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As Canada’s weather capital, St. John’s, NL is known as a bit of a mash-up champion. Last evening, we had one such combo of fog and wind! The wind was howling as the sun began to set. With a bit of patience ( and lots of shots), I got Cabot Tower on one of the few seconds it was visible between gusts. The rainbow fog was a bonus!!!This wonderful moment was made possible by adventurous mothers who support/supported their young humans to develop physical literacy skills like biking. What is this moment-two special humans in my life, separated by 6 decades, sharing inaugural laps on the pump track near Quidi Vidi!Me and my boombox…er…chainsaw. So enjoyed getting out on the trails of the @echopond_centre to assist in opening up the trails and the centre for another season of environmental education a.k.a. setting up young humans for a long life relationship with nature and the outdoors. My pleasure to lend a hand or two!This is one of my classrooms from yesterday! Not too shabby.Just couldn’t resist a paddle on our way home when we saw the pond was wind still.Be colourful! Marian took this shot of me on a hike earlier in the week and Google photos decided I needed to stand out in full-colour!Explore TA's Website
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Tag Archives: train
I’m Always Climbing A Mountain or “How I climb anything is how I climb everything…”
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
In Honour of Michael Beecher Smith 4/27/2007
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
Posted in Everest 3.0, Everest-007
Tagged 2017, Bell Let’s Talk, climb, Seven Summits, train
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In 2017, what ‘mountain’ will you climb?
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
Everest 3.0: Out of the Fog, Flights to Nowhere, and Seeing the Mountain Blush
It’s been a foggy day here. Reminiscent of many other foggy days. One in particular, where I had a flight to Halifax. We took off in fog and flew almost all the way to Halifax but couldn’t land. We turned … Continue reading
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
Posted in Photography, Visual Soliloquy
Tagged 2016, climb, Everest, photography, Quotes, train
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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
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
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
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
Posted in Everest 3.0
Tagged 2016, Chair in Teaching and Learning, climb, Seven Summits, train
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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
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
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
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.
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Posted in Volcanopalooza
Tagged 2015, climb, El Pital, El Salvador, train, volcanoes
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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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Posted in Volcanopalooza
Tagged 2015, climb, El Salvador, San Salvador, Seven Summits, train, volcanoes
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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
Packing, Collecting Dreams, and a Minion for Jack
Packing and getting out the door to an expedition is always a stressful, rich and full time. Hundreds of decisions and poignant good-byes fill the space between putting gear into piles and then into duffel bags. The to do list … Continue reading
Posted in Everest 3.0, Logan, Mission 5959
Tagged 2015, climb, Holy Cross, Nepal, School Curriculum, Seven Summits, train
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Mission 5959: Sizing the Skins
After shovelling out for a few hours, Marian and I came in for some lunch and then tackled a few more projects related to gear prep for my Mount Logan trip. My new Intuition Liners had arrived and it was … Continue reading
Posted in Everest 3.0, Logan, Mission 5959
Tagged 2015, climb, Gunnbjörn Feld, Seven Summits, train
2 Comments
Mission 5959: Boot and Ski Tuning
Doesn’t everyone use their kitchen as a ski workshop? Finally cleared some time this weekend to do some boot fitting/liner moulding/learn new ski bindings kind of stuff. Because my team is climbing most of the way up Mount Logan on … Continue reading
Mission 5959: Climbing to the Summit of Canada with 5959 Dreams
On this 50th Anniversary of the raising of the Canadian Maple Leaf Flag, it seems fitting to officially announce my next climb. I will be climbing Mount Logan, Canada’s highest peak in May 2015. Mount Logan (5959 metres), located in … Continue reading
Snow in St. John’s as my Teacher: Life (and Snow) is Precious
The week of Valentine’s Day moves many of us to express our love to those near and dear to us. As well, this week, with our wonderful 45 cm snow fall, had me professing my love for snow days! Today, … Continue reading
Posted in Buddhism, Everest 3.0, Life
Tagged 2015, Buddhism, climb, Seven Summits, snow as my teacher, train
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12 Reasons Why I Love Snow Days!
My apologies to all the snow haters but I LOVE snow days and and here’s why… 1) Snow days are like winning the time lottery. They provide an unexpected respite from “life all scheduled” and allow for fun things like … Continue reading
It’s Not About the Summit
I’ve often find the title of Lance Armstrong’s book (too bad he’s fallen so far from grace), “It’s Not About the Bike,” coming to mind whenever I think about my return to Everest…I’ve frequently had the thought, “It’s not about … Continue reading
Reflecting on my Yes-No Decision: Everest 3.0.2
The path to our destination is not always a straight one. We go down the wrong road, we get lost, we turn back. Maybe it doesn’t matter which road we embark on. Maybe what matters is that we embark. ― … Continue reading