tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15174717848028799192024-03-19T15:49:46.193-07:00Off On An AdventureHave you ever noticed that the worst adventures make for the best stories? As my brother once said, "Its only an adventure if you wish you were home in bed at least part of the time."r o bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15694607862813098590noreply@blogger.comBlogger41125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1517471784802879919.post-26152418258776225842008-12-31T17:56:00.000-08:002008-12-31T18:05:43.430-08:00Avalanches and New Year's Challenges<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQXKRddZ3iFb0wfNulUBIrddn0XL1kgP_OpaekIRyaadoyqEMO3wz0LWrZu7Fseww52WV3FPhO048R-7WoU98G3C-BWLzd9GYhvrNK4-ONyGXVHaVbj4PgzfShCBtXbcTqW8lG1C-Kvjs/s1600-h/couloir-avalanche-2.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 245px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQXKRddZ3iFb0wfNulUBIrddn0XL1kgP_OpaekIRyaadoyqEMO3wz0LWrZu7Fseww52WV3FPhO048R-7WoU98G3C-BWLzd9GYhvrNK4-ONyGXVHaVbj4PgzfShCBtXbcTqW8lG1C-Kvjs/s320/couloir-avalanche-2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5286138427080252610" /></a><br /><br />This is a photo of a restaurant here at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort that was roughed up 3 days ago by an avalance. Its also a photo of the same table I was sitting at 2 weeks ago! We've been getting a lot of snow here, 193 inches so far. While that's been great for snowboarding in fresh pow, it also means that avalanches have been wreaking havoc on the area. I've been stranded overnight at work several times already because Teton Pass has been closed due to avalanches or scheduled avie control. <br /><br />But its a great time to be here! While I've enjoyed the last 6 months here, I've also decided that Jackson Hole isn't the place for me. So at the end of the winter season I'm going to pack up and once again head for parts unknown. I know, REAL shocker!! <br /><br />I hope this New Year's Eve finds you healthy and happy and surrounded by loved ones. My New Year's challenge to each of you is to try something new this year, do something out of the ordinary. You don't have to climb Mt. Everest, but you could try something out of your comfort level. Remember, as Mark Twain once said:<br /><br />"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. <br /><br />So throw off the bowlines. <br /><br />Sail away from the safe harbor. <br /><br />Catch the trade winds in your sails. <br /><br />Explore. <br /><br />Dream. <br /><br />Discover.<br /><br />– Mark Twainr o bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15694607862813098590noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1517471784802879919.post-34689933709482822022008-11-17T10:39:00.000-08:002008-11-17T10:49:41.809-08:00Stumbling through Spain<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8GetKb-k7biOS0Xz2k3AxZeDjH1xRgDrd25GqPQKZRNrD2fypsc1Kaq6VTIWL38WWIXIJ6BelYgkuVUsgefXlSzSz-fiH7axYamjFBdKCG1RZKHlUOIc6LHz5I9R2NMch2yfr9o-Cc-A/s1600-h/DSC00399.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8GetKb-k7biOS0Xz2k3AxZeDjH1xRgDrd25GqPQKZRNrD2fypsc1Kaq6VTIWL38WWIXIJ6BelYgkuVUsgefXlSzSz-fiH7axYamjFBdKCG1RZKHlUOIc6LHz5I9R2NMch2yfr9o-Cc-A/s320/DSC00399.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269698448646064930" /></a><br /><br />As a last hurrah before the off season ended, I had the opportunity to go to Spain for ten days with one of my buddies from seminary, Ryan. We took no guidebooks. We made no plans beforehand. We rolled dice to make our decisions: odd meant we drove north, even meant we drove south. Odd we stay at this hotel. Even we press on to see what's around the next bend. And for the most part it worked out great! We rented a car and basically did one big loop around the country: Madrid to Sevilla to Gibraltar to Barcelona back to Madrid. We toured old cathedrals and bull fighting museums, sat outside in sidewalk cafes drinking coffee, saw a flamenco dance, explored caves and tunnels on Gibraltar as well as posed with wild monkeys for photo opps, and came within an inch of our lives while trying to navigate city traffic (which is a cross between bumper cars and Tetris). But most of all it was just a great time to hang out with my buddy Ryan and talk and laugh and see the sights. <br /><br />I also had the opportunity to see some friends in Denver and attend church with them. Flatirons Community Church was amazing. Such a breath of fresh air since being here in Jackson Hole doesn't really afford one with many dynamic church opportunities! <br /><br />So now I'm back here at home and working again. Ho hum! But one of the resorts near my house opens on Sunday and guess who's got the day off and a free lift ticket. Let the winter season of free snowboarding commence!!!r o bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15694607862813098590noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1517471784802879919.post-37526597922521468432008-10-29T15:22:00.000-07:002008-11-17T19:56:44.749-08:00Moab<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgIUfLWl7xsMg4gatQui3IjAiotuRCdKM2JK5n4iSVtPuDuXKWSzR0N6IYcDvsF-sj7NflmilcIawySsSU-21pQL1PXYjv_xOPdUCUnLWnaX5ro3SDK1mVPXGtLD7SOIAY8uwB4J_5IsI/s1600-h/CIMG4714.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgIUfLWl7xsMg4gatQui3IjAiotuRCdKM2JK5n4iSVtPuDuXKWSzR0N6IYcDvsF-sj7NflmilcIawySsSU-21pQL1PXYjv_xOPdUCUnLWnaX5ro3SDK1mVPXGtLD7SOIAY8uwB4J_5IsI/s320/CIMG4714.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5262707433406981458" /></a><br /><br />So last week we all had the week off so we headed to Moab, Utah for a week of random adventures. It was an amazing trip. A couple days of hiking and scrambling in Arches National Park. A couple days of mountain biking. And a couple days of canyoneering (which basically means climbing, scrambling, hiking, squeezing through slot canyons, and rappelling). <br /><br />The stars at night were astounding. I lost track of how many shooting stars we saw. Thanks to Kaity we feasted like kings every night. Even with all the physical activity, I think I may have actually gained weight on this trip! <br /><br />Every day was the best day we had. But two specific highlights were: 1) scrambling in Arches National Park with my brother and finding ourselves unable to downclimb off the huge monolith we'd scaled. Upon further exploration and downclimbing we came across anchors in the rock. What does that mean? Basically that we were free climbing above where people climb up to while being tied into a harness. We weren't so much unnerved as amused by this experience. 2) doing a 140 foot rappel off Corona Arch. This particular arch is so big that back in the 80s some guy fly his plane through it. <br /><br />I'm also reading a great book called Trails of a Wilderness Wanderer by Andy Russell, a true story about a guy who grew up in Alberta, Canada many years ago. I came across two quotes that seemed to fit our trip perfectly:<br /><br />"For we know that happiness is being healthy, with enough to eat, a warm bed, and a scrap of canvas to keep out the weather. It is good books to read, a camera and a pen with which to record interesting things. It is telling stories around the evening fires, with maybe an owl hooting somewhere in the background under the purple canopy of stars. It is watching campfire smoke lift in a twisting ribbon between sentinel spruces. It is meeting and knowing people from all corners of the world in such a setting, where all the frills and gingerbread fall away, revealing men not as gods, but as truly a part of nature's pattern. Happiness is growing up in wild country where there are fish to catch, horses to ride, dogs to hunt with, and butterflies to watch. It is, above all things, laughter and love."<br /><br />"He who has not walked alone amidst peaks beneath a sky adrift with clouds has not really had a look at his beginning or come to fully understand himself. For it is in such unscarred country beyond the marks of wheels that a man really finds himself - knowing the warm feeling in his soul that only fear is the enemy and that true values are not measured in bank accounts cached away in artificial edifices of stone, but in depths of serenity and peace found where air is clean and water flows cold and pure."r o bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15694607862813098590noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1517471784802879919.post-59265599195893298562008-09-02T20:43:00.000-07:002008-09-02T21:03:15.899-07:00Summer Wrap UpWow, I have achieved new levels of suckage when it comes to keeping up with this blog thing. The summer here in Jackson Hole has flown by too fast! Let's see, first the negative: my ipod crashed, my beloved camera was stolen, my car bit the dust (permanently), my phone is held together with duct tape, and I lost my wallet with my credit cards and ID. If I didn't think kharma was a load of crap, I'd be seriously reconsidering my most recent move out West :-) <br /><br />But those are all insignificant details in the grand scheme of things!! The positives? My brother and I rocketing down a narrow strip of single track on mountain bikes with the Teton Range as a backdrop. A 4th of July hike to the Darby Wind Cave where we almost froze our feet off. An 18+ mile hike up to the Alaska Bowl and snow fields. Climbing the Grand (13,700 ft) with Scott, Kaity and some new friends. Kaity's birthday float trip that started out well enough but turned into a frenzied flee from massive swarms of mosquitos. All the random days of climbing, hiking, laughing/standing around our kitchen because there wasn't a stick of furniture in the place...<br /><br />I won't even get started on how perfect the annual Baird family camping trip was!! <br /><br />And so I'm just checking in again to say how grateful I am...for all of it, the good, the bad, the random. And after scoring some sweet deals of snowboarding gear this past weekend and snow falling on the higher peaks already, my thoughts turn to what may be the most epic winter I've ever experienced.<br /><br />I hope each of you are doing well and finding the good stuff in the daily grind.r o bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15694607862813098590noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1517471784802879919.post-10265810831281072032008-06-14T21:25:00.000-07:002008-06-14T21:37:26.288-07:00Just checking in...Geez, where to begin? The migration westward from New York went well, except for the loss of my tailpipe somewhere in Iowa and the general demise of my ipod. Being homeless in Wyoming proved to be quite a challenge due to constant snow and/or rain for four weeks. <br /><br />But everything's coming up roses. I'm working full-time as a bellman at a hotel in Teton Village in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. And I'm working part-time as a bellman at another hotel here in Teton Village. Its relatively easy work and easy money. Today alone I made $165 in tips, plus my hourly wage. Granted, it was a 16 hour work day.<br /><br />I'm living in Victor, Idaho which is just over Teton Pass in a brand new house with the guy who built the house. Its got exposed beams and all sorts of rustic charm. And there's a trout pond nearby for swimming and a microbrewery and drive-in just down the street!<br /><br />I feel like there are countless stories from the past couple weeks. But I guess the most important thing is that I am once again in the middle of the mountains with my brother. Let the pointless, unsafe, ludicrous, exhausting, and all together random adventures continue!!!r o bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15694607862813098590noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1517471784802879919.post-57587831778760819582008-05-12T17:11:00.001-07:002008-05-12T17:30:38.091-07:00Soundtrack for my life (so far anyway)A few months ago a friend of mine attended the funeral of her childhood friend. At the funeral everyone received a CD of this individual's favorite music. Being music lovers, my friend and I spent a lot of time talking about what would be on our CD if one was given out at our funeral. Do you include songs that represent different seasons of life? Or do you pick songs that convey a specific message to loved ones? Or songs that spoke deeply to you at some point along the way?<br /><br />This CD idea has been bugging me for a while now. So last week I sat down and went through my iPod (all 6500 songs) and made a playlist of songs that HAD TO BE on the mix. When I was done there were 110 songs in the playlist! I was actually pleasantly surprised it was that small. A day or two later I revisited the playlist and pared it down again. This is what I came up with:<br /><br />1. 32 Flavors by Ani DiFranco<br />2. Time after Time by Cyndi Lauper featuring Sarah McGlaughlin<br />3. Never There by CAKE<br />4. Song 2 by Blur<br />5. Follow You by Death Cab for Cutie<br />6. Wild Flowers by Dolly Parton<br />7. Society by Eddie Vedder (from the "Into the Wild" soundtrack)<br />8. Watch the World Die by Everclear<br />9. Drunken Lullabies by Flogging Molly<br />10. Favorite Things ("Sound of Music" cover) by Me First and the Gimme Gimmes<br />11. Penny and Me by Hanson<br />12. Collide (acoustic version) by Howie Day<br />13. Romeo and Juliet by Indigo Girls<br />14. Heartbeats by Jose Gonzalez<br />15. Unwritten by Natasha Bedingfield<br />16. Mr Brightside by the Killers<br />17. Suck My Kiss by Red Hot Chili Peppers<br />18. I'm Free by the Soup Dragons<br />19. Let It Ride by Ryan Adams<br />20. Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For (Live version from the Rattle and Hum album) by U2<br /><br />So...ya, there it is. Its random and weird and represents a wide variety of genres. But I guess you could say the same thing about me. It has songs that resonate with who I am, songs that always remind me of special people and special places, and songs that just make me put the pedal to the metal with the windows rolled down and use my cell phone as a microphone. <br /><br />Want a copy of the mix? Send me an email and once I get settled in Wyoming I'd be more than happy to send you a copy. Provided that you make a "soundtrack to my life" CD and send it to me in return. What would you put on there anyway?r o bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15694607862813098590noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1517471784802879919.post-64508744029200309652008-04-27T15:34:00.000-07:002008-04-27T15:52:30.346-07:00Throwing in the towelWell, four months has passed since my last post. I can fill in the blanks pretty quickly. Spent the winter in Buffalo working at Dick's Sporting Goods (so lame), snowboarding for free on Thursday nights with my sister Becky (so great), and lots of good family time. Not necessarily big eventful family stuff. Just the daily life stuff that you don't realize how great it is unless you don't encounter it for a while. <br /><br />I've also been a busy little bee these past 6 months. I have applied for no less than 135 jobs. While most of these have been in Western NY, some of them have been out West, back up in Alaska, and in various countries like Sweden, Costa Rica, and Korea. And while I don't want to go on record as saying folks who work in Human Resources are inherently evil or without souls, I will say that if I was at a party talking with someone interesting and they mentioned that they worked in HR, I would immediately interrupt with, "Would you excuse me? I cut my foot earlier and my shoe is filling up with blood."<br /><br />So I'm done. Buffalo and I had a good six month run. I tried to make it work. But I am broke, without the slimmest of job prospects, and itching for some new adventures. So mid-May I'm packing up and heading to Jackson, Wyoming to hang out with my brother for the summer. Oh, and work I suppose. And then quite possibly go to Korea for a year to teach English. But that's 5 months away. I don't want to get ahead of myself. I'll drop a line from the open road...r o bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15694607862813098590noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1517471784802879919.post-9512362451946917222008-01-04T12:03:00.000-08:002008-01-09T16:08:23.920-08:00New Year, same me!Hey all,<br />So its been a long time since I've written anything. The past couple of months at home have been (mostly) good. Its been EXCELLENT being at home with family. I helped my parents do some home repairs. And my dad's knee replacement surgery went very well. He is a tough old bird!! Christmas and New Year's were full of laughter, food, and family.<br /> <br />Finding work has been difficult. After weeks of searching and applying, I finally took a job as a snowsports sales associate at a sporting goods store. The pay is terrible and the hours are either really long or really sparse depending on the week. But its work! And the discounts on gear are ridiculously good. <br /><br />My plans to go to Africa seem to keep getting postponed. I'm not sure why. But I'm coming to the conclusion that maybe it'd be a good thing to stay stateside and find a job doing something outdoorsy. So I'm applying for jobs all over the place and really trying to trust God during the lean times.<br /><br />I hope the new year finds you healthy and thankful and sitting still before the Big Guy Upstairs. <br /><br />Peace and good things,<br />Rob<br />PS-Yes, I stole that closing from Eddie. But he doesn't blog anymore so as long as you don't tell him, we're good.r o bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15694607862813098590noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1517471784802879919.post-27536327127493324382007-10-16T11:18:00.000-07:002007-10-16T11:44:08.459-07:00Back in New York!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlJ8lEibRAIwu9BFKjEe5NN6L-jDdJ-HPXWBxbglIrPLScvdsmc4mQvAVFjVM2gUGcgEQq2WOnzRFfAq4ByDY5p-HfUwxDD97TWdzbtrmRPR-WC6SFk3ZuCWudTKdTifX6gXkLcks3Rfc/s1600-h/DSC03577.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlJ8lEibRAIwu9BFKjEe5NN6L-jDdJ-HPXWBxbglIrPLScvdsmc4mQvAVFjVM2gUGcgEQq2WOnzRFfAq4ByDY5p-HfUwxDD97TWdzbtrmRPR-WC6SFk3ZuCWudTKdTifX6gXkLcks3Rfc/s320/DSC03577.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5122003603181847410" /></a><br /><br />15 days, 2 countries, 2 canadian provinces, 12 states, and 5488 miles! That's how long our Alaska to New York road trip took. After paying $5 a gallon for gas all the way through Canada (2400 miles) we took a left turn in Seattle and headed for home. We saw moose, elk, bison, bear, deer, fox, bald eagles, red tailed hawks, and one snake. We had the most amazing campsites in the middle of nowhere on clear mountain lakes in the Yukon Territory. We wore wigs as we drove through construction zones. We listened to elk bugling while watching the sun set over the Grand Tetons in Wyoming. We never had to pay for a campsite and only stayed in 3 shady motels along the way. I never knew how amazing clean sheets and a hot shower could possibly be!! We tried to take pictures at each state line but lost our enthusiasm once we got through the "cool" states (anything west of the Mississippi). My truck performed amazingly! Even when we went off-roading in British Columbia. I was able to get some beautiful photos which I will upload onto my flickr account soon. It was a fantastic trip with my super fun brother! I highly recommend you drop whatever you're doing, quit your job, and take off for a while. For me, I'm back in Western NY for a while to hang out with my fam. Until the next adventure...r o bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15694607862813098590noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1517471784802879919.post-77214060298099185722007-10-06T10:12:00.001-07:002007-10-07T10:45:21.749-07:00Scott eats it!The 2400 mile drive from Anchorage to Seattle has had many great moments. But this little gem filmed in the mountains of British Columbia is by far my favorite. And its why having a younger brother is awesome...Enjoy!<br /><br /><object width="425" height="350"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/2RQQLWScmK8"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/2RQQLWScmK8" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"></embed></object>r o bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15694607862813098590noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1517471784802879919.post-34454508367422134102007-09-27T22:55:00.000-07:002007-09-27T23:06:40.769-07:00Road trip!!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfR0rAovX23yDuf7pEHTR1osaKWjz9OShBxqeay-XMt_myTnSpqW5jcDn6995275k8SbOt5DkXi7cwt_XUpQI5AqDg_z1StqzS_2YEIcP7NLS3e8orMLa8pQCgycMmB6nFNlKimQaQqnQ/s1600-h/DSC03145.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfR0rAovX23yDuf7pEHTR1osaKWjz9OShBxqeay-XMt_myTnSpqW5jcDn6995275k8SbOt5DkXi7cwt_XUpQI5AqDg_z1StqzS_2YEIcP7NLS3e8orMLa8pQCgycMmB6nFNlKimQaQqnQ/s320/DSC03145.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5115130800809755490" /></a><br /><br />So in 2 days my brother and I will head out on our 7000 mile road trip from Alaska to New York, with a slight detour to California. My brother just got invited to climb Half Dome in Yosemite so at this point I think its safe to say we're throwing the itinerary out the window. But the fact that the Baird brothers even had an itinerary is a big accomplishment. Some of you have invited us to stay with you. THANK YOU!! You'll probably be hearing from us about 30 minutes before we pull into your driveway. Make no apologies for dirty dishes or unkempt homes. We're just happy to see you and have a floor to crash on and some friends to hang out with. <br /><br />There's so much reflective mumbo-jumbo I could say about Alaska. Some other time perhaps. All I know is that this isn't the last time I'll be here. As for our big road trip, I think this Walt Whitman quote sums it all up nicely,<br /><br />"Afoot and light-hearted I take to the open road;<br />healthy, free, the world before me,<br />the long brown path leading wherever I choose.<br />Henceforth, I ask not good fortune;<br />I myself am good fortune.<br />Henceforth, I wimper no more, postpone no more, I need nothing.<br />I'm done with indoor complaints, libraries, and querulous criticisms.<br />Strong and content I travel the open road." <br /><br />Catch you on the flip side....r o bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15694607862813098590noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1517471784802879919.post-55620152138962563652007-09-07T18:42:00.000-07:002007-09-11T13:34:02.982-07:00Its time for me to flyAs many of you know, I was planning to go to Africa this Fall to do some volunteer work. Recently some folks have asked how my plans for that trip were shaping up. Well, actually I've postponed the trip for a while; for financial reasons (since my job at the art gallery paid much, much less than my original job on the railroad would have paid). But also because I don't feel like the timing is right. So the plan is: 3 weeks from tomorrow my brother and I will pack up our meager belongings in my truck and we'll drive from Anchorage, AK to Philadelphia, PA via California and then Buffalo, NY. That's only a 7000 mile road trip. I'll be living with my sister outside of Philly for a while; working and saving money (and running the Philly marathon in November). And figuring out what will be the next step. The second time I dropped out of college I lived outside Philly, so I'm looking forward to being there again AND living with my sis. So we'll see what tomfoolery unfolds.r o bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15694607862813098590noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1517471784802879919.post-40433119142702365312007-08-27T17:35:00.000-07:002007-08-27T17:45:09.050-07:00How come I don't have a job where I need a shotgun?Right now my brother is working up on the North slope (that's Alaskan terminology for way, way up north on the coast of the Arctic Ocean). He has to take a helicopter to the job site each day. They got fogged in two days ago and were told by radio to camp overnight out on the tundra. With visibility of only 200 feet they used a GPS unit to guide them four miles to a truck. Armed with a shotgun to ward off grizzly and polar bears, they made it back to the truck safely, even after crossing raging thigh deep glacial run off. Man, Scott gets to have all the fun. All I did this weekend was go hiking. Lame!<br /><br /><a href="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1160/1247181182_35cabd76f3_b.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px;" src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1160/1247181182_35cabd76f3_b.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a>r o bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15694607862813098590noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1517471784802879919.post-87006871134064293992007-08-19T18:17:00.000-07:002007-08-20T15:46:37.723-07:00Run Forrest Run!!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQEUBKDWuxFUdCWkxnv8Z-2059Afd5X9CQ8MNdh4GsFkZ6cwGXx7FXtiBP4NoBqLZ_Koeug_H0Jl55bWQ1a_V23GlhSQgGfnnUdUCYZjEJ9RlJ-ocvoY3FCUy3dMZlcdaaAnfccI_mH3c/s1600-h/DSC02652.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQEUBKDWuxFUdCWkxnv8Z-2059Afd5X9CQ8MNdh4GsFkZ6cwGXx7FXtiBP4NoBqLZ_Koeug_H0Jl55bWQ1a_V23GlhSQgGfnnUdUCYZjEJ9RlJ-ocvoY3FCUy3dMZlcdaaAnfccI_mH3c/s320/DSC02652.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5100588643155974738" /></a><br /><br />Well, the marathon is done! Woo hoo! The weather was perfect; about 60 degrees and cloudy. I finished in about 4 hours and 15 minutes. <br /><br />As the race started I made some friends quickly so I'd have some people to run with therefore distracting me from the fact I was running farther than I've ever run before. As I chatted with Jim and Veronica in the first couple miles, I learned that Jim had run about 15 marathons, including 2 or 3 Boston marathons and that Veronica was in fact an ultramarathoner. Gre-e-e-eat. Of all the people I could run with!! We ran a 9 minute mile pace for the first 16 miles. At that point I told Jim and Veronica to keep going, that I was going to slow down a bit. Miles 16-19 were the hardest. But then I got some sort of second wind and the final 7 miles weren't too bad. <br /><br />The funniest part about this race was the vast difference from the half-marathon I ran in Indianapolis back in May. That race had 35,000 runners. This one had 2 or 3 hundred. The half marathon course ran through downtown Indy, and even onto the track of the Indy 500. This race was only 1 mile of road and the rest was on trails. Unfortunately there were no moose sightings. <br /><br />But at any rate, I've caught the marathon bug and am already considering when and where I'll do the next one!r o bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15694607862813098590noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1517471784802879919.post-38331088897599590612007-08-13T19:49:00.001-07:002007-08-14T14:27:18.510-07:00I am my own worst enemyLast Tuesday my brother called me at work and asked if I wanted to go for a mountain bike ride when I got home. Of course I said yes. So I got home, went running, and then we left to go ride. We planned to ride Powerline Pass; which is a 6 mile uphill and then a fantastic 6 mile return downhill. After skirting some moose on the trail, we were 3 miles into the ride when I had to quit. I had worked all day, gone running, skipped dinner, and then just bonked on this ride.<br /> <br />We got home and I was expressing my surprise at having to cut our ride short due to having no more gas in the tank. My brother asked, "Do you think maybe you've overtrained for your marathon and this is your body telling you to slow down?" I said no. He gave me a look that said you-aren't-the-brightest-crayon-in-the-box and replied, "You really don't think so? Because the day before your 20 mile run you hiked 18 miles. And the day after your 15 mile run we hiked all day. All the extra hiking and bike rides and stuff seems like overtraining to me." I sat there stunned. The more I thought about it, obviously my brother was right (as usual). <br /><br />So at that point I had 2 weeks until my marathon. So I decided to cut out all activity except for my training runs. Ri-i-i-ight. That was last Tuesday night. So Wednesday night we went for a short hike. Thursday night we went for a longer hike. Friday night I climbed a mountain. Saturday was a long run. And Sunday started out innocently enough but turned into a 6 1/2 hour death march off the trail through chest-high undergrowth and climbing the same mountain twice. <br /><br />So much for taking it easy. This would explain why I've lost 20 pounds this summer.r o bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15694607862813098590noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1517471784802879919.post-56079455524643196162007-07-31T19:39:00.000-07:002007-07-31T20:00:08.433-07:00driver's licenses and cell phonesWhen I moved from New York to Kentucky, I kept my NY driver's license for four years because I didn't want to give it up. (It's a NY thing) But alas, my last year in Kentucky I bought the sweet car infamously known as Kenny. So I had to get a Kentucky driver's license. Which basically meant I went to the DMV, handed them my NY license, they took my picture, and handed me a Kentucky driver's license. No problemo. Easy Squeezy. <br /><br />Being here in Alaska, I want an Alaskan driver's license and plates. You would think Alaska would be a pretty easy place to get a license. But I've been to the DMV three times now. They've asked for everything short of a DNA sample and a binding contract giving them custody of any first born child I might ever have. I finally jumped through all the hoops and had to take the (computerized) written test. AND I FAILED!!! And the worst part is that when I went back up the the information desk and told the lady I failed (in front of a line full of people), she looked at me incredulously and exclaimed, "HOW?!?" I can't believe the DMV lady gave me grief for failing! So when I left I took one of the manuals to study. I of course, haven't studied it but am considering writing all sorts of subversive messages in it and sneaking it back on the rack.<br /><br />p.s.-regarding my cell phone:<br />1) yes, saying i dropped my cell phone into a glacial crevasse would have sounded better than saying i dropped it in the toilet. unfortunately i didn't think of that at the time of my last posting. no, i wasn't using the cell phone at the time of said drop.<br />2) yes, it will still be the same phone number. I got that question a lot. <br />3) my cell phone provider today informed me they are revoking my cell phone insurance since this is my third cell phone in a year. I am too amused to be mad. I wanted to tell the lady that, statistically speaking, we'll probably be having this same conversation in about 4 months.r o bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15694607862813098590noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1517471784802879919.post-64643065207199089382007-07-30T00:33:00.000-07:002007-07-30T00:43:50.438-07:00Highs and Lows<a href="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1052/948060688_ce4299c3e1_b.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px;" src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1052/948060688_ce4299c3e1_b.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a> Yesterday Scott and I hiked 18 miles in the Chugach State Park. Woo hoo! And we both got stung by bees. Boo! I'm seriously allergic, never carry an Epipen, and didn't have a life-threatening reaction. Woo hoo! But we got our butts kicked by the trail and didn't summit the mountain we were trying to get to. Boo! Today I ran 20 miles to train for my marathon August 19. Woo hoo! And tonight I dropped my cell phone in the toilet. Boo! (That makes 3 phones in less than 1 year) I've got phone insurance. Woo hoo!<br /><br />p.s. - if we've talked on the phone in the last 6 months, please send me your phone number!r o bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15694607862813098590noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1517471784802879919.post-53985364411701270112007-07-25T00:54:00.001-07:002007-07-25T01:02:17.040-07:00Quotable quotes for $200I love a good quote. Here's a few I came across while reading "Ultra-marathon Man: Confessions of an all night runner" by Dean Karnazes (which is a great read, by the way)...<br /><br />"That which does not kill you makes you stronger." -Friedrich Nietzsche<br /><br />"What counts in battle is what you do when the pain sets in." -John Short<br /><br />"When you're going through hell, keep going." -Winston Churchill<br /><br />"You only live once, but if you work it right, once is enough." -Joe Louis<br /><br />"Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well-preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming: 'WOW! What a ride!'" -Unknownr o bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15694607862813098590noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1517471784802879919.post-33465917365100870452007-07-22T21:57:00.000-07:002007-07-23T20:26:09.431-07:00Baird brother Alaskan adventure #1<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9I-RMjXcTDh3LK1RZE-9IzeaQdZ-rHgfE5w2fJZGT2iZ4z1dyxwXi53ch183kyAuVaOMGiQuvuYLzh4R4N5CpQmcOQWsA5D6n1HNTmqaT-bwLMuXT4uRUIws4CliNlPJCkIcXZMbTz4k/s1600-h/DSC02099.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9I-RMjXcTDh3LK1RZE-9IzeaQdZ-rHgfE5w2fJZGT2iZ4z1dyxwXi53ch183kyAuVaOMGiQuvuYLzh4R4N5CpQmcOQWsA5D6n1HNTmqaT-bwLMuXT4uRUIws4CliNlPJCkIcXZMbTz4k/s320/DSC02099.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5090254177085326066" /></a><br /><br />Well folks, having my brother up here in Alaska has been a breath of fresh air. We are having a blast. Yesterday after I ran 15 miles for my upcoming marathon and my brother got evicted from his bedroom by the screwball ex-missionaries whom we share a house with (long story), we threw our gear in the back of my truck and headed south to Girdwood. We parked at the Crow Pass trailhead and hiked 4 miles to some old mine sites. After scouting out some potential mines to explore we started climbing. First we climbed up Barnes Mountain, with a vertical gain of about 800 feet. The first mine we found was a good one. My brother wisely pointed out that gold is often found in quartz. While the first mine only went back about 200 feet, the vein of quartz and gold apparently also went upward. We were able to climb up old ladders and hundred year old posts wedged into the shaft. These posts held beams which miners probably sat on while they dug for gold. The above photo is of Scott as we were leaving that mine to climb to the summit of Barnes. The second mine we found was also a good one, with several passages off the main path. The third and final mine we found was the one I mentioned several weeks ago. It was large, dark, and full of icy glacial water. My brother wasn't too keen on entering this one. So wearing nothing but my water shoes, a bathing suit, a winter hat, and a headlamp, I started wading into the icy water. Have you ever been in water so cold it actually hurts? Ya, I only made it about 5 feet and about thigh deep in the water before I turned back. Click on my flickr link on the right hand side of the blog to see photos. <br />Anyway, after about 4 hours we were pretty tired so we hiked back to the truck and set up camp. Over a tasty dinner of cheddar bratz, corn, and beefaroni, washed down with Long Board Ale, we relaxed and enjoyed a day well spent. You'll probably hear me say this a lot over the next 2 months but I freakin' love my brother. He is fun and smart and sarcastic. Plus I don't know anyone else crazy enough to go on these type of adventures!! <br /><br />"Adventure is worthwhile in itself." -Amelia Earhartr o bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15694607862813098590noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1517471784802879919.post-16236912145319119302007-07-18T19:09:00.000-07:002007-07-18T19:14:54.388-07:00the fam-damily<a href="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1165/847002580_a6d4875822_b.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px;" src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1165/847002580_a6d4875822_b.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />The annual Baird family camping trip was a blast. Everyone was there except two brother-in-laws. You'd think with such a big group that 2 people wouldn't be missed. But Steve and Todd, it wasn't the same without you!! Even the return trip to Anchorage was great because A) my brother came back with me for the duration of the summer and B) I got to see Eddie and Brianne during my layover at the Seattle airport.r o bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15694607862813098590noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1517471784802879919.post-63624466458731596002007-07-08T20:13:00.000-07:002007-07-08T21:39:09.726-07:00S'mores!<a href="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/174/481315028_d45aad8fa9_b.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px;" src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/174/481315028_d45aad8fa9_b.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />Meet my neice, Madison. She is 3 years old and one of nine reasons why being an uncle ROCKS!! Before moving to Alaska in May, I drove home to Buffalo, NY in April to say goodbye to my family since I wouldn't see them again until November. My sister told me that afterwards, on their drive back to Pittsburgh, Madison gave a sob from the back seat and tearfully said, "Mom, I miss Uncle Rob already and I don't think I can make it 'till November." Geez! I'm not one to get teary-eyed but that one got me!!<br /><br />Every summer the entire Baird clan (that's 22 and counting) comes together for our annual family camping trip in the Adirondack Mountains of New York. The fam is pretty bummed that I'm all the way up here in Alaska and can't make it back for what I like the call "the best week of my entire year." What they don't know is that months ago I bought a plane ticket to Philadelphia where I will meet up with my sister Kristen and we'll drive up to the 'Dacks together. I CAN NOT WAIT to see the faces on my parents, siblings, and nieces and nephews when I step out of the car. It will be a week of hiking, eating, canoeing, eating, swimming, eating, card games, bonding, enjoying God's beautiful creation, laughter, and yes, eating! While everything we do this week will be a blast; from the euchre and dart tournaments to the canoe trips and the hikes, my favorite moments will be at night around the campfire. The sun will have gone down, the busy-ness of the day will have settled, and the call of the loons will echo across the lake. And while laughing and reminiscing and telling stories that we've all told and heard a million times before, I'll have a neice or nephew or two snuggled in my lap, wrap my arms around them, and ask God for the millionth time why I was blessed with such an amazing, loving family.r o bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15694607862813098590noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1517471784802879919.post-23419276625471806232007-07-03T11:29:00.000-07:002007-07-04T16:46:15.818-07:00power napping on raven glacier<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1mQFsO__It7mX3KKRSNcswFZk5qabldQTx087t_qgI-iWRLExJU4md4jVEQXutIHEFwusQbnVcuC6m0kxLJLsGLAHn908s9O7VFXsfXq5yp-PFol6Sipi3q36cLNf6ZBfLXmA4-Z0fi8/s1600-h/DSC01820.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1mQFsO__It7mX3KKRSNcswFZk5qabldQTx087t_qgI-iWRLExJU4md4jVEQXutIHEFwusQbnVcuC6m0kxLJLsGLAHn908s9O7VFXsfXq5yp-PFol6Sipi3q36cLNf6ZBfLXmA4-Z0fi8/s320/DSC01820.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5083040624687164098" /></a><br /><br />So yesterday I drove 30 miles southeast of Anchorage, near the town of Girdwood, and parked at the Crow Pass Trail head. I hiked up the historic Iditarod trail to Raven Glacier; right next to Crow Pass. I left the trail and hiked along the south side of the glacier, making sure to hug the wall since walking on a glacier isn't the smartest thing to do (those crevasses will getcha every time!). I found a rocky outcropping and ventured out onto it. The weather up until this point had been about 50 degrees and rainy. But suddenly the clouds parted and the sun was shining. I laid down on the rocks, closed my eyes, and just listened. Glaciers actually make a lot of noise. There was the sound of water gurgling under the glacier, the sound of rocks clattering down the valley walls, and deep pops and groans as tons and tons of ice unperceivably inched forward, grinding rock into silt. It was so peaceful that I actually ended up taking a 30 minute power nap. When I woke up, cloud cover had moved in, the temperature had dropped, and visibility was terrible. I headed back the way I came and had little difficulty retracing my route. Unfortunately one part of my route had been quite precarious due to a very steep scree field that caused mini-avalanches on my ascent. And since its always harder to climb down than up, I wasn't too keen on trying that route again. Also unfortunate was the ever thickening cloud cover which had reduced my visibility to about 50 feet. So there I was, stuck on a cliff, unable to see in any direction. What is the best course of action in a situation like this? Sit and wait. Instead of panicking I decided this was an ideal time to inventory the snacks in my pack and have a little picnic while I waited for the cloud cover to thin out. And to take the photo posted above. Sure enough, about 30 minutes later, I could see well enough to pick a less hazardous route down. I'm sure there's some significant life lessons to be gleaned from all of this. And I'm sure you, the reader, are smart enough to pick out those little nuggets of wisdom. <br /><br />On the hike back to my truck I also found an abandoned gold mine. The entrance was hidden by a giant boulder. But by squeezing around it I was able to get in. It was filled with water but by the sound of distant running water I could tell the mine went pretty far back. I toyed with the idea of swimming through the mine with my keychain flashlight but I'll admit that swimming alone in an unfamiliar pitch black mine was a little too adventurous for me! Luckily my brother will be moving out here in about 2 weeks, so I know exactly where our first adventure will be!!r o bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15694607862813098590noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1517471784802879919.post-37518510584045962122007-06-28T17:18:00.000-07:002007-06-28T17:26:21.350-07:00Smug and proudso, yesterday one of my former coworkers from the railroad job came into the art gallery to say hi. she also told me that everyone was quitting. joe, vicky, and a bunch of others that I trained with and worked with have had it with Holland America and are all throwing in the towel. They are sick of working themselves to the bone, never knowing when their next day off will be, and Holland America's general disorganization. Her direct quote was, "At the time we all thought you were crazy for quitting, but now we all realize what a wise decision you made." Ah, music to my ears!! See, everyone out there thinks I'm a big slacker when in fact I'm just pretty damn smart. Speaking of which, I'm kinda looking for a new job...r o bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15694607862813098590noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1517471784802879919.post-3828540220462839742007-06-25T19:33:00.000-07:002007-06-25T21:15:41.237-07:00ten minutes lessSo, Saturday here in Anchorage I participated in my second 1/2 marathon. I had to run 13 miles anyway for my training schedule for August's marathon so I figured "why not do a race?" My friend Kristine (whose group just successfully summitted Denali last Tuesday) ran with me. Yes, that's right. She just climbed a 20,320 foot mountain complete with a 24 hour hike toward the bottom where they had to dodge dangerous crevasse fields and which got them back into town on Thursday AND STILL she had the energy and motivation to run in the 1/2 with me. I don't think this girl is human. Anyway, running together was great! Literally the miles flew by. I finished in 2 hours and 3 minutes; about 10 minutes faster than the 1/2 marathon I ran 6 weeks ago. So I've been asking myself "don't two 1/2 marathons count as running one full marathon?" Mathematically it works. But I'm not sure that would really count.r o bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15694607862813098590noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1517471784802879919.post-10242889327067985832007-06-18T00:07:00.001-07:002007-06-18T00:17:24.848-07:00This is where I'll die<a href="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1011/563787101_bb4e12d72b_b.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px;" src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1011/563787101_bb4e12d72b_b.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />This is a photo of the trail that will most likely claim my life later this summer. See I've always had a certain weakness when it comes to mountain biking. And by weakness I mean I can't get enough of it, especially the descents. So maybe addiction is a better word? Anywho, today I rode my bike up Powerline Pass in Chugach State Park. The pass still had some snow blocking it so I ditched my bike and proceeded on foot. Once over the pass I continued following the powerline and came over a ridge only to find A) this amazing view (that you can't see so well in this photo but check my Flickr account for better shots) and B) the most amazing descent I've ever seen. The trail just...drops. Several thousand feet. In just a couple of miles. And it is just this sort of trail that I can see myself fah-lying down and missing a turn or hitting a rock and doing a spectacular endo where I cartwheel through the air ever so gracefully and then splat everywhere. So I'm just saying in advance that it was well worth it and I enjoyed the ride. I guess that goes for both the ride that day and life in general.r o bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15694607862813098590noreply@blogger.com11