Reginald Spittle's Blog: See my book blog, page 31
August 18, 2019
Mont Blanc: A Climb That Took Everything We Had
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We knew the third day of our 110-mile trek around Mont Blanc would be our most challenging backpacking test ever. But were we ready? Our first long-distance trek, Spain’s Camino de Santiago, had taught us to be prepared for surprises at every corner and over every hill.
We climbed all morning, 4,317 feet, to an altitude above 8,000 feet. When Sue reached the snowy top of the mountain pass, or col, she was greeted by cloud cover, which closed in quickly, along with a chill. And then came a realization that reminded us of our climb to O’Cebreiro in Spain. But the bad news in France’s Alps was worse than what we faced on the Camino.
We were one col short. Another climb, on slopes steeper than they look in the photos, loomed. Reg was anything but a happy hiker when he turned sideways in the bottom photo to look back at Sue. The path led up, into dripping clouds, around and over rock and ice. Our rubbery legs and aching knees then faced more than 3,000 feet of descent to our hostel in Les Chapieux.
So how have we learned to endure such difficult times? Our lessons began in Pamplona, Spain, as we took the first steps of our monthlong pilgrimage. We tell and illustrate our story in our book, Camino Sunrise: Walking With My Shadows. Click on “trekking slide shows” in the menu to view Sue’s short slide shows from each of our treks.
I would love to hear from you.
August 16, 2019
Mont Blanc: Are We Really Going Up There?
Courage. Sue and I needed a backpack full of it on the Tour du Mont Blanc as we faced climbing into the mountains behind us.
During our two-week adventure around the highest peak in the European Alps, I packed more courage (mixed with a measure of fear) than I ever imagined possible as I tackled the greatest physical challenge of my life. My courage was born on the paths and in the albergues during our walk on Spain’s Camino de Santiago. And I borrowed bravery from Sue, for whom “give up” has never been an option.
Our book, Camino Sunrise: Walking With My Shadows, tells and illustrates our story. Click on reviews on the menu to see comments from readers. I would love to hear what you think.
August 10, 2019
This Road to Freedom Will Captivate You
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Freedom. Henry David Thoreau wrote about it in Walden. Cheryl Strayed experienced it as she walked the Pacific Crest Trail. Jon Krakauer wrote how a young man encountered it in Into the Wild.
When Ken Ilgunas graduated the University of Buffalo with $32,000 in debt, he feared a life without the freedom he valued more than anything. Defying his mother and conventional wisdom, he endured hardships and life-threatening adventures in Alaska as he worked jobs few would consider. He knew that difficult times, mixed with astounding experiences, would build memories he would treasure forever. Through it all, he penny-pinched himself debt-free.
Now what? he thought. His answer may seem out of character for readers of Walden on Wheels. I will reserve it for your discovery when you read Ilgunas’ superb book, which often made me recall the words of Thoreau, Strayed, and Krakauer.
Ken Ilgunas is as extraordinary a writer as he is an impressive person. His book is an adventure, but so much more. It will tug at your heart, tickle your funny bone, and spark thoughts like “I wish I could do that!”
August 1, 2019
Trail Climbs to Breathtaking Crater Lake View
Crater Lake provided the backdrop on the first day of August for our hike to Garfield Peak, a stone’s throw above 8,000 feet and 2,000 feet higher than the surface of the deepest fresh water lake in the USA. Sue and I found the altitude a bit challenging for our lungs at first, but after a stop for snacks, made it to the top in less than an hour. We are fortunate that our home in Ashland, Oregon, is just a two-hour drive from the national park.
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Matt and Karen Smith wrote my favorite national parks book, Dear Bob and Sue, in which they describe their visits to every American national park. Their presentation is unique and entertaining; check it out by clicking on the cover. They have just published book three in the Dear Bob and Sue series. Sue and I also enjoyed the Smiths’ book about their Grand Canyon dory trip, Dories Ho!
It’s Tough to Top This Crater Lake View
Crater Lake provided the backdrop today for our hike to Garfield Peak, a stone’s throw above 8,000 feet and 2,000 feet higher than the surface of the deepest fresh water lake in the USA. Sue and I found the altitude a bit challenging for our lungs at first, but after a stop for snacks, made it to the top in less than an hour. We feel fortunate that our home in Ashland, Oregon, is just a two-hour drive from the national park.
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Matt and Karen Smith wrote my favorite national parks book, Dear Bob and Sue, in which they describe their visits to every American national park. Their presentation is unique and entertaining; check it out by clicking on the cover. They have just published book three in the Dear Bob and Sue series. Sue and I also enjoyed the Smiths’ book about their Grand Canyon dory trip, Dories Ho!
July 23, 2019
Sierra Nevada: A Beer Story Like No Other
Imagine having the opportunity to sit down with Ken Grossman, founder of perhaps America’s greatest craft beer company. As you sip one of his many brews, he tells you how, in 1980, he started a company that would eventually produce a million barrels of beer a year. As he tells his story, though, you sense that he is trying not to sound like he is betraying his humble nature. That is what it is like to read Beyond the Pale: The Story of Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
With his bare hands, ingenuity and unflagging commitment, the longtime backpacker and bicyclist, now in his 60s, overcame obstacles that would sink mere mortals. He built a company with quality and sustainability as his guideposts; his brewery in Chico, California has become the city’s biggest tourist attraction. Sierra Nevada added an even more impressive facility near Asheville, North Carolina.
Ken Grossman’s story is remarkable in many ways. And his book came out before 2018’s fire that destroyed Paradise, just up the road from Ken’s brewery. His (and Sierra Nevada’s) response to that disaster reminded me of his dogged determination that created Sierra Nevada nearly four decades ago. He called a special brew Resilience and is donating all sales (not just the profits) of the beer to the Paradise recovery. And he convinced breweries across America to join the effort.
Beyond the Pale is an inspiring story and you can shop for the book by clicking on the cover above.
(In the interest of disclosure, my son works for Sierra Nevada in Chico.)
July 13, 2019
Seneca Says: Get on With Your Life!
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“Life is short.”
Seneca’s On the Shortness of Life is likely to transform your thoughts about those three words.
The Roman stoic philosopher’s vision of human existence viewed life as plenty long enough, if you use it.
“Just do it! What are you waiting for?” he would say if he were writing a self-help book in the 21st Century. Time is your ally if you don’t put things off.
Here are a few from a wealth of jewels from the English translation available on Amazon:
“Let us turn to private possessions, the greatest source of human misery. For if you compare all the other things from which we suffer, deaths, illnesses, fears, desires, endurance of pains and toils, with the evils which money brings us, the latter will far outweigh the others.”
“…it is easier to bear and simpler not to acquire than to lose, so you will notice that those people are more cheerful whom Fortune has never favoured than those whom she has deserted.”
“So we should make light of all things and endure them with tolerance: it is more civilized to make fun of life than to bewail it.”
“Fortune hands out such unfair rewards.”
“…there is a healthy moderation in wine, as in liberty.”
Seneca, an advisor to Nero, accumulated great wealth and was a controversial figure two thousand years ago. His words may make you wonder about the originality of current self-help writing.
July 12, 2019
The purpose of life is to be a nobody
Ladders is a favorite of mine, despite the ads. This piece included a reference to writer/philosopher Edmund Burke and kept me engrossed in thought.
Acknowledging unimportance liberates us from the grips of the self-centered voice in our head that’s chiefly responsible for many of life’s difficulties.
— Read on https://www.theladders.com/career-advice/the-purpose-of-life-is-to-be-a-nobody
When do you feel like a nobody in the way described in this article? I have found the peace of insignificance when I am trekking and writing.
July 7, 2019
On Darkness and Light
A quote from John Steinbeck ignites a thoughtful blogger’s post. I am happy to reblog this:
On Darkness and Light
On Darkness and Light
— Read on cristianmihai.net/2019/07/06/on-darkness-and-light/
July 5, 2019
Video: Solo Backpacking Yosemite’s Half Dome
Half Dome is one of the most iconic hikes in all of Yosemite National Park. This video takes us along for a solo backpacking trip with stunning scenery.
— Read on adventureblog.net/2019/07/video-solo-backpacking-yosemites-half-dome.html
Enjoy a look at a day in the park like none other…This video comes from Adventure Blog. Read about my Half Dome climb in Chapter 2 of Camino Sunrise. It was the toughest physical challenge of my life—until I took up long-distance trekking.
