Tag Archives: climb

Everest 3.0: Visualizing the Whole Hog

In three weeks time, I’ll have just arrived in Kathmandu after 24 hours of travel. It’s starting to be the time of count-downs and calculations. How many hockey games left to play before I go? How many pounds of snacks … Continue reading

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Visual Soliloquy #1246 First, do enough training. Then believe in yourself and say: I can do it. Tomorrow is my day…

First, do enough training. Then believe in yourself and say: I can do it. Tomorrow is my day. –Haile Gebreselassie  

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Everest 3.0: Summiting Everest as Performance

I was asked by an undergraduate theatre student who is studying the idea of summiting Everest as performance to answer some questions for an end of semester paper. Given time is easily filled right now with tasks, I thought I … Continue reading

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Everest 3.0: Introducing TA’s Everest 2016 Logo

OK folks…here it is…hot off the presses/embroidery machine…introducing my Everest 2016 logo. I designed it myself. It has three Everests in graduated sizes combining into one Everest. It shares the same colours as my Everest 2010 logo in which three … Continue reading

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Everest 3.0: Mind over Mask

I’ve started practicing with a mask. I like to practice all parts of a climb that I can (while living at sea level) so that when summit day comes, I’ll have my systems all in order. I will be climbing … Continue reading

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Fluffy Chicken Suit, Experiential Education, and Meaningful Work

It’s midweek of midterm break. Today is the first day in awhile that I’ve had to pause and reflect. I’ve been doing a number of community engagement events over the past week, and although I love them, they make days … Continue reading

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Visual Soliloquy #1237 The price of success is hard work, dedication to the job at hand, and the determination that whether we win or lose, we have applied the best of ourselves to the task at hand…

The price of success is hard work, dedication to the job at hand, and the determination that whether we win or lose, we have applied the best of ourselves to the task at hand. –Vince Lombardi

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Everest 3.0: Tire-d Again

Today was the day. The tires joined the training team again after a six month sojourn in the house’s crawl space. It’s a bit funny that today was the day. It’s wasn’t the day because I’d marked it on my … Continue reading

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Ten Hints for Hiking the East Coast Trail in Winter

The East Coast Trail can be enjoyed in all seasons but winter can be especially magical with the interaction of snow, ice, and water. In order to enjoy your time on the trail in winter to the fullest, here are … Continue reading

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The Interplay of Ice and Water on the East Coast Trail

Marian and I had an awesome training hike today on the East Coast Trail from Portugal Cove to Brock’s Head Pond. This is one of my favourite sections of the trail and I often take students out on it during … Continue reading

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Everest 3.0 Yes. Yes. A Thousand Times, Yes.

Everest 3.0… Yes. I’ve waited 5.5 years to say that. Now that I let the cat out of the bag with The Telegram article, I guess I’ll say it out loud here. Yes. Yes. A thousand times, yes.

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Work Capacity: The Sound of Humbling

A good (and humbling) training session with my old training pal, the sand bag. It was deeply humbling and there was no one to share it with except the chalk-covered mats and the barbells of the quiet gym (I was … Continue reading

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Volcanopalooza 2016: Sharing Bravery in the New Year

I was lucky to be swimming in the Pacific Ocean on New Year’s Eve and again on New Year’s Day. To me, the water was a warm invitation to play. Once I reached the beach, I could only heed the … Continue reading

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Volcanopalooza 2015: From Sky to Sea

Our last two volcano climbs took us from sky to sea. After leaving Berlin, we were up early once again to drive to Chonchagua Volcano. We met our guides and national police escorts and made our way to the base … Continue reading

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Volcanopalooza 2015: Expectations Lead to Expectations

The everyday practice is simply to develop complete acceptance and openness to all situations and emotions, and to all people, experiencing everything totally without reservations or blockages so that one never withdraws or centralizes into oneself. –Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche The … Continue reading

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Volcanopalooza 2015: Knock Knock, Whose There? Bonk. Bonk Who? Bonk on San Vicente!

Through an act of unmindfulness/not great computing practice, this is the second time I am writing this blog entry. Marian assures me it will be better for having to do it twice. I’m unconvinced but will try my best. Of … Continue reading

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Volcanopalooza: Christmas in a Former War Zone

The firecrackers and fireworks went full force on Christmas Eve until just after midnight. It was our first night in Sochitoto after a climb of El Salvador’s highest peak. As we sat beside the square waiting for dinner, we all … Continue reading

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Volcanopalooza 2015: Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas from El Salvador’s Highest Point

Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas from El Salvador’s Highest point, El Pital. May your holiday festivities be filled with the joy of togetherness and filled with many high points. Today’s climb was not a volcano! This was our only non-volcano … Continue reading

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Volcanopalooza 2015: Llamatepec/Santa Ana (Dec. 23)

We had our earliest start yet this morning which helped us beat the heat as we climbed Llamatepec, also known as Santa Ana. It is El Salvador’s highest volcano at 2381 metres. The climb took us through three zones. We … Continue reading

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Check-in/OK message from El Pital

TA Latitude:14.38232 Longitude:-89.12759 GPS location Date/Time:12/24/2015 14:14:34 NST Message:TA and Marian are climbing 8 volcanoes in El Salvador! Click the link to see which one! Click the link below to see where I am located. http://fms.ws/SvD3j/14.38232N/89.12759W If the above link … Continue reading

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Check-in/OK message from Santa Ana

TA Latitude:13.84649 Longitude:-89.62766 GPS location Date/Time:12/23/2015 12:18:18 NST Message:TA and Marian are climbing 8 volcanoes in El Salvador! Click the link to see which one! Click the link below to see where I am located. http://fms.ws/StzAl/13.84649N/89.62766W If the above link … Continue reading

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Vocanopalooza 2015: Double Double

It’s true that when I look at a mountain or volcano from the bottom, my first thought is usually, “I can’t do that.” Today, when we first saw Izalco from the highway on the drive, that same thought rippled through … Continue reading

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Check-in/OK message from Izlaco

TA Latitude:13.81430 Longitude:-89.63171 GPS location Date/Time:12/22/2015 15:29:20 NST Message:TA and Marian are climbing 8 volcanoes in El Salvador! Click the link to see which one! Click the link below to see where I am located. http://fms.ws/Ss-SB/13.81430N/89.63171W If the above link … Continue reading

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Volcanapalooza 2015: Coffee and Hot Water

After ions of eruptions, the soil on the sides of some volcanoes becomes very fertile ground. When this fertile ground is combined with the proper altitude, it’s possible to grow coffee. El Salvador grows some of the world’s best coffee … Continue reading

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Vocanopalooza 2015: Ataco’s Murals

Ataco, El Salvador is a common stop on the Ruta de las Flores. It’s cobble stone streets, coffee growing, and colourful murals make it a popular place to catch your breath. Let me share of few of the many murals … Continue reading

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Volcanopalooza 2015: Ruta de las Floras

One of the many joys of leaving behind a snowy white world (don’t get me wrong I love winter and white Christmas) for a more tropical clime, is the flowers! El Salvador has not disappointed us in this regard, especially … Continue reading

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Volcanopalooza 2015: Boqueron…The First Crater is the Deepest

Today’s volcano was called Boqueron…Big Mouth! Rather than starting our volcano climbing adventure with a climb, we started it with a big descent into Boqueron’s crater. Somewhat reminiscent of the “Bog Down in the Valley-O” song, the main crater has … Continue reading

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Volcanopalooza 2015: El Rosario

Iglesia El Rosario is a fine example of “What you see on the outside is not at all like what is on the inside.” This architectural wonder resembles a concrete bunker on the outside giving only the slightest hints of … Continue reading

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Vocanopalooza 2015: Stepping Out…and In

I often feel as though travel transports me back to toddlerhood. I must learn how to read, speak, and navigate an unfamiliar world. Sometimes I think it is a miracle that I venture out of my front door on Wood … Continue reading

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Check-in/OK message from San Salvador

Latitude:13.67661 Longitude:-89.24026 GPS location Date/Time:12/19/2015 10:55:58 NST Message:TA and Marian are climbing 8 volcanoes in El Salvador! Click the link to see which one! Click the link below to see where I am located. http://fms.ws/SpK11/13.67661N/89.24026W If the above link does … Continue reading

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Visual Soliloquy #1145 Without leaps of imagination or dreaming, we lose the excitement of possibilities. Dreaming, after all is a form of planning…

Without leaps of imagination or dreaming, we lose the excitement of possibilities. Dreaming, after all is a form of planning. ― Gloria Steinem   Find your Fit Activity of the Day: Base Race Mark the boundaries of the area with … Continue reading

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Visual Soliloquy #1144 You’re never given a dream without also being given the power to make it true…

You’re never given a dream without also being given the power to make it true. ― Richard Bach Did you know?: Mount Logan is the largest non-volcanic mountain in the world when measured by its base. Find your Fit Activity … Continue reading

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Visual Soliloquy #1143 Be careful what you water your dreams with…

Be careful what you water your dreams with. Water them with worry and fear and you will produce weeds that choke the life from your dream. Water them with optimism and solutions and you will cultivate success. Always be on … Continue reading

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Visual Soliloquy #1142 It’s strange how dreams get under your skin and give your heart a test for what’s real and what’s imaginary…

It’s strange how dreams get under your skin and give your heart a test for what’s real and what’s imaginary. ― Jason Mraz Did you Know? Mount Logan is located in the St. Elias Mountains in the Yukon Territory. Find … Continue reading

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Visual Soliloquy #1141 Walk with the dreamers, the believers, the courageous, the cheerful, the planners, the doers, the successful people with their heads in the clouds and their feet on the ground…

Walk with the dreamers, the believers, the courageous, the cheerful, the planners, the doers, the successful people with their heads in the clouds and their feet on the ground. Let their spirit ignite a fire within you to leave this … Continue reading

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Visual Soliloquy #1140 Every book has a soul, the soul of the person who wrote it and the soul of those who read it and dream about it…

Every book has a soul, the soul of the person who wrote it and the soul of those who read it and dream about it. ― Carlos Ruiz Zafón Did you Know? When climbing Mt. Logan there are usually six … Continue reading

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Visual Soliloquy #1139 Our truest life is when we are in dreams awake…

Our truest life is when we are in dreams awake. ― Henry David Thoreau Did you Know? Mount Logan was first climbed on June 23, 1925. Find your Fit Activity of the Day: Heat Loss Dance Purpose: To teach students … Continue reading

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Visual Soliloquy #1138 It takes a lot of courage to show your dreams to someone else…

It takes a lot of courage to show your dreams to someone else. ― Erma Bombeck Did you Know? There are many mountains with high elevations in Kluane National Park include Mount St. Elias (5,489m), Mount Lucania (5,226m), King Peak … Continue reading

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Visual Soliloquy #1137 You never know what’s around the corner. It could be everything. Or it could be nothing. You keep putting one foot in front of the other, and then one day you look back and you’ve climbed a mountain…

You never know what’s around the corner. It could be everything. Or it could be nothing. You keep putting one foot in front of the other, and then one day you look back and you’ve climbed a mountain. ― Tom … Continue reading

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Visual Soliloquy #1136 Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you’ve imagined…

Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you’ve imagined. ― Henry David Thoreau Did you Know? In order to climb Mount Logan, you need to obtain an Icefields Permit, and submit an application to participate in … Continue reading

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