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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04/17/2008, Fiambala, Argentina
I'm finally back from Argentina and a mountaineering expedition in the Catamaraca district. While Aron and I didn't summit Ojos del Salado, we did manage to achieve my goal of getting above 21,000 feet, and more importantly, have a safe journey.
Its amazing how easy it has been to slip back into my normal life of driving a car, speaking English and sleeping in a bed. While my transition to the 'real world' has been facilitated by a trip to Texas, a spring snow storm and email, I am still trying to process the whole experience. How does climbing, freeze dried dinner, life and happiness fit together?
Of course, looking for meaning can be a dangerous thing. "Be careful to only get from an experience the wisdom that is there," some say.
For 10 days our group struggled with pushing forward and up. Without mule support, we were forced to lay depots ourselves - sometimes getting into camp well after dark. It was tedious, back breaking work hauling our supplies day after day. And to what end? A higher camp than the previous night? Personal satisfaction? Setting and achieving a goal?
Sitting here with the comfort of distance and time, without the constant wind of the Catamaraca and able to breath deep lungfulls of air with relative ease, I am amazed at what we accomplished and what I learned.
That area of the world is so vastly different that where I live. Big wide spaces stretch on forever. For 10 days, we didn't see anyone else. For 10 days, I was amazed and exhausted at the same time. For 10 days, we inched our way up a massive mountain.
The purpose of the trip was to gain valuable mountaineering experience at altitude. Spending a week over 14,000 feet, developing skills to summit Mt. Everest next year - its obvious to see the meaning in that.
Working together, solving problems, negotiating stress, physical strain... These things aren't so straight forward. Someday, I may understand who I am, my place in the world and where I am going. Until then, I will keep my chin up and back pack near.
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03/11/2008, Castle Peak, Aspen, CO
In preparation for our upcoming mountaineering training in Argentina, Aron Ralston thought it might be a good idea to do a little climbing before flying south.
No Problem. Pack up my gear (its pretty much always packed), get a plane ticket, fly to Denver, drive to Aspen, repack gear with Aron, pack food... Is it weird to have traveling seem more normal than quiet time at home? Less than 24 hours after leaving northern Minnesota, I was snuggled in a tent perched at roughly 11,000. And I was really, really tired.
To his credit, Aron was with patient with my slowness and nerves. I'm just recovering from pneumonia and haven't really been able to work out in over a month and a half. That first short skin up to our camp, nearly did me in. It took all my energy to set up the tent.
Amazingly, by the next morning, I was feeling better. My resting pulse rate had dropped to 62 beats per minute. Soon, we were on the skis and climbing. The day started warm (25 F) and clear but conditions degraded quickly. By the time we reached the Castle Peak summit, the temperature had dropped to single digits and wind gust of nearly 70 mph threatened to blow us off. It wasn't a difficult decision to make a quick turn around and head back down.
I would like to say it was a fun climb down and a casual ski back to camp. Instead, still adjusting to the altitude and recovering from being sick, the ski back down was one of the most physically draining things I have ever done. Again, Aron patiently waited for me as I rested to recover my strength every 100 yards or so. Back in the tent, we laughed at the hard ship, warmed up cold hands and toes and mixed mash potatoes, cous cous and soup all in one hearty serving hoping to replenished our depleted energy reserves as quickly as possible.
The next day I would be back in Denver. The day after, the Scream Agency hosted a Save the Poles fund raising event in Denver at the Chop House. On Friday a presentation at Lafayette Elementary school, a meeting with Sierra Designs and then back home.
Ahh the life... I have to admit, I feel lucky to be able to visit so many amazing places and meet interesting people. Still, its good to be back in northern Minnesota. But with a mountaineering trip to Argentina departing on Sunday, home has become more of a staging area than a base camp.
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02/25/2008, Lake Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
An entry from Nick Sweeting, "Recently the Save the Poles North Pole team and I had the opportunity to train on Lake Winnipeg. Training as a team is essential for success on any expedition, but even more so on one to the North Pole.
One of the most fundamental parts to this is making sure that the team gets along at a basic social level. Without this, the team can fall apart before they even get onto the ice. That doesn't seem to be a concern though. All of them are great individuals, and as a team, function that way as well. The atmosphere is goal oriented, but still relaxed, and jovial. Perfect to prevent a build up of tension that can occur in a stressful place like Arctic ice.
Another essential aspect to training is figuring out systems. Systems are a part of everyday life on the ice, from understanding the hours of travel in day, the hours of rest at night, who is going to boiling water that night, to where you put your toothbrush everyday so you don't spend needless minutes in search of it. Having efficient daily systems is a huge factor that contributes to success.
On Lake Winnipeg, the North Pole team began the discussion on this, and started to put thought into how things will be done. The daily routine will be ironed out in training trips to come."
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02/05/2008, Salt Lake City, Utah
I'm just back from a week in Salt Lake city and my semi annual trip to the Outdoor Retailer gear expo. I travel courtesy of my great sponsor Wisconsin Pharmacal who make Atwater Carey first aid kits and Potable Aqua. Special thanks have to go to Andy Wundrock, Mike Kermenedy and the rest of the gang based in Jackson, Wisconsin.
I had three main goals for the OR show this year: fill in equipment sponsorship gaps, promote the Save the Poles expedition, and as always, networking - the latter not necessarily being my strong suit. As someone who generally prefers the vast winter wilds over the hustle and bustle of city life, I tend to be a bit reclusive at time.
Not really the best quality for someone who is trying to promote an expedition and fundraise three quarters of a million dollars. But part of being a member of a good team is not necessarily being the best at everything.
Meet Lora Lederman (I call her Double L, but remember, its Lora with an 'O') owner and founder of Scream Agency, a Colorado based PR agency. While Lora may not actually be traveling to any of the 'poles' here role in the expedition is no less important.
Promoting the goals and objectives, increasing awareness, making connections with potential sponsors, assisting in web design are all integral to the success of the whole. Lora and her team's insight and guidance have been critical factors in the Save the Poles expedition to date.
Note about the picture: Here is Lora doing a bit of expedition footwork - getting sized for insoles by new equipment sponsor Superfeet.
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