Sep 11, 2015
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Olympic Peninsula 2016 Burning Man 2016 iviegh please add.
We have a major crush on this babes books!! #BOAWLOVES
...winter in Switzerland...
What Makes a Great Adventure?
2012 wrapped up to be an amazing year for my goals and adventures, and now as I plan for the coming year I find myself at an impasse. I'm not entirely sure what I want to invest my time and energy into this year. Before I jump into plans for this year I want to discover what makes for a great adventure. Gaining over 300,000 vertical feet last year was the single greatest achievement I've accomplished in a single year, but how do I take it to the next level? I've been thinking about this off and on for a few months and here are a few of my thoughts.
Adventures should be individually tailored.
In the last year I've been fascinated by the caliber of adventures that people have undertaken and documented. My 300k for 2013 is nothing compared to Greg Hill's 2 million vertical feet, but I'm fine with that. I sometimes find myself comparing my goals and accomplishments with others and nothing health comes from going down that bunny trail. Recently, I've been fascinated by the videos Mark Smiley has been producing for his project to climb the 50 Classic Climbs of North America. I would love to climb some of those routes, but I know my cerebral palsy will prevent me from ever leading 5.9 grade IV big wall climbs. My adventures are shaped by my circumstances, my past experiences, and my abilities. The Smileys have their path, Greg Hill has his, and I have mine, all of which are entirely unique yet profound paths in different aspects.
Adventures should be risky.
It's my belief that we live in a day and age were society tries to minimize and eliminate risk out of every aspect of life. Playing it safe might extend life (with emphasis on the 'might') or make life more comfortable, however, a bland risk-free life can only be partially fulfilling at best.
Adventures should contain sacrifice and suffering.
Adventures are created when we push ourselves to the edge of our abilities and comfort zone. At that edge we sometimes fall off. Through tribulation we grow and become refined in our strengths and wisdom. Great stories are forged when the hero pushed forward even when faced with a discouraging head wind.
Adventures should be planned.
Spontaneous adventures do exist and when certain opportunities present themselves we shouldn't hesitate to jump, but life should not be lived by just waiting for adventure to find us. Circumstances are almost never perfect. Planning can help prepare us for the adventures of tomorrow. If I wish to someday run a marathon I must spend today training for that race.
Adventures should be an investment.
If you want to see where someone's heart is look at their checkbook. Where we invest our time and money speaks volumes to where our priorities fall.
Adventures should be shared.
As I reflect on 2012, some of the best adventures I had were with friends and family. There is a time and place for solitude, but adventures are best shared. I often tell people about my adventures, but those stories are almost never fully understood. When an adventure is shared there is a deep bond that is created that's only completely known by those who shared the experience.