Wanderlust: September 2010

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

Saturday, September 25, 2010

I am still alive! Post Park City, Utah, Cody Davis and I took a a bit of a detour. Instead of traversing directly to the Tetons, we decided to make a couple of extra stops....

Our first stop was Mt. Timpanogos (11,749 ft). Although a 14-mile round-trip hike, with almost a mile of elevation gain, the summit is suppose to be one of the most-visited and rewarding peaks in the Rocky Mountains. We just couldn't pass it up! And yes, the view from the peak was stunning. One of my favorite vistas so far.

To rest our quads a bit, we decided to avoid hiking for a couple of days and engage in some rock climbing instead. Therefore, the next morning, we drove to the City of Rocks, Idaho, to get our hands on some granite spires. One of the many reasons the park appealed to us was the fact that in the 80's, City of Rocks was home to the most difficult routes in the US. After three days of rock-climbing, I can no longer feel my fingertips and I have never had so many cuts and bruises on my arms and legs. Rock climbing does not seem to be one of my key attributes. However, despite the pain and challenge, it was all oddly exhilarating. There is something very overtly rewarding about gaining focus and problem solving your way up a massive rock face.

Anyway, on a bit of a whim, we woke up a few mornings ago and decided to make our way to Glacier National Park, Montana. We easily obtained backcountry permits and decided to "shred" the Dawson-Pitamakan route (18.8 miles, elevations gain: 2,935) in the Two Medicine area. The
mountains of the Two Medicine area are recognized as the "Backbone of the World" among the Blackfeet Indians who use the area for vision quests.

To no surprise, the route was incredible. However, as we ascended towards Dawson's Pass (8,099 ft) weather conditions became worrisome. During our four hour hike through the pass, we trudged through ice, snow and 50 mph winds. It was hard to keep both feet on the ground. We were hoping to veer of the pass and peak Rising Wolf Mountain (9,513 ft) but a white-out settled in and we decided to play

it safe and make our way towards lower elevation. 10 miles later we made it back to our car and found our way towards cheeseburgers and fries.

I'm currently posted in Whitefish, Montana, where I am staying at my friend, Roberto Guterrez' winter rental. A shower and bed! Very exciting....

Friday, September 17, 2010

Hello Friends,

Life has been great since I left NYC S

eptember 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.

Tesha Karn

My name is Tesha Karn. I started T.Karn, an Asian art and decor company, in 2007 out of my passion for traveling to the most exotic, least visited locations in the world. Each time I returned to the states, it became more and more apparent that the Western home lacked the spiciness of Eastern art and décor. What was a personal hobby, collecting art, soon turned into a business and T.Karn was born.

I have always appreciated art as the collective soul of the human race and now, through my business, I try to promote my belief that art helps us understand one another despite unimaginable cultural and physical distances. Although my home base is New York City, I continue to frequent the ends of the earth on a regular basis, finding one-of-a-kind items to share with the Western home.

This blog allows me to share my adventures in pursuit of exquisite Asian art and decor as well as pure joy and exhilaration. Please enjoy!

Save the Chiru

After traveling through India and Nepal, I became cognisant of Tibetan Antelope, also known as Chiru. The poised and elegant animals that use to flourish on the Tibetan plateau are now listed as endangered by the World Conservation Union and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service due to commercial poaching for their fur. The Tibetan Antelope wool, also commonly referred to as shahtoosh, is a highly sought after commodity due to its warmth and softness. In response to this troubling situation, my company and I are now promoting a material called shamina, which boast the same attributes as shahtoosh. Shamina is produced from the first clipping of baby goats. No animals are harmed in this process. The clippings are hand-woven in Kashmir and natural dyes are used. Please do not partake in the vicious hunt for shahtoosh. Save the Chiru!