Tag Archive for 'adversity'

Adversity – Making Friends with Pain – Part II

Published on August 2, 2008 in 08 Adversity. 0 Comments Tags: , .
Note: I’ll be in Boulder, CO until Tuesday attending a Serac Adventure Films class and will have limited computer access.

A major part of surviving adversity is anticipating it and being prepared.  Spending a day out touring in the maw of nature’s fury as it is dumping snow, blowing, avalanching, and going off the charts can be exhilarating if you are warm, dry and safe, or lethal if you are not.  Overcoming adversity is a mix having the right gear and knowledge, as well as knowing how and when to use it. 

The silver lining on a very cooooold cake - seeing Mt. Foraker at sunrise after climbing through the night on Mt. Hunter in -25 degree temps.
The silver lining on a very cooooold cake – seeing Mt. Foraker at sunrise after climbing through the night on Mt. Hunter in -25 degree temps. Alaska

Part of overcoming adversities is to embrace the hardships. As George W. Bush said “It’s hard work.  We’re workin’ hard.”   Stay positive and turn it into a fun challenge.  Convince yourself that you are getting what you came for and enjoy the struggle. Remember, it doesn’t have to be fun to be fun!

Try not to over-think adversity.  When it comes to dealing with storms, steep slopes or any other challenges, think about it, make a decision (retreat or go) and then get on with it.  Continual second guessing makes it much worse.  Boldness has genius.

Monday – Meeting Mr. Cold

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Adversity – Making Friends with Pain – Part I

Published on August 1, 2008 in 08 Adversity. 0 Comments Tags: , .

Surviving adversity is a big part of ski mountaineering. After all, if it was fun, easy and safe it would be called resort skiing.  Beyond the basic discomforts, surviving adversity with comfort and style is what separates the pros from the amateurs.  

Scotty Lee and Mark Holbrook laughing it up during a howling storm.
Scotty Lee and Mark Holbrook laughing it up during a howling storm.

Skiing in the middle of the night or an early morning dawn patrol is a classic case of self inflicted adversity.  Its pitch black, you can’t see where you are going and its cold, but if you are prepared for it, the ensuing skiing can be absolutely incredible.  Conversely, getting benighted, lost and cold by accident puts you in the same situation, but is usually miserable.  The main difference here is preparation and attitude. Tough guys/girls feel the cold as much as anyone, they just don’t let it shut them down.

Enduring and overcoming adversities can often have unexpected silver linings. One of my favorite mantras is “The harder it is going up, the better it will be going down.”  The deepest snow I’ve ever skied was a result of trenching our way through chin-deep powder to get to the top of a perfect splitter couloir in the Ruby Mountains of Nevada.  The ascent was grueling, but the pain of it has been long forgotten, especially compared to the happy memories of floating through virtually bottomless untracked powder.  Persevere.

continued tomorrow…

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