Christmas Post

Merry Christmas and happy New Year!

I will not post another article until the fourth of January.

Enjoy the time off.


K

The House Advantage

For me success in the mountains boils down to one thing; coming home in one piece.

-K

To Be, or Not to Be

Letting loose a long sigh, I walk downstairs and look over my gear, trying to decide what to bring and what to leave behind. This is the plan, drive the car to the top of Mt. Evans, ride the bikes down the mountain, lock them up, then after a short scramble climb a multi-pitch ridge to the top, grab the car, then the bikes, and head home. We brought as little climbing gear as possible, and just enough layers to stay warm. We rechecked the weather, high of 50 degrees, overcast, and decided to try it. We did everything we could to make that day a success. 

The House Advantage   

When you walk out your front door in the morning, when lock the car and put the keys in your pack, you agree to play by mother natures rules. We reached the foot of the climb, an hour after leaving the car, put on all of our climbing gear, then the snow started to fall. It was light at first, and then it wasn't as light, then we could see no farther then 50 ft. We locked eyes and said without words, 'lets wait and see what happens'. 10 minutes later it had gotten worse, and now the loose shale we had come over was covered in snow. 

Having A 'Successful' Day

We packed up our climbing gear, which turned out to be dead weight, and set up a steep section that we thought was doable without micro-spikes and without having to use the climbing gear to remain safe. Every step we took had 8 inches of vertical gain. It was difficult, and when we reached the ridge line, the snow stopped, and nature laughed at us. After we got to the car and picked up the bikes both of us decided that we had made the right call knowing what we knew at the time. 

Knowing the Odds

The biggest thing that you need to know when you are in the mountains, is having the courage to say 'today isn't the day'. Realizing that the mountains will still be there tomorrow, next week, next year. That will keep you safer then any piece of equipment money can buy. Goran Kropp is a perfect example of that. After riding his bike to the base camp of Everest he made it to within 300 feet of the summit, and tuned around. If he hadn't he would have been coming down in the dark. 

This was the same day the events of Into Thin Air took place. Had he not turned around, he too would have been caught in the legendary storm.

Final Thoughts

There have been days where I regret not going to the mountains, never for a second do I regret getting somewhere and deciding its not the right time. Do I wonder what would have happened had we stayed another 10 minutes, yeah, I do. But I can sleep soundly because we made the right choice and played it safe. Some might say it was a day wasted, I would answer them there is never a bad day in the mountains, there are some days that don't go according to plan but that is what makes it an adventure. What I have learned from days where I walked away is far more valuable to me then the days where everything went according to plan. Things went according to plan because somewhere, to some degree, sometime before we learned that something didn't work. You don't learn from success, you learn from your failures. I believe having a failed attempt, yet learning from that 'failure' is actually a success. 

Check this out.

K

Us Gear Heads

I love my gear and will tell anyone who will listen why I love it. My family and friends struggle to find gifts that I will use in my pursuits outside. I hope to give some helpful suggestions on what to buy your gear head as a late Christmas gift.

R.E.I.

(really entertaining inside)

Walking into an REI or any other big outdoor retailer can be over whelming, and the only response you can come up with when an employee asks if there is anything they can help you with is 'I'm just looking.' Big outdoor retailers can be a good place to start for inspiration for a gift idea and sometimes just going into the building does the trick. But other times retailers leave us shaking in our boots.

A Note From Inside

Any gear head friend of yours has his or her preferences on styling, layering, and philosophy on the outdoors. We spend so much of your money looking at, and then buying the high end gear that we forget about the small things. Which leaves an open door for you to give a gift that will be cherished for years to come. 

Think Small

When you buy for a gear head shoot for a no receipt policy, give them something they will use. My personal favorite is the trucker hat. With a mesh fabric and durable graphic front this brand specific gift is the perfect extra tidbit to complete the outdoor look. Every outdoor brand has their version, pick desired color and away you go. Not far from the hat you will see the graphic t-shirt. That is another great option, its something that we want but never have money for. My finally thoughts on what to get as a gift is a pair or two of socks. Not just any pair of socks but a nice pair of smart wool socks. Those will be much appreciated and used often. All three gifts are less then $30, all of them will be loved, and they will all have a place in your gear heads life.

Think Smart

If you decide that you want give them something else another thing we can never have enough of is outdoor shirts and hiking pants. For less then $100 you can get just about any base layer on the market. You need to do you home work first, homework on what the receiver of the gift does outside. That starts by getting them to talk, ramble really, about the gear they want. Listen for a base layer or a brand name. Either one will work, then use your best judgement to decide if you want, synthetic, wool of some blend, compression, etc. This is another item that we want but hardly save for because it its not 'expensive'.   

Think Safe

If you tried looking for a gift for your gear head and just couldn't find something here's what you do; get a gift card. A card with a a couple of gift suggestions and let them choose. This allows them to get something for themselves, while still staying inside of your rule set. For example if you give them $70, but instruct them to only get accessories from brand they already own, something along those lines.

Another distraction.

Happy shopping.

If you enjoyed this article please share my URL so more may enjoy the same articles you did.

journeyofthethree.blogspot.com

I have started another blog that focuses on the equipment of the mountains.

Here is that link. 

montemcalces.blogspot.com

Thanks.

K

No Two Ways About It

Too often I find myself looking for my next challenge, running around from task to task, never really stopping to breath. I was up in Loveland on my new skis and skiing had finally clicked; everything was going smoothly for the first time all season. Halfway down a blue, I was flooded with everything that had been going right today: I was in the mountains, wearing all of my own gear, I hadn't fallen yet, and was headed down my first blue and wasn't worried about it, I wasn't stressed, I was enjoying it.

It is such a small thing, so small that I feel we miss it too often. Enjoy the little things in life. I'm embarrassed that it took me being on skis to finally grasp that concept. Once I started thinking about it,  there are lots of 'little' things to be thankful for. One of my teachers gave us a little book that every school day we were to write 3 happy things in there, it will no longer be a box to check off but something to really ponder. I encourage you to find something, right now, that you are thankful for, something you could enjoy for 30 seconds.

Looking at the incredible panoramic view from the top of Loveland, I was asked to take a picture for a couple,  and after the ensuing chit-chat I learned that they were from Chicago and had bought a 4-pack of lift tickets for Loveland. The gentlemen noticed my Rab Guide Glove, and soon he was in my mits as I was holding his and telling him why I bought those gloves. As an outdoor community,  the ability to ask questions about the gear that others have is so important to the expansion of high quality apparel. He only knew of Rab because a store was opening in town. I had a little more knowledge of Rab. Rab is a European  company that was started in the early 80's, and I filled in him, politely answering his questions to the best of my ability.

It is crucial that we listen to others that are  passionate in their field of interest. We don't have to believe their conclusion, however, when we listen to their ideas they also listen to us. That was my favorite moment of the day. They made me feel human, made me feel like I was valuable, and I didn't abuse that respect. Something to ponder.

If you would like to read more about my world,  go to any outdoor website and look for articles near the bottom of the home pages. That is where I get my 'distractions'.

Speaking of, another distraction.

K

Head Down Hill

I do not rush things, I plan them out. I don't just choose a piece of gear because it looks cool, I do my homework before buying. When preparing for an outing into the mountains I lay everything out that I think I will need, then go back over it and refine my list so I don't carry extra weight.

My last ski trip added a new lens to look through when I gaze upon the mountains.

I have been in the game long enough to have acquired my own collection of gear, and have at least one layer to choose from, my goal is to choose the right layers and take nothing else. That day I was spot on with a synthetic shirt, Outdoor Research's Transfer Hoody, The North Face Paramount Peak II's, military grade Gore-Tex pants, and Black Diamond's Dirt Bag Glove. Nailed it. That was the good part, but I did also bring in my pack OR's Furio, and Himalayan Hoodie, as well as assorted hats and gloves just in case.

After lunch Scott and I took the unused gear back to the car.

During lunch we discussed the first few runs of the day, they weren't stellar. Turns out, gravity and physics still work despite how hard we fight them. We eventually we decided that going faster would actually make our lives easier.

Why?

Because it just made sense.

There are so many choices that we make at any given point in time that so often we over think what it is we are doing, even though we tend to get it right the first time. After lunch the skiing was better because we just went with the flow, the flow of what felt right.

We stopped fighting the mountain, and started to enjoy it.

That has been the overall theme that I have been pondering. Just because I could push harder, go faster, climb at a higher level doesn't always mean I should. My first time out skiing the guy I was with started to laugh at me three runs in, and said something along the lines of "if you simply enjoyed the mountain skiing would be easy". I shortened that to "enjoy the mountain."

I'd bet anyone who says they enjoy spending time in the mountains would also say that it's a relationship. All the rules apply, all the joy, the heartbreak, the comfort, the rejection, it's all there. Every part as important as the last, and the next. The gear, the mentality, the lessons learned, from that person's experiences the mountains will mean different things to different people.

But it dawned on me today that sometimes, most times the right decision is the one that hits us first. I knew when I first looked at the weather what I should wear, but I didn't just go with it like I should have. I stumbled down a blue today, when I should have just pointed my skis down the hill and enjoyed the mountains.

Here's what I mean.

In case you need another distraction on this Monday,
Another Distraction. Love is patient, love is kind...

K

Lessons From the NFL

• Thanksgiving is a wonderful time with friends and family, at least that is how it is advertised. About halfway through the day however, some of us will be looking out the window and wishing we were in the mountains. But alas, we will go to the living room and watch a football game, because that is what good Americans do. Here you are reading this blog hoping for some sort of distraction. That is what I hope to provide you.

Ever notice how sharply dressed the announcers are for NFL games? Suits, vests, ties or bow ties. They always look sharp and professional, and how they dress lends them credibility. That is where we in the outdoor world can learn a thing or two.

The equipment we wear lends us credibility. That is the door to sharing our passion with others.

We in the outdoor community need to know what it is that we are wearing and be able to tell people about what we have on and why we have it. People will be curious about what we wear, especially if it is oddly colored or 'cool' looking. It is best to tell a story that the piece played a part in, or a memory that is dear to you, don't be a sales person, be a story teller.

It amazes me how many questions people have about what I wear. Each time someone asks about a piece I have, it opens the door  for me to share about my passion, and I love sharing my passion. Many people don't realize that they don't have to spend an arm and a leg to get high quality gear. That is where we can have the biggest impact, simply by giving the people the knowledge of good gear and where to get it. That is more valuable then anything else we have to offer. All because we had the credibility and done our homework on what we wear to share our knowledge with others.

I hope you have been pleasantly distracted.

Feel free to get another piece of pie.

K

The Story Behind the Name

The name of this blog was inspired by a poem that I had wrote this year.

Enjoy.

The Bird, The Bauer, The Bum

Poetry hides amongst the grinder

Of dirt and souls.

Pitches off the ground

From a firm handshake,

To a blank, barely passable, face.

It hides in the dusty chalk,

And burning sweat filled eyes.

It hides in the elegance of

A dynamic leap of faith.

Camelot uncovers

The hidden,

As the wild country calls us

Ever higher.

The ancient bird, Mr. Bauer, and

The ski Bum billionaires provide

The tools to find the hidden, the hidden path up the

North face of the mountain.

The Italians providing helping hands and feet,

The Swiss remind us that

Time is of the essence.

Every member taking turns

With the sharp end of the rope.

To go where others are afraid to venture.

To find the hidden gem

In the cold alpine snow

The prompt was to describe where poetry hides. While poetry can be anywhere, I tend to stumble over it most often when I am in the mountains. The poem is laced with mountaineering lore about both the mountains and the pioneers of some of the gear and equipment that we have come to love. References to trad climbing gear and outdoor companies can be found within the poem; Camelot, the ancient bird, and Mr Bauer, just to name a few. See how many references you can find, there are 8 total.

For a while now I have wanted to share my experiences that I have while in the mountains and poetry wasn't cutting it. I felt that people couldn’t access my work. I also know that when I click on an article the title is normally a good indication as to the quality of the site, so it was essential to get it right.

With this blog I hope to share my thoughts, feelings, emotions, frustrations, and overall learning journey that I am on as my time in the hills increases. It would be a great pleasure for me to share that with you.

To do that I will have a new post for you each Monday, either about a recent trip, or a piece of my gear that I would like to review for you.

I would also be willing to answer your outdoor questions to the best of my abilities, I will be most helpful when it comes to gear and layering. Please feel free to ask about a specific post or give feedback on the blog itself.

If there is an outdoor topic that you would like me to address please do not hesitate to make that request.

The mountains are where I find peace, and I love when I can share what I have learned with others.

I hope I can provide you a pleasant distraction sometime during your Monday.

Another Distraction if you need one.

K

.

Ugly Guide Orange

Ever since I can remember I have always wanted to have the coolest looking gear out there. Then I grew up and realized that looking good is the least of your concerns when it comes to outdoor gear. There is such a diverse market of almost every piece of gear out there that getting the right piece for you can seem overwhelming.

My addiction started with the small things, hats, gloves, but they slowly became more and more expensive, now I'm into climbing shoes and boots. Then I began to drown in the overwhelming world of choosing my hardshell jacket. A hardshell jacket is a jacket that is water and wind proof, but that's where the black and white are no longer. Do you want Gore-Tex, or the company's three layer fabric. Do you want a rainshell or alpine jacket? Is it parka length of a coat, harness compatible, you get the picture. After many hours on eBay and Craigslist I settled with OR's Furio hardshell for $180ish new with tags (see the link for specks). A goretex/goretex pro garment that was designed to be light and durable. The downside, it was bright orange, I called it my construction jacket and the first few times I wore it it preformed well but I was disappointed with how dirty it became. I even looked at OR's website to see if I could trade it for a darker color.

Today Dennis and I, Dennis the man responsible for getting me addicted to being outside and gear, went up to Saint Mary's glacier with the hopes of summiting James Peak. With a high of 24 degrees Fahrenheit and 'slight' wind for Empire, CO, we gathered our gear and up we headed.

Slight must mean different things to different people.

When we got to the glacier we had put on both Gore pants and Gore jackets as the wind howled so hard and fast that the skiers got to the slope, looked at the wind, and turned around. After talking to a gentlemen who was well versed in avalanche safety we decided to not climb the glacier but to enjoy the day and just play around in the snow.

Got some cool pic's of the wind and both of us decked out in our Gore, it was sweet.

On the way down we had lunch, and there we sat bundled in gear enjoying the relative calm that is found below treeline, and it is there that my mind was changed on my orange jacket.

"I love this jacket, but I hate this color," I said, "because it gets dirty so easily"

"That is what makes the jacket come to life, is that it is dirty. A new shiny jacket that has never been used has no stories, but a dirty, beat up coat, has many tales to tell." responded Dennis.

That's not exactly what he said, but that is what it boiled down to.

I thought about it, and I liked that idea, in fact I already had my first story for it. On the back is a discolored spot where I leaned against a rock before finishing Kelso Ridge. I was already imagining the stories that had yet to happen in this jacket.

My entire attitude flipped, something that I had taken and looked at as a hindrance became the record of this chapter of my life in the mountains.

It made me stop and think, What else have I been thinking was a hindrance that could become a good thing? That is what the mountains taught me today, just because something is different doesn't mean it should be judged or thrown away, maybe its you who needs to change.

From now on I will look for gear that is as bright as possible, orange if possible, so that I can make as many memories as possible and have a one of a kind record.

K

So What?

Welcome to something new, well new for me. Chances are that you have read more blog posts, seen more updates, and liked more pictures then I ever will. Why do a blog? For me, its something new, and a free way to express ideas and feelings for those who want to listen.

A little background on me: I love being in the mountains and sharing my experiences and thoughts about them with the poor soul that can't experience them for themselves. I hope you enjoy this blog, I will update every time I go out to the hills. I am open to voicing my thoughts on being in the mountains and what crossed my mind that day. I will also take a a stab at whatever outdoor questions you may have, even though sometimes my answer may be "I don't know".

Enjoy, and feel free to laugh at me whenever.

K