D-town

I have returned to Duluth. My last few days in Wyoming were spent organizing the crazy amount of gear I was keeping in my car. Every time I go away I seem to accumulate more. It just happens I guess. I spent a day in Riverton with my dirtbag friends in their little hobbit hole they call a house. We drank some beer and played hacky sack. It was a nice way to ease back into society. We had a copious amount of snow in the mountains and I'm not really sure why I left to come back, but its nice to be back for awhile, just relaxing.

NOLS was an incredible time. I learned a lot about myself, various technical skills, and lots of leadership skills. My instructors were encouraging to me, as my previous experiences in the outdoors gave me a big advantage over the entire course. I think I'll be taking my NOLS instructor course within a couple of years so I can start working/teaching in the field a lot more.

I'm happy.

Lethal Weapon series, excellent.

I ship out in the morning for another fire, hopefully I get a full 14 days out of it. Everything's good here. We did over 100 push ups today in a very short amount of time. My hair is still long and spirits high. NOLS is fast approaching. Fishing is getting better. Hoppers are out!

Tight tippets.

Fire Crew and Things

Its been a long time since I've written, so I'll drink a Pabst Blue Ribbon and think. While there are a lot of things I should be doing this evening, such as laundry and showering, I will put them off for a little while longer. Last week was the first time since high school that I took a shower two days in a row. I'm proud off myself, I feel like a big kid. What prompted it was a fire, and 27 hours of overtime. My entire body was covered in ash. Work like this demands that I take showers more regularly. Even Van living isn't this dirty.

Work has been consuming me out here, as I work for about 14 days consecutively and only take 1 day off. The overtime is well worth it. We have been on fires, and project work (chainsaw duty) for a while now. Wyoming is finally starting to heat up. Fire season is here, and I am up for Teton crew, (basically twenty people from the Bridger Teton Forest that are likely to travel nation wide). Excited is all I can say.

I have had little time to fish. Its disappointing, but school tuition, loans, and NOLS payments are high priorities. I'm also putting a good deal of money away for a Subaru. After work is usually my best option for fishing. I did however get the chance to fish all of this weekend. I slayed some major Cutthroats. Many in the 12-14 category, and the biggest at 16-17 inches. It felt real good to catch some Wyoming trout, Have a beer, and just relax around the campfire with buddies. I feel much more confident on my fly fishing skills each time I go out now. I was able to catch fish out of almost every hole, in crystal clear water no less. Fluorocarbon. (it sinks)! I am steadily creeping up towards guide status. The unfortunate thing about these rivers is all the brush on the banks. Cutts love to hide under there, and flys get lost pretty quick. Anyway, I felt about as confident on these rivers as I do while Steelheading, it was a breath of fresh air

Still hard to believe I'm on this fire crew. Livin the dream.

BIg Piney

The fun's just beginning out here in Wyoming. PT, the pack test, and money.I'm out in the middle of nowhere. Not much to Big Piney, but work should keep the crew busy. We might be out doing project work; chainsawing and piling, or working a fire. Its all up to the weather.

I feel pretty bad ass working for the Forest Service, and looking professional in Nomex pants and such. The crew works out, hard. Its good. This is going to be a fun summer. Lots of trout fishing opportunity out here. Trout excite me just as much as the thought of being on fire. What a surprise.

Pictures up soon.

Memories

School is finally wrapping up here, only a week and a half left. I look back on my first year of college and realize it has been an experience. I've had a lot of fun. I've met new people, made good friends, found new bouldering spots, gone backcountry skiing more than I should have, listened to John Prine, Neil Young, and Gordon Lightfoot while thinking of the times my Dad and I have spent roaming around the countryside, made trips to Jackson in my shady van in hopes to find good snow, and recently fish, I have discovered how much I enjoy throwing pots, I have maintained goods grades while still living the mountain lifestyle, I have lived in my van, lived in Lander city park, Lived in Sinks canyon, ate lots of good food, ate lots of bad food, tried lots of good beer, written journal entries in the Tetons, have become addicted to good coffee, rode my bike everywhere, met girls that were way out of my league but still liked me anyways (guides of all sorts), worn my carhartt overalls to fancy dinners with my toothbrush in my front pocket and campfire smudge on my face (don't ask me why I did this), watched counter culture movies with my dirtbag friend and roommate while drinking beer, found a place in my heart for wrangler jeans, made good with NOLS folks, teaching at least ten people to slackline,etc. Wyoming is a place I love. Its wild and generally people mind their own fucking business. This state has it all. I have realized the potential. Especially skiing and fishing, my two favorite activities.

Right now I'm focused on training for my wildland fire job. Yup, I finally got on a crew. This is something I've wanted for a long time, so I'll be damned if I'm not in good shape when I get there. I am a Forest Service employee, I am a fed, but the money's good and my long term career options are open even further. I hope it all works out.

Good Luck America.

Get better J.T.

More Family Madness

Your true passion should feel like breathing-it's that natural
-Oprah

Steelheading Madness

On my way home, want to fish real bad.

Spring Break

This past week I was in Wilson, Wyoming for my spring break. I was skiing with Reeve, we had a great time. The best part of the trip was in part of where we stayed. It was in the "guest cabin" courtesy of the Roscoe family. I can't begin to thank them enough for their generosity. We decided to rip up Targhee, and as it turns out it was the only powder day they've had for weeks. Bliss. A good 7 inches of powder on the groomers. We had fun on some slush bumps on the King for a couple days and the Village for a day. The tram took us up, Rendezvous bowl took us down. Jump turns on bumps the whole trip, and I feel my knees are ten years older than I am. I will need a replacement some day. I have come to terms with this. We also poached the backcountry. Lots of powder. (I dug a pit on a windblown slope and got a ct 5, q1 shear. It was sketch to say the least, so we moved to another spot and had fun there).

This was another great Reeve and Cam adventure. Also my van did not perish. I am very happy about this. However, I thought my brakes were going to blow out on Teton Pass, luckily they didn't. My real test is next week when I drive the (flylow) Van Helsing home. It's gonna be a fun trip.

I have a pony-tail. Wow.

Weekend Warriors

^ Thats me, Cam Mitchell. Duluth, Minnesota born and raised.

If I could Telemark ski everyday, I would. But, I go to college. Weekends are my days to cut a nice line.

The weather has been very nice here, making spring come quickly. I slacklined for hours the other day with my buds. It was great to be on a line again, it had been too long.

Spring makes me want to go bouldering and fishing, but I have to finish my ski season strong. There is plenty of time in the year to climb and fish. Tele skiing only lasts so long.

I miss Minnesota though, and want to be back surrounded by the Great Lakes and steelhead. It's the part of me that needs to fish. I will go back later in spring to make my yearly pilgrimage with dad, I got a new Sage XP that hasn't been used yet. A six pound chromer will break it in nice.

When I go to college I get educated in a lot of stuff I like, and a lot of stuff I don't. Oh well, if I hadn't come to school here I wouldn't be realizing all the great skiing, climbing, hunting, and fishing this place has to offer. College has made me smarter. College has made me want to recreate more.

If the horse shit economy doesn't let a guy in who wants to work, then fuck it. Splurge on some backcountry ski gear, spit some gas money with your dirtbag friends and go have fun.

"We're Telemark Skiers Anyways"

My Tele partner Reeve. Gear spread out everywhere after a day of skiing A-Basin. A tired Tele Bum.

Our entire Colorado trip is really indescribable, but there are bits and pieces I will tell.
Story 1. "The Pick Up" Our plan was to stay with Dusty Olson, a fellow Duluthian who was living in Winter Park. He's an all around incredible athlete who gave us the go-ahead to stay at his place. Reeve and I both flew into Denver, myself from Wyoming and Reeve from Minnesota. We waited a long time for Dusty to pick us up (he was coming down from Vail after a ski demo). Of course he rolled up in a classic ski bum van. I didn't expect anything less. It had black tinted windows with a rocket box on top. Skis were packed in everywhere. His Golden Retriever was there too, she liked the front seat the best. The old school rap bumped as we headed towards Winter Park. It had only begun.

My Sweet Dog

Tico.

Sitting, drinking Old Chub beer, journaling, and thinking about last weekend's ski trip. Powder was great. It will bring me back next weekend.
My buddy Reeve is coming out for spring break. I am excited to load up the van and haul ass up towards Jackson. I will take him to all my powder stashes. We have a free place to stay in Wilson. Its nice being a ski bum.
A fire fighting job is within reach.

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.

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.

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

Losin' it.

Money and Run.

1. Today my mind is at rest. I accomplished my route, probably go's at v3/v4 but very overhanging and pumpy. I have been working it for over a month easy, as it was my nightmare route. (similar to first street) I had been projecting it and have come very close multiple times. I received a bit of beta today that produced the flash. Well executed.

2. Been riding my fixie as much as I can, weather permitting. The days out here are so beautiful. I fixed my flat one day with a new tube and 10 seconds later it exploded. I was a bit gun shy in handling my tire the next time, so I grew a pair and put the old tube back in and realized it is just a slow leak, so long as I have a pump on me, I'm set.

3. I feel healthy and appreciative of everything I have done in life. I am at a wonderful stage right now, doing goods things, getting good grades and still have plenty of time to climb, ski etc. My Colorado trip has produced a monster in me though, as I feel my path to success is neither here nor there.

4. Drinking green tea, listening to Radiohead Kid A and eating bunny pasta is pure joy.

There's nothing like spending an evening in a ski bum hut, among high lodge-pole pines feeling the warmth of a classic wood stove. I feel truly reborn after this experience. Lessons learned.
Bake pizzas and peel logs says the wise one.

Moleskine Advice

Just Breathe

Jetsetter

On December 18th

Riverton to Denver to Minneapolis/St. Paul to D town

On January 8th

D town to Minneapolis/St. Paul to Denver to Riverton

On January 9th

Riverton to Jackson (driving)

On January 10th

Riverton to Denver to hidden powder stash

On January 17th

Hidden powder stash to Denver to Riverton

Done.

Positive

Duluth cold, Duluth snow. Having a thought during this moment on winter and the classic romanticism of it's properties, inside or out winter has a special place in my heart. Whether it be wandering to class on a cold morning or kick skiing by headlamp.

The hardy Scandinavians are used to it; Think of skiing in the streets of Norway or Sweden to a small home with a woodstove, the snow-culture. Piled to the roofs. Food is good, life is good, Happy Europeans embracing snow. Happy Minnesotans embracing snow.