Tag Archives: 2017

Lungta Livyers #16: Elephants and Eating–Adventures Big and Small in Thailand

Posted on December 7, 2017 by

People who knew me when, when I had my last full year sabbatical leave in 2001-02, might remember that the last time I was in Thailand, I spent some weeks volunteering at an elephant sanctuary for injured, retired, or orphaned … Continue reading →

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Lungta Livyers #15 In the Bardo

Posted on October 26, 2017 by

We arrived back to Kathmandu from Paro, Bhutan yesterday morning after three days of trip endings and events. We had a wonderful celebration lunch with our trek organizers in Sephu at the National park office just below the trailhead where … Continue reading →

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Lungta Livers #11 Good Bye to the Summer of Hands

Posted on September 24, 2017 by

The autumnal equinox signalled not only the beginning of autumn but the end of the summer of hands. My right hand is now seven weeks post surgery and the left, 16. I’m beginning to be able to bear full weight … Continue reading →

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Lungta Livyers #6: Stay on the Bus

Posted on August 31, 2017 by

We wanted to go for a hike. To some trees. So we did some research, found a few blog posts, and knew we needed to get near the Zaisan Memorial to get near the hike’s starting point. One blog post … Continue reading →

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Lungta Livyers #4: This or Something Better

Posted on August 26, 2017 by

This morning I remarked to Marian, that along with Lojong Slogans, other pithy sayings had been introduced to me and some stick and others don’t. I can’t remember who or where I was introduced to the saying, “This or something … Continue reading →

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Lungta Livyers #3: He said “Yes”

Posted on August 25, 2017 by

The doctor took a quick look and said, “You’re all good.” I in disbelief said, “Really? Please take a close look.” He looked at both the wrist and incision and said it looks fine that likely only inflammation remains. I … Continue reading →

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Lungta Livyers #2: The Bardo of Kindergarten

Posted on August 24, 2017 by

One of the joys of travel is that it immediately returns you to kindergarten or toddlerhood. Stripped of the comfort cloak of shared language, everyday tasks take on enormous challenge and adventure, requiring intense observational skills, pointing, and willingness to … Continue reading →

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Summer of Hand(s)

Posted on August 1, 2017 by

I usually mark each summer by the expedition or expeditions that happened that summer. Last summer was the “Polar Bear” expedition to northern Labrador. The summer before was the “Will the plane ever land?” expedition to the Kanairiktok River in … Continue reading →

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Boatbuilding as a Full Contact Sport

Posted on June 22, 2017 by

Using the linear planer is intense. I’ve adopted the role of board puller which means I’m face and eyes into the sawdust. I think I like it because it reminds me of skiing across Greenland or Sweden when we faced … Continue reading →

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Finding Centre and Other Life Lessons from Boatbuilding

Posted on June 21, 2017 by

Day three of boatbuilding school at the Wooden Boat Museum of Newfoundland and Labrador has come to an end and we’ve learned many more skills, ideas, and vocabulary today. We’ve focused on finding centre from almost minute one of the … Continue reading →

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From Stem to Stern

Posted on June 20, 2017 by

Marian, Michael, and I are spending this week at the Wooden Boat Museum of Newfoundland and Labrador in Winterton learning how to build a Grandy Dory (pictured above). I’ve been trying to get to a workshop here for a few … Continue reading →

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I’m Always Climbing A Mountain or “How I climb anything is how I climb everything…”

Posted on June 11, 2017 by

If I said to you that I was following an exercise program with discipline, eating food of the highest nutritional quality, making sure that I’m getting lots of sleep, doing lots of body care, and seeing progress each day, what … Continue reading →

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Visual Soliloquy #1280 It is by going down into the abyss that we recover the treasures of life. Where you stumble, there lies your treasure…

Posted on June 7, 2017 by

It is by going down into the abyss that we recover the treasures of life. Where you stumble, there lies your treasure. –Joseph Campbell

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Visual Soliloquy #1279 If you propose to speak, always ask yourself, is it true, is it necessary, is it kind ?”

Posted on June 6, 2017 by

If you propose to speak, always ask yourself, is it true, is it necessary, is it kind?” –Mary Ann Pietzker

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Visual Soliloquy #1278 Our wounds are often the openings into the best and most beautiful part of us…

Posted on June 3, 2017 by

Our wounds are often the openings into the best and most beautiful part of us. ― David Richo photo Credit: Megan Frost

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Visual Soliloquy #1277 “It’s like everyone tells a story about themselves inside their own head. Always . All the time. That story makes you what you are. We build ourselves out of that story…

Posted on May 17, 2017 by

It’s like everyone tells a story about themselves inside their own head. Always. All the time. That story makes you what you are. We build ourselves out of that story. ― Patrick Rothfuss

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Visual Soliloquy #1276 I wanted a perfect ending. Now I’ve learned, the hard way, that some poems don’t rhyme, and some stories don’t have a clear beginning, middle, and end. Life is about not knowing, having to change, taking the moment and making the best of it, without knowing what’s going to happen next. Delicious Ambiguity…

Posted on May 16, 2017 by

I wanted a perfect ending. Now I’ve learned, the hard way, that some poems don’t rhyme, and some stories don’t have a clear beginning, middle, and end. Life is about not knowing, having to change, taking the moment and making … Continue reading →

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Visual Soliloquy #1275 The only real battle in life is between hanging on and letting go…

Posted on May 12, 2017 by

The only real battle in life is between hanging on and letting go. ― Shannon L. Alder

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Visual Soliloquy # 1274 I grow plants for many reasons: to please my eye or to please my soul, to challenge the elements or to challenge my patience, for novelty or for nostalgia, but mostly for the joy in seeing them grow…

Posted on May 7, 2017 by

I grow plants for many reasons: to please my eye or to please my soul, to challenge the elements or to challenge my patience, for novelty or for nostalgia, but mostly for the joy in seeing them grow. — David … Continue reading →

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Fire and Ice 2107: More Ice than Fire

Posted on April 15, 2017 by

It was another full day exploring the sights between Vagnsstaðir and Vik. We spent much of the day marvelling at the ice in all of it’s forms. Glacier tongues, lagoons, and crevasses drew our attention over and over again. I … Continue reading →

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Fire & Ice 2017 Day 9: Kiruna to Stockholm

Posted on April 10, 2017 by

Today after our overnight train ride, we will explore Stockholm, the capital of Sweden. Did You Know? Volvo, a Swedish company invented the 3-point seat belt system, and instead of patenting it to make their own company a lot more … Continue reading →

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Fire & Ice 2017 Day 8: Kebnekaise to Nikkolauda to Kiruna

Posted on April 9, 2017 by

Today we will head out from Kebnekaise Mountain Station to Nikkolauda. There, we will catch a bus that will take us to Kiruna. There, we will catch a train to Stockholm. Did You Know?

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Fire & Ice 2017 Day 7: Kebnekaise Climb

Posted on April 8, 2017 by

. Today is the big day. We will try to make our way to the highest point in Sweden, the summit of Kebnekaise (2099 m.). Did You Know? Haparanda in Sweden, and Tornio in Finland, are so close in proximity … Continue reading →

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Fire & Ice 2017 Day 6: Kebnekaise Mountain Station

Posted on April 7, 2017 by

Today we say good-bye to our ski teammates and meet our climbing ones. We’ll do some preparation for our climb of Kebnekaise (2099 m.) as well as rest and make everything ready for the climb. Did You Know? Something that … Continue reading →

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Fire & Ice 2017 Day 5: Salka-Kebnekaise

Posted on April 6, 2017 by

This will be an exciting day as we will see Kebnekaise (2099 m.), Sweden’s highest peak, for the first time. We will be trying to spot the route up that we will use when climbing the peak. Today we ski … Continue reading →

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Fire & Ice 2017 Day 4: Tjakta-Salka

Posted on April 5, 2017 by

Today the rhythms of our ski days should be set as we make way from Tjakta mountain hut to Salka mountain hut. Did You Know? In Sweden, the traditional Christmas visitor is the “nisse” or “gnome”, a short, good-humoured sprite … Continue reading →

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Fire & Ice 2017 Day 3: Alesjaure-Tjakta

Posted on April 4, 2017 by

Today we ski from Alesjaure mountain hut to Tjakta mountain hut. The huts were are using are maintained by the Swedish Tourism Association and help make the Swedish outdoors more accessible to everyone. Did You Know? “Lagom” is an important … Continue reading →

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Fire & Ice 2017 Day 2: Abiskojaure-Alesjaure

Posted on April 3, 2017 by

Today’s plan is to ski from Abisko.jaure-Alesjaure. We are learning all about the Letter “A” Did You Know? Between 300,000 and 400,000 moose (“Alces alces”) roam the Swedish woods. The moose is also considered the most dangerous animal in Sweden. … Continue reading →

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Fire & Ice 2017 Day 1: Abisko Mountain Station-Abiskojaure

Posted on April 2, 2017 by

Today’s plan is to ski from Abisko Mountain Station to Abiskojaure mountain hut. It will be our first day out so we must take very good care of our feet since they will be adapting to the large volume of … Continue reading →

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Fire and Ice 2017: Our Ski Route…

Posted on April 1, 2017 by

This map shows our entire ski route from Abisko to Kebnekaise and then finishing in Nikkaluokta.  We will be carrying some of our food supplies in our backpacks and acquiring some items along the way.  Out backpacks will weight between … Continue reading →

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A Invitation to Fire & Ice 2017

Posted on March 27, 2017 by

Marian and I are off on another adventure and we’d like to invite you to come along. We are calling the expedition, “Fire and ice 2017” and we’re off to points north of here in Sweden and Iceland. The name … Continue reading →

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Visual Soliloquy # 1273 The river has taught me to listen; you will learn from it, too. The river knows everything; one can learn everything from it. You have already learned from the river that it is good to strive downwards…

Posted on February 9, 2017 by

The river has taught me to listen; you will learn from it, too. The river knows everything; one can learn everything from it. You have already learned from the river that it is good to strive downwards, to sink, to … Continue reading →

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In Honour of Michael Beecher Smith 4/27/2007

Posted on January 25, 2017 by

With today being Bell’s Let’s Talk day, I’m thinking of Michael and his family. He is dearly missed by so many. I thought I would re-post this blog entry that I did from Everest basecamp on April 27, 2007. Location: … Continue reading →

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Visual Soliloquy #1272 They who marvel at the beauty of the world in summer will find equal cause for wonder and admiration in winter…

Posted on January 13, 2017 by

They who marvel at the beauty of the world in summer will find equal cause for wonder and admiration in winter. –John Burroughs He who marvels at the beauty of the world in summer will find equal cause for wonder … Continue reading →

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Of Hands and Helicopters

Posted on January 8, 2017 by

That’s my left hand holding Climber Smurf as we are traveling to Hebron, Labrador last August to begin our Paddle2Peaks expedition. It’s been a rough year for my hands. I hadn’t realized how rough until just before Christmas when I … Continue reading →

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In 2017, what ‘mountain’ will you climb?

Posted on January 6, 2017 by

Reading this article, by Ashley Fitzpatrick of The Telegram, entitled In 2017, what ‘mountain’ will you climb? brought back many fine memories of my preparation for and climbing of Mount Kilimanjaro. I also enjoyed reflecting on the many folks I’ve … Continue reading →

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