Tag Archives: climb

Visual Soliloquy #703 On great mountains, all purpose is concentrated on the single job at hand, yet the summit is but a token of success, and the attempt is worthy in itself…

On great mountains, all purpose is concentrated on the single job at hand, yet the summit is but a token of success, and the attempt is worthy in itself. –Charles Houston

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

What Mountains Teach us About Citizenship: A Tedx Talk

Posted in Everest 3.0, Life, Video | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

From the classroom to a snow shelter: Students take what they learn about winter outside for the night

By Michelle Osmond Kelly, a Halifax native with not much camping experience, had a few things going against her. She’s scared of the dark, hates the cold, doesn’t like enclosed spaces (including sleeping bags), has a fear of being suffocated … Continue reading

Posted in Everest 3.0, Logan, Mera & Island | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Fire up your Heart: Prayer Flags of Inspiration

My office has new decorations thanks to the Grade Four students at Holy Trinity School in Torbay. I presented the challenges and rewards of being an explorer to some of the Grade Four classes there. They listened attentively and then … Continue reading

Posted in Everest 3.0, Logan, Mera & Island | Tagged , , , , , | 5 Comments

Live Life to its Fullest, Live the Life you Love, Love the Life you Live

There is a special bond that comes with sharing a tent with on a high altitude mountain with someone. You sleep close to another. You pee in your pee bottle next to them. They smell you. You smell them. You … Continue reading

Posted in Everest 3.0, Logan, Mera & Island | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

From Ferries to Pancakes

I had a grand adventure this morning heading off to Bell Island to speak at St. Michael’s Regional High School. I had to be up much earlier than usual to ensure I caught the ferry. The sunrise was spectacular and … Continue reading

Posted in Everest 3.0, Logan, Mera & Island | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

From Snow Huts to Medals to Ripples in the Pond

Thursday I awoke deep in the woods of Pippy Park. My HKR 4210 students has successfully survived their nights in “snowballs” or quinzhees as they are more formally known. I was very proud of the students’ efforts in putting all … Continue reading

Posted in Everest 3.0, Logan, Mera & Island | Tagged , , , | 8 Comments

Snow Day 6 a.k.a. How I cleared the Back Door

Sometimes mountain skills come in handy in the urban setting…when we couldn’t get out the back door off the kitchen, what’s a climber to do?  Climb…here’s a bit of Go Pro fun from yesterday snow day…now that the power is … Continue reading

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

Use Vitamin N to Increase The Benefits of Physical Activity

Want to maximize your work-out?  Take it outside…a growing body of research is showing that you will work harder, enjoy it more, de-stress, and stick with it longer if you get some Vitamin N.  Below are links to some recent … Continue reading

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

I Love Questions about Climbing

Hello to the Grade Fours at Amherst Cove Consolidated School in Bourden-Carleton, Prince Edward Island. Thanks for all your great questions. Here are my answers. 1). Describe your climb to Mount Everest. My climb to Mount Everest was awesome. I … Continue reading

Posted in Everest 3.0, Logan, Mera & Island | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Waiting For Doyle

When filled to the brim with excitement for the new Republic of Doyle Season premiere tonight, what’s a girl to do to manage all that energy?  Go and do the four Signal Hills you promised to Allan Hawco (and 22,000 … Continue reading

Posted in Everest 3.0, Life, Logan, Mera & Island | Tagged , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Home Court Advantage: TA’s Climbing Canada’s Highest Peak, Mount Logan, in June 2013

Having had the privilege of climbing on all seven continents over the past eight years, I thought it was finally time to claim “home court advantage” and take on the challenge of climbing Mount Logan, Canada’s highest peak. At an … Continue reading

Posted in Logan | Tagged , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Training Plan for Mera, Island, and Logan

Starting to map out the training plan for my spring climbs of Mera peak, Island Peak, and Mount Logan. It’s good to have it take shape and it starts right now this week. Logan has a 10-15 hour summit day … Continue reading

Posted in Everest 3.0, Logan, Mera & Island | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

In the Versatility of Wanderlust

In the versatility of wanderlust There lies the supercalifragilisticexpialidocious of adventure Of life, Of love, Of Omas round the world So filled with kindness And the courage to nurture excellence towards the summit. Can I Live? Can I Aspire? Can … Continue reading

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

What’s TA Climbing Next IV? Clue #5

Howdy, Round five…time to guess what TA is climbing next…looking here for a list of my next three climbs (two have already been identified by dedicated guessers)…so you’re looking for the third and to submit all three in the correct … Continue reading

Posted in Everest 3.0 | Tagged , , , , | 20 Comments

What’s TA Climbing Next IV? Clue #4

Namaste, Round four…time to guess what TA is climbing next…looking here for a list of my next three climbs (two have already been identified by dedicated guessers)…so you’re looking for the third and to submit all three in the correct … Continue reading

Posted in Everest 3.0 | Tagged , , , , | 22 Comments

What’s TA Climbing Next IV? Clue 3

Hola, Round three…time to guess what TA is climbing next…looking here for a list of my next three climbs (two have already been identified by dedicated guessers)…so you’re looking for the third and to submit all three in the correct … Continue reading

Posted in Everest 3.0 | Tagged , , , , | 6 Comments

What’s TA Climbing Next IV? Clue 2

Bonjour, Clue #2…Time to guess what TA is climbing next…here is the second in a series of visual clues and you can try to guess what I am climbing next…looking here for a list of my next three climbs…so you … Continue reading

Posted in Everest 3.0 | Tagged , , , , | 46 Comments

What is TA Climbing Next IV?

OK folks…it’s that time again…time to guess what TA is climbing next…I’ll present a series of visual clues and you can try to guess…looking here for a list of my next three climbs…so you must guess all three and in … Continue reading

Posted in Everest 3.0 | Tagged , , , , | 14 Comments

A Decision to Participate

Dr. TA Loeffler talks to students at Sheshatshiu Innu School about her outdoor adventures. By Michelle Osmond (MUN Gazette Oct. 10, 2012) One of Dr. TA Loeffler’s favourite parts of her expedition on the Churchill River this past summer was … Continue reading

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

What Comes, Comes… Orizaba for Oma and Beyond

Three words. One comma. A philosophy of life. Oma’s favourite advice. And…the words I am taking solace in to cope with the disappointment that ice conditions on El Pico de Orizaba forced us to abandon our summit bid on Mexico’s … Continue reading

Posted in Everest 3.0, Orizaba | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

The Ixtaccihuatl Times

Climbing at extreme altitudes is somewhat indescribable. It is humbling, challenging, and according to one author, akin to hitting your head against the wall (they both feel good when you stop). As our trip leader JJ said the other day, … Continue reading

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

The Team Summits Ixtaccihuatl!

From the RMI blog today-on the actual page you can hear the phone call…http://www.rmiguides.com/blog/2012/10/24/mexico_volcanoes_jj_team_summit_ixtaccihuatl Posted by: J.J. Justman | October 24, 2012 Categories: *Expedition Dispatches *Mexico Elevation: 17,340′ Hello RMI blog. This is JJ Justman. I am extremely happy to … Continue reading

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

Orizaba for Oma is underway

Mexico Volcanoes: JJ & Team Enjoyed Great Views on La Malinche Hike Hi all, Here is the fist blog entry from our RMI trip leader, JJ Lustman. You can follow along on the RMI Blog: http://www.rmiguides.com/blog/ as I’ll be posting … Continue reading

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

A Small Rock of Many

With a visit to some of Mexico’s most famous (and the world’s third largest) pyramids, Teotihuacan today and the National Museum of Anthropology yesterday, I am feeling like a small rock in a sea of many. Viewing the remains and … Continue reading

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

Mexican Book Ends

I remember my first arrival in Mexico City more vividly perhaps than any other expedition start. I was 21, spoke no Spanish, and arrived three days earlier than the rest of my climbing group. The plane was several hours late … Continue reading

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

Another Time in Twillingate

Marian and I had another “time” in Twillingate. The Dictionary of Newfoundland English defines a time as a party or celebration, a spree, a communal gathering…and what a time we had. Twillingate is the perfect Newfoundland destination as it has … Continue reading

Posted in Everest 3.0, Newfoundland | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Orizaba for Oma

I often announce my next climb with a guessing game. It’s pretty fun and I’ve enjoyed having folks become detectives to decipher my clues. My summer’s been pretty tough, filled with grief in losing my precious Oma and having a … Continue reading

Posted in Everest 3.0, Life, Orizaba | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Onto the Next…the George River

So…last night I finally finished unpacking from my Greenland expedition. It wasn’t my fault, really. You see, I came home to a canoe in the living room. And that canoe was really a bit too big for the living room … Continue reading

Posted in Canoe, Everest 3.0 | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

MUN Today: HKR professor takes teachable moments to a whole new level

By Michelle Osmond (MUN Today May 31, 2012) “Imagine looking out at vistas of only white and blue with a horizon line that parts only these two colours and that you ski toward for days at a time.” This is … Continue reading

Posted in Everest 3.0, Gunnbjørn Fjeld | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Greenland Redux Number Three: Delivering a Polar Bear

I delivered a polar bear this week. Albeit a relatively small one. Without much bite and with lots of soft fur to a Grade Four class at Bishop Abraham School in St. John’s. This group of explorers in training under … Continue reading

Posted in Everest 3.0, Gunnbjørn Fjeld | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Visual Soliloquy #508 The most difficult times for many of us are the ones we give ourselves…

The most difficult times for many of us are the ones we give ourselves. ― Pema Chödrön

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

Visual Soliloquy #507 Have patience with all things, but chiefly have patience with yourself. Do not lose courage in considering your own imperfections…

Have patience with all things, but chiefly have patience with yourself. Do not lose courage in considering your own imperfections but instantly set about remedying them — every day begin the task anew. –St. Francis de Sales

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

Summitting Home

I arrived home this morning about 4:00 am after 15 hours of travel from Iceland. It’s great to see Marian and begin the transition to a more complicated life beyond the glacier. The daily routine will soon require much more … Continue reading

Posted in Everest 3.0, Gunnbjørn Fjeld | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Packing, Sewing, Charging

The gift of a late March snow storm is that is prompts one to stay home and attend to one’s packing chores. Marian and I spent much of today doing Greenland prep chores. I don’t know how I ever managed … Continue reading

Posted in Everest 3.0, Gunnbjørn Fjeld, Video | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

The Big Push…Err…Pull!

In just under three weeks, I will set foot for the first time in Greenland and it’s nearing two weeks to departure to Iceland-the staging point for the expedition. Each day I try to check a few more things off … Continue reading

Posted in Everest 3.0, Gunnbjørn Fjeld | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Looking Back, Looking Forward…Mount Hillaby

I’ve spent much of the evening working on my website, getting it ready to share the excitement and challenges of my upcoming expedition to Greenland. I’ve set the home page to display my blog so it will be very easy … Continue reading

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

Skiing in Place

Another great day out training for Greenland. I love this picture of Marian standing at the edge of Windsor Lake. The fish eye lens of the Go-Pro has curved the horizon and given the picture a very sensuous feeling. I’d … Continue reading

Posted in Everest 3.0, Gunnbjørn Fjeld, Ski | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Humbled by 60 KG

If it’s Saturday, it’s pull day! This weekend I had a date with 60 kg…up ten kg from last week. I also upped the weight in my pack by 10 kg as well. The result. Humility. You see, after last … Continue reading

Posted in Everest 3.0, Gunnbjørn Fjeld | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

8 km with 50 kg

Given a big dump of snow earlier in the week, we’d hoped to get to ski today to try out my new boot/binding combination that we installed during Wednesday’s gift of a snow day. We gave up after only ten … Continue reading

Posted in Everest 3.0, Gunnbjørn Fjeld | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment