Sitting still sucks.

I'm not a fan of sitting still. Especially when I am forced to do it for reasons that are beyond my control. I love to be active, so sitting here at the Mountain Training School's Alaska base camp trying to amuse myself while writing blogs and gear reviews are not what I would call an ideal situation. I'm stuck here while the rest of GS8 is finishing up the backpacking module deep in the Talkeetna Mountains. I want to be there SOOO badly! But I cannot. But, to look at things on the brighter side, I have had time to start this blog (and today I figured out how to post pictures to it!), advance into the top 100 gear gurus for backcountry.com, and concoct workout plans that include make shift kettlebells (admittedly, though, not very well constructed), and stare at Pioneer Peak taunting me every time I step outside.

 

 My makeshift "kettlebell."

 

 

 

Pioneer Peak looming out the back door.

 

 

Its hard to be patient sometimes but, patience is a virtue, or so I'm told! Never-the-less, I sit here as patiently as I can trying to allow my knee time to heal before I smash down mountains with oodles of weight in my pack. Waiting for the rest of my class to return from their first epic adventure without 20% of their classmates (aka me!). Yet as expressed in a previous post, I have chosen wisely and do not regret my decision to give my knee the extra time to heal so I can rejoin my classmates on what is sure to be some epic adventures to come!

 

mmmm bacon! I must admit, I don't really miss the dry food mixes, the instant potatoes, candy bars and the like we eat in the field! So I am happy I can eat fresh organic vegetables, eggs, bacon, good meat, and overall food that is actually good for me! So HA! that's one for me! Now....it seems as though I should go make some curry! or maybe just have a bite of ice cream....mmmm or maybe some bacon! mmmm bacon!

 

 



Pictures around Alaska basecamp and 4th of July BBQ!

Just a few candids from the first few days before our first course! Hopefully you can get a feel for out basecamp and staging area for all out expeditions here in AK!

 

 Left to right: Hewitt jamming and Gareth (Gaz) and Nick, both from Australia, typing typing typing.

 

 

 Tyler, a former Guide School student and the Alaska basecamp manager, sitting on the right with Dani, his girlfriend from Costa Rica. Dan, from Scotland (blue hat) reads his Kindle!

 4th of July BBQ

 

 

 Gaz telling a story...Hewitt from Connecticut  (middle left) and Daniel from San Fransisco (right center) both classmates, and Carter (far right) an apprentice instructor in his second year of the Guide School, listen very engagingly!!

 

 

 Dan, one of the instructors and former Guide School student, skyping away! Up the stairs is our sleeping quarters!

 

 

 Gaz waiting patiently for more food to be ready!

 Daniel swooping in on some grilled chicken!

 Gaz, from Australia, doesn't need a plate, mate!

 

 

Hewitt demonstrating how to shotgun a beer!

 

 

I'll post more pictures soon and hopefully as often as I can...however, once I'm in the field there will be large time gaps where no posts or pictures will be posted...BUT, after a course there will be tons of pictures and lots of stories to be told! Keep checking back to see if there are new posts and new pictures...I'll also try to alert people via Facebook when I remember! :) be well and give your mother a hug! she deserves it!