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.