When you’re sleeping in the back of a car, a vehicle pulling into a gravel parking lot is one of the most unmistakable sounds you’ll ever know. Your brain immediately launches into over analyzing everything. Is this where they tap on the window? What do I tell them? Maybe this is NOT a ranger but a criminal! Are they gonna try and break into my … Continue reading Snow Day
I don’t race that often. It’s not that I have anything against racing, it’s mostly that I’d rather be roaming the rugged and remote Appalachia under my on accord. And honestly, racing be aspensive yo! So I try and limit myself to 1 or 2 bigger races a year. Since Covid shut down the country and the race scene this year, my “A” race for … Continue reading I’ve Tasted Blood & It Is Sweet
Back in August, I remember sitting down on my lunch break at work and sketching out the distances for what it would take to ascend every single trail on my favorite mountain. A trip like that would be about 80 miles with close to 20,000ft of gain. Do I really love that mountain that much? The 6593 tattooed on my chest is a resounding “yes.” … Continue reading Tour de LeConte: Ascension
Monday: Change of Plans “Call me real quick. I just had something come up and may need to make an adjustment but not sure if you’re flexible enough to do it.” The way the work week had been going, I half expected something to malfunction for the upcoming vacation. “Maaaaan I’m so frickin’ pissed right now!” It’s 1:50pm on Monday… we are supposed to be … Continue reading Working the Angle
I look down at my watch as I take another sip of coffee. 1:30am. Covered in mountain grime and muck, I sit silently on the Pilot sidewalk watching 2 stray cats nibble from a tin can as the rain pitter patters just a few feet away. After driving 3.5hrs, I just needed a break to stretch my legs before driving the final 2hrs home. To … Continue reading Fav 2 Fav
I love shoes. “Shoes” was actually the first word that ever escaped my lungs. Not mom. Not dad. Not supercalifragilisticexpialidocious. It was shoes. OMG SHOES. Why shoes? I think it’s because I came to the quick realization that if my parents were putting shoes on my feet, it meant we were going on an adventure. I mean that adventure could be the grocery store or … Continue reading Shoebituary – Sense Ride 3 “Rough Ryders”
Smokefest Day 1: Gregory Bald 11 miles / ~3000ft gain Per usual, one sole jackass parked his truck in the middle of the road to get out and get a closer look at wildlife. We not-so-patiently sat in line as a flurry of Honky McHonkersons laid on the horn to try and get Truck Daddy to move. This wasn’t anything new. This is typical tourist … Continue reading Smokefest
I’ve always admired those endurance athletes that live in towns where they can walk out of their front door and link a long day in the mountains without so much as cranking their car. The concept of leaving out of the comfort of your residence and connecting to the peacefulness of nature is something that tugs at my soul. It’s simple. It’s pure. It’s adventure … Continue reading GatlinDome
The annoying sound of the digital alarm clock from across the room blared. With blurred vision, I could barely make out the bright red glow. 3:40am. For me, this ungodly Friday morning hour wasn’t an untypical time to see on the clock, however, it was usually on the opposite end of the spectrum. Instead of waking up at 3:40am, more times than not, I was … Continue reading Brick Roads
Take a second and imagine yourself on a hot summer day. A slight breeze blows through your hair as you set your cold drink down on the table, stroll across the warm concrete and start descending a set of submerged stairs into a nice cool, crystal clear pool. You’re happy and smiling as you slowly wade through the shallow end of the pool. Once you’re … Continue reading The Deep End
