Time has a funny way of sneaking up on you, but it's interesting how you only notice that after the time has come and gone. I remember thinking to myself that I didn't need to worry about packing and prepping for our fall/winter trip to Australia and New Zealand because I had plenty of time to get all of it done. Now here we are with all my mountaineering gear, trip clothing and everything that we might need, scattered across my floor.
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| Working at Aspen is like coming home doesn't ever really feel like work. |
The last time I sat down and wrote a blog was three months ago, when Laramie and I finished the daunting task that was the Bridger Traverse. I find it so rewarding to sit down after a trip and write a story that I can share with anyone who wants to read what I have to say. My fingers never halt in hesitation as ideas just spew out across the keyboard.
After three months of no “adventure” or outdoor exploration, it's a lot harder to find the words to write down that anyone would find interesting to read. With our departure date to Australia & New Zealand looming a mere 11 days away, I have felt the need to reboot the blog and start getting in the mindset to write regularly again.
While my summer was filled with big mountains, beautiful destinations and long summer days, this fall has been filled with family time and a whole lot of work. Every other week I have been traveling across the country going from horse show to horse show, and in the weeks that I am home I spend it here in Boise working at Urban Ascent.
My family was brought together for some of those weeks while we said our goodbyes to my wonderful grandmother, Donanna; who has always a driving force and inspiration in my life. My Grandmother was the first to support me in my writing and encouraged me to continue in the way I live my life.
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| My grandparents were both avid white water rafters. |
After returning from my second to last work commitment of the year, I have spread most of my time laying out gear across the floor, staring at it in contemplation of what can go and what will stay. With this being my first international climbing trip I feel a little lost. From packing axes, tools, carabiners, runners, trekking poles and everything in between, I am finding my 70L backpack to feel more like a fanny pack. I sat on the floor and tried to fill every crevice that was available with gear and clothes, only to be shot down when ¼ of my gear sat untouched on the floor next to me.
I still have a few days to get my act together and figure out the packing situation. I have a few ideas, and I think they will work… because either they will or they won't and if it doesn't work I will be bringing less stuff than I had originally planned!
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| the art of packing... still not a fan of this set up. |
We fly out to Australia on the 6th of November, and plan to layover in Sydney for a week before flying out to Christchurch, New Zealand. Joe and I will have not seen each other for 8 weeks by the time we meet up in the LAX airport. I plan on going directly from the horse venue straight to the airport and meeting up with Joe there. After a week in Australia we will fly from Sydney to Christchurch where we will enjoy the southern island hiking, mountaineering and exploring a whole new place for the both of us.
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| Hilly Billy homecoming at work, some friendly competition, swing dancing and chili make for a fun night! |
I absolutely love working at the gym here in Boise, and have really found a comfortable life here in town with my family and spending time with friends. As much as being here has been enjoyable, I would be lying if I said that there wasn't an itch that has been brewing inside of me, a need to get out somewhere new and be out of my comfort zone again. It feels like it has been forever since I’ve been able to take a deep breath and really submerge myself in my surroundings. I am looking forward to refilling myself with things that make me feel like me.
