I hate to pack. My last two trips, I packed the morning I left. Thankfully, I’ve packed often enough that I have mentally ingrained lists for each type of trip. All of those lists, regardless if for canoeing through the Boundary Waters or hopping a plane to visit family, have three items in common. Pack on every trip: 1. A Plan Every outing requires a plan of some Continue Reading
Why All Weather is Good Weather
It’s April. We’re well into spring. It’s snowing. And we already have several inches of white stuff on the ground. Why won’t the weather cooperate? Last April, we played outside in short sleeves. The world had turned the green of spring, with new life visible everywhere. Yes, last year was freakishly warm, and ultimately bad for the plants, but it sure felt Continue Reading
The Shocking Truth about Derailed Plans
I had my Florida Keys trip planned out perfectly. We were going to dive the three largest wrecks in the Keys: the Vandenberg, the Spiegel Grove, and the Duane. I really looked forward to our planned trip. Unfortunately, the weather did not cooperate with my plans. Our plans derailed on our first day in the Keys. We timed our drive down to Key West so that we could catch Continue Reading
The Graceful Way to Weather Bumps in the Road
If I had to pick one word to describe my first downhill ski day of the season, I would pick “bumpy.” Perfectly groomed corduroy greeted me, even though I arrived midday. The frozen grooves in the snow had withstood earlier skiers without breaking down one bit. You see, the temperatures had roller-coastered throughout the week. The day before had been 40 degrees and rainy. Continue Reading
The Secret of Becoming Stronger
Do you want to become stronger? Do you want to be able to run three miles? Do you want to comfortably backpack 5-10 miles a day while carrying a 30+ pound pack? Do you want to be able to do a proper pushup? Do you have some other athletic goal? Strength isn't just physical. You can increase your mental and emotional strength, too. Do you want to be a more patient person? Do Continue Reading
