Fri, 10 February 2012
"I am a connoisseur of convenience stores," writes Brendan Leonard. On road trips, he always stops to check out the t-shirt rack, bumper stickers or display of trinkets unique to the area. And every stop is a chance to find the best, ever. But he hadn't quite found it. Until friends told him of a magical place huddled in the shadow of the Sierra. Instead of hot dogs endlessly spinning under heat lamps, steaks sizzled. People gathered and celebrated. Circus troops careened through the skies above. Indeed, this was a magical place, but could it exceed his checklist of expectations? Comments[1]
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Thu, 19 January 2012
When will it snow? It's the question on the lips of ski town locals throughout the West as fluttering flakes have been late to arrive. Sill, the winter provides opportunity. Tacky mountain bike trails usually buried under feet of snow. Ice climbing on routes normally inaccessible. And ice skating on remote alpine lakes. John Dittli says the skating has been epic in the high Sierra. While others have bemoaned the lack of snow, John has seized the extended window to ice skate on multiple lakes; many more than a typical year allows. He may even secretly hope that the snow remains at bay for a little longer. In the spirit of making the most out of a situation. we present the Year of Big Ideas- goals from friends, pros and creative thinkers. And no matter what 2012 brings, we'll make sure there's more lemonade in all we do. Comments[0]
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Mon, 12 December 2011
Growing up in Ireland, writer Lisa McGonigle wasn't immersed in snow and mountains. But a trip to the Pyrenees when she was 19 to try snowboarding realigned her priorities. Lisa scrimped her savings and made due with periodic trips until she graduated and set her sights on fulfilling her dream of ski bumming in British Columbia. While little rivals fresh lines on a powder day, she discovered the fine line between passionate and obsessed can be difficult to distinguish. What fuels your decisions? Comments[0]
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Wed, 23 November 2011
No one skins uphill to put together a splitboard efficiently. They do it to shred down. Making a transition at a belay is part of the process, not the main event. Transitions may not be sexy, but they make or break us. They are the difference between a cold night spent shivering on a ledge and walking out in perfect evening light. Almost five years after I wrote the Monoboard and started The Diaries, I find myself in a metaphorical transition. My passions run from the mountains to the Seattle music scene and I've become adept at moving between them. My life is about to change. My passions won't. It's time to refine the transition. Comments[12]
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Fri, 11 November 2011
What have you given up for dirtbaggery? Regular car maintanence? Cable TV? Your favorite craft brew? Dean Fleming writes, " Like most rock climbers, I’m a control freak and I’m cheap. So I’ll share one lifestyle tip for the committed to put extra cash in your pocket." DIY haircuts. Dean lays out 3 simple steps to keeping the dirtbag dream alive. How committed are you? Comments[6]
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Fri, 28 October 2011
What frightful things get your heart racing? Ghosts? Unidentifiable sounds in the middle of the night? Or the person you might meet out in the woods? It can be difficult to separate an initial seed of fear from the growing tangle of possibility that can quickly emerge in your head, but sometimes that sprouting seed is very tangible. Today, we bring you stories from Sara Porterfield and Jeremy Allyn. They'll make the hair on the back of your neck stand up. You'll try to shudder them off. But the seed- the seed will remain. And isn't that what scary stories are all about? Comments[0]
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Wed, 12 October 2011
The weekend ritual of loading up a car with gear, picking a destination, and watching out the window as the landscapes passes by is familiar to most of us. Whether it's two days or a month long, there is a method to organizing and assessing. Kelly Wilder writes, "We need the car; it's our ticket out of wherever we are in the world." Yet when you're trying to live by the ethos of local and low carbon, a car "saddles us with guilt." We may have a love-hate relationship with our vehicles, but they are able to take us to the places that help clear our heads and restore our souls. Is that rationalization enough? Comments[3]
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Thu, 29 September 2011
The Underdog is the most potent myth in America. It pervades film, pop culture, music and sports. Politicians use it to frame their campaigns. Professional sports teams use it to psyche themselves up before big games. In theory, we've always liked the long shot. Is this special type of hero just a myth or is the underdog real? Contributor Brendan Leonard thinks it's real because he's seen it in person. Jayson Sime was a small town Iowa kid from the tough part of town. He was told he wouldn't amount to much by his teachers and hazed by his peers. The greatest successes require the most difficult obstacles. From north of nowhere to a career in politics to Mount Shasta's summit, Jayson has overcome. Maybe heroes are real. To be in their presence is a powerful thing. Can you learn how to emulate the underdog by watching one? Comments[1]
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Tue, 13 September 2011
"Each trip I return from is like a seed for the next one. I imagine finding solace through solitude and bliss in the backcountry," writes Fred Sproat. "At the same time that I think about endless wilderness pursuits I think about retuning home...to her." While in school, Fred successfully balanced his time between guiding and love. Guiding takes a commitment to dealing with Mother Nature's spontaneous eruptions- rainstorms, mosquitos, relentless winds- and the tenacity to keep clients happy. But you are able to pursue you passion, even if it means leaving somethings- or someone- behind. With new opportunities on the horizon, could he maintain the status quo? Comments[2]
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Sun, 28 August 2011
Aaah, August. A time to get outside and forget about computer screens. We hope you've been out there enjoying the summer. We certainly have. But don't worry, even though we took a break from publishing, we're still working away to bring you more stories this fall. This has been an amazing year at The Diaries- we hit one million downloads and we've continued to expand our circle of collaborators. We've been busy with other projects as well- The Season 2, Fringe Elements and The Love Letter- but we remain committed to bringing you stories from the community told for the community. Until then, here are some of our favorite songs that we used on episodes in the last year. Pack the car, open the windowns and crank the cuts.
"You Never Know Who You're Gonna Meet" by Publish the Quest from "Then What!?" Buy at iTunes
"Chapel Song" by We Are Augustines from "Rise Ye Sunken Ships" Buy at iTunes Comments[0]
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Wed, 27 July 2011
How do you start to see the complex relationships that make up a community? The first time I sat around a climber's campfire at 19, I could sense that though our lives were superficially different with jobs and responsibilities, something greater connected those gathered around the fire. It was the first time I felt a sense of belonging. Since then, my community has grown, and encompasses just about anyone who understands dawn light and type three fun. But getting into the spider-webbing network can be difficult even if you know it's there. Today, we present two stories from women- one a climber and one a creator- about the moment when the random became connected at a time when it mattered most. Gather round. Comments[1]
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Mon, 11 July 2011
We are a community that likes to push ourselves. Whether we set a goal of miles or grades or just getting out there, we prepare for our feats. When David King set out to ride his bike across the US, he had read the books, bought the right gear and trained tirelessly on hills back home. But biking day in and day out started to wear on him mentally, as well as physically. As he cranked up a steep pass early in the trip, David wondered whether he had the mental tenacity to complete the ride. A lot of road lay beyond Sherman Pass. Was he really cut out for this? Comments[1]
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Fri, 17 June 2011
Do as I say, not as I've done. It's the central paradox of many father-son relationships. We strive to learn from our mistakes and grow throughout our lives. We want to see our hard earned wisdom reflected to others. After road racing bicycles for seven years, and pushing his youthful limits of bravery and luck, Gary Visser settled into life in South Carolina. He discovered a new passion in the salt water marshes, raised a family, and taught his son, Garrett, to fly fish. As Garrett prepares to leave for college, Gary appreciates that letting go, much like his parents did more than 30 years ago, is harder than one might think. Happy Father's Day. Comments[7]
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Thu, 2 June 2011
Our long held dream of creating a live performance of The Dirtbag Diaries came true this spring at the 5Point Film Festival. We interviewed filmmakers and people who were in films and let the conversation flow as though we were sitting on the truck tailgate. If you haven't listened to the previous episode, check out the stories from Baybe Champ and Frank Smethhurst. Today we present the stories of the folks behind the camera. A surf photographer who created a viral video sensation that simultaneously radiates sadness and joy. And a young filmmaker draws a connecting line between skiing and art. The audience has settled into their seats and the mics are on. Mickey Smith and Nick Waggoner join us on stage. Welcome to the 5Point Film Festival. Comments[2]
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Thu, 19 May 2011
For years, Becca and I have wanted to create a live performance of The Dirtbag Diaries. But with little extra time and money, the idea sat, waiting for its moment. When 5Point Film Festival gurus Julie Kennedy and Beda Calhoun approached me earlier this year about creating a onstage storytelling hour at the festival, I immediately said yes. We interviewed filmmakers and people who were in films featured at 5Point and let the conversation flow as though we were sitting on the truck tailgate. Today we present two of these stories. An old soul living in a 22 year-olds body who set out to change his own life and has started a movement in his community. And an angler, who gave away a secret in order to protect a place. The audience has settled in their seats and we're set-up to record. Baybe Champ and Frank Smethhurst join us on stage. Welcome to the 5Point Film Festival. Comments[0]
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"New Dawn"
Buy at 
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