Hike down-Rising Sun, home

National park motor inn property map
In room 2 this week.

Locals rarely realize their place’s specialness.

dad

i love that i’m starting to feel like a local.

i easily picture this place as where i grew up, even though i didn’t.

What i mean by that is the one-million acres, the Grizzly Bears, the stunning, breathtaking beauty feels normal, not honey-moonish.

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This website is about our HOME. This is the fifth of five daily, differently-themed blog posts about: (1) mind, (2) body, (3) spirit, (4) work, (5) home. To return to Mid Life Celebration, the site about MIND, click here.

Sperry Day 3, home

Snowfield
That’s my butt track.
Snowfield
Some context.
10-second video: From terrified of snow to snow is an excellent alternative this morning.
10-second video: The wilderness is often heartwarming…
Dinner table name placard
Light sabers added. Water added to cover movies like Moana, Finding Nemo, Luca, Elemental, etc. So cool.

Maybe it’s better to not worry about helping others, if they do not ask for it.

Then again, some of my life’s most powerful insights came unsolicited.

The reward for not being helpful is people think you’re a good person without having to spend your efforts convincing them. Additionally, you know that not doing anything is safer than doing something.

Brian, Chalet manager, told me this morning after breakfast, “You don’t need to worry about falling through the snow.”

Fast forward to me turning around at 8600’…

Feeling overwhelmed and anxious about how to wayfind a safe descent.

There is no choice but to start. No one is coming to the rescue.

Five minutes into my descent from 8600’, i’m near the snowfield’s top edge and then this happens…

A man with trekking poles appears, walking up the long snow field.

i shout, “Are you wearing spikes?”

“No.”

As he got closer i asked his advice if i fell and slid down the snowfield. He answered and emphasized going heel first with a wide walking stance. i knew heel first but not the wide stance. 

These two serendipitous moments — with Chalet Brian and snowfield man — convinced me to descend entirely on the snow.

Did heel-first the first half, falling twice with short slides — i was able to stop quickly both falls.

Then i challenged myself to intentionally butt-slide, overcoming the fear of sliding out-of control and crashing into rocks at the bottom.

Then an unexpected surprise…

i came to an unwanted stop.

Thanks for nothing gravity. 😂

With a new confidence i attempted “skiing” the rest of the way.

It worked.

The difference between a rock scramble descent and the snow field descent changed the game.

Hiked down from Comeau Pass feeling exhilarated. So awesome.

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This website is about our HOME. This is the fifth of five daily, differently-themed blog posts about: (1) mind, (2) body, (3) spirit, (4) work, (5) home. To return to Mid Life Celebration, the site about MIND, click here.

Sperry Day 2, home

4-second video: No compelling pain to address. Simply exercising good, preventative ice-bath karma. Walked from here to 6pm dinner reservation.
Maggie added to my table name-tent. She had no idea UP is our favorite Pixar movie. Dinner tonight is Chicken Parmesan.
Mattie, from Los Angeles, is back for a second year as Sperry baker. He passed me yesterday on his way here – Edwards Mountain (from where he is holding his iPhone as he snapped this pic). He air dropped the pic so i can use it to hopefully navigate Gunsight Mountain tomorrow. 
First time experiencing a “July” fire at Sperry. Delightful ‘karma’.
(915pm…i should be in bed) Time-stamping 2023 with a variety of objects.

Karma is reliable.

dad

So many small, seemingly insignificant moments happened today. 

Why? 

Best explanation is karma.

How?

Apparently, i am putting out small, seemingly insignificant moments to others, including the wilderness.

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This website is about our HOME. This is the fifth of five daily, differently-themed blog posts about: (1) mind, (2) body, (3) spirit, (4) work, (5) home. To return to Mid Life Celebration, the site about MIND, click here.

Hike up – Sperry, home 

Mountain goat, standing behind a tree
While waiting for dining hall to open at 6pm.
Table top name placard
Wow! What a delightful surprise.

Lead a life you need no escape from.

dad

You have to chose no.

Weirdly (and this isn’t the first summer feeling this) i feel a combination guilt and obligation.

Guilt for being here for multiple months the past five years. Guilt for scoring multiple weeks in the Chalets – a difficult accomplishment and rare, prized treat.

Obligation to live life on my terms. Obligation to do no harm to anyone or any thing.

Saying ‘no’ to guilt and yes to obligation.

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This website is about our HOME. This is the fifth of five daily, differently-themed blog posts about: (1) mind, (2) body, (3) spirit, (4) work, (5) home. To return to Mid Life Celebration, the site about MIND, click here.

Glacier 50th anniversary, home

Mountain lake
9:00 PM
Motor Inn room
Room 45.

Be the change.

Gandhi

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This website is about our HOME. This is the fifth of five daily, differently-themed blog posts about: (1) mind, (2) body, (3) spirit, (4) work, (5) home. To return to Mid Life Celebration, the site about MIND, click here.