Monthly Archives: November 2011

Travel bardo, lots of light and doing as the Chileans

Posted on November 30, 2011 by TA Loeffler

Greetings from SCL, Santiago International Airport for all those who don’t memorize airport codes for fun. I introduced Bobble Head Ted the the wonderful suitcase sculpture here in the Santiago Airport…made from “left luggage” I imagine it’s what baggage handlers … Continue reading →

Posted in Everest 3.0, Vinson | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Vinson Visual Lojong #2: Always meditate on whatever provokes resentment

Posted on November 30, 2011 by TA Loeffler

Lojong is a Tibetan Buddhist mind training practice based on a set of 59 slogans first formulated in the 12th century. For most of my climbs, my Buddhist mentor (or “Buddhist Personal Trainer” as I like to call her) prepares … Continue reading →

Posted in Buddhism, Photography, Visual Soliloquy | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

At the Airport (YYT)

Posted on November 29, 2011 by TA Loeffler

It was supposed to be a vanilla dip but alas travel and adventure and climbing requires an ability to adapt to changing conditions so bring on the Boston Creme! At the airport, after a wonderful afternoon with the my sweetie, … Continue reading →

Posted in Everest 3.0, Vinson | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Vinson Visual Lojong #1: First, train in the preliminaries

Posted on November 29, 2011 by TA Loeffler

Lojong is a Tibetan Buddhist mind training practice based on a set of 59 slogans first formulated in the 12th century. For most of my climbs, my Buddhist mentor (or “Buddhist Personal Trainer” as I like to call her) prepares … Continue reading →

Posted in Buddhism, Photography, Visual Soliloquy | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Antarctica Countdown 1 Day and Counting: Merry Adventure Eve

Posted on November 28, 2011 by TA Loeffler

Merry Adventure Eve. One Sleep. The countdown is over. I leave tomorrow at 5:00 pm to start flying towards Southern Chile. I fly from YYT to Toronto to Santiago to Puenta Arenas then pause for a few days and then … Continue reading →

Posted in Everest 3.0, Vinson | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Visual Soliloquy #394 To conquer fear is the beginning of wisdom…

Posted on November 28, 2011 by TA Loeffler

To conquer fear is the beginning of wisdom. – Bertrand Russell

Posted in Photography, Visual Soliloquy | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Antarctica Countdown 2 Days and Counting: All My Bags are Packed

Posted on November 27, 2011 by TA Loeffler

The bags are packed! How did I ever get packed for expeditions in the past before the lovely and talented Marian was in my life? It’s so helpful to have her to bounce ideas off of and she keeps me … Continue reading →

Posted in Everest 3.0, Vinson | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Visual Soliloquy #393 Live out of your imagination…

Posted on November 27, 2011 by TA Loeffler

Live out of your imagination, not your history. – Stephen Covey

Posted in Photography, Visual Soliloquy | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

Vinson Massif Press Release

Posted on November 27, 2011 by TA Loeffler

November 27, 2011 For Immediate Release: TA LOEFFLER HEADS TO ANTARCTICA FOR NUMBER SIX TA Loeffler departs St. John’s for Puenta Arenas, Chile on Tuesday November 29. Once there, she will meet her teammates and prepare for the flight to … Continue reading →

Posted in Everest 3.0, Vinson | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Antartica Countdown 3 Days and Counting: More Layers

Posted on November 26, 2011 by TA Loeffler

First off, congrats to the RMI Team One who summited today. I hope to be following in their footsteps in two weeks or so. They had terrific weather and made good time. Lots of layers of experiences today including practicing … Continue reading →

Posted in Everest 3.0, Vinson | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Visual Soliloquy #392 We are all in the gutter…

Posted on November 26, 2011 by TA Loeffler

We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars. – Oscar Wilde

Posted in Photography, Visual Soliloquy | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Antarctica Countdown 4 Days and Counting: Layers upon Layers…

Posted on November 25, 2011 by TA Loeffler

For today’s update, I thought I would take you through some of the specific gear items I’m taking to Antarctica along with some fun facts about them. In cold environments, layers are key. When it is super cold or we’re … Continue reading →

Posted in Everest 3.0, Vinson | Tagged , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

Visual Soliloquy #391 At times, challenges hit with the force of a roaring, rushing waterfall. The true test, however, is…

Posted on November 25, 2011 by TA Loeffler

At times, challenges hit with the force of a roaring, rushing waterfall. The true test, however, is whether you can put your arms up and enjoy the feel of the water. ~Aviva Kaufman

Posted in Photography, Visual Soliloquy | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Paying it Forward…The Liebster Blog Award

Posted on November 24, 2011 by TA Loeffler

I have been nominated for the Liebster Blog Award thanks to Marjon at moment2smile.   It is great to have some new folks visit my blog, especially on the eve of an exciting climb. From what I understand, the idea behind … Continue reading →

Posted in Life | Tagged | 1 Comment

Antarctica Countdown 5 Days and Counting: Thankful for a Snow Day

Posted on November 24, 2011 by TA Loeffler

The snow came without wind this time so the house did not shimmy or shutter like it often does during a winter storm. Perhaps this one, the first one of the season, want to creep in unannounced. When I first … Continue reading →

Posted in Everest 3.0, Photography, Vinson | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Visual Soliloquy #390 The turning point in the process of growing up is when you discover the core of strength within you that survives all hurt…

Posted on November 24, 2011 by TA Loeffler
Posted in Photography, Visual Soliloquy | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Snow Day II

Posted on November 24, 2011 by TA Loeffler

Five days out from departure for Antarctica and you get a snow day…improvise!  Building on last year’s snow day video, here’s the sequel! Here’s the original:

Posted in Everest 3.0, Video, Vinson | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

Antarctica Countdown 6 Days and Counting: Goldilocks Says I’m “Tire-d”

Posted on November 23, 2011 by TA Loeffler

When your day starts with a view like this, even if you are dragging a 45 pound tire behind you, it’s going to be a good one. Natelle and I were out pre-sunrise on “The Hill” making sure I got … Continue reading →

Posted in Everest 3.0, Vinson | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Visual Soliloquy #389 Problems are messages…

Posted on November 23, 2011 by TA Loeffler
Posted in Photography, Visual Soliloquy | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Antarctica Countdown 7 Days and Counting: A Tale of Two Piles

Posted on November 22, 2011 by TA Loeffler

Short and sweet… Pile One: Wonderfully joyous piles of gorgeous Xander T-shirts awaiting sorting and delivery (23 T-shirts still need homes-email me for sizes and colours still available.) Pile Two: Wonderfully joyous piles of warm and useful Antarctic gear awaiting … Continue reading →

Posted in Everest 3.0, Vinson | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Visual Soliloquy #388 Don’t cry when the sun is gone, because the tears won’t let you see the stars…

Posted on November 22, 2011 by TA Loeffler
Posted in Photography, Visual Soliloquy | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Visual Soliloquy #387 Perhaps all the dragons of our lives are princesses who are only waiting to see us once beautiful and brave…

Posted on November 21, 2011 by TA Loeffler

Perhaps all the dragons of our lives are princesses who are only waiting to see us once beautiful and brave.

Posted in Photography, Visual Soliloquy | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Antarctica Countdown 8 Days and Counting: The Lunch Bunch

Posted on November 21, 2011 by TA Loeffler

Let me begin by offering congratulations to three key folks in my life. First, a big wahoo goes out to Xander for scoring a goal in the top left corner from the point! Way seriously cool. Second, a big shout-out … Continue reading →

Posted in Everest 3.0, Vinson | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Visual Soliloquy #386 The greatest mistake you can make in life is to be continually fearing you will make one…

Posted on November 20, 2011 by TA Loeffler
Posted in Photography, Visual Soliloquy | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Antarctica Countdown 9 Days and Counting: Close Call and Getting Closer

Posted on November 20, 2011 by TA Loeffler

I had a close call with injury during a Friday night hockey league game. I lost an edge and crashed hard into the boards and onto the ice. The player checking me also went down and landed right on top … Continue reading →

Posted in Everest 3.0, Vinson | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Visual Soliloquy #385 You can’t wring your hands and roll up your sleeves at the same time…

Posted on November 19, 2011 by TA Loeffler
Posted in Photography, Visual Soliloquy | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Visual Soliloquy #384 I come into the peace of wild things who do not tax their lives with forethought of grief…

Posted on November 18, 2011 by TA Loeffler
Posted in Photography, Visual Soliloquy | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Antarctica Countdown 11 Days and Counting: From Soup to Nuts

Posted on November 18, 2011 by TA Loeffler

When we first designing my webpage, we were throwing around various URL’s to use; the first we used was “TA climbs Denali.” We then went onto “Adventures that Move.” Eventually, we settled on the now ubiquitous “taloeffler.com.” The one that … Continue reading →

Posted in Everest 3.0, Vinson | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Antarctica Countdown 12 Days and Counting: My New Rayne Coat

Posted on November 17, 2011 by TA Loeffler

A package arrived from RMI (my Vinson outfitter) yesterday…”Wahoo a prezzie from the outfitter,” I exclaimed. Even before I opened it, I said “I hope it’s not pink.” Marian just about split a gut when I pulled out a very … Continue reading →

Posted in Everest 3.0, Vinson | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Visual Soliloquy #383 I keep the telephone of my mind open to peace, harmony, health, love and abundance. Then, whenever doubt, anxiety or fear try to call me, they keep getting a busy signal…

Posted on November 17, 2011 by TA Loeffler
Posted in Photography, Visual Soliloquy | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Antarctica Countdown 13 Days and Counting: See One, Ride One, Pull One

Posted on November 16, 2011 by TA Loeffler

When I used to work at summer camp, we joked that in our first seasons, we often had to operate out of the mantra of “See One, Do One, Teach One.” This morning was Bobble-Head Ted’s first session training at … Continue reading →

Posted in Everest 3.0, Vinson | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Visual Soliloquy #382 Nerves and butterflies are fine – they’re a physical sign that you’re mentally ready and eager…

Posted on November 16, 2011 by TA Loeffler

Nerves and butterflies are fine – they’re a physical sign that you’re mentally ready and eager.  You have to get the butterflies to fly in formation, that’s the trick. ~Steve Bull

Posted in Photography, Visual Soliloquy | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Visual Soliloquy #381 Do not anticipate trouble or worry about what may never happen. Keep in the sunlight…

Posted on November 15, 2011 by TA Loeffler
Posted in Photography | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Visual Soliloquy #380 Worry never robs tomorrow of its sorrow, it only saps today of its joy…

Posted on November 14, 2011 by TA Loeffler

Worry never robs tomorrow of its sorrow, it only saps today of its joy. –Leo Buscaglia

Posted in Photography, Visual Soliloquy | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Antarctica Countdown 15 Days and Counting: Super-size The Wisdom of No Escape

Posted on November 14, 2011 by TA Loeffler

“There is a story of a woman running away from tigers. She runs and runs and the tigers are getting closer and closer. When she comes to the edge of a cliff, she sees some vines there, so she climbs … Continue reading →

Posted in Buddhism, Everest 3.0, Vinson | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Visual Soliloquy #379 If things go wrong, don’t go with them…

Posted on November 13, 2011 by TA Loeffler

If things go wrong, don’t go with them. –Roger Babson

Posted in Photography, Visual Soliloquy | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Visual Soliloquy #378 Today is the tomorrow we worried about yesterday…

Posted on November 12, 2011 by TA Loeffler

Today is the tomorrow we worried about yesterday. ~Author Unknown

Posted in Photography, Visual Soliloquy | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Antarctica Countdown 17 Days and Counting: Zipper Pulls and High Gear Anxiety

Posted on November 12, 2011 by TA Loeffler

Marian and I spent the day “pulling gear”. We have a gear room organized by season and expedition so today was the day to delve in and begin the process of making hundreds of decisions of what gear and clothing … Continue reading →

Posted in Everest 3.0, Vinson | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Antarctica Countdown 18 Days and Counting: Working the Lists

Posted on November 11, 2011 by TA Loeffler

Had a great training hike out Flat Rock way today. Hiked a new piece of the East Coast Trail with Marian. The wind was blowing a near gale and I thought it was perfect training weather for Antarctica. I know … Continue reading →

Posted in Everest 3.0, Vinson | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Visual Soliloquy #377 One’s real life is often the life that one does not lead…

Posted on November 11, 2011 by TA Loeffler

One’s real life is often the life that one does not lead. ~Oscar Wilde  

Posted in Photography, Visual Soliloquy | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment