Jun

The Ultimate Weekend Warrior

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Jim Herson and Anne Smith live in the Bay Area. They’re in their fifties. Jim has worked the same computer science job since he graduated college in 1982, and he and Anne have been together nearly that long. They have two kids, a 17 year old daughter and a 13 year old son, who they shuttle around the city in a maroon Subaru wagon. An all-around American family.

Except for one thing– Jim and his kids get their family bonding time a thousand feet off the deck on Yosemite’s classic routes.

You can find Jim’s hilarious blog posts here.

Music: Say My Name by Hopeless Jack • Brohemoth by Hemmit • Le Slip by Mott Flyf • hope! by The Fucked Up Beat • Moontime by The IMG • Night Without Sleep by David Mumford • On the Road by Amy Stolzenbach

Tracks provided by Free Music Archive or with direct permission from the artists.

Thanks to Chris Kalous and Hans Florine for their guest appearances on the episode. For more climbing inspiration, check out Kalous’ podcast, The Enormocast, and Hans Florine’s new book On The Nose, which includes a story that features Jim Herson. It will be on shelves September 2016.

Jun

Mileposts– Little Explorers Club

Little Explorers Club

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“Tommy grew up in Estes, but you notice that so many families and so many kids just don’t go into the National Park,” says Becca Caldwell. While Rocky Mountain National Park is just a short drive from Estes Park, CO., Becca found parents gravitated to the local playground or coffee shops for playdates. “Why aren’t we going out on the trails and letting the kids run loose? How can we change that for my son’s generation?” she asked. It’s a question that many experts have been asking too.
Today, for the fourth episode of our Mileposts series, we hike with the Little Explorers in Rocky Mountain National Park, and see how Becca’s simple act is forming a community of kids and parents out on the trails.

Music: The Ghost of Virginia by Justin Townes Earle • Monsoon Rains by Publish the Quest • Original Score by Amy Stolzenbach

Tracks provided by Free Music Archive and the artists.

Start your own Little Explorers Club! And if you do, post a photo on Instagram with #thelittleexplorersclub.

May

Live From 5Point Vol. 9

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You can order your own copy of Sixty Meters to Anywhere, see the schedule for Brendan’s 2016 book tour and find more of his writing at Semi-Rad.

Music: Little Lily Swing by Tri-Tachyon • Where Is My Jaw? by Lately Kind of Yeah • Back to the Woods by Jason Shaw

Tracks provided by Free Music Archive.

Additional music from our friends Jacob Bain and Nis Kotto.

May

Mileposts–Green Light

Green Light

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Looking west from Seattle, the skyline of Olympic National Park is defined by the notched peak of The Brothers. “I see it stuck in traffic. I see it from meeting rooms in downtown Seattle. I see it on my evening runs that I use to stay in shape for my days in the mountains. I’ve looked at that skyline and imagined the light, the wind and thought, ‘I could be standing on that peak’ — instead of dealing with ‘this’, whatever ‘this’ is,” writes Fitz Cahall.

It can be easy to wallow in the constraints, responsibilities, and duties of life. It can be so damn easy to play the grass is greener game. When Fitz takes a spring Friday to go and climb The Brothers, he gets a chance to look back in the opposite direction and realizes that it’s not about which side is greener. It can be as simple as going when you get a green light.

Music: Shine by Publish the Quest • Mountain Soul Fire by Woodrowgerber • Silver Linings by Jason Tyler Burton • Beelzebub by Black Pistol Fire • Shadows by Woodrowgerber • Our Time Is Short by Publish the Quest • Monsoon Rains by Publish the Quest

Tracks provided by Mevio’s Music Alley, Free Music Archive and Jacob Bain.

Apr

The Shorts — I Poo, A Love Story

I Poo, A Love Story

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Today, Emma shares her take on the ingredients for an awesome relationship: honesty, openness, unconditional acceptance of ourselves and of each other–and a solid foundation of poop jokes.

You can find more of Emma’s writing at: https://myalaskanodyssey.com/

Music: If Walls Could Talk by Jacob Bain and Nis Kotto • Plantation by Jason Shaw • First Fiddle by emFrik • Back to the Woods by Jason Shaw • Jesus Loves to Watch You Sleep by adcBicycle • Monsoon Rains by Publish the Quest • Original Score by Amy Stolzenbach