South Africa

South Africa

Papua New Guinea

Papua New Guinea

Peru

Peru

West Papua, Indonesia

West Papua, Indonesia

Quotes That Keep Me Going....

"There are only three sports: Bull fighting, motor racing and mountaineering; the rest are merely games." Ernest Hemingway

"Adventure is a path. Real adventure--self-determined, self-motivated, often risky--forces you to have firsthand encounters with the world. The world the way it is, not the way you imagine it. Your body will collide with the ear and you will bear witness. In this way you will be compelled to grapple with the limitless kindness and bottomless cruelty of humankind--and perhaps realize that you yourself are capable of both. This will change you. Nothing will ever again be black-and-white."
--Mark Jenkin

"The use of traveling is to regulate imagination by reality, and instead of thinking how things may be, to see them as they are."
--Samuel Johnson

"Tourists don't know where they've been. Travelers don't know where they're going."
--Paul Theroux

"Not all those who wander are lost."
--J.R.R Token

"On a summit the entire world is beneath us, horizons are expanded, and clarity envelops our senses. It is this feeling that the mountaineer seeks, and perhaps it is the feeling that we all seek as we search for love and purpose in our own measured lives. In reaching for the summits of the heart and holding on to them, love and hope transcend the tragedy of our ultimate end." Jennifer Lowe-Anker

Alaska

Alaska

Devils Tower

Devils Tower

Nepal

Nepal

Friday, September 17, 2010

Hello Friends,

Life has been great si
nce I left NYC September 2nd. For the first time in a while, the only thing I worry about is which canyon to slide into or which mountain to climb up before I make my way overseas in search of reclaimed wood for a client.

In case some of you are wondering where I've been, the story is as follows....... about 2 weeks ago, I flew out to San Francisco where I recruited my friend, Andrew, for an epic adventure down the California coast.. Our first stop was in Big Sur, where we climbed up Cone Peak (5155ft). Great peak with a great view. Our second stop was near Santa Barbara where we climbed Montecito Peak (3173ft). The drive to the trailhead was almost better than the actual climb to the top, but all in all, it is another great peak with a great view.

The following morning I met up with my friend, Cody. We drove out to Lone Pine to meet Heather and Matt in hopes of conquering Mt. Whitney (14,446 ft). We somehow made our way up the infamous mountaineer's route (3.4 miles and 6,000 ft elevation gain), which led to a burly solo vertical scramble for the last 2,000 feet up. Needless to say, it was an intense three days in the backcountry, but well-worth it.

Cody and I left Heather and Matt as we made our way to Vegas for a bit of gambling before our next climb. We eventually escaped sin city with a lot less money and drove to Zion, Utah for some spectacular
canyoneering. We may have
executed twenty 50-100 ft repels and a million super dangerous down climbs by the time we left the national park. Although the scenery was out of this world and the 10 hour, "Birch Hollow/Orderville/Narrows" hike was relatively easy, it was truly exhausting. Our knees and ankles barely made it out with us.

Our next stop was Bryce Canyon. A bit sore from Zion, we decided to
stretch out our bodies by waking up before dawn to jog an undulating,
1500 ft elevation loss and gain, 5.5 mile trail in and about the
canyon. Still not sure if this was a good idea, but it was nice to
see the rock formations in light of a rising sun. Truly pooped, we
gritted through a 6 hour drive to Park City where I am currently
posted. The weather here is fantastic and I'm not really sure when we
are going to even consider leaving.......

It looks like the Grand Tetons are up next.

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