Sunday, February 21, 2010

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

My Snot is Frozen

For the few of you that read my blog, this is important.

I am going to school in Wyoming in fantastic country and doing my best to keep up with the rigors of school, conflict, and all of the outdoor opportunities I get to partake in. I love it here and have met good people but I vas very sad when I left Duluth, Minnesota realizing it was the end of my real innocence. I think back often about all of the great things my Dad and I did outside. They were truly the best times of my life; fishing, hunting, skiing, near death experiences and all the memories, too many to recall.

I had the pleasure of growing up with my best friend and brother Will. Trips, climbing, hours of skiing, and all that we talked about over the years. He's a true mentor indeed.

My mother, who has been a strong supporter of all my outdoor pursuits and lifestyle choices as well as my decision to buy a motorcycle. She's a dame.

Lets face it, I came to Wyoming to tele ski lots of powder and big lines, hunt for elk, fish for cutts, climb granite and get involved with NOLS, but I have recently begun to further my plans. My goal is to finish this semester and have a year of school under my belt. Summer is up in the air at this point, Wild land Firefighting is my goal. It could lead me to Minnesota, California, Utah, Montana, Idaho, or keep me in Wyoming. If I do get my job in Lander working on an engine or a hand crew I will be tickled pink. Lander is a place I belong, in this case I will probably live out of my van down by the river or stay in my tent. I might find myself in Missoula, Montana on the Great Northern Fire Crew, in this case the Forest Service will probably provide some sort of housing, if not the van it is. I am working very hard towards this. Praying that it will work. All of the other places I have applied I'm not sure whether housing will be an option. At this point if I don't get a fire job I might just stay in Lander, go to Bozeman Montana or Ogden, Utah living in the van all the time. (It's easy in the summer. I own a cooler). I'll get a job of some kind and live on the cheap. Duluth is another option of course, live with the folks, work with Dad and enjoy the comforts of home.

Next fall I will be on my NOLS semester in the Rockies. I predict an epic. My semester ends December 2nd, which means if I go back to school in the spring I will have to find something to do until January 19th. Ski of course. But work is mandatory as well. I will definitely be somewhere out west. Maybe in Duluth for a little while. My big plan is; if school doesn't suite my fancy for spring I want to live out of the Snow trekker canvas tent with the wood stove somewhere where I can hermit for a while, ski, and clear my head.

Thats all I got. Sort of rudimentary I know but its on my mind since all my good climbing and ski buddies are going away and want me to come with, something to think about.

Monday, February 15, 2010

Saturday, February 6, 2010

Glory Days

It came full circle the other day.
Months ago I had been playing hackey-sack with my buddies and working up a sweat. I put aside my Patagonia R1 (a very useful performance base-layer) that a very good friend gave me years ago as a birthday present. I went away for five minutes to the climbing gym and came back to the spot where we were playing and it was gone. I was irate. I was sad. I got a Mountain Hardwear to replace it, but it just wasn't the same.
Karma.
I had been checking the lost and found for my RI for months, asking around about it and nothing. I had lost hope, I thought I would never see it again.
A couple of days ago I saw a person wearing an R1. (Funny though, because this person had their radio stolen out of their truck not long ago and was incredibly peeved.) I was hesitant at first, but then confronted them.
"Thats a nice Patagonia you have."
"Yea, I've had it for a while."
"I found it."
"On a picnic table outside of Mote?"
"Yea?"
"Thats mine, it belongs to me. Can I have it back?"
I have my RI again, and it feels good. I believe it has been the root of all my problems. Fuck Yeah.

Monday, February 1, 2010

It has recently dawned on me that I have not actually taken a picture of my van, oh well.