i think that i'm a gear slut (with a little of Liz Helm)

anyone who knows me

knows that i like clothing.

i do not consider myself 

to be on the fashion cutting edge

but i think that i have good style.

however,
my wife asked me

"if you had $300 to spend,

would you buy clothes or outdoor gear?"

my answer 

"outdoor gear."

then pam asked

"what would you buy?"

a new sleeping bag was my answer.

currently i own 3 sleeping bags

(among duplicates of many other things)

but, yes, i would buy another one.

to be honest

i dont even get enough use

out of the ones that i own.

i spend more time looking at gear

and wishing i had more gear 

than i do on using that gear.

am i the only one with this problem?

last week

i bought a pack.

a new gregory pack.

now i own 2 gregory packs:
the z45 (new one) & the z35-r

gregory makes a great pack.
they just fit
so comfortably.
i even convinced my brother-in-law
to recently by the z-55.
i think
that he likes it.

anyway,
i currently own 4 packs.
i would like one more.
maybe next year.

i plan to use
the z45
very soon
and will have a review
for you.

Passions in Life

Eight days ago good friends witnessed their close friend taken by Mother Nature: an avalanche.  They had been skiing in Utah's backcountry.  Over the past week, I have talked with my friends numerous times to see how they're doing.  Each of them, in one way or another, have expressed their gratitude to be alive and with their families.  I cannot even try to imagine how hard this has been for them and their families and my heart continues to go out to them.

Two weeks prior to this I had gone with these friends for the first time.  Not just my first time with them, but my first time backcountry skiing (actually, I snowboard).  I spend a lot of time outdoors during the summer, but had only been skiing on a resort until that weekend.  Backcountry skiing was very difficult and I felt like I wasn't going to be able to keep up with my friends that find much passion in the activity and get out once a week.  Nevertheless, I enjoyed it and after a long weekend and some thought, I was leaning toward purchasing all of the necessary equipment to start going winter 2012.

Since the accident, my friends and family have asked me if my friends that went through this heart-wrenching experience would continue to backcountry ski. Those that know that I went and was thinking about pursuing it, asked me if I would still do so.  I was unsure of the answer to these questions.  Then on Friday, the father of the man that passed mentioned in the funeral service how important it was to find a passion in life and go after it.  I personally have several passions in life and feel that I would not miss out if I didn't pick up backcountry skiing.  However, I know that my friends are more passionate about it than any other activity.  I'm not sure what thoughts will cross their minds next winter as they pick up their skis to head out to the backcountry of Utah.

It could be argued that every time we get in our car and drive down the interstate, we are putting out life in harm's way;  each time we get on a roller coaster there is always that possibility that our car comes off the track.  We all do something that could ultimately end in a bad way.  Is that any reason to not do it?