Stairmaster 2012, climbing, letting go...

Practicum:

Mt. Cook has been the most memorable part of exploring NZ for me. In the mornings, I would make it a point to wake up, and as quietly as I could, grab my sleeping bag and journal then cuddle up on the couch in the common room of the hut. for a solid hour in the mornings, I would sit on the couch in my favorite place in the world (my sleeping bag), and write in my journal while staring out gigantic chappel-esque windows at moutains so stunning they inspire modest and respect in those looking out at them. Our time in Mt. cook was 'challenge by choice', therefore we hiked to Mueller Hut, aka "Stairmaster 2012". This was a bad ass seven hour hike with and hour to walk there and back making for a vigorous 9 hour day. Well vigorous and absolutely exhausting for us. But the 70 year old woman we fell in love with, Pat, seemed quite energized by that hike. Maybe after backpacking and mountaineering for 50 years my legs will look as good as hers. After our nine hour day, we had a big learning lesson climbing out at the local crag, follwed by an intense windstorm that shoed us out of town. The group is becoming more and more comfortable with each other and as a result are also more comfortable being cranky publicly with eachother. Other than that, I've realized this trip for me has been so much more about learning to live day by day, recognize when my ego is getting out of hand, and to take responsibility for myself. And it just so happens we get to do all of this outside. I am very grateful to learn from and work with this group in particular - much love to you guys.

OAL 275:

Existence: Life and Death:
"Only ten percent have the wisdom to accept both life and death as facts and simply enjoy the dance of existence."

After a rock climbing event gone wrong. I spent a sleepless night dreaming about death and catastrophizing about a life spent in a wheel chair. When I turned 13, a good friend of mine came back from India with stories of people practicing to honor and remember every morning durin meditation that they will die, alongw ith all the people they loved. By accepting this as face and becoming aware of it, you become more free to live. After this climbing accident, I questioned participating in these activities for a brief moment... Yet by fearing death, I realize you can't live. the purpose of life is to experience, to test yourself, but mainly to GROW. Without riske, without fear.. you can't grow. which means you can't live.

Spiritual Awareness:
"There is a way of knowing, higher than reason; there is self, greater than egocentricity."
When it comes to risk in relationship to adventure, I believe that trusting in the process of the world and life is the most important part of finding peace and groundedness when feeling fear in your adventure. In daily life too for that matter. If something is meant to happend "good" or "bad", whether it is death or a dibilitating accident, I believe it is something of a gift to teach you a lesson. This is perhaps considered a faith in god/the universe/elvis/kiwi bears... whatever you want to call it. Yet I believe you are meant to be where you are at each moment of every day. Even if you don't understand it, and even if it is uncomfortable. By trusting life and the process and whatever god is looking out for me, I believe you can approach risk in adventure with a much more grounded perspective.

Freedom and Responsibility:
..." no one can decide for you what to do in a given situation. That is up to you."
Challenge by choice. Thats it, thats all.


OAL 362

I am beginning to believe that adventure tourism is the most effective way to show people the beauty of nature and all the fun things and resources that nature has provided for us for millenium. Because of all the adventure activities and risk involved with mountaineering, I believe it inspires a great deal of respect and reverence in people for the Mt. Cook area. This is brilliant for perserving and protecting the areas that people have experienced such as Mt. Cook,  as people are willing to visit the area, build an economy in that area as well as use the money spent and made in that area to perserving it for years to come. The human impacts, as far as I have seen are minimal due to the reasons above. Adventure touris could possibly save the world... and I'm only 1/2 joking.

OAL 375:

Water:
"Water is fluid and responsive, water follows the law freely."
I think an essential component of being an effective leader is to act and respond to the situation at hand. This is without being inundated with the "should" though processes which include time, and past goals and endeavors. For example, yesterday we went climbing at Y Creek (spelling?), a little ways outside of Queenstown. The approach took a little bit over an hour, and was an absolutely stunning hike with a epic views of the lakes and mountains. We all enjoyed it very much, yet the actual climbing was in the middle of a windy canyon and Adam adapted our day to saying that it was okay to not follow the the plans and to turn around after a couple routes. Basically, instead of clinging to and idea, often times as a leader you have to recognize the groups needs and let it go and let it flow.

The Paradox of Letting Go:
Instead of hanging on so much... let go, give up, and give in. Opposite of the American thought process for sure. It is a choice as a leader to practice having compassion rather than holding onto the drama and the pain or any other exciting emotion, which just clutters the mind. Therefore...

Unclutter Your Mind:
By being in the moment, you know what to do. Rather than relying on theories and ideas and beliefs, you can use the moment. There is no system, there is no one thing that should happen. It is truly moment by moment that will yield the most authentic results situations when you are in a leadership role. This benefits not only the people you are working with, but yourself as well.
The most potent act I can do, or anyone else for that matter, is disengage from emotions, thoughts and ideas and become centered and grounded... this clears the mind in order to respond in the moment.

~Taylor