Winter in the Northeast continues its warm spells and January snow washouts. It’s better for ice climbing right now, but the snow will come! Time to prepare for some skiing in the wilderness backcountry.
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“Mzungu” is Swahili for “wandering aimlessly”, describing the seemingly pointless travels of early explorers and missionaries. Embracing the word, I’m not just another foreigner but an adventurer, wandering with a purpose.
The chapter titles in Climb Like a Mzungu categorize common themes that occur on a climb. This lifecycle metaphor advocates for living an adventurous life and striving to reach new heights to realize one’s full potential.
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Please watch this seven minute video to get a glimpse of the first printed draft of Climb Like a Mzungu. The video discusses: What the book is about Answers what is a Mzungu? Shows you select pages from the upcoming book Explains the 5.10 club, my email newsletter for book updates https://youtu.be/JjWe9WhXh4s
When I began writing ten years ago, I didn't realize the journey would be so hard. Making the book enjoyable, combined with the constant editing, has been daunting. I was clueless about the marketing effort required to make a bestseller. Even if I went the traditional publishing route, I'd still have to manage all the promotion work. But the goal is worth it, the plan is in motion. This week, I'm stoked that author copies are arriving from Amazon. It will be amazing to hold the draft in my hands, making it real after all these years. What's…
The land here is very dry; the altitude over near meters. The hills of Kashmir attract all the snow and very little rain makes it to Ladakh. The sky is crystal blue, with rarely a sight of clouds. Over 2 weeks ago, a storm blew in and dumped enough snow to close up many passes. Mandi Road seems closed as well as many of the treks that are available.
A short jaunt up the ridge leads me to the mysterious third gompa above the town of Leh. Admidst the mud, stone, and rock, the wind tufts through the prayer flags. All the while I sit, soaking in the view of Leh, vaguely glowing in the distant sunset.
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It’s the need to break up the weekly routine that finds me out in Washington State. No traveling by the usual means; I hitchhiked across the Trans-Canadian Highway from Ottawa to Vancouver. Three thousand miles is a long way to go, but my lust for adventure and mountaineering has finally brought me to Paradise.
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I was born in Kampala, Africa but we lived in Mbale. My parents were advised that the hospital in Mbale was not yet the right place for us. We left in late 1965, at a time where first grade in America was beginning but also Uganda was not partial to mazungu at that time. Foreigners are commonly called this in East Africa, literally the meaning in Swahili is “people who go round and round”. Luckily, I was able to return in 1989 by myself and then again in 1996. This time, I brought my father with me and we stayed two weeks.
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Ladakh is a magical place. I was fortunate to spend a month there in October, 1989. Beyond all the wonderful, scenic vistas and people, I was able to attend a rally for Union Territory status on October 27th, forty two years after Indian troops entered Kashmir in 1947. The day is symbolic and both Kashmir and Ladakh were planning “bandhs”, the local equivalent of a strike. In Kashmir, the people were striving for more autonomy from the state government. Ladakh had different ideas. They desired Union Territory status from Kashmir. They believed that they had little political authority in the Jammu and Kashmir government. A Union Territory would preserve their culture and heritage. Also, the Kashmiris were hoarding state and tourist money, keeping the business and cash in Kashmir and not Ladakh.
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I started an outdoor adventure magazine when living in Keene Valley, NY in 1983. After 8 issues, the effort to raise advertising to fund the magazine was becoming a full time job and I really needed money to pay back college loans. My dream of an outdoor adventure web site still yearns for a sustainable business model. I have some ideas ... but that's where they are ... ideas!
As a way to turn around negative energy situations in my life, I've invested in personal development or self-introspection research. Certainly running around the mountains helps, but when at home, these books really have had an impact on me. The Four Agreements I was recommended this book by a therapist in 2005 and it made an impact on my life. Miguel Ruiz writes in a spiritual and powerful way that really resonates. I won't disclose his words but by following his simple agreements, I am able to turn around emotional turmoil and…
I was fortunate to have the opportunity to visit the Grand Canyon for almost a week in January, 2014. I traveled with my best friend Tim and we hiked down the South Kaibab trail and back out the Bright Angel trail. The best thing about the trip was every 100 yards was a totally new view. These videos just don’t come close to being there yourself. If you want a brief summary, this article provides a great brief overview of the hike.
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