One more time....with feeling! (A repeat from a few weeks ago, but worth noting...)

Lately I have been extremely interested in Greg Mortenson's programs: Pennies for Peace and the Central Asia Institute.

The Central Asia Institute (http://www.ikat.org/) has a mission statement of:
"To promote and provide community-based education and literacy programs,
especially for girls, in remote mountain regions of Central Asia."

The CAI seems to be interested in something which I am completely passionate about: Mountain cultures. More specifically, I am so interested in how topography effects the development of culture, especially in mountainous regions. Mortenson also started another organization called Pennies for Peace.

Below is an excerpt from Pennies for Peace (http://www.penniesforpeace.org/home.html):

...to Pennies for Peace, a program of Central Asia Institute (CAI).

Pennies for Peace educates American children about the world beyond their experience and shows them that they can make a positive impact on a global scale, one penny at a time.

Our best hope for a peaceful and prosperous world lies in the education of all the world’s children. Through cross-cultural understanding and a solution-oriented approach, Pennies for Peace encourages American children, ultimately our future leaders, to be active participants in the creation of global peace.

To participate in the Pennies for Peace program, please start by completing the registration form and returning it to Pennies for Peace. Feel free to contact us anytime for more information.

What is the Power of a Penny?

The penny, 1% of a dollar, is symbolic of the '1% of Gross Domestic Product' goal set by the United Nations. The goal was for wealthy countries to give foreign aid to impoverished nations each year.

Pennies for Peace teaches children the rewards of sharing and working together to bring hope and educational opportunities to children in Pakistan and Afghanistan. A penny in the United States is virtually worthless, but in Pakistan and Afghanistan a penny buys a pencil and opens the door to literacy.

Please join us in Pennies for Peace!

These two programs seem to be contributing towards/highlighting positive change in Asia. Funny thing, I was cleaning out my cabin at NCOBS for the season a few weeks ago and I kept finding all of these spare pennies. I thought to myself: "I should look in to starting a NPO called 'Pennies for Peace,' I wonder if that name is taken?" So I hopped online, and within minutes I had discovered that the name was already taken. A few seconds after that, I thought "Right on, someone beat me to the punch- and what an amazing 'punch' this really is, how can I contribute?"

So, I am still thinking about all of this. I hope that our future generations of American (United States, Canadian, Mexican, Central and South American) children will all have positive/healthy opportunities to learn more about the importance of these eastern cultures and about their own cultures, and how these different groups may interact to be allies for one another, instead of adversaries. Just a thought...

At any rate, I just ordered 3 Cups of Tea, written by Mortenson. It is supposedly a chronicle of how these programs came about and sheds light on the man who is Greg Mortenson. If anyone else has read this book already, please feel free to leave a comment or two about your impressions of the book, the organizations- anything that can help you and me learn about how we, as one of the most privileged countries in the world can be a serious and genuine ally for everyone.

____________________________________________________________________

I am also really interested in this book simply for its references to K2 - the second highest (and often considered the deadliest) peak on our planet earth.

Information about K2& the Karakoram Mountains:

k2climb.net

Wikipedia Karakoram information

Karakoram essays, photos and resources

A link to Google Images search of Karakoram


It's my big brother's birthday today! WooHoo! Happy Birthday Aaron! He turns 31 today...
I am so blessed and happy to be in Seattle to help him celebrate!
Likewise, as my west coast visit for 2007 draws to an end, I am excited to see my friends and family back on the east coast. I look forward to some quality catch up time with folks, climbing, and preparing for a season with NCOBS in the Florida Everglades...

Big Hugs,


Kevin

A Nor'easter, eh?

Special Thanks to Adam Pellillo for this beautiful photo of the Cheat River, taken from Snake Hill.

Wow -- ice storms, heavy winds, snow, sleet, slick roads, "buy your milk and eggs,"... What is to come of this "wintry mix"? I hope that you and yours will take measures to protect yourselves throughout the country, wherever you are- be it Vermont, new Hampshire, New York, Pennsylvania, The rest of New England, the mid-Atlantic... I mean EVERYWHERE!

Very chilly weather comes down, as spirits go up...for some faiths and creeds the winter festivities have already begun! I wish and pray for you the happiest togetherness, times for reflection, peace, and celebration!

I will be staying put in Virginia to be with family for Christmas. I am so excited to have many a great book to dive into this winter... I am currently reading:

http://www.elschools.org/publications/KurtHahnSchools.gif

http://www.ccra.net/covers/cover.cfm?isbn=0872203263



http://www.sharpendbooks.com/images/covers/wway.jpg


After these, I will attempt to tackle:

http://content.answers.com/main/content/wp/en/thumb/e/e8/180px-Way_of_the_Peaceful.jpg

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/images/0684836319/ref=dp_otherviews_0/002-3768890-5141655?ie=UTF8&s=books&img=0



http://www.ccsf.edu/Library/exhibits/three_cupscover.jpg

All the while, I hope to be practicing:


http://www.etsu.edu/math/gardner/1710/sullivan7a.jpg

AND...


http://www.get-hiking.com/images/mountaineering.jpg

Anyway, these are my reading/academic goals right now, other than studying to re-take the GRE, and eventually apply to grad schools down the road...

UNH?
Mankato?
I dunno..... the options are endless.....

To all of you who are with loved ones during these winter holidays- be safe, be merry, celebrate. Breath is life.

So be it,


Kshon


p.s. What is new with you? Let a guy know...

Round and round and round it goes, where it stops? ...

As of Saturday evening, I am back in Manassas, Virginia...

I look forward to seeing folks back home and along the eastern seaboard-- I had planned one final road trip to New England, but unfortunately, I think this might now be out of the question...for now.

This winter holiday season will be relaxed for me I think: Staying with my folks, visiting with friends, a bit of training, climbing, and preparing myself for a winter season in the Everglades of Florida with North Carolina Outward Bound. I will be leading Canoeing (possibly sea kayaking , but not as likely?) courses in the 10,000 Islands outside of Everglades City -- and I excitedly anticipate being able to see all of my friends who will be down there...

So, a shout out goes to Jarod and Joanna, as they are most likely embarking on a joint adventure through life that will lead them first to Montana - home of beautiful country side, The Depot (my favorite restaurant in Missoula), Conrad Anker, and Greg Mortenson.
This is great for so many reasons! Just to name a few:

1) Climbing rules! There is certainly plenty of it on those hills, and I am excited to get out and visit, climb, and adventure with two of my best friends...
2) Conrad started the Khumbu Climbing School to educate Sherpas bound for the big peaks how to stay safe* in the Himalaya, and Greg started Pennies for Peace and the Central Asia Institute- both organizations for which I am passionate. It would be neat to catch up with both such figures and fetch more ideas for a school that Joanna, Jarod and myself are excited to open one day.
3) I love the mountains
4)Big Sky
5)Backcountry
6) Fly fishing
7)Adventure with friends.

As I consider the plans of my future, I see visions of Grad School (Outdoor/Experiential Learning), potentially PhD work (focusing on mountain cultures? Perhaps?). I also see in the more immediate future, more focus on climbing, going higher, going colder, getting crampons and axes and seeing what Daumal is exactly talking about... The hills and cliffs of our beautiful world are calling... they also demand immense respect. I am excited to pay that respect.

This planet is beautiful. Its people are beautiful. I pray for the day that we (the people) and it (the land) will be completely sustainable with our symbiosis. I also will commit to educating the future, and the present about the past, and the choices we have to make about the history that is not yet written... so that the dimension of People to People can be pursued with love, compassion, moral courage, and tenacity towards Peace and sustainability for all...

Children run this world.

Why do we (in the most universal, collective sense) seem to generate scenarios where the children need to run from this world?

Call me idealist. Call me what you will. Let us use our will to do what we will, and to empower the children to discover a will of their individual own so that they might be able to pick up the pieces of our mothers and fathers, and place them like pieces in the puzzle of life. May the children figure out the solution to the jumbled mess that is our present presence, and, like a present, they will present the gift of peace, if we will only give them room to breathe it so...





Big Hugs,



Kshon


Blast from the past:
Me at ADV WV, second year - 2004

*safe being a relative term. As we know, in nearly everything we do, there is inherent risk and danger...nothing is truly safe.

A Quote For the Mountain Seekers...

"You cannot stay on the summit forever; you have to come down again. So why bother in the first place? Just this: What is above knows what is below, but what is below does not know what is above. One climbs, one sees. One descends, one sees no longer, but one has seen. There is an art of conducting oneself in the lower regions by the memory of what one saw higher up. When one can no longer see, one can at least still know." Rene Daumal



p.s. Check out the new videos I added... BBC World News, some footage of Greg Mortenson, and ... (drumroll please) ... a REALLY neat organization called "Friends Without Borders" (site)

--Goodnight Moon

Central Asia Institute, Pennies for Peace

Lately I have been extremely interested in Greg Mortenson's programs: Pennies for Peace and the Central Asia Institute.

The Central Asia Institute (http://www.ikat.org/) has a mission statement of:
"To promote and provide community-based education and literacy programs,
especially for girls, in remote mountain regions of Central Asia."

The CAI seems to be interested in something which I am completely passionate about: Mountain cultures. More specifically, I am so interested in how topography effects the development of culture, especially in mountainous regions. Mortenson also started another organization called Pennies for Peace.

Below is an excerpt from Pennies for Peace (http://www.penniesforpeace.org/home.html):

...to Pennies for Peace, a program of Central Asia Institute (CAI).

Pennies for Peace educates American children about the world beyond their experience and shows them that they can make a positive impact on a global scale, one penny at a time.

Our best hope for a peaceful and prosperous world lies in the education of all the world’s children. Through cross-cultural understanding and a solution-oriented approach, Pennies for Peace encourages American children, ultimately our future leaders, to be active participants in the creation of global peace.

To participate in the Pennies for Peace program, please start by completing the registration form and returning it to Pennies for Peace. Feel free to contact us anytime for more information.

What is the Power of a Penny?

The penny, 1% of a dollar, is symbolic of the '1% of Gross Domestic Product' goal set by the United Nations. The goal was for wealthy countries to give foreign aid to impoverished nations each year.

Pennies for Peace teaches children the rewards of sharing and working together to bring hope and educational opportunities to children in Pakistan and Afghanistan. A penny in the United States is virtually worthless, but in Pakistan and Afghanistan a penny buys a pencil and opens the door to literacy.

Please join us in Pennies for Peace!

These two programs seem to be contributing towards/highlighting positive change in Asia. Funny thing, I was cleaning out my cabin at NCOBS for the season a few weeks ago and I kept finding all of these spare pennies. I thought to myself: "I should look in to starting a NPO called 'Pennies for Peace,' I wonder if that name is taken?" So I hopped online, and within minutes I had discovered that the name was already taken. A few seconds after that, I thought "Right on, someone beat me to the punch- and what an amazing 'punch' this really is, how can I contribute?"

So, I am still thinking about all of this. I hope that our future generations of American (United States, Canadian, Mexican, Central and South American) children will all have positive/healthy opportunities to learn more about the importance of these eastern cultures and about their own cultures, and how these different groups may interact to be allies for one another, instead of adversaries. Just a thought...

At any rate, I just ordered 3 Cups of Tea, written by Mortenson. It is supposedly a chronicle of how these programs came about and sheds light on the man who is Greg Mortenson. If anyone else has read this book already, please feel free to leave a comment or two about your impressions of the book, the organizations- anything that can help you and me learn about how we, as one of the most privileged countries in the world can be a serious and genuine ally for everyone.

____________________________________________________________________

I am also really interested in this book simply for its references to K2 - the second highest (and often considered the deadliest) peak on our planet earth.

Information about K2& the Karakoram Mountains:

k2climb.net

Wikipedia Karakoram information

Karakoram essays, photos and resources

A link to Google Images search of Karakoram


It's my big brother's birthday today! WooHoo! Happy Birthday Aaron! He turns 31 today...
I am so blessed and happy to be in Seattle to help him celebrate!
Likewise, as my west coast visit for 2007 draws to an end, I am excited to see my friends and family back on the east coast. I look forward to some quality catch up time with folks, climbing, and preparing for a season with NCOBS in the Florida Everglades...

Big Hugs,


Kevin

The Great Northwest

After climbing at Red Rocks for 5 days, I have since travelled to Seattle for a week, Vancouver for 4 days, and I am now back in Seattle for another week. I have been staying with my brother and sister-in-law and having a great time!
While in Vancouver I visited with my good friend Amelia. She is finishing grad school at UBC...We rode bikes all over the place: Stanely Park, Downtown, Eastside, and Westside. We also had some great sushi and... wait for it...... wait for it............. BANFF FILM FESTIVAL!
It is now raining/snowing/sleeting in Seattle and I am excited for the potential for skiing, climbing, and other outside fun. Drop me a line folks, what's going on in the world for you?


photo taken from: www.adventurewv.wvu.edu
-Kev

Westbound...

Folks,


Hi, and "Whhhhhhhhew..." I come to you with greetings and an attempt to catch my breath. I breathe deep after finishing a long season at NCOBS. We had our 40th anniversary party at Table Rock and Gala in Charlotte; TR is safely closed down for the winter season.

I fly tomorrow to Las Vegas and begin a week long climbing trip at Red Rocks canyon.
After that I fly to Seattle, Washington to spend two weeks with my brother and sister-in-law.
For the month of December, I will be road tripping a bit up to Vermont, NYC, and the greater Boston area.

I am really excited for my buddy Sam to come back from Iraq. I pray for his safe return...

Not too much more for now... but will write more from the road, er, our west.

Miss you all,


Kev

Kshon update: Lightning round!

AKA: Real quick, WML (Write More Later).


Ready................................................. go:


Just finished my first full summer/fall season at NCOBS! WOO!!!
Jam Crew is a strong band of friends from NCOBS and I miss them a whole lot:Represent WHAT?!
AORE conference coming up....
Riding my bike with Lucas and Katelyn along the C&O Canal !
In Morgantown for a few days.... hung out wth Molly Chamberlain (yay she cooked pasta!)
Played soccer tonight ("interesting...")
Climbing hard and yeah... living life

Upcoming:

Red Rocks climbing for Thanksgiving
Seattle for the time after until my bro's birthday
Morgantown for December? I dunno!
January: Florida Everglades with NCOBS


Much Love,

Kev

Hello out there from NCOBS land!!!

Well, I have my fall/winter schedule. For those interested please remember that my schedule is due to change- I have about 20 days before I need to confirm this schedule. if you would like to do something with me, I would love to! But, we should start making plans soon so I can make it work with my schedule :) and yours :) :)

Okay so here goes....

Episcopal: 8/21-8/27

Blue Ridge School: 9/13-9/18

Cannon School: 9/23-9/28

Woodberry: 10/4-10/10

Saint Phillips: 10/13-10/19

Florida New Staff Training: 1/4-1/11

Ransom I: 1/13-1/19

Ransom II: 1/20-1/26

Savannah: 2/2-2/8

Berkeley Prep Leadership: 2/13-2/19

Support Staff: 2/22-2/19

Canterbury: 3/1-3/7

Palmer Trinity: 3/10-3/16


A Calendar will soon follow (for all of us visual processors out there!)

These dates are liable to change.... but .... the sooner I confirm them, the less likely they are to change for me.

I miss you all very much. I am realizing how important you all are to me by not being able to be in proper touch (I live in the woods!!!!)... so I would love to see you.

I have a lot of work offered to me- which is a blessing. This is a really good sign... I am honored with this job and with this amount of work- but I am equally honored to have you in my life.

I can not stress enough... IF YOU WANT TO GET TOGETHER- please let me know :)



Quick daily update:

Yesterday- Zach and I ran 7 miles after bouldering for the afternoon, then we blew a tire on a company truck on accident (a low lying rusted old pole was barely peeking out of the ground and snagged the side wall- pretty hard to see in any case)...

Woowoo

Today- Zach and I went sport climbing at Hawk's Bill Mountain- a beautiful area... we pulled hard and I am now really tired.

Tomorrow: Old Crow medicine show in Boone- need I say more?



Miss you all,




Kevsky Shonovich

Greetings from North Carolina!

Wow...

My how the time has passed: Colorado, NYC, Vermont, Joanna's Graduation, Saying "Goodbye" to Carly for the summer, and NCOBS. Life is certainly busy for the Kevster, but somehow I am managing to hold on. In fact, I am holding on not due to any one action of my own accord; I am holding on because you are here in my life and for this I am thankful. You see, I am missing my dear friends dearly- I have been living in the woods nearly the entire summer and it just hit me the other day how much I actually miss all of you~ !!!

Okay, I think a quick update is in store for everyone...

After returning home from Colorado I attended a conference in upstate New York (an AEE conference). After this I cruised down to the big city and spent four lovely days with Aspen Enjoli Fitzgerald-Dorsey and Ginny Yang: Two of the most beautiful women possessing some of the most hospitable hearts that I know... To be honest? The NYC was kind of intimidating- after three long months in the vast valley bottoms of Western Colorado the skyscrapers, flashing lights and "rat race" was more than apparent.

Whew- what a mouth full... After NYC I drove north to visit my good friend Jarod Waite outside of Burlington, Vermont. I was recertifying my Wilderness First Responder and St. Michael's College (where Jarod was a graduate student) was the only course on the entire east coast that matched ,y personal schedule. After this craziness of New England travel I headed south to visit Maggi Chamberlain (one of the world's coolest/amazing/inspiring women!!) in Newark, "Dela-where?" and then on to Manassas for a quick visit with the folks and then it was down to Radford for nine unforgettable days with Joanna Lilley (I LOVE THAT GIRL!!!) Joanna is like the amazing sister that I never had: She loves the outdoors, she is beautiful, intelligent, knows what she wants, is a doer and the list goes on and on- I am honored to have her as one of my bestest friends! So what did we do for nine days?

We drove to North Cacalaka and attended Merlefest and awesome bluegrass festival in Wilkesboro, then we travelled around the Pisgah area in search for NCOBS base camp and Carly Ferguson. It was so great to meet up with Carly for a while and it was so great for the three of us to have some true quality time! Then it was back to Radford for Joanna's graduation!!!!!!!!! I helped her move her things into a place for storage and then went to the ceremony.... sadly enough I then had to leave her for oneof the happiest/accomplished moments of my life thus far- I was driving to Morganton, NC to begin my job with the North Carolina Outward Bound School!

Gosh- so here I am. At Table Rock Base camp, updating my blog for the first time in months... It has been a crazy ride since May 8th, and I know my life will never be the same because of this place. I went through a two week immersion familiarizing me with Outward Bound during New Staff Training and I am now a new member of the NCOBS family. I have led two courses so far and they have been life changingly-positive for me. I am learning so much about myself, others, and the world around me. Our base camp has survived treacherous wildland fires that threatened to burn our base to the ground as a hot spot jumped a fire break only three miles down hill from where are are situated. I have sen Carly a few times since beginning with NCOBS and currently Zach Mauss is in our staff library to my left, reading some deep philisophical literature (Gary Larson). I am so glad that Zach is here- he was in Israel for an entire year and I have not seen him since his college graduation from WVU more than a year ago. Nothing has changed but nothing remains the same for he and I but one thing is for sure- true friends stay true friends even though they are miles and miles apart :)

I had an epiphany the other day. I realied how much I miss my loved ones and how I yearn to talk with, write to and visit everyone that I cherish so much! It has been a real challenge to become at all organized so that I may stay in more consistent touch. Believe me, please- once I get a system going that will set me up for success I will be writing, calling, and visiting much more often! The Chamberlain clans, My own folks, Carly, the Fergusons of course, the WVU crew, the Extraordinary League of Adventurers, Adventure WV peeps, friends from High School and the like- basically, I MISS YOU.

I am committed to my job and committed to making a difference here and elsewhere in the world. However, I am also committed to making a difference in my own world- with the peoiple and places that I love. I want to apologize for being out of touch- the woods tend to aid in that process (read: Walden, Henry David Thoreau). I am making an attempt to balance my life between the educative benefits of the wilderness as well as my educational profession thereof and the people in my personal life of whom are truly a priority of love, comfort, understanding and true significance as to who I am.

I love you all. I want and need to show you that. I will. :)

But I digress- NCOBS is great, I will be working mountain courses this fall in the Pisgah National Forest and will be running some winter courses down in the everglades during January, February and March! This will be a really need chance to see a different NCOBS course area and learn a lot along the way.

Carly is well but is looking for work where she can and hopes to find a satisfying job real soon. Please send your thoughts and prayers for her. Also please always send your thoughts and prayers for one of my best friends Sam Chamberlain and his entire family. He is in Iraq and puts his life on the line everyday for our safety... I miss him, his wife, and his entire family in Virginia. May our hearts be with him and his men as they try to hash out this middle-east conflict thing...

I hope you like the pictures below of Zach and I on a hike to the summit of Table Rock mountain taken earlier today... You all are welcome to visit me ANYTIME!!!

Shalom,

Kshon

My Time In The Big Apple: Building, Cops, Bites, and Rock Shows!

Well Helllllo,

It's been a while since my last posting, and let me tell you- a whole lot has happened.

I have left Clark, Colorado. Carly flew out and rode back with me- which was amazing and so good for us. When we arrived in the east we stopped in Maryland for a bit to visit her parents- I love them! It was then on to Morgantown to see our peoples and to view the Banff Mountain Film Festival... Back to Maryland then onto Virginia to be reunited with my family!

MY BROTHER FLEW IN FROM SEATTLE FOR MY DAD'S BIRTHDAY!!!

It was great! We celebrated in a classic Shon way- we sat around and just spent time together, no big celebration, just enjoyed the observation of my Dad's gift of life...

Then I had to jam back to Motown to join my Adventure West Virginia peoples for the Co-Regional AEE conference in Claryville New York. It was so great to see Greg, Forrest, and the entire Adventure Crew. I also saw Joanna Lilley! I HEART HER! She and I won a trip to go onto Keith King's Schooner in the fall, and we are sooooo pumped about it!

I was able to present two workshops on integrating Environmental Interpretation into a freshmen orientation program and the OOPS! Symposium was so great also! Brent Bell has really started something good.... it is great to see the OOPS! torch being carried from year to year. Next year's symposium will be in Asheville, NC at the AORE conference. I AM SO EXCITED TO BE IN THE AREA FOR THIS EVENT! I had a great time...

So ANYWAY... About the Big Apple- right? p.s. did you notice my interpretive thematic title about NYC? Catchy :) Catchy...

So... I came to NYC en route to recertify my WFR in Burlington Vermont. I didn't want to drive back to Virginia and then back up to Vermont and i have several friends in the city. It makes sense to come here.

On this visit I am only able to see my two beloved friends Aspen and Ginny. Aspen is a grad student at Columbia University studying film, Ginny works for Spin Magazine as a free lance writer, but her full time gig is working for MTV in their Digital department. YAY!
So... I am currently writing this blog from a New York Apartment in Harlem where Aspen lives, where as Ginny lives in the Neighborhood near Greenwhich Village.

First of all...

I am leveled to know that the Virginia Tech mass slayings were committed by a guy from Centreville, VA- the town next to Manassas- where I grew up! I am still very attached to Virginia and I found out about the tragedy from Aspens Apartment. Well... Columbia had its own fair share of problems too...

A man captured a girl at her apartment, took her upstairs, raped her and tortured her from 9p.m. until 4 a.m., tied her up, and set her apartment on fire. She managed to escape, and is alive, but so is he. He is running the streets of New York somewhere and the police said that even the drug dealers (or "corner boys" as they called them), want him. This was really looked down upon even in the criminal community. How did I find out about this?

Well... Here's the deal...

Aspen had an apple computer and a part on it broke. Her CD player had a bad component, so she sent it in using her "applecare" warranty thing. Long story short, Apple says "Oh, the part won't be in for a month, have a free brand new I Book." Aspen replies "Okay I'll take it!" We take the subway to the Apple store- which is underground, however, to enter the store you must approach this 60 foot glass cube with a front door and a giant apple symbol on its frontwall.
It looks like a clear giant cube from afar, and it has posted security all around the cube peering into the store from above... kind of a neat environment that they have created. But I digress...

So, Aspen gets her IBook but she doesn't want to take it on the subway or train, because it was about 10:30 p.m. when we piked it up- the store is open 24 hours, and that says "PLEASE ROB ME OF MY NEW IBOOK!." So, we walked to my vehicle that I needed to move because of street sweeping anyway, and I drove her to her apt. where she would deposit her computer, get back in my car, and we would drive to a parking spot and ride the subway train back to her place. Great plan!

While I am waiting for Aspen to return to my car from running upstairs, I am sitting there with her roommate in the back passenger seat, Padmini. As I am talking with Padmini, I see two flashlights approaching me from the back of my vehicle. "Shit. What did I do?!" I think to my self. I didn't do anything- I was double parked, but everyone does that here.

It turns out they wanted to run my plates and such to check on any suspicious activity. Having Virginia plates, an a green 4runner packed to the brim, I made for an enticing q&a with the boys in blue. While they were running my plates, about three other cops came around to my driver's side window just make conversation... They were actually very cool with me.

I was respectful and acknowledging of their authority, and they treated me like a real person. We talked about backpacking, telemark skiing, and that one of the officers went to school in Baltimore at Howard. Very cool. They also were patrolling to inform everyone that a 6-foot tall bald man with a goatee was at large, showed us a sketch, and let us know how serious it was. They said "If you see a stranger matching this description in you're lobby, let us know... If you see him at your apartment door waiting for you? Beat town... run... call us."

So it was pretty alarming..... This guy, to my knowledge is still at large.


That's where buildings, bites (as in megabites), and cops come to make part of my NYC experience. But wait! THERE'S MORE!

Ginny, the lil' MTV staffer that she is took us to a CD-release party for some rock band that is up & coming in the city. Aspen and I felt pretty darn cool to be around such an event- we had a few drinks, listened to some pretty cool music, and we headed out around 2 a.m. when a lesser known band played their music (which was after the CD of the release party band had been played through). We left. The band that was actually playing live wasn't so good. They had promise to be a really good rock set, but then it quickly diminished to high school antics on stage. Poor form guys! They did have an awesome violin player though :) She could rock out harder than any other violinist I have ever seen in such a context of he rock genre.

ANYWAY... so that was fun. We are going to see the CD release party band tonight in Brooklyn for, like, 12 dollars or something. I am excited. Their CD was pretty good :)

After I head out from the big apple (and I'm not talkin' sizely computers here people), I am going to stay with my friend Jarod in Burlington, where I will recertify my WFR at St. Michael's college.

I think that is all for now- this was a long one that really only scratched the surface of everything. I would love to sit down over a cup of tea and share with you more on the Adventures of Kev.

After this entry, I will only have to share about the WFR and leaving for NCOBS which I will do in May. We'll see what other adventures happen along the way...

See you on the other side,


Kev

So...

My Morning Jacket still ROCKS.







Just thought I'd let you know....



7 days until I lave Clark, Colorado to head east for a month of craziness.
WFR recert, AEE conference, Merlefest, Backpacking in Pisgah (or the Smokies), then off to North Carolina!! OW OW!!!!


Miss you all,




Kevin


Fishing in the Trail River with my buddy Sam, Kenai Peninsula.
p.s. 1st Lieutenant Samuel Cain Chamberlain is home on leave from Iraq for two weeks!
AMEN!

My summer schedule

Family, Friends,

With the help of a guy I know... let's just call him... DD for now, (Okay it's Dave Denny- you found me out! you got me!) I figured out how to upload calendars as images. Not that it is exactly rocket science to change a word document to PDF to jpeg... but it was he who suggested it. But I digress...

Below is my entire summer schedule, which is of course entirely subject to change...
Please, click each month to enlarge the calendar in another window.

kevin.shon@gmail.com

My Morning Jacket...

Dude.

So, last night, I go to our local watering hole "The White Bison Pub" with some of the cook staff from the ranch... One of the Chefs, who does a lot of our baking, "Pastry Chef" if you will, requests for Phil, one of the Bison owners, to play his (Paul's) DVD of a My Morning Jacket live concert.

WOW.

Man... I mean, these guys... ARE AWESOME.

Now, many of you who know me hopefully know that, although we are all slaves to trends and fashions, etc. ... I really don't feel too much pressure from "the industry," or, from some external source to take on the current/latest fad...

I guess the only reason I really mention this is because My Morning Jacket seems kind of passe...Well, not passe, but, they got all of the radio play about two years ago.... they kind of burst on to the scene from nowhere... Their initial flare has not died off, I guess I am just trying to say I felt no pressure to run out and buy their album before- when it was the newest, hottest, must have thing.

BUT- WOW. After watching that DVD? Those guys OWN the stage. They are in control of what you experience...and I'd like to think that is art, or at least a certain approach to the arts. To have that mastery of one's tools is truly.... "proficient"!

Anyway- one of my chef friends just told me that I am "opinionated". I think he's right, but I certainly don't want that to offend anyone. I think, if we carry the thought process out enough, especially in a reflective way, we are all opinionated... I mean, critical thinking requires weighing A against B, testing the differences, etc. and drawing conclusions as a result.

I guess knowing when to conclude those results is key- some people aren't interested in YOUR conclusions? I dunno....


But really, the only thing I can seem to conclude for this entry is that My Morning Jacket rocks.
I wish I had jumped on the band wagon earlier- maybe I would have enjoyed my MMJ experience earlier on? I don't mind being a listener in their controlled environment...

:)

2 weeks until I load up my life in the big green 4Runner and head east.... Climb on!



Kev

An ode to Steamboat: Mt. Werner, Part Duex aka "How I learned to love the 80's gor-tex fully body ski suit..."

****DISCLAIMER: The following blog post is laden with sarcasm. This is probably the most sarcastic blog I will ever write. Be assured, the sarcasm is only temporary, necessary, and pretty intense...You have been warned.****


SO,

Let me ask you a riddle: What do Colorado, full-body 80's gor-tex ski suits, texas, Steamboat Springs, Mt. Werner Ski hill, Me, tele skiing, human zoos, idiot lift operators, and my buddy Tercel all have in common?

Having trouble? I'll give you a hint: My second time at Mt. Werner, which was today.


COME ON!!!!!!!!!!! I am not talking about normal ski suits people! I am talking neon turquoise, purple, yellow, red, (with a floral design on the shoulders for the ladies) full up suits filled by people who are SOOOOO observant that they ski right on top of you!!!

Whew... I feel (a little) better... Had to get that out there.

I am sorry, allow me to explain my background and situation. I also fully admit my unabashed ignorance for this one blog. Normally, I am a really nice, affirming, positive guy. Today? I use just one little blog to discuss some culture shock I face when at ski resorts...but I digress.... back to my background...


See, I downhill skied, like, three times as a kid... at resorts yes, but since then? I have only experienced backcountry beauty. I am talking fresh turns in chest deep powder, no lifts, free (except for federal taxes for nat. Forest Land), quiet, pristine nature, on my own, quiet, on my own, quiet, on my own, and QUIET!

I am used to having a total "flow" experience (Dr. C would be so proud!), in the out-of-doors of North Routt County, Colorado. Today was my second time at Mt. Werner, the most prominent, popular, and over-populated ski hill outside of Steamboat, Colorado. Please, keep in mind I fully understand that I contribute to that "over-population"...anyway....

So, honestly? The whole full body ski suit thing? I think it's passe, but I really don't mind it. Shoot. In so many ways? I am passe... What DOES ABSOLUTELY AMAZE ME is how other people are unaware of their surroundings, or at leas,t their total disregard for shared space? Is that the way to put it?

What I mean, and here is where total ignorance comes in... I promise- the one time I will ever really vent in an ignorant, blanket-statemented way... is the people who yell across a mountain-top restaruant at the ski hill "HEEEEYYY BILL!!!!!! HEYYYYYYYYYYY BILL!!!!!!!!!
HAVE YA SEEN KENNY?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!" People who think that they are the only ones existing on the mountain. TOO MANY PEOPLE!!!!

Sorry, I am going off on a slight tangent here- not that I am well known for my tangents or anything....

So... I find there are a lot of Texans here. Totally cool... no worries there- but some of them, not all, like to shout in the thickest of accents from one ski lift to another- or from the top of one run all the way down to the base..... ANNOYING!!!!!! They basically have personalities as big as their home state- which is beautiful in a way...


But... still, this pales in comparison, as I said, I am a pretty understanding, patient, (dare I say compassionate) guy. BUTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT

BUT!!!!!
The one thing I CANNOT - CANNOT STANDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD
Is when people are so oblivious to anyone else's presence but their own that they will snowboard right over you, ski into you, or stop right in the middle of the run, 15 feet in front of you!!!!!!!!! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I grew up outside of Washington, D.C. Therefore, I naturally am a defensive driver. I am always looking out for the one who will accidently- "oops so sorry!" side swipe you, t-bone you at a red light, swirve and knock YOU into oncoming traffic. I am a pretty good driver. I must say- I can drive in what I call "the school of fish effect." Rush Hour- I-95? I think you get my point.

ON SKIS?!?!??! None of that matters. You ARE at the mercy of others. Your safety DOES depend on the lack of responsibility of a beginning skier with their head in the clouds.

"OH!!! He is bashing beginners!!! BOOOOO!!!!" Wrong.
I am a beginner. I stink. I couldn't catch the edge of my ski if it were a spring guppy bitin' on bologna!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am NOT GOOD at downhill skiing- there, i said it! I admit it....

But- I am very conscious. I take care when around others. I respect peoples' space. It drives me NUTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! When people do not possess the capacity to do the same.
People WILL RUN YOU OVER.

"Waiter, back country please?"
...
"oh, all out? Only rat race ski slopes for the next 5 hours?"
...

"well, thanks anyway, I think I'll check across the street at that other new restaraunt? You know, the one called 'Chez not-this-skiresort'?"
GEEZE!!!!!! O' CRIMENY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


I have almost been anihilated many times at the mercy of somebody sailing at least 75 mph in my direction. ..... Whew......

Wow- this is getting long.
I have one last complaint...and I promise- the disclaimer from the beginning will be null and void :)SO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WHAT THE HELL!!!!!!!!?!?!?!?!?!??!

I am getting on a charlift today, and the operator gives it a hard shove on purpose, right into my bum....... I could tell by his smirk and the three groups of people that he did it to ahead of me.
THANKS ASSHOLE!!!!

You know what happened as a result?!

My poles got stuck on the "wait here to load" rubber sign in the ground, I lost grip, they flicked out in between my skis, I caught not one but TWO edges sideways and almost fell off the lift.... BUT I DIDN'T!

You know what I got to show for it though?!
A nice HUGE GOUGE right into the base of my brand new Black Diamond Havocs with O2 Tele bindings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WHAT A FRIGGIN' JERKFACE!!!!!!!
he didn't have to do that- but he did anyway, and then his only response?!
"Oh...hey buddy...here are your poles, I'll send 'em up with the next guy....."
WHAT?!?!?!?!??!?!?!

So, my biggest PET PEEVE???????????!!!!!!!! it is when I perceive people as being TOTALLY UNREASONABLE.
Why would you EVER push a chairlift into someone just to joke around?!
Why would you NEVER claim responsibility for damaging someone's skis?
Why would I ever want to go back?!?!?!

Now... I am not bashing Mount Werner.... but there is one guy who needs a professionalism check. All those evil-kanevil speed skiers without a clue need a responsibility check.
Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, I need to relax.
Okay. I feel better.

I am sure, in their own minds, they have a perfectly good explanation for their actions that I am failing to understand. (This is me cooled off.... chilling out and getting over it.)
So I apologize for teasing about loud Texans who take the Colorado ski resorts (and highway systems) by storm, they are actually a big-hearted fun-loving bunch of folks.
I was also just teasing about full-body 80's gor-tex ski suits. I mean, if I owned one in tiger stripes with rhinestone sequenz on it? I would probably rock the HECK out of that thing, but I don't :(

And, yes, I lost my tempter about oblivious speed-demon "ski patrol training sessions waiting to happen"skiers who fail to use safe skiing practices. Sorry.
I almost feel bad about bashing the ski lift operator, if my skis weren't so expensive.... but hey- I can always fix skis... I can't really afford to fix me right now if something REALLY BAD happened... So it could be worse...

ANYWAY- I just wanted to put it all out there that when people don't exercise saftey-conciousness, or at least people who are unble to widen their lense to view "community" to mean others around them, even if on skis...... it ticks me off- because in my opinion, that is unreasonable. Am I being unreasonable? Maybe a little flippant- but then again, you were fairly warned :) (Woulda been nice for senor lifty to warn me before swiping a lift into my gluteus at a high impact speed).
BUT- There is a silver lining!! (as always) :)

In the beginning, I mentioned my buddy Tercel. He is an amazing chef here at the ranch. He is also an awesome surfer (resume includes shredding in Oahu, Australia, and growing up on the Oregon shore), his parents are the former creators of NOLS AFRICA, and he can hold his own on skis...
Well, we are both aspiring Tele-skiers. he skis Black Diamonds. Kevie skis Blue Broomers.
Today, Tercel says in his Hawaiian influenced slang "Hey Kev brah, les' go 'dere to dat backside and ski bumps-yeah?" I said..... "uh..........(oh shoot he means black diamond runs!).....okay :)"
So... we took the secluded lift up to the top of the south face of Mt. Werner (after we skied major bumps down into a bowl to access the lift)... and I thought "okay- not so bad..." until the last 90 vertical feet- VERTICAL FEET...90 of 'em!
I mean, it was like, a 39 degree slope or more, but no way 45, and then I thought "OHHH MAN! Black Diamond time!"

So... I flailed down, fell a bunch, an smiles snow for the next 3 minutes :)
Then it was time to skidaddle, (no pun intended), so we went home, and I wrote this. :)
TA-DA!

Yes... again, I commited the e-sin of rambling on blog.... but I had to vent- and I know many of you out there love me, and care :)
Uh.....okay..... so..... I am gonna go, and try and make the next blog shorter, and more creative :)
Miss you all.... HERE COMES THE EASTCOAST BABY!!!!
2.5 weeks....


Kev

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.......... the sound of relaxation

Cows.Tires.Cajun food.Long afternoon runs. These are the topics of today folks. These are good topics.

I slept in today, enjoying my time off from the ranch.

Upon my waking, I drove to town (Stemboat Springs) to Bob's Conoco- they repaired my tire and checked the others. NO LEAKS :) Conoco- hmmmm...is that who USA has a beef with right now? The whole Venezuela thing? I dunno... but they fixed my tires! Maybe they're an independent franchise... let's just pretend... My friend Steve Cole suggested I go there- he worked there about 15 years ago, and swears by them. If this angers you... you can beat him up :) ...


ANYWAY!


During the tire repair, I mosied on to a New Orleans style Bistro- Sun Pies. Sun Pies is located on Yampa Avenue. My buddy Zach, a chef here at the ranch is from Lafayette, Louisiana and he highly recommended the place. It was GREAT! If you are ever in Steamboat Springs, and this place is still around, GO. I had a great po-boy which really necesitated an afternoon workout...

FASTFORWARD:

Back in Clark, repaired tire, all others good to go. I am now switched in to "running mode": shorts, hat, all that- I go for a nice cruise... only about 2.5 to 3 miles, but for a "flat lander" starting my running routine back up after a few months, 2.5 is a good clip for me. I love where I run right now, and I wish you could be here. Country roads, dirt, ranches everywhere...

When I run, I pass our local watering hole, past the firehouse, past the Home Ranch, hang a right at the Clark Store (the only gas station in 15 miles/general store), past the local Charter School (more on that later), and all the way to past the Stranahan's house to the Gravel Pit.
The Stranahans own the Home Ranch, and 98% of Clark, thought knowing that would help...

The coolest part of my whole run is the cows and horses lining both sides of the road. Some of them look at me in awe, some in apprehension, some are not sure if they should join me or not...

I talk to them. Mostly just like you would talk to a puppy: "Hi!...c'mon, let's run!" stuff like that. Does that sound weird? I don't think so... I mean they are actually pretty cute, baby cows, families of horses are trying to comprehend just what this running object is, and why it is doing that.


So, needless to say, it was another good day in Clark. I leave soon. I'll miss this enchanted land, but am excited to return home, start the next chapter, and cruise on..... More Adventure around the corner!!


One love,


Kev


p.s. hope this story was less "rambly," I could have put in a lot more vivid succulent detail, but I am tired from my run :)

"Spring Ahead": AKA Daylight Cravings Time....

The sun is out here in beautiful Clark, Colorado. With partly cloudy skies, I had a quick ski lesson with some folks today, went for an afternoon snowshoe with a couple, and then went home! All of our guests showed up an hour late to breakfast because they didn't realize the time change....

I only have 11 days of work left, spread over three weeks. It is still light out at 6:30 p.m.- so awesome. That's all for now... Not too exciting... Hence, the darkside of the blog: RAMBLING...


More next time,



Kshon



First night with a buzzed haircut-
I have balanced out the tan since, no worries...

Enter music: "Shaking the Tree" by Peter Gabriel....


Those of you that know me, know that I totally love this song, and serves as a partial inspiration for this quick daylight-savings entry...

So, the last entry was dedicated to the wonderful Chamberlains- the Alaska chapter.
Well, this entry is dedicated to a good friend of mine, currently residing in Israel- the Holy Land.
Zachary Christopher Mauss is one of my best buds. He was keen enough to write me a message the other day, so I decided: "Zachy, this one goes out to you bud!"

He is actually the photographer behind the magic of my stream crossing photo above, thus creating the background picture for my blog - DUH!

Well, anyway... He is a great partner in crime when it comes to Adventure, as are many of you- He suggested that when I return to Morgantown I should eat some Black Bear and have a few rogues, in his honor, naturally, and frankly, it's the least I can do. Always trying to be the overdoer when it comes to fulfilling obligations, I mean, I would basically be a bad friend if I didn't follow through.....

Speaking of Adventure, I have a fateful tale for you that happened this night. My 4Runner, shall we call it, GUS? Gus- the big green 4Runner, kind of like Clifford the big red dog, only not as fluffy. Anyway...

Randomly, for the past few weeks, my left front tire has been randomly and unusually low on tire pressure. Well, tonight, I was in charge of hosting dinner at the ranch. This means I dress up ever so slightly, make sure the kitchen runs smoothly, attend to the guests needs, etc. etc.

How does this involve tire pressure? I will answer - have no fear...


Sooooooooooo, I show up to the ranch about 20 minutes early, as I am going to pull my 4Runner into the garage and use our air compressor to fill up my tire. Great. So- I do... uneventful enough- I accidentally fill the tire to 40 lbs. of pressure, I only need 35 lbs. So, I take the nozzle to the compressor and stick it back onto the stem of the tire to release 5 lbs. of pressure. The nozzle gets stuck. Cro-magnon Kevin tugs in the nozzle... nozzle pulls out the entire dry-rotted stem of my tire and before my eyes, I watch in horror as my front left tire breathes it last breaths for the evening...

GREAT.

5 minutes to be hosting dinner and I am standing with a tire stem in my left hand, eyes wide, and in utter shock as my truck sits there. Dead. Lifeless; unable to go anywhere!!!

Screw it.


I walk into the kitchen stressed out as all get out, and the chef;s think it is because this is my first night hosting..... NO NO NO- I explain the situation, they try to calm me down.... no good.....


time passes, I collect my nerves.... eat dinner, entertain.... have a grand time, and then go head to head with the metal beast that is my beloved, stubborn, road-tripping monster: GUS.

It takes me a good 30 minutes to locate all of the correct tools to change my flat and put on my spare. Sheesh. My this time it is easily 10:30 pm, GMT.

Well well well.... so our tire iron in the shop is bent to the left, our hydraulic jack is broken. GREAT! So... if the night couldn't get any better, I decide I should close the garage door. it is only 38 outside (a warm Spring evening), but I get al lil' paranoid in Mountain Lion country, not that they would really mess with me, but why take the risk- plu the door open was distracting me. We all know I am pretty buff and could easily kill an assailing Mtn. Lion with the tooth pick from a boyscout Swiss army knife- but let's not go there, after all, I'm a uniter, not a divider....

But I digress.......


Long story short, I am done, after finding tools, using brute strength to loosen airgun-tight lug nuts, and putting all said tools back in their respective "homes."


Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr....


Well, the event is so ,well.... "eventful" that I wanted to share it. There ya go- typical Kev story, no real point.... just sharing for what it's worth...

All I wanted to do was go home and relax tonight and I had to punish my biceps with car work!!!! But all is good. I checked my e-mail late night, saw a message from Zach, from LEAF, from Amo, and I was excited to share with you my little story. Oh- I had a message from Lindsay too!

Anyway...

I love Clark, but when you know you are returning east for an amazing job, good friends, world-class climbing, and good time, it is sometimes easy to say "sianora" to rural, small-town Clark, Colorado. I love it here, my heart home is among the hills. My heart is in the highlands.
I will miss the "champagne powder" as they have coined the term in this neck of the woods... but that Conquenessing Sandstone calls my name "Kevin... pull hard holmes..."

So, I aim to return east, meet back up with lots of you, climb, conference, recert WFR, and move to Norte-Cakalaka! Which, is Spanish for, North-Cakalaka... in case you were wondering.

Anyway... I leave you with an image of the old beast that is hopefully getting me back to the right-most-coast.

Miss you all, Set those clocks back and enjoy the sunshine!



Love,




Kev



My "mighty steed of steel" and my Cabin. Word.

So... This post is for my good friends Sam and Gretchen. Sam is currently defending our country. Hands down, He is one of my best friends, and his lovely wife- Gretchen has been a good friend for several years now...

Yesterday, working at the ranch, I dropped some guests off at a dogsledding venue. There, they had little puppies- 11 day olds running around in the waiting area-shack thing. The lil' ankle biters were rampant! Chewing on peoples' shoe laces, etc., sleeping one second then puppy-growling the next.

This got me thinking, and so really, I just want to show the cuteness of the Chamberlian's pup- Jasper. He is a Malamud little boy. He is guaranteed to be so much larger than this photo depicts- it was taken in September when I visited Anchorage, Alaska- my second trip to the beautiful land of the last frontier. I guess I could be called "uncle Kev" because I love this little guy as though he were my own- only I don't have to water him, walk him, clean up after him, or anything- I pretty much just get him all riled up and then turn him over to his loving owners- like any good uncle would :)

So anyway... with Spring-like weather here in Clark, I count down my return to Appalachia, family, and more adventures. AEE is coming up in mid-April. I am presenting my first workshop at the regional level and I hope all goes well... I am kind of nervous, but am sure it will all work out in the end. I can't wait for great climbing, homecomings, and NCOBS.

I also recertify my WFR in Burlington, VT in late April- which should be a blast. I am still considering Merlefest.... so.... any takers- let me know!


I miss all of you, and I hope life is good!

Don't forget to smile.....



KEV!


Jasper and Me in the C's backyard, Sept. 2006.

Madness, Sunshine and the roof of my 4Runner

So,

Today I grew a little frustrated because I work a lot and am unable to get much time off. I stuck up for myself and actually will have more than 2 days off this month!!! WOOHOO! I was kind of harboring angst towards the guy who does my schedule, mostly because the month of march is the first time all season he has made one for me :) ... with three weeks of the season to spare.
<----The office

And then...

Today was BEAUTIFUL in North Routt County. A high of 45, sunny, clear skies- totally KAVU. When I left work this afternoon I pulled out the book I am currently reading: Exploring the Power of Solo, Silence, and Solitude, pulled out the Crazy Creek, and hopped up on the roof of my 4Runner and read for about an hour and a half.... ahhhh... just what I needed.

That's right- on the roof of my 4Runner... what a totally sweet place to read a book! Don't tell me you've never seen the world perspective from arriba su auto! It is a neat place to relax, chill, or chillax even. So I hope this blog posting finds you well... and that will be all for now!

Exodus: T-minus three... two...

With three weeks left in Clark, I begin to project how my travels east will be. Will the weather hold out? Will my travels be safe and sound? How will this first major adventure pan out? These questions are raised constantly in my mind.

Savoring every last turn that I am afforded to carve and "dropping a knee" as much as I am able, my escapes to the backcountry offer peace, silence and solitude. Life is good.

I drive away from Clark on April 1st, and will mosey back to West Virginia where I will spend a few days with some of the latest candidates for the Adventure West Virginia leadership crew. I am excited to get back to my Alma Mater, for the (hopefully) warm weather, good climbing, and stellar friends back in the hills.

After attending the co-regional Northeast/Mid-Atlantic AEE conference, I will head to Vermont to recertify my WFR then it is down to North Carolina! NOCBS training starts in May, ends in June, and two days after I lead my first three-week expedition.

I hope NCOBS and me will be a good fit, thus far, it should be considered my dream job.
Although a short entry, this is it for now-- I will post more when I get a minute, as things are hectic, crazy, and a turbulent mix of emotions as the light draws near at the end of the first tunnel of this life called Adventure.

Thus far, these are the Adventures of Kev



KMS - out.




On the job, guiding at the ranch...