Burning Man 2012

Burning Man- A place our souls come to life and are welcomed Home. Where our inner child inspires great creations of art and love for one another. Where Karma multiplies, and our bodies rejuvenate. A place to find yourself, a place to loose yourself- in every sense of the word. A place to remember, and to forget. Where love and loss is no greater. It is a place of intensity and great elemental challenge, yet also somewhere to discover inner peace.

No words could truly describe Black Rock City, the closest interpretation being a city on the Moon- where culture, fashion, and art manifest imagination into reality.

I never imagined that I would have enjoyed this experience so much and that it would impact my soul so deeply. This strange city is only imaginary for but 1 week of the year, but is a place where hundreds of thousands of people have found themselves, Home.
 

CHALLENGE: 3 Items = 1 Story

I recently introduced myself to a new group of people, and as as conversations started, one person asked, "so what's your story? With a big smile, I tried to summon up a few words that could even begin scratch the surface.

Without knowing where to start, I explained that I was full of incredible stories and had spent the past several years traveling around the world. So I began by asking him to name three objects... In the end I came up with an amazing story about crossing the Grand Canyon rim to rim where I ended up camping with a random Korean couple, met hippies who healed my wounds, and hitchhiked back to continue my job as an owl researcher.

After all the experiences I've had, some of my fondest memories are those I get to share with the people I care about. So my challenge to you is to come up with three words or items, and I'll give you a story!!

1 Year Anniversary back in Bozeman, MT

After returning back to Bozeman, Montana for nearly a year now, the wonderful people who make this place home seem to still catch me by surprise.  The wold has become a part of who I am, and one of my greatest fears has been that while I was in Bozeman the world would grow further and further away. I'm overjoyed to say that it has been quite the opposite!

Two of my best friends come from the Netherlands and Spain, and I am incredibly excited that this summer, two incredible friends from Germany and New Zealand will also be coming to visit.  

 Montana, it's the 4th largest state in the country, larger than Japan, Germany, and New Zealand, and yet we still have laws such as, "It is illegal to have a sheep in the cab of your truck without a chaperone."  -- Who comes up with these things?

We're well into what Montanans call "summer", it only snows once or twice a month. It snowed today, so we should have weather in the 80's-90's F for the next several weeks... Whoo Hoo!! Bring your bear spray, hiking boots, and a bag of gorp and we're set off for an adventure!! Hiking, climbing, camping, snowshoeing, canoeing, you name it, we'll do it!!

 Thank you, all of you fantastic people who help make Bozeman, Montana one of the most beautiful places on earth!

Vision

If I were to envision a perfect life for me, it would be a life of no limits, where possibilities are endless and dreams are little different than reality. Good dreams of course, not the bad.  A life of exuberant passion, full of meaning. Where loving family and friends are our backbone and help define who we are and where we go. They do not hold us back, but help us reveal our destiny, and help our souls achieve our life’s mission.

Wealth is defined by those we are surround with, and our ability to appreciate not only them, but ourselves. Money comes and goes, but does not define us, we do. Though we may loose our path at times, we are never far from home, our souls are connected and ground us to earth and the heavens above.

We live a greater existence I have yet to understand, but feel in my soul that I am a part of. Let your legs move you, your mind steer you, your heart guide you, and your soul create you.

Gaining a New Perspective: Sky Dive New Zealand

I woke up this morning and forgot who I am.

I woke up this morning and forgot who I am.

As I lye in bed I close my eyes and let the sunshine warm my face, "It's calling to me, what is it saying?" The prism rainbows are brighter than ever before, and my well trimmed room is foreign to me. Nomadic items such as my drum and suitcase are all that seem to capture my attention. Even in the mirror I see a well dressed beautiful woman, that I don't recognize. Who is that, and where am I?

My soul feels disconnected, in some place most others do not know exists. "Oh the Places You Will Go..."

 I found a little part of who I am and what I will do just seeing this video. Someone asked me just last week, don't you want a family, to settle down and have a good job? ... or are you just a wondering nomad?   Yes, all of it. I want everything. lol, and yes it's probably too much to ask.

I want to see the whole world. I want to travel, explore, be free.... I've got the guts and the willingness, but I wish I had someone to go with me. You meet the most amazing people, when I just go, I feel myself come to life. Living and existing in a world where you define the rules.

However, that alone is still not enough. I need to share it with someone, and act with a purpose. Traveling as an aimless nomad is purposeful in finding yourself, but staying in touch with yourself is something you will need to do throughout life. I need to act with more purpose, while fulfilling these inner desires. I know I am meant for something great, I'm just not sure what it is.

The thought of being stuck or having to work in one place for the rest of my life is devastating. I'm looking for a way to reconnect with myself while not feeling like a caged animal. I seek to be productive, passionate, and find someone I can connect with and love unconditionally.

Grizz Tracking: Day 2

After brushing up and learning a few new skills, like hair identification and scat ID, we were off to the field to put them into practice. Scouring fence posts, tree rubs, barbed wire and berry patched, we fine-tuned the difference between black cow hair and black bear hair, elk hair and grizzly hair. What a skill!! Hiking in the woods will never be the same.

With our GPS’s fired up, each team set out for their daily hiking mission. Our team was to hike up to Baldy Mountain and follow a drainage route down searching for Grizz signs. Reaching nearly 10,000 ft in elevation, we followed elk trails, more like an elk highway, up to the peak. Branching into two groups, we followed the ridge line West. Whitebark pine was in abundance and producing cones, a fantastic find as it is a grizzly food source.  Elks bugling and swarms of magpies socializing on the mountaintops, we made our way across the ridge enjoying the stunning landscape before us.

Grizz Tracking W/ Adventurers and Scientists for Conservation

After mild adjustments and a bit of quality control, I managed a sleeping bag bunged to the handlebars, a red duffel bag strapped to the rack, and my blue day pack secured to my waste. I was off to track grizzly bears in the Centennial Mountain Range.

Ten of us met up in town, a crew who had just introduced themselves. We had an EMT, a second year MSU geologist, a bartender, wildlife gurus, and adventurers of every sort. After loading up the trucks, we drove off into the sunset excited for the adventure ahead.

Trumpeting swans greeted the morning sunrise and I stretched out of my cozy hammock, marveling at what adventures lye ahead. The scenery couldn’t have been more spectacular. We were camped at Red Rock Lake, towered over by the peaks of the Centennial Range: Baldy, Taylor, and Sheep Mountain.

A quick breakfast and some coffee, to get the buzz on, and we jumped right into navigation, tracking, GPS skills, and Grizzly encounters. What do you NOT do if you see a bear… any bear? RUN, that is DO NOT RUN. See a black bear, ya get big, as big Big Foot, and make a lot of noise  @#)$&$  $!%&!^*!!!!!! 

That should do the trick… unless it’s the big boy, the Grizzly. He’s not so easily convinced by such nonsense. Rather, treat him like the school principal after you got caught doing something wrong. Avoid eye contact, talk in a calm and soothing voice, and slowly back away as if unnoticed. 

Love the World, Love Yourself

Sometime when things come easy, we don’t recognize them for what they are. This is especially the case for love, the confusing and most complex emotion we as human beings experience. There are so many ways to love someone, it seems to be a catch all word for expressing that we care about someone. Friendships have become more often acquaintances, but I’m blessed to say I truly love and care deeply about many of my friends, and know they feel the same.

One thing I fear is the shallow seemingly meaningless relationships we develop in our day-to-day lives, withholding engagement and sincerity in our actions. How are you suppose to get to know anybody when this is the norm? How is anyone suppose to get to know me?

I’ve been more alive the past couple days that I have been for a long time. I’ve been speaking and playing games with my friends from around the world through the world of online media. These wonderful people know me better than I do myself sometimes, and I trust them fully.  I love you guys! You bring my world to life :)

Daily Joys

When you travel, its easy to engage in your surroundings, to live in the moment and take in every detail. You act intuitively to opportunities, and make the most of your time. For some reason though, at home and in my every day life, this changes. I find myself more reserved, steadily focusing on long term desires, and setting aside the day-to-day. Though long term goals are important, its these daily joys that make living worthwhile. I'm not sure I understand this phenomena, because its an occurrence I've seen time and time again. The challenge is balance. Engaging yourself everyday, and seeking out what makes you continually passionate about the world around you.

I've been invited to a Rhythm Drum Retreat near Glacier National Park, an opportunity to meet local drummers, and people who share my worldly passions right in my backyard. I've been dying to bring my travels home with me.  lol, I think I've just blogged myself into going. Any other takers?

Montana Outdoor Rhythm Retreat

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