I was in San Diego last weekend for a wedding with 20+ family members in town. Sunday we all woke up, had brunch and said our farewells. One of my cousin’s and I had the late flight out of town so we packed up our sketchbooks and camera’s and explored the city on foot. Starting at the Omni hotel we trekked through town, across the train tracks and into Balboa Park. We stumbled upon turtles, bagpipes, the botanical gardens and much more. Here’s a few pics from what we came across.

“Think about the traits that creative people possess. Creative people don’t follow the crowds; they seek out the blank spots on the map. Creative people wander through faraway and forgotten traditions and then integrate marginal perspectives back to the mainstream. Instead of being fastest around the tracks everybody knows, creative people move adaptively through wildernesses nobody knows.”

The Creative Monopoly By DAVID BROOKS - The New York Times, April 23, 2012

Just Some Bikes

I’m often strayed off path to look at a colorful setup or classic ride, I love the character that can be portrayed through just a bike. Here are a few I found the other day, of course I like the purple one.

Yoga inspires me to be myself. It inspires me to laugh, to cry, and above all yoga inspires me to share all the knowledge I have gained through its philosophy and practice. – Britt Bahle

Photo captured March 4th, on the east shore of Lake Tahoe, near Incline Village.

In an effort to educate myself more about the rules of the backcountry, avalanche safety and rescue techniques I signed up for a 3-day AIRE Level 1 Avalanche training course. I highly recommend all my friends get the training, but in the meantime I wanted to put together a little recap or cheat sheet on some of the various things I took home. Granted their is only so much you can put into a drawing, but I tried to capture some of the key things to consider as your planning your trip, picking your team, selecting appropriate terrain and venturing up or down the mountain.

In the week leading up and intro my course the state of the Tahoe backcountry had fluctuated between its highest and lowest points of the season.  Many people, including myself would report some of the best “conditions” of the season, which came along with the best avalanche conditions. It went from bomber ice and windblown over the weekend to 100 MPH winds and a few feet of fresh throughout the week and warmed up to sixty degrees at lake level by the following Sunday. Many people were eager to escape the lines or the resort and tackle some of the untouched out of bounds terrain. Unfortunately we witnessed not one, but two separate deaths by avalanche that week in our own backyard. We had and still have a persistent weak layer in the snowpack that continues to be a concern. But as we learned in the Avi 1 course is that their aren’t “No Go” days, but instead “No Go” places.

5 Safety Tips:

1. Use the decision-making framework to help select appropriate terrain.
2. See what the experts are seeing in the field.
3. Identify avalanche terrain: observe slope angle, terrain traps, aspect and trigger points.
4. Travel safely: be alert to changing conditions, communicate with group and be prepared for rescue at all times.
5. Test your gear and practice, practice, practice with it. 

In the classroom we discussed the types of avalanches that exist; dry snow and slab, how to measure size and destructive potential, what causes them to occur, how the snow changes both above and below the surface and what influences those changes. We analyzed avalanche reports and accidents (which anyone can do at avalanche.org), including one that happened the day prior in our own backyard making it a very real and timely matter. A huge emphasis was put on “seeing what the experts are seeing” by reading the local avalanche report and going out and testing the snow to find that persistent weak layer in the forecast.

We hit the field, dug snow pits, and tested the integrity of the snowpack, layers and surface conditions. We saw surface hoar formed after a cold night, weak layers at the bottom caused by faceting and layers that changed from the base of our hike to the summit due to rapid warming. We learned tests on the go and practiced using our beacons, shovels and probes in simulated rescues. Something anyone, including myself can and should do regularly with a few friends, have fun with it, make it an apre ski festivity and hide some beers along with hidden transceiver.

The more you can be confident in your own decision making the safer you’ll be. No one ever plans on going out into the backcountry and not returning home that evening, just like no one plans on heading to the resort one day and not returning home as well.  Have fun, be safe, and ski for a lifetime!

That music was unreal; I’ve never seen artists play with such passion. I couldn’t ask for a better weekend in SF. Great music, great people, good food, blue skies, glassy waves and lots of laughter. The biggest thanks goes out to my brother Sam who introduced us to the Bridge School and motivated everyone to make the trek, AND who most importantly won’t let us leave him out of the action, not even for dinner!

The benefactor of Neil Young’s annual benefit concert, The Bridge School, helps physically challenged children overcome their impairments via the use of technology. The school organizes annual retreats for disabled adults to gather with peers, share stories and learn from one another. Sam who has cerebral palsy has been fortunate to attend these, many of which have been on the UC Berkeley campus where I’ve been able to join for evening activities.  They take over the dorms with wheelchairs, aides, music and all sorts of communication devices that help them connect with one another. The experience has not only been empowering but also inspiring to see what technology has provided for each of these individuals.

From my own experience, it’s been amazing to watch Sam grow and articulate his needs though use of a communication device. With a head switch he can scan through a computer to build sentences and it then speaks for him. Although it takes time and can be frustrating, it has opened doors that may not have been possible before. This year Sam opted to attend the Bridge School Concert instead of the summer program, since the trek down from Oregon was really not feasible for both. Sam who both loves live music and San Francisco, has been wanting to go to the concert ever since he started attending the Bridge School camps over 5 years ago. He persisted and the entourage followed.

The lineup included the likes of Dave Mathews, Beck, Carlos Santana, Eddie Vedder, Mumford and Sons, Arcade Fire, Nora Jones, and of course Neil Young. It was pandemonium trying to gather tickets, but between the phone, computer and a few friends we gathered 30 people to join us in the festivities. Friends and family drove and flew down from Portland, Tahoe, Santa Cruz and all over the city to join the cause. We kicked off the weekend with a big Italian style dinner at Pizzeria Delfina, where our good friend and GM Nick Arnerich seated us on the street for a gorgeous evening, where as my dad put it “Naples met NEP (Northeast Portland), we had a meal not to be forgotten!”

I found the biggest available wheelchair accessible bus to shuttle us down to Mountain View on Saturday. It only seated 20 and we squeezed in an extra, so next year we’ll really have to find something bigger…a school bus? Needless to say our rowdy crew made it safely to the concert to enjoy over seven hours of unbelievable music.

The artists played with heart and soul, Neil Young would stroll on and off the stage joining in with the artists and even surprising Beck with backing vocals midway through his band’s rendition of “pocahontas.” It was like a jam fest that thousands of people stumbled on and I felt fortunate to witness. I had seen Arcade Fire headline at Outside Lands only a few months earlier, but the Canadian Indie rock collective showed it could conjure just as much power even when stripped of the usual sonic frills, rollicking through twangy versions of “The Suburbs,” “Rebellion (Lies)” and Young’s “Helpless” with the man himself. Our group was literally holding hands and jumping around in circles. If it helps explain the greatness of this event, singer-guitarist Win Butler said  ”I can honestly say, I don’t think a lot of us would be in a band if it wasn’t for Neil Young.”

To top off the night, my mother who bought a few raffle tickets’ in hopes of grasping an iPad was shocked to win the grand prize; the 25^th Anniversary Bridge School Concert guitar. This was not your average instrument, it was hand made by Martin Beck, engraved with the logo and had disabled kids carved in abalone on the neck. Not only was it gorgeous, it was to be signed by ALL of the artists in attendance. My parents met Martin Beck that evening and learned that they were the first Bridge School family to win a guitar, I’d like to think some things happen for a reason, if anyone deserves something special it’s them. Although no one in our family plays guitar, they’ve let many friends play it and will continue to share it along with the Bridge School with the world.

We all laughed and reminisced on our favorite songs as we bussed back to the city. It’s with great surprise I’ll say that the “Adults” out lasted the “Big Kids”, as my friends were dozing off past midnight my own mother was dancing like a giddy kid, telling us how long she had been wanting to see Neil Young live.  Winning the signed guitar was the icing on the cake. She emailed me later to say “We are back home and still reveling in the excitement of the weekend! I am trying to be patient waiting for my hand made Martin Beck guitar to arrive. I can’t wait to actually see it.” The memories will live on through the guitar, music, photos and I’d like to think we’ll make it happen again next year.

[Reflection from a few month's back, the concert was this fall in Mountain View, CA]

“Last weekend is what life is all about…great people, family, food and fun…so happy and proud to call all of you family…at the end of the day that’s all that matters.”

“It is Wednesday and I am still floating around with my heart in the clouds. Thank-you all for joining us this weekend. Sharing the experience and the music with my friends and family is all I could ask for.”

“Thanks, Sam for the inspiration!  Can’t wait for the next…”

“DITTO on the thoughts and our sentiments precisely!!! It was an off the charts weekend with way too much damn fun, food, and friends. Words cannot describe it, I too am still flying high.”

 ”Somehow all thought of selling the guitar slipped away when I heard about Neil and Pegi signing my guitar!” 

Winds, lines and closed signs didn’t stop the onslaught of people dying for fresh tracks. Gusts kept the top of the mountain from opening, but filled the tracks from the run before.  I’d  say it was some of the best skiing this year, even if you had to be light on your toes to avoid the shallow rocks, stumps and obstacles below.  Let’s hope we have a ”Miracle March” with a few more powder days to come.

Kalalau Valley AKA Paradise is like no place I have been before, it reminds me of the happy place in the land before time movie.

Over forty years after my dad trekked along the Na Pali coast I ventured down the rather unchanged windy path to paradise.  The 11-mile trail bounced up and down along steep cliffs; through lush forest and muddy red slopes before descending upon the white sand beach of Kalalau Valley.  It is a calm, gorgeous, almost surreal place that’s been frozen in time, where the people live off the land and shower and drink from a waterfall.

To get there we took a quick flight from Maui in the morning, an hour long bus ride up north to Princeville where we stocked up on food, water and gas for our makeshift tin can stove. At dusk we hitched over to the trailhead at Haena Beach Park and snuck on to make the 4-mile hike into Hanakapia before sundown. We arrived late enough to miss the tourists and be greeted by the wild kittens that scour the beach for food at days end, every time you looked back in the darkness you could see their eyes shimmer.

We encountered all sorts of characters on our way in, but the most memorable was “Kill Bill” who has set up a home near the helicopter landing a mile or two outside the valley. Bill, a tall toothless man who wore only small black running shorts with a machete slung around his waste was far less harmless than he looked. He has devoted his time to restoring endangered plants, making the trail wider and safer and killing off the wild goats and boars that have damaged the landscape. He is not the only one that’s set up shop along the way; we encountered plenty of others who had camps, farms and who knows what else. Many of the people were silent, barefoot and kept to themselves, but others welcomed us upon our arrival.

Once in the valley, we too kicked off our shoes and explored barefoot. We couldn’t have asked for better weather, as we had few clouds and not a spec of rain in site, which is very fortunate for Kauai that is known for it’s wet climate. The swell kicked up and we spent hours hiking along the coast admiring the massive monsters that came crashing in from the sea. Our camp was just off the beach and the waves echoed through the night as they slammed down on the shore.  We also ventured into the cave and proceeded to climb around like children. I lay on the beach and drew pictures, stacked rocks and watched the stars till I couldn’t keep my eyes open.

Kalalau was an amazing escape, it allowed me to get lost in the moment, think clearly and relax. If it weren’t for the occasional helicopter flight you’d have thought we’d hiked back in time.

From the day I laid eyes on a Two Crows board I coveted them. They are unlike anything out there, really artistic, colorful and fun. Carl Olson had shaped under the well-known Santa Cruz brand Arrow before breaking off on his own to form Two Crows with his buddy Nic Wells. A few good friends had boards shaped by Carl and absolutely loved them. This fall when I got a chance to meet Carl and check out the shaping room in Santa Cruz I couldn’t stop thinking about what board I would get.

Ever since I started surfing a few years back, I had been using Criagslist boards. My longboard was slowly deteriorating and as great as it was to learn on, it lacked some of the real benefits of having a big board. With thin rails, narrow width and lots of rocker I often got smoked by your traditional logs and couldn’t get myself into soft waves. I decided it was time to go for a real long board, a wave machine, something super fun and easy to paddle. After talking to Carl we debated what fin setup, thickness and length and settled on 9’ tri fin with thinned out rails and tapered tail.

After a few patient months my custom Two Crows longboard is complete. Well worth the wait, this 9 foot tanker ship of a board is truly a piece of art. I keep taking it out of the bag and looking at its shiny glass job polished to perfection.  Not only does it look better than most the boards in the lineup, it totally rips. Although it is a different style of surfing than I am used to, it’s going to be a fun board to play around with, walk around and make it to the nose. Already in the first day I found the ride to be solid and smooth as it accelerates to the end of the line.