06/10/2008, Grand Marais, Minn.
I live in one of the greatest places on the planet. Northern Minnesota. That is if you don't mind bird-sized mosquitoes, long cold winters and an hour and a half drive to the closest movie theater (which is in Canada).
My home is on the edge shore of Lake Superior, tucked along the Sawtooth Mountains (hills really) and a 10-minute drive from the Boundary Waters Canoe Area, this place - my home, is my ultimate favorite place on the planet.
On my way to the North Pole in 2006 and stuck in hundreds of miles of Arctic Ocean sea ice, I dreamed of going on a summer canoe trip in the Boundary Waters. I longed for the carefree aspects of summer wilderness travel here - casually sitting on a rock, watching a campfire, paddling headlong into a warm breeze.
Last year, wildfire raged across a large section of the BWCA. While initially appearing as a scar on the landscape, fires are an important part of maintaining a healthy ecosystem in this region. I had wanted to visit the Ham Lake burn all winter but was traveling and never had enough time. Last week, after almost a year, I did a short canoe trip on some lakes near and in the area of the fire.
I have to say the scene was breath taking and quite beautiful (see picture). The landscape was so striking - standing charred trees contrasted with an vibrant green emerging layer. Impressive to say the least.
The canoe trip itself was more than a dream come true. I love the lakes of the boundary waters. I love canoeing. I love sleeping in a tent. I love eating camp food. Is there really any other watch than that of measuring time by the height of the sun over the horizon? Traveling quietly through this magnificent landscape, we heard the snort of the moose, cry of an eagle and lonely call of the loon.
I've had a tough spring. On the road for meetings and presentation, I haven't spent more than a few days at time in Grand Marais. Now with over a month of summer ahead, I am looking forward to more interactions into land that I am continually drawn. To have this place is a great privilege.
Perhaps this is one of the many reasons for the Save the Poles expedition. Preserving the integrity of this area is ultimately connected to you and I and how we use and conserve resources. Increased drought, frequency and severity of storms and wildfires are only a few of the many consequences of not acting to reduce world wide carbon emissions.
On a more business related note, I have postponed my trip to Denali in lieu of major fundraising efforts. The Save the Poles expedition departure date is creeping near and I am still looking for major sponsors. Please feel free to contact me if you know of any interested organizations.
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06/03/2008, Breckenridge, CO
My dream... To live in a tent. And that dream is one small step closer to reality because I just found the perfect nylon home.
I spent last week in Breckenridge, Colorado for a visit with the Sierra Designs crew. Brand Manager Kristine Carey asked me to come and speak to the sales reps about a year in the life of the Save the Poles expedition.
While its always fun to share my experiences with other people, the main goal of the meeting was to showcase the new SD products. It was during the few hours of describing the tent lines that I found my potential home - The Grand Mothership, an 12 person towering beauty. Dare I even dream? I will.
Being at the meeting was important for other reasons. I met with Melody Miller (another SD great) to begin the design process for the garments I will need for Save the Poles. From bibs to anoraks to down suits and everything in between, the teams will be outfitted in custom gear created to specifically to the parameters that polar and high altitude mountaineering travel require.
In extreme environments, small details can make the difference between life and death. Large zippers that can be operated with mittens on, a full coverage hood, material that breathes but still protects from wind, inner pockets to keep snacks from freezing... These are all key components that will help insure the success of Save the Poles.
And while I may not be sleeping in the Grand Mothership anytime soon, it will most likely go to Everest with me. At the poles, however, will be some other new SD products - a tent and sleeping bag that I am designing with the help of Sierra Design's Phil Mesdaq.
Neither has a name yet, but you'll be the first to see them. Stay tuned.
Oh yea, one last tidbit of news: I just turned 37. Yikes!?! Happy Birthday to me. I wonder what the upcoming year will bring.
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05/26/2008, Hollywood, CA
Hollywood, California - swimming pools and movie stars. Yes, I've been living the rock and roll lifestyle... Despite outward appearances, that is.
While I may have been sleeping in an 11-year old's bed, I was rubbing elbows with the greats, or at least trying to.
I flew to LA last week to meet with the folks at Weapons of Mass Entertainment a self dubbed 'creative factory'. It's the brainchild of Dave Stuart (from the Eurythmics). Dave wasn't there - or any other movie star for that matter. As an aside, I did shake his hand once on a previous visit - does that count as my five minutes of fame?
More realistically, I was there because of Dave's business partner Mark Warford, a creative genius in his own right. Pilot, guitarist, photographer, videographer, communications director and more. It was Mark who generously ousted his kids from their room so I would have a place to sleep. Again, please refer to the picture.
Also please allow me a minute of digression. I've always felt that the 'five star' rating for accommodations is a little lopsided toward the hospitality industry. What about staying at a friend's place? Can't that count as well? I mean Mark drove me to meetings with famous producers, made me dinner and even picked me up from the airport. I mean how much more 'five star' treatment can you get?
While I didn't see any movie stars, Mark and I did solidify an agenda that would allow us to move forward with some exciting Save the Poles ideas. But more on that later.
In the mean time, I have to fly out to Colorado tomorrow, do laundry and finalize preparations for climbing Denali in June.
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05/13/2008, Ann Arbor, MI
I spend a lot of time alone. For the most part, I enjoy the quiet moments of my life - I think about my day, plan for the future, sort out expedition details. Its generally time well spent.
Alone time tends to put me in a more reflective mood as well. I drift away from the nuts and bolts of daily living and wonder more about the how and why's. One persistent theme seems to be why I am the way I am - not so much my more quirky traits that I possess, but I'm talking about about big themes here.
Like... why would someone, anyone (read: me) leave comfort and convenience and seek out hardship, cold and adversity?
I have some general ideas and a few theories but nothing concrete. Honestly, I'm not really sure why I am the way I am. I know I like camping and winter. And eating the same dinner for weeks straight has never posed much of a culinary dilemma for me. No, for me I think a big part (as with I'm sure most people's personality) comes from some early influences in my life.
Enter Dave Borneman (pictured with his daughters Molly and Tess). I met Dave when I was a teenager when he was working at as a naturalist at a local nature center. Throughout the year, Dave organized trips across Wisconsin to go climbing, caving, canoeing, eagle watching and more. In summer, it was week long canoe trips.
I can't even begin to describe the influence these trips have had on my adult life. From wilderness skills to dealing with hardships to working together as a group, Dave introduced us to the world. He let us wander and explore. Providing insight and guidance when we asked and sometimes when we didn't.
Eventually, Dave would leave the nature center for his own adventures and our close knit group of friends would slowly drift apart - inevitably - creating and following our own dreams.
I was in Ann Arbor the other week speaking at an REI for their grand opening there. Sierra Designs had set up the talk and I was eager to to share stories about Save the Poles expedition, my recent trip to Argentina and climate change solutions.
But equally important was to see my old friend and mentor Dave, his wife Besty (who also led some of those trips) and their two kids. We laughed and reminisced and remarked about, 'the time when...' While our trip down memory lane was a welcome relief from my nomadic life, mostly, we simply reveled in one another's company pleased that our paths crossed again if only for that one brief moment.
Who we are, where we are going, these are never easy questions to answer - if at all. However, the value and role of friends and family in our life that is something that is never in question.
Thanks Dave!
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04/30/2008, Northfield, MN
Last week I gave a presentation at my old college in Northfield, Minnesota.
How many times had I walked from the Science Center to the 'Caf' or run the trails around campus? Being back after such a long absence felt, in many ways, like I had never left. Some things never change.
Then a friend called me to remind me that way back when we we were students, the Internet didn't exist, no one owned a cell phone and all the other students on campus looked older than us.
The physical layout of my old college campus is vastly different today as well. While the original building still stands, the 'Caf' no longer exists - which for the most part is good because the food was terrible beyond belief. Students now eat in gourmet style choosing between a nearly infinite variety of entrees and desserts (we didn't get dessert - ok maybe we did but it was hardly palatable as cooks seemed to think sawdust was a good substitute for flour). One dorm that was renamed during my 15 year absence and my beloved home away from home, the Science Center, is on its way out too.
And those older looking students? Now they look like they should be in high school.
Still, I couldn't help but notice all the other changes on campus. The new wind generator, the old farm fields that had been flooded to create new wetlands, the prairie restoration project. I talked with one student who was part of a planning committee promoting a 'green' roof on the new science center. In fact, all the students seemed to be more aware of the world around them than I ever was back then. They also seemed more concerned about how to protect the environment.
Some things never change, but luckily some things do.
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