Sometimes I wonder if I’ll ever fall in love again. I’m not talking in terms of human relationships, although this thought occasionally crosses my mind as well. But, no, I am speaking of Alaska. The Great Land. The place I loved. The place I left, thr…
Hiking is harder with a bike
“Are you sure you don’t want to join us?” I said to Danni after she dropped us off at the trailhead. “I bet you could beat us.” Danni looked up as she gave the notion serious thought. Brad, Dave and I planned to ride our mountain bikes from Six-Mile t…
First snow
Thank you for the kind words and thoughts about my grandfather. As I reflect on his life and what he meant to me, the more peace I feel about his passing. He went gracefully, in his own home, with his wife and three daughters at his side. It was the w…
For my grandpa
Today was spent tracing the contour of a ridge high above Glacier National Park, where wind howled and clouds swirled and we clung to cliff bands, perched on the edge of infinity.It was the day my grandfather died.I will think of him when I visit these…
Alden
This is Alden. He’s 68 years old. He’s a recently retired professor of computer science at the University of Montana. And he’s just about the toughest mountain biker you’d ever have the pleasure of riding with. He’s mountain biked in Missoula for a co…
The second book
I’ve been keeping this blog for nearly five years, and every so often, I create a post that I come precariously close to deleting before I publish it — whether it’s too intimate, too “off subject” or too personal. The previous post was one of those. …
Lone Peak
On Tuesday, I received the call that I had been expecting, the call that I had been hoping for but also dreading.“Your grandfather has decided to go on hospice,” my Mom told me as I ducked outside the office with my cell phone.“And his treatments…
Already with the guilt
It’s been a simple week so far: Work, arrange apartment, bike, run, late dinner, arrange apartment, upload more photos to the Shutterfly archive, sleep. Yesterday I didn’t get out of the house until 7:30. I rode my Karate Monkey 10 miles up to the Rav…
BikeRun
For my 31st birthday, I resolved to get more serious about running. Not only for reasons of fitness, but because of the opportunities it will ultimately open up (there are so many places where bikes can’t go, and I can’t go nearly as far as I’d like.)…
Dad comes to town
There’s something about having a parent come to visit the place you choose to call your home that can make a person so much more … on edge … than usual. You want your life choices to be validated, so you want your home to put on its best face. Eve…