Ultra Somnambulist ~ Into the Dawn

somnambulism :: noun :: sleepwalking
ORIGIN late 18th cent.: from French somnambulisme, from Latin somnus ‘sleep’ + ambulare ‘to walk.’

I am not a sleepwalker, an afflicition that must be a bear to tackle. It is a fairly accurate description of what my body goes through when I travel continent to continent. Mid day I feel like I am asleep so I am a sleep talker. In the middle of the night i wake up and not one for the telly I walk around. Walking when I should be sleeping.

The flight across the Atlantic Ocean never ceases to amaze me. Just 100 year ago the concept of 8 hours in the air at 32,000 feet would never have entered into the minds of humans. When my mother came over post world war II it was in a steel ship with a trunk full of possessions. Not in a jet that flies at an altitude no life exists. We temporarily leave the tender world of blue and green below us and sail in a modern way on the jet streams of existence.

I’m here in London to introduce the WS 4 to the UK market. Cotswold’s, the retailer is hosting two slide shows, – one in Preston and the other in Covent Garden. Compared to the bucolic landscape of SW Montana London is a busy busy place. The weather has been warm and unseasonably different than what most people recall. The nce hotel I’m in is 100 years old – big massive thick wall, old school windows and no central AC. Which I like as I windows are a fine way to adjust the temperatures. Except that it is so warm it is as if I am sleeping in the tropics. Just lay out on the bed and sweat all night.

Here are some images from the El Cap climb ~ El Corazon.

I climbed with Alex Honnold. He is 23 and way strong. Sends 13 like easy street.

These guys were on Flight of the Albatross. Friends from the tribe of climbers.

Looking down the crag! This is soo much fun!

Strong Youth!

Cool Perspective….

Happy Camper…..

It was clear most of the way up. It started raining on the last afternoon. We were very wet by the time we made it to the summit.

Speaking of rain… this is Jenni in her garden. The plants love the rain…. as does Jenni.

Hope all is well……

The Meaning of Life

Well not that you might find it here on the Return to the Outdoors blog, rather the internal question that most of us think about once a day.

Or maybe even more than that.

What gives my life meaning? Family – be it my parents, siblings, wife and children, they most meaningful part of my life. To be with them, to laugh with them, to comfort them and to accept them is what being human really means. As the boys gain knowledge about our planet and their existence and my parents adjust to bodies that have seen eight decades I realize that I am somewhere in the middle. To be this link bewteen three generations is pretty darn cool. It seems at times there is a bunch of responsibility. How not to let this responsibility eat away at life energy? Get outside. Breath the freah air, rolls around on my bike, stop and check out the wild flowers. Yup, these things bring meaning.

Last week I climbed El Capitan with Alex Honnold. At 23 he is half my age and twice the climber. Getting stronger each day he is. Where as the health & fitness tables say I’m loosing 15 % of my strength each year. Just say no! Do more pull ups, push ups and sit ups. They are called ups because they bring you up.
This is a good thing.

Sam & max in the Dolomites

The family on the porch.

Late Spring in Montana

The days alternate between clouds & rain or sun & wind. Either scenario is fine. Just still find myself bundled in a sweater as I ride to and from the office.

Last weekend we had the grand opening of the second Bozeman Boulder. It is located near the Bozeman Pond and is open to all. We had a bunch of families attend. A grand success. We are hoping to begin construction of the third climbing rock this summer.

Have you checked out 350.org? It is a climate awareness group that is focusing on the part per million (ppm) of carbon dioxide (CO2) in our atmosphere. We are at 387 ppm and pre industrial revolution we has a level of 250. For the quality of life we enjoy a level of 350 is ideal. Hence the 350.org. Check it out, get involved and share the message.

At the Telluride mountain film festival we were energized by a variety of speakers. Be it glacial reccseeion by James Balog or the over fishing of the world’s oceans by Paul Watson of the the Sea Shepard threre was plenty to learn about. The take away? It begins with you and change is one step, one day at a time.

My resolution after Mountainfilm – ride my bike or walk to the office, get involved with 350.org and help reforestation projects. Trees in Montana or the Himalaya – they are the same. They give us life. Watching a tree grow gives us life.

Getting ready to visit the UK and Cotswolds – a Timex dealer that is launching the Timex Expedition WS 4 on the fair isle of Britain. Looking forward to a bunch of fun.

Some Images >> Just for fun!

The Capitan. 1000 metres of fun.

Jenni’s art. This is titled “Ride On The Wild Side”.

Heidi Wirtz climbing in Morocco. She is a happy person.

Moms Rule

Mother’s Day. Jenni and I are enroute home from the 5Point Film Festival in Carbondale, Colorado The Denver airport has the standard “hub hub” of a hub, yet there is an air of kindness that is, by my estimation, the overall feeling of goodwill that Mother’s Day generate.

Like you’d have to be a complete looser to bark at the ticket agent Mother’s Sunday.

Are we responsible for the well being of our planet and the humans & animals we share it with? This theme pervaded the weekend festivities. The work of ophthalmologist Geoff Tabin and his goal to eradicate cataract blindness in the developing world, Kevin Hand and the Cosmos Education program which brings science education to Africa, Mark Godley and the Big City Mountaineers – bringing outdoor skills to inner city youth, and Brad Ludden and the First Descent kayak team working with cancer patients and kayaking. The panel was lively and focused. The overarching sentiment was that as citizens of the US we have an obligation to help make our world a better place. The reason? We are 4 % of the world’s population living a lavish lifestyle. We consume 25 % of the planet’s resources. The world would implode if all 6.7 billion inhabitants lived at the level we do. Big houses, multiple automobiles and inter continental flights all lead to this.

Jenni and the basket Sam made for her. Nice loving son:)

The city of Glenwood Springs built an outdoor water park by moving the boulders around to create waves.

This fellow was riding a SURF BOARD! He was on the wave for many minutes. The cold water required wet suits.

Rob Raker, Hayden Kennedy & Lynn Hill. We climbed in Rifle that day.

Lost in Transit :)

The following post was lost in cyberspace. I wrote it on a small phone on the side of Kinabalu at our Easy Camp.

I’m currently in Colorado at the 5Point Film Festival. Located in Carbondale, the festival honors those inspired adventurers who have turned their own individual desire into a determined mission to help others. My dear wife Jenni and I are here to present the Khumbu Climbing School and working with Dr Geoff Tabin at the Himalayan Cataract Project. I’ll snap a few images and post them here.

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Tropical Big Walls
It has been two weeks since I left Montana Jenni and the boys. The snow
on the last day is a far cry from the rain we are experiencing today.
Then again we are 39 degrees closer to the equator. Goes with out saying
rain is our constant companion. Not a day passes with out showers. Not
the type that involve soap and warm water rather the variety that soaks
us through and through. Staying dry is a challenge.

Mt Kinabalu is the highest peak in south east Asia and as such is a
destination for hikers and adventure seekers. The standard route is 8.5
km of trail winding up the steep southern escarpment. We have passed
through several levels of forest, all dictated by altitude. The lower
cloud forest is home to colorful singing birds and a canopy of hardwood
trees. Our camp at the head of Easy Valley is at 3857 metres is just at
the edge of the alpine zone. Similar to the northern latitudes the plant
life is stunted by wind with robust leaves and hardy flowers.

Our climbing goal is a 2000 meter granite wall first ascended by a
Spanish team 10 years ago. Progress has been good so far – we’ve climbed
seven very steep pitches. Today is a rest day before we camp on the wall
with portaledges (aluminium cots clipped to the cliff allowing a nights
rest. We’ll start in the morning and make the best of it. Funny thing is
we are here in the “dry” season. Which begs the question of what the
“rainy” season must be like. Hard to imagine more moisture.

This morning Alex Honnold and I hiked to the summit of the Low’s Peak.
It was refreshing to encounter a bunch of hikers getting out for some
exercise and fresh air. It was nice to share the views with them.

Our team of Mark Synnott, Kevin Thaw, Renan Ozturk, Alex and Jimmy Chin
is having tons of fun. Check out www.http.borneobigwall.blogspot.com for
some action updates.

Over the past year I have been putting the WS 4 watch through the paces.
From the Himalaya, to the Rocky Mountains and to Malaysian Borneo the
instrument has been a reliable companion. Glad to have the WS 4 along.

Till the next dispatch have fun, be happy and take time to get outdoors
and get the good tidings nature has to offer.

Your intrepid explorer, Conrad

Spring in the Rockies

Spring in the Rockies is a capricious thing – snow one day, rain the next and then vibrant life affirming sunshine every few hours. The grass sprouts, flowers poke their petals of attraction out for the bees and the birds announce sunrise with a symphony of cheer. Even Happy and Leroy, our trusty dogs know spring has turned the corner as they graze on the thick leaves of grass.

Just a week ago I was in Malaysian Borneo in the state of Sabah, 6 degrees north of the equator. Today I’m half way to the North Pole at 45 degrees. What a change these 39 degrees of latitude makes. From the tropical rain and cloud forests of Kinabalu to the open plains and coniferous forests it is amazing a to see how much our planet changes. Temperature and precipitation are the two main agents of these different climates. After our climbing journey ( http://borneobigwall.blogspot.com/ ~ eight action packed video dispatches) we spent a half-day swimming, snorkeling and lounging on the beach. The warm ocean was home to a variety of tropical fish and a few patches of coral. Perhaps the best part were the large lizards (monitor) that lounged about looking for scraps under the picnic tables.
To counter act jet lag, Jenni the boys and I ventured off to Bridger Bowl, our local ski area. The lifts have been dormant for three weeks, yet an abundance of snow allowed us to click into our randonee skis. After a nice hike uphill we were rewarded with a fun ski back down. This was a most nice way to start a Saturday.
While in Borneo a PBS / NOW documentary titled “On Thin Ice” aired on the 17th of April. With host David Brancaccio
we investigate the shrinking glaciers on our planet. The loss of glaciers is the most obvious manifestation of a warmer planet. If you are so inclined you may watch the program via the PBS.ORG website. Look up NOW and “On Thin Ice”.

Let me know what you think….

Till the next installment ~ find happiness in all you do.

Where in the World is Conrad?

Conrad and team checking in. We are fine & finding happiness everywhere.

Current Location:
Latitude:37.4411
Longitude:126.4566

Best,
Conrad

Here in Kota Kinabalu

Wow… the jungle is alive. Even though it is on the horizon I smell the verdant air and experience afternoon rain.

The morning Jenni, Sam & Isaac drove me to Gallatin Field in Bozeman was a cold brisk day by Montana standards. Yet 8-inch snowfalls, temperatures below freezing are part of life above the 45th parallel. The late winter / early spring is my favorite time of year in Bozeman. The skiing is filled in, the weak layers in the snow pack from December have healed themselves, when the sun is out one can rock climb and the garden is coaxing life out of each incremental increase in sunlight. The birds sing and the kids get out the bikes and long boards. Jenni and I find time to get out after breakfast for hike, be it around the block or to one of our favorite spots.

Yet to the airport I had to go. The three weeks I will be in Malaysia climbing on Kinabalu Peak, the highest point on the island of Borneo. At 4095 M it is pretty lofty. The proximity to the equator 5-degrees north means it will be humid, with a close to 12 hour split between night and day. Our team consists of Mark Synnott, our motivated leader, Kevin Thaw as nutritionist, Jimmy Chin as the bachelor, Renan Ozturk as artist in residence, Alex Honnold as our secret weapon for all things overhanging and myself as portaledge engineer. The North Face supports the journey, and our mission is to find granite crags, cliffs and walls to climb. The motto of The North Face is to “Never Stop Exploring”, which entails finding unclimbed vertical landscapes and climbing them. Be they frozen or covered with vines thick enough for Tarzan to swing off of we’ll get after it.

The motto for our climbing team is “Strength through Unity”, which is the national saying of Malaysia, our host country. So when in Kota Kinabalu do as the Kota Kinabaluans do … be strong by being unified. Malaysia is a country of 27 million people rich in a variety of resources from tin to rubber to palm products with a strong recreation industry. This is my first visit to this wild place. I’m looking forward to meeting lots of friendly people, experiencing flora & fauna that is very different from what I am familiar with and having an adventure of the first order.

http://tnf.typepad.com/borneo/