Regrettably, I spend 26 hours per month commuting between work and home. This leaves me a lot of time in the car to think about which is the ideal lane on Highway 101. Here is a fun little video about that.
Book: Absinthe and Flamethrowers
I picked up a book today called Absinthe & Flamethrowers: Projects and Ruminations on the Art of Living Dangerously. It’s an exploration of a single, important question: Are people who take risks happier than those who do not? Bill says they are. I agree.
What did not resonate. Bill Gurstelle is a fellow Minnesotan, but a solely different kind of “adventurer”. His book is ostensibly about him blowing things up with gun powder, which isn’t really my style. Not that I’m against detonating inanimate objects, it’s just not a tangible adventure. It’s more impactful (to me) to reflect on climbing Mount Everest, than to ruminate on an exploded grapefruit.
What did resonate. The graph above resonated. Bill coins the “Golden Third” of people as happier because they take risks. He says we live in an age where disruptive ides are critical to our future. Children and adults should have the “license” to invent and to adventure beyond the safety of the envelope, just like the first caveman who overcame the fear of fire.
[Update] Book: Born to Run
In my previous blog post I mentioned that runners are more likely to get injured in expensive shoes than in less expensive shoes, and even less likely to get injured running barefoot. Customers are spending money to hurt themselves. This is based on Christopher McDougall’s research in the book Born To Run.
A few of my friends have suggested that people that buy expensive running shoes are more likely to drive themselves harder and get injured. This angle is addressed in the book — Chris talked about casual runners who run three times a week and still get injured in expensive shoes.
So, I still believe that spending money on expensive shoes is a waste of cash. You’re better off making shoes out of 2 liter bottles, as in the picture.
Maui Jungle Flora
We went on a day hike on a plantation in North Maui. Along the way we found waterfalls, a swimming hole and some very interesting plants. One plant featured protective leaves that turn inward to protect itself from insects, and another had a flower that tasted exactly like mushrooms.
If you have help me identify these plants I’d love it.
Book: Born to Run
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I picked up an interesting book today. Born To Run says runners are more likely to get injured in expensive shoes than in less expensive shoes, and even less likely to get injured running barefoot. In other words, the author believes customers are spending money to hurt themselves.
Could it be that cheaper shoes force runners to run properly on the ball of the foot, and that this method of running prevents injuries? Chris McDougall thinks this running style is better for and is more efficient.
I personally still wear my Nike Free shoes in the gym, but I have switched to Vibram Five Fingers for running and rowing. I am also looking to the Five Fingers shoes to help correct my toe position, after years of being stuffed inside tight mountaineering boots my pinkie toe curves inwards too much.
How to Prepare for the 7 Summits
7 Tips to Begin Preparations for the 7 Summits
- Climb lots of other mountains first, the kind with snow at the top
- Start now, life will only get busier and your ability acclimatize decreases with age
- Be prepared to climb a couple of them twice. I was fortunate to summit each on my first try, this is rare
- Read Into Thin Air, Freedom of the Hills
- Buddy-up with a climbing partner who shares your values and ambitions
- Cost will exceed $100k. To raise sponsorship dollars you must identify why you’re “above the fold”
- You can do the 7 unguided, privately guided or with a large commercial guiding service. Good commercial guides: Alpine Ascents, Jagged Globe, Adventure Consultants. Good private guides: Exploradus and Evan Howe
About me: In 2005 I completed the 7 Summits, at the time I was the 120th person in the world. The Seven Summits are the highest mountains of each of the seven continents.
About this Blog
Ever committed to a goal and wanted to write it down? Or seen something extraordinary and wanted to share it? Well, that’s what a blog is to me.
This is a place for me to store my thoughts and goals.
