with and how I felt life should really be lived. I now find myself with one extrodinary woman, a dog who has always know how to live life from the very beggining and a place here in the Green mountains that I share with a group of amazing people who I think share the same feelings about life I do. I know I love the mountains, people, good food, that life is not about how much money you make but how you earn it. If I look at my life right now I am by far the richest person I know. I live in the best little east coast ski town where I can boot my way up to Hubbard park and make turns after work. I ski everyday, ride my bike, walk to work, conspire at work with amazing people, sew christmas stockings; who knew? I know I like to walk long distances not knowing excactly where I'll end up. I happened to meet an amazing group of people along the way that I consider family and in one way or another I think about quite often and we all stay in touch. Point is life will never just tell you who you are but it sure will help you figure out who you can be as long you find yourself doing the driving, or in my case walking, skiing or riding. So heres to us, may we all have the confidence and courage to follow our feelings and aspirations. Sure life is tough but deep down we all know it should be full of happiness and love as well. I hope you all may find or have found that happiness. I know I have.

Tristan

FALL-ing in love

Fall in Vermont is well my favorite time of year, so after a brisk run in Adamant we found ourselves where else but Three Penny Taproom. So as we shared a pint with friends and watched the best post-season baseball game I have ever seen to this day, van Morrison happened to play and, well, I got that feeling that this was it.
My life has been good; so great the last ten years and it only keeps getting better. I have walked many a mile, ran and biked beautiful places and met beautiful people along the way who we still keep in touch with, matter of fact we're about to all come together once more come next week! I have also found a home here in Vermont and waking up in the morning just seems a little bit brighter everyday. I have spent the last ten years with a particularly beautiful person too who has made that ten years the most memorable of my thirty-two on this planet and that is Sarah. Sarah you make everyday my best and have taught me how to live and that life is what you make it of it. So here's to you my love and the life we live together - and what a life it has been. I love you.