“People do not decide to become extraordinary. They decide to accomplish extraordinary things.”

- Sir Edmund Hillary, the first man to climb Mt. Everest

While I am a novice mountaineer and love climbing mountain peaks, I have yet to attempt to break time records.

For me, it is about enjoying [...]]]> Last week the New York Times published an article discussing the new breed of mountain climbers – those that strive to achieve mountain summits in record times.

While I am a novice mountaineer and love climbing mountain peaks, I have yet to attempt to break time records.

For me, it is about enjoying the scenery and taking my time to connect with nature. For others, it is a matter of setting personal records. One of the most famous mountaineers with a stop watch is Ueli Steck, also known as the Swiss Machine. For those of you who haven’t seen it yet, his impressive climb (run!) up Mt. Eiger is an amazing video.

In my view, individuals should have the right to pursue their goals, whether it is to get to a mountain top in a certain amount of time, or enjoying nature and finding their own way to fulfillment.

What do you think?

Grand Canyon, courtesy National Park Service

Yes, that means you can get free entry at the 147 national parks that charge admission. There are so many parks to choose from… where shall we go? [...]]]>

Grand Canyon, courtesy National Park Service

Yes, that means you can get free entry at the 147 national parks that charge admission. There are so many parks to choose from… where shall we go?

-Helen Keller

Keep your mouth closed Guard your senses Temper your sharpness Simplify your problems Mask your brightness Be at one with the dust of the earth

This is primal union.

One who has achieved this state Is unconcerned with friends and enemies With good and harm, with honor and disgrace This is therefore the highest state [...]]]>

“Those who know do not talk
Those who talk do not know

Keep your mouth closed
Guard your senses
Temper your sharpness
Simplify your problems
Mask your brightness
Be at one with the dust of the earth

This is primal union.

One who has achieved this state
Is unconcerned with friends and enemies
With good and harm, with honor and disgrace
This is therefore the highest state of humanity.”

- Lao Tzu Tao Te Ching

The North Face Never Stop Exploring Speaker Series is bringing a handful of highly accomplished outdoor adventurers to various towns across the U.S.!

The lineup includes an ultramarathoner, an extreme skier, an ultrarunner, a National Geographic photographer and alpinist, a climber, a ski mountaineer, and an extreme skier and base jumper! This is gonna [...]]]>

The North Face Never Stop Exploring Speaker Series is bringing a handful of highly accomplished outdoor adventurers to various towns across the U.S.!

The lineup includes an ultramarathoner, an extreme skier, an ultrarunner, a National Geographic photographer and alpinist, a climber, a ski mountaineer, and an extreme skier and base jumper! This is gonna be cool.

When will they be coming to your town? Here’s a link to the calendar.

And here’s one of the clips about MarkSynott, one of the speakers:

“The trail is the thing, not the end of the trail. Travel too fast and you miss all you are traveling for.”

-Louis L’Amour

“The richness I achieve comes from nature, the source of my inspiration.”

-Claude Monet

“It is not the mountain we conquer but ourselves.”

- Sir Edmund Hillary, the first man to climb Mt. Everest

“It is easy in this pompous age to scan the big things of the world and forget to see the small miracles of life around us; the morning light, the flowers, those intimate details of the world that combine to make it beautiful.”

- Ansel Adams