Dec

Fun Divided by Three

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/99576864″ params=”auto_play=false&hide_related=true&show_comments=false&show_user=false&show_reposts=false&visual=true” width=”300″ height=”300″ iframe=”true” /]As outdoor types, we love rating systems. We’ll rate anything. Rapids. Climbs. Ski runs. Now, we’ve gone and tried to rate the unrateable–fun. Fun divided by three–it’s this concept that has been floating around campfires for years. It dictates that there are three types of fun. There is type one fun and type two fun, but today, we are going to explore type three fun. This is the epic. The suffer fest. This is collarbone breaking, giardia-getting, soaked-to-the-bone, carnage. If it sounds horrible, that’s because it probably is. What does type three fun entail? Why do some people seem particularly drawn to these types of adventures and what could possibly motivate us to embrace type three fun? Today, we bring you answers.

Music: Heartilation by Andrew Jackson Jihad • I Want You to Keep Everything by These United States • Raid the Radio by General Elektriks • Whistle by The Morning Call • Going Home by Egadz!

Music provided by IODA Promonet.

Nov

The Shorts — Friends in High Places

Friends in High Places

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/99576587″ params=”auto_play=false&hide_related=true&show_comments=false&show_user=false&show_reposts=false&visual=true” width=”300″ height=”300″ iframe=”true” /]Climber and Diaries contributor Kelly Cordes is what you would call an early adopter. Kelly may live in a shack at 8,000 feet, but the guy is no cretin. He’s had an email account for four years now. He knows how to program a VCR. He’s even considered buying one of those new-fangled Blueberry phones. What can I say? Kelly is a mover and a shaker. The guy’s approach to new technology is as cutting edge as his alpine endeavors, but even seasoned pros have the occasional misstep. Two and a half years, Kelly signed up for a Facebook account, promptly forgot the password and found out that negotiating social media can be every bit as difficult as picking a path through gaping crevasses, rotten ice and snow-covered rock. It’s certainly just as time consuming.

Music: One Way Out by The Mother Hips • Pretty Apollo by CYNE • Slice Me Nice by Sugar & Gold • Light by Track a Tiger

Music provided by IODA Promonet.

Oct

The New Conservationists

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/99576018″ params=”auto_play=false&hide_related=true&show_comments=false&show_user=false&show_reposts=false&visual=true” width=”300″ height=”300″ iframe=”true” /]Our sports, our passions provide a special opportunity to visit the natural world’s wildest places. This tradition began with climber, writer and godfather of conservation John Muir. He was a dirtbag before he was an icon. Now, there are members of our community–boaters, skiers and photographers–who are following in Muir’s footsteps. They don’t necessarily come from traditional activist roots, but have chosen to take stand for little places and big ideas. Today, we present three stories. A city girl sheds caution to start a farm. A kayaker becomes a journalist. An adventure photographer forgoes a career traveling the globe to run for office back at home. I am John Muir. You are John Muir. We all have a Yosemite.

I think I accidentally called St. George…St. Gross in a section of the episode. Total mistake. Freudian slip.

Music: Heavens to Purgatory by The Most Serene Republic • Don’t Lie About Me by Herman Dune • The Winter by Balmorhea • Have Some Guys Kid by Egadz! • Do by Do Make Say Think

Music provided by IODA Promonet.

Sep

The Shorts — Underwriting Adventure

Underwriting Adventure

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/99575787″ params=”auto_play=false&hide_related=true&show_comments=false&show_user=false&show_reposts=false&visual=true” width=”300″ height=”300″ iframe=”true” /]Can you insure adventure? Last summer, climber and writer Majka Burhardt embarked on an adventure two years in the making. In the last moments before leaving, Burhardt decided to purchase travel insurance. Her trip to Namibia was an insurance underwriter’s nightmare. It turns out that climbing is blacklisted. On top of that, while abroad Burhardt couldn’t partake in sleigh rides, play American Football or Zorb. She didn’t even know what Zorbing was, but suddenly she wanted to try it. After all the work to make her trip happen, she wanted more than insurance. Burhardt wanted assurance that her adventure would be a success. The thing is–you can’t plan adventure.

Music: Imidiwan Afrik Temdam by Tinariwen • What? (Featuring Justis) by Mantis • Reggae Ehad by Selva de Mar

Music provided by IODA Promonet.

Sep

Seeds

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/99575533″ params=”auto_play=false&hide_related=true&show_comments=false&show_user=false&show_reposts=false&visual=true” width=”300″ height=”300″ iframe=”true” /]It was a tough summer in the climbing community. We lost heroes, friends, mentors, legends, sons and parents. We celebrate their lives with stories and memorials, but after the glasses are raised and the happy times recounted, those closest to the deceased are left in the vacuum their lives once inhabited. The living confront hard questions and dark emotions. This year, 22-year-old Evan Piche’s world turned upside down. He discovered, that even in the worst moments there are seeds of growth.

Music: The Path to Recovery by Peter Broderick • Ships With Holes Will Sink by We Were Promised Jetpacks • Sooner or Later by ZAZA

Music provided by IODA Promonet.