It is well.
Some of the high points:
- long MTB rides with friends and solo
- discovering insole foot warmers
- dancing like a fool
- attempting telemark turns for the first time last weekend during a very rainy but fun Tele Fest
- procuring a foam roller, which has rocked my world with its miracles for the IT band
- enjoying this rest week after doing four 14-hour training weeks
- exploring a new waterfall and icy cave with lovely ladies and their progeny
- last Sunday's CX ride with Rebecca
- hearing the word "draconian" less often on morning NPR and hoping that whatever negative is still happening in the world is happening with less severity
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Sunday, January 8, 2012
Let's get it on
Riding, that is. Winter has gone by the wayside. Two weekends of riding bikes in short-sleeves and shorts later, I shamble a bit looking at my tele setup sitting idly next to the stairs. Let's just bask in the greatness of this Appalachian assault system for a precious moment:
- Black Diamond Velvet telemark skis (175cm) - $99 brand new
- 22 Designs Axl telemark bindings - Christmas present from the fam
- Black Diamond Seeker telemark boots - $260 at STP, the best online store ever
- ye olde Black Diamond Approach trekking poles - circa 2001 with $6 BD Powder Baskets added to morph them into ski poles
Total telemark setup cost: just $365!
You might be noticing the lack of climbing skins. Alas, due to a piqued interest in races and finance conservation, these skis will be going only downhill this winter. No matter - it's not like we have any snow on the ground at all. Good thing we are headed to Utah!
I ended 2011 on high, literally, with a mountain bike ride to the highest [legally] rideable points in Pisgah. From the shop: 276->FS 475-> Davidson River-> Old Indian Creek-> FS 140A -> FS 140-> NC 215->Parkway->Black Balsam Road-> Flat Laurel Creek-> NC 215->Shoal Creek Road->FS 475->Davidson River-> 276. 57 miles according to le Garmin. This ride was actually supposed to be longer, but I ran out of daylight. Hauling around a 21-lb pack added an interesting twist to the scene, making the slog up 215 and Black Balsam very slow on fat tires. The grandeur of the Blue Ridge delivered, however, and I was rewarded with fantastic mountain views on a traffic-free Parkway. Flat Laurel was perfect. Icy, rocky, sunny, a little wet, and very fast. A great finale to 2011!
Thursday, December 22, 2011
2011 in photos
Ice climbing & Ouray Ice Festival
Backcountry skiing in the San Juans
Building Snow Fort Lewis igloo with BD
Skiing at Purg
Climbing local rock
Epic days riding in winter, spring, and fall!
Thad's Sliding Rock fixation began...
Swimming hole seeking -WNC
A nice June foray to Oregon
Skiing at Purg
Climbing local rock
Epic days riding in winter, spring, and fall!
Thad's Sliding Rock fixation began...
Swimming hole seeking -WNC
Rep'ing T-County (again)!
Searching for all that is sweet and succulent in the woods, be it trails, vistas, and/or raspberries
A nice June foray to Oregon
Summer fun with friends
Turning 30
Fantastic winter and summer roads rides
River girls!
River girls!
Ecuador with spouse!
River adventures in kayak (and even canoe)
Gorgeous fall foliage that lasted an eternity
More river girls!
More river girls!
Lots of great get-togethers and socializing this year
Monday, December 19, 2011
2012, part one
Partially unfurled - the January to May lineup of races, trips, and notable events for which I cannot wait.
1/1-1/2: winter bikepacking overnight
1/14-1/16: local ice climbing (should the weather cooperate)
1/21: High Country Tele Festival
1/25-1/31:Utah skiing
Sometime in winter: Pisgah 100 [miles]
3/11: 6 Hours of Angler's Ridge
4/28: Big Frog 65
5/5: Pisgah MTB Adventure Race
5/19: Pisgah 100K
Other winter obsessions:
- learning how to drop knees gracefully on tele turns
- ice climbing at nearby Stone Mountain
- exploring western Pisgah/eastern Nantahala NF on two wheels
- skinning up Dupont Road and/or our driveway
- holding a baby for more than 3 minutes without it crying
- tele-slogging on the Parkway
1/1-1/2: winter bikepacking overnight
1/14-1/16: local ice climbing (should the weather cooperate)
1/21: High Country Tele Festival
1/25-1/31:Utah skiing
Sometime in winter: Pisgah 100 [miles]
3/11: 6 Hours of Angler's Ridge
4/28: Big Frog 65
5/5: Pisgah MTB Adventure Race
5/19: Pisgah 100K
Other winter obsessions:
- learning how to drop knees gracefully on tele turns
- ice climbing at nearby Stone Mountain
- exploring western Pisgah/eastern Nantahala NF on two wheels
- skinning up Dupont Road and/or our driveway
- holding a baby for more than 3 minutes without it crying
- tele-slogging on the Parkway
Saturday, December 17, 2011
Dupont Love
I hit up the backyard last week. Three crossings of Corn Mill Shoals later...
Saturday 12/10: 6 hrs MTB - DSF Classic with some obscure additions (Grassy Meadow, Popular Hill Loop, & The Nooks)
Tuesday 12/13: 1 hr night run - Hickory Mountain Loop
Wednesday 12/14: 5 hrs MTB - modified encore of the DSF classic
Saturday 12/ 17: 4ish hrs MTB - group cruise
Riding from and back to the house rocks my world, yet again!
Saturday 12/10: 6 hrs MTB - DSF Classic with some obscure additions (Grassy Meadow, Popular Hill Loop, & The Nooks)
Tuesday 12/13: 1 hr night run - Hickory Mountain Loop
Wednesday 12/14: 5 hrs MTB - modified encore of the DSF classic
Saturday 12/ 17: 4ish hrs MTB - group cruise
Riding from and back to the house rocks my world, yet again!
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Tighten up
Rain. These days make me miss Knoxville.
Gobs of class III, III-IV, & IV options abound within an hour's drive: the Little, Tremont, Lower Big Creek, Clear Creek, Tellico. Here in WNC, metro T-County features significant class IV-V, V, & V+ gnar. The Horsepasture, Toxaway, Upper Courthouse, Looking Glass Creek, & Green Narrows are all at a stone's throw, never mind the nice 1-mile section of class III-IV Little in Dupont that is only 5 minutes from the house. What WNC lacks besides intermediate whitewater is paddling buddies. Knoxville fulfilled that need. I had a houseful of female housemates who paddled plus friends and students who made kayaking a high priority. I miss this.
Things change. People change. I have changed. A yearning for adventure remains.
My life will change significantly in the next 6-8 months. I wonder what will be next, but I have hope. I want to make the most of each day, to do more for others and focus less on myself, to be someone of more value to society. I still want to change the world one person at a time.
Gobs of class III, III-IV, & IV options abound within an hour's drive: the Little, Tremont, Lower Big Creek, Clear Creek, Tellico. Here in WNC, metro T-County features significant class IV-V, V, & V+ gnar. The Horsepasture, Toxaway, Upper Courthouse, Looking Glass Creek, & Green Narrows are all at a stone's throw, never mind the nice 1-mile section of class III-IV Little in Dupont that is only 5 minutes from the house. What WNC lacks besides intermediate whitewater is paddling buddies. Knoxville fulfilled that need. I had a houseful of female housemates who paddled plus friends and students who made kayaking a high priority. I miss this.
Things change. People change. I have changed. A yearning for adventure remains.
My life will change significantly in the next 6-8 months. I wonder what will be next, but I have hope. I want to make the most of each day, to do more for others and focus less on myself, to be someone of more value to society. I still want to change the world one person at a time.
Friday, November 11, 2011
Recreation not procreation
Is it just me, or is EVERYONE having a baby?
This process of spawning would be fine, absolutely okay with me, except for the comments. A short list:
1) I am not "next". There is no line. If there was, I would certainly not be waiting in it.
2) Your kid's crying is not really "birth control." I've already made up my mind. The crying is slightly agitating (not just for me, for everyone), but one paltry kid meltdown does not influence such a major life decision.
3) "Don't you want one?" This is why I avoid holding babies. The act of holding a baby can be fun but not when other people ruin the moment with lame lines.
4) Anything from relatives talking about wanting grandkids. If someone like my brother talks about how they deserve them, this is unacceptable.
5) "When are you/y'all/you guys having kids?" or the incredibly-brave "Why don't you don't you have kids?" is not cool at all. First, it's none of your business. Second, how terrible would you feel if I told you that I/we can't have kids? Third, perhaps we have tried already and are having problems conceiving. Millions of women seek in-vitro fertilization every year.
6) It is "selfish" to not have kids. Get over yourself. Over 7 billion people exist on this planet.
7) "Who will look after you when you're old?" Be real, people. We are all going to nursing homes, anyway. IF we live to be that old.
8) "Are you sure you don't want kids?" See #5.
I really enjoy being around my friends' children. People in WNC seem to all have pretty awesome kids and unbelievably cute kids. I like being around them.
Just please let me be myself, with children or without.
[stepping off the soapbox]
This process of spawning would be fine, absolutely okay with me, except for the comments. A short list:
1) I am not "next". There is no line. If there was, I would certainly not be waiting in it.
2) Your kid's crying is not really "birth control." I've already made up my mind. The crying is slightly agitating (not just for me, for everyone), but one paltry kid meltdown does not influence such a major life decision.
3) "Don't you want one?" This is why I avoid holding babies. The act of holding a baby can be fun but not when other people ruin the moment with lame lines.
4) Anything from relatives talking about wanting grandkids. If someone like my brother talks about how they deserve them, this is unacceptable.
5) "When are you/y'all/you guys having kids?" or the incredibly-brave "Why don't you don't you have kids?" is not cool at all. First, it's none of your business. Second, how terrible would you feel if I told you that I/we can't have kids? Third, perhaps we have tried already and are having problems conceiving. Millions of women seek in-vitro fertilization every year.
6) It is "selfish" to not have kids. Get over yourself. Over 7 billion people exist on this planet.
7) "Who will look after you when you're old?" Be real, people. We are all going to nursing homes, anyway. IF we live to be that old.
8) "Are you sure you don't want kids?" See #5.
I really enjoy being around my friends' children. People in WNC seem to all have pretty awesome kids and unbelievably cute kids. I like being around them.
Just please let me be myself, with children or without.
[stepping off the soapbox]
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