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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- What a great podcast. We have been thinking about you both, having the feeling that you're transitioning too...
We just had a great day hiking in and kayaking in snow flurries and crisp air on the Yaugh in MD. The day was magical, especially since we are in our 7th month of pregnancy. "Peanut" is getting exposed early to our lifestyle. As we returned home, we listened to this podcast with teary eyes. It's beautiful, as is your love for each other -- and the lifestyle you create together! Inspired more than usual. Thank you. Sera and Nico - Congratulations to you both. My kids are all grown and gone. It sounds like you are planning your transition well. We never stopped hiking, climbing, skiing, snowshoeing and exploring during their formative years. I don't think our youngest had a birthday outside of Rocky Mountain NP until she was 8. They had all climbed their 1st 14er before they turned 6. I have no doubts that your child will enjoy the sunrises, sunsets, playing in the snow and seeing life from the ridgetops as you share your life with them.
- Big congrats to you both. My wife and I have 2 girls (5 and1). It has caused many transitions in us that were unexpected and unpredictable. Fortunately, we too made the move from Evanston Illinois to Seattle a year before our first, which allows relatively quick access to a wealth of adventure in comparison In our first year here, my wife and climbing partner spent a lot of time in the mountains. We vowed that not much would change w kids. My passions for the mountains certainlt didn't change and instead are fueled by living here; her passions now revolve more around the kids. She puts up with my need for a bike ride, a dawn patrol before work, or the occasional weekend climbing trip to get my fix and we are still working out our transition as we go along. it is always adventurous, and I love our girls!
Sometimes, instead of going out solo, or w/ a partner, i take my daughter sledding or skiing. This year, her third year on skis, she put on all of her ski gear in our living room in October and asked when we could go! I can now see how this will turn out!
I look forward to hearing more of your transition stories. More role models for getting our outdoors despite having kids and most of our time sucked away is what we need. Good luck to you both! - Don't rush the baby stuff, I can't recall much of the first 6-9 months as I was still trying to squeeze in as much (insert sport here).
Congrats on the upcoming fatherhood. We just took our son up for his first ski trip (4 yrs/old). Enjoy every minute, you can't rewind it. - Congratulations on taking the plunge into parenthood. I have two kids under 5 at home and I have to say listening to the DD has helped me make it through the transition to parenthood. I have gotten on a few rivers in the last five years and gotten into the mountains a bit- but I do find myself day-dreaming about rivers and mountains a lot more and getting out a lot less. Based on your drive and determination, I'm sure you'll still get out there- the hard part will be getting out WITH Becca! Despite offers from grandparents to keep the kids, my wife and I have not been very successful at taking time for ourselves to re-connect in the outdoors.
I listened to the "transition" story over and over again while reflecting on my first five years of parenthood. So much changes in the first few years that I think you could think of it one of two ways- 1) the transitions are fast and furious or 2) it's one long transition until your kids are school age, then things settle down a bit.
Anyway, I'm up in Bellingham- bring the family up in a few years and we'll have some snow fun up at Baker!
Carter - Congrats, Becca and Fitz! Such happy news!
In case you need any tips along the way, check out Leo Babauta's zenhabits article on the rules of parenting here:
http://zenhabits.net/rents
And then there's #11 (from Tim Stephens): Don't freak out the first time you have to use your hands to scoop baby poop out of the bathtub. Take a step back and laugh about. Because it's funny. Seriously funny.
Now that you've got those little tidbits, good luck!
Sincerely,
Chris - Hey Fitz,
A big congratulations to you and Becca! My family (wife and now three kids) moved from Seattle to Boston a year after our twins were born. The loss of easy access to mountains was hard. Even before the move, I'd spent many fewer days (and no nights) in the mountains since they were born. Your friends are right: with kids, there is less time. And 4am screaming baby is a suck fest. But (and this is the crux of the whole thing), the days you aren't climbing, skiing, exploring the mountains are an investment in the greatest climbing and skiing budies you could ever have.
At 14 months, my daughter watched every minute of every downhill race in the Vancouver olympics. I've spent two years on the bunny slopes with her and her brother. I've never had a better day on skis. And then they got good. Every morning when I wake them up, they ask if it's snowed yet this way: "can we go skiing today?"
Congratulations on this new transition and to the many new adventures.
Cheers,
Barry - I just wanted to say congratulations as your life moves into a new phase. I know you'll will be great parents because you and your wife are students of the greatest teacher...the outdoors! thanks for what you do in bringing us the diaries and good luck as parents!
Corey White
Amwaj Island, Bahrain - Hey Fitz,
Congratulations to you and Becca!! What fantastic news! I'm sure you'll figure out a way to be a great dad, a great writer, and a great mountain man too. At the advanced age of 45, with a 7 year old and a 10 month old, I'm taking up lake surfing here in Toronto. So take heart: it's just a matter of priorities.
Thanks so much for this story, all the other DD stories, and for the Season 1 and 2. (What a shame there is to be no Season 3.) More important than the million+ downloads is the enthusiasm you inspire in listeners and watchers.
Take care,
Cannon
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