Wanderlust

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....

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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!