Machavok Creative did the work, we’re trading some coaching and party favors to get it done. The coaching side of things is taking off these days. I think a lot of people know what to do, they just need some structure to help do it. I provide that structure and some insights from decades of doing a few sports at a decently high level. I really enjoy the process of helping people climb, fly or just move better in the mountains. I’m always thinking about this stuff myself, it’s great to start sharing words and ideas with other people and make good progress together. I’ve been building “assignments” and analysis modules in the evenings, plus putting together a collection of various writings on physical and mental performance. There might be a new book in there…

The lousy spring has been great for getting office work done; now it’s time to start going harder outside, at least as soon as the latest snow melts. Yesterday we had snow, but it was unlike any other snow I’ve ever seen. There were flakes the size of Pringles potato chips falling out of the sky like little parachutes. Amazing to think of all the vertical cycles those snowflakes must have gone through in the sky to build to that size. I had to go outside and have a direct look at the snowflakes; it wasn’t easy to figure out their structure due to how warm it was, but I think they were accumulations of many snowflakes, more clumps than flakes. Anyhow, it was gorgeous as it came down even if I am cursing the very idea of snow at this point.

I seem to be becoming a sort of technology nerd. I’ve always liked little black boxes that do cool stuff. Paraglider pilots are the biggest tech nerds on the planet with any claim to also be athletes. They use GPS tech, flight computers, the web, etc., and most seem to spend more time geeking out than actually flying. But I’ve noticed aerobic athletes are getting into that GPS use, along with guides, geocachers, even climbers. GPS units produce waypoints and tracks; those tracks are useful for everything from scoring paragliding competitions to building waypoint files (nice to have when you’re lost inside the ping-pong ball on a ski traverse or descent). I’m working on a project involving popular hikes/scrambles and GPS tracks at the moment, more on that in a month or two, but check this site out, kind of a cool multi-sport track thing. Lots of stuff like this out there now based on both stand-alone GPS units and mobile  phones with GPS units in ’em… The Spot is becoming more popular too, and it’s useful because it doesn’t rely on a cell signal to call for emergency help. Many older outdoor types are leery of new tech, but if there’s one theme I can see in the outdoor world that’s changing it very rapidly it’s satellite-based technology…

About ten years ago I did a trip into a remote area where one of our group went down hard with an unknown ailment. Luckily he lived, but that was the last big trip I did without a satellite phone–I don’t want to ignore technology that could save someone’s life, even if that means a less independent trip. I firmly believe in self-rescue, but not to the point where I’ll stake a friend’s life on that style of outdoor fun. I have mixed feelings about having communications in remote areas; obviously it’s a resource that can be abused, but it can also save my life. I now have my own sat phone and also rent it out to friends (people who aren’t gear idiots). I’m not sure where all this tech is going, but I am sure that it’s going to change our outdoor experience both positively and negatively. I think it can be mainly positive if we embrace it and use it, or mainly negative if we fight it and don’t learn to use it well.

Spring is now finally starting, after one of the worst Aprils I can remember here in the Rockies. I had a good ride yesterday with a friend, even though we were pushing through up to two feet of snow on a ride I’ve done snow-free in March almost every year I’ve lived here in Canmore. The rock on Saturday was warm even in the shade though, so it’s time to get chalky, sweaty, sunburned, and all the other fun stuff that goes with warm temperatures. I am so glad for that!!

Happy Spring. I mean it this time.