Feb

The Shorts — Into the Dark

Into the Dark

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/99570427″ params=”auto_play=false&hide_related=true&show_comments=false&show_user=false&show_reposts=false&visual=true” width=”300″ height=”300″ iframe=”true” /]”Climbing–this one act saves me,” says Portland rock climber Bob Grunau. Throughout his life, Grunau has struggled with the lingering clouds of depression. Until he discovered climbing, the only way to weather the darker cycles was to retreat inward into his mind. That approach worked until he became a part of a family. Grunau had to be present. In those hard moments, he turned to climbing.

High, lonesome places can provide respite and joy. We can love them deeply, but ice and rock will not love us back. Ultimately, our tenuous connections with the vertical life are not nearly as delicate as our relationships with those we love.

Music: Benjamin Dewey is a Portland musician and friend of today’s contributor Bob Grunau. Dewey is also an artist and has some pretty cool comics over at Melee Comics.

Also appearing on today’s show: Bras d’Or Lakes by The Hylozoists • The Nation is on Fire by Red Room Cinema • Alida St. by Y La Bamba

Music provided by IODA Promonet and Benjamin Dewey.

Jan

Mister Smart Goes Big

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The 33-year-old math teacher thought to himself, “What kind of nut-job rides off something like that?”

Then Rangi imagined that he was that nut-job.

We can bide our time, wait patiently for our chance to shine, but more often than not, the moment chooses us. It’s our job to answer. Here’s to another year of big ideas, another year of slaying giants, bearing down, not giving up, chasing daylight, paddling in and fostering change. We bring you the hopes, dreams and goals of professional athletes, regular joes, parents, soldiers and students. Here’s to the dirtbags. Here’s to Mr. Smart.

Megan Sturdy is a climber and scientist working at the University of Illinois Chicago. She has figured out a way to incorporate here two seemingly incongruent passions–cancer research and climbing–into a singular project. Last year, Sturdy launched Climbing for Cancer Research. Her mission is two-fold. First, Sturdy is hoping to travel to Samoa where she can employ her climbing skills to reach lakes containing rare strains of cyanobacteria, which she uses in her research (I’d explain but it’s above my pay grade). Second, she wants to get climbers involved in the collection process. Check out what you can do to help. Sounds kind of fun.

Also Shane Robinson of Episode 15 fame is taking part in The Kamchatka Project. A team of ripping boaters who also happen to be scientists, photographers, filmmakers and marketing types hope to shed light on the world’s richest wild salmon spawning grounds deep inside Kamchatka Peninsula. Kayaks will be the vehicle. Conservation is the mission.

Jan

731 Days Later: The Monoboard Revisited

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I was sick of daydreaming. I dropped the commissioned piece I was working on that day and started writing, guided by the same intuition that leads seasoned alpinists through hazardous terrain or pulls long-distance runners through the dark streets of cities. I wanted to explore, to grow, to learn. If the computer was going to be the vehicle–so be it.

The keyboard clicked like chattering teeth. I pulled out a mic left over from my days of playing in bands. Audio cords coiled around desk legs like creeping vines. I duct taped the mic to the battered stand (I used to rock pretty hard) and without having any idea of where it might lead, I hit the big red record button, stood up, cleared my throat and decided it was time to find my voice.

Two years later, I’m still a struggling outdoor writer. What’s the difference then? I’m a happy, struggling outdoor writer. The Diaries have swelled to encompass a variety of voices and viewpoints. They have become larger than one man broadcasting from a coat closet. Thank you for taking this journey with me. Today, we present The Monoboard Revisited. Here’s to another two years of dreaming, tinkering and coming up with ways to get into trouble.

P.S. It also happens to be my brother, Walker’s, birthday. Happy Birthday, dude.

Music: Art of Motion by Andy McKee • Grey Weather by Gregory & The Hawk • Born on the Cusp by The American Analog Set

Music provided by IODA Promonet.

Jan

The Shorts — The Peach

The Peach

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Dec

Dirtbag Playlist Vol. 3

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In the next week I’ll be collecting goals and dreams from friends, weekend warrior and professionals alike. This year though, I wanted to include the Dirtbag Nation. If you got something to say, drop us a line via email. I’m not big on resolutions–to me the word sounds like a limp-wristed Congressional process or a marketing point for an Hi-Def TV. I want honest to goodness goals.

In the meantime, here is a little New Years treat: Volume Three of the Dirtbag’s Playlist.

Tracks:

1. Trashcan by Delta Spirit

2. Half Asleep by School of Seven Bells

3. Tokyo Moon by Windmill

4. Billionaires vs. Millionaires by Feral Children

5. Old Old Fashioned by Frightened Rabbit

6. Oh, Alberta by Elliott Brood

7. Well Water Black (Featuring Yoni Wolf of WHY?)

8. Gorgeous Behavior by Marching Band

Music provided by IODA Promonet.