Jasper!

David Hakala stated in 2008, “A leader must be able to communicate his or her vision in terms that cause followers to buy into it. He or she must communicate clearly and passionately, as passion is contagious.” I wanted to go on a hiking trip. Not just any trip, to Mt. Washington. I figured if we were gonna do it why not go for the biggest one. I had to convince a bunch of my friends that we should go there rather than to less populated Mountains in NH or VT. I won. To hike with a large pack and a dog with a large pack takes dedication.

I know I need to personally work on dedication, or spending what ever time or energy is necessary to accomplish the task at hand. I am reminded of a hike up Mt. Washington with some friends. We were about at the half way point. I wanted to turn around like it was nobodies business. And to think I was the one who suggested we go hiking. In my head I was screaming. So loud. On the outside it was evident that I was struggling. A true leader would not allow others to see the emotions that they were struggling while others are doing ok. That takes dedication to the task at hand. We did eventually make it, but much slower than we all had anticipated. There were no huts open that would allow dogs so I had to walk ¼ of the way back to camp with my dog.

Which brings me to think I wish I could be the type of leader my dog sees me as. He always greets me with a wagging tail, and a toy that he had just retrieved in his mouth. He is begging, look at me, look at me, I did what you wanted, I retrieved! You’d think after 8 years he’d get tired of this but nope.

Rip CR

The ski industry is weird. Living in a ski town you are living among pro skiers and snowboarders, and skiers that are good enough to be pros. This may be one of the first times I realized I “follow a leader.” The fall in Park City is great, you have to mountain bike in long sleeves, the beer on tap switches to a darker winter brew, and beanies can be worn every day. In the fall is also the debut of the winter film series. Productions agencies such as Teton Gravity Research, Matchstick Productions, Rage Films, and Warren Miller were some of our favorites. They would be shown on a huge screen in local club often with give aways from vendors, and the like. You would see all your favorite skiers skiing bigger and badder lines from the previous year. You would be so excited for ski season. Everyone has their favorite riders, usually you enjoy their skiing style, clothing style, music style, and hey they may even be your neighbor. One of my favorite skiers was CR Johnson. He had good style and was not too cocky. I looked up to him as a skiing “leader.” His style and good word were admired by many. A winner of many competitions, he often donated his prize money to charities. He was only 26 years old. In 2005 CR suffered a traumatic brain injury. He had to re learn how to do everything, how to walk, talk, let alone become a big mountain skier. The next season he was out skiing again. Everyone thought it was remarkable recovery. "After emerging from a coma, Johnson had to relearn everything, from swallowing food to walking. His steadfast determination fueled by an immense love of skiing won him unanimous respect. "There is a scene in one of his movies called Seven Sunny Days by Matchstick productions where you see images of CR in the hospital followed by him skiing again..With a helmet on of course. Exactly a week ago I was lying in the hospital crying, feeling sorry for myself because I would not be able to ski for a month. I felt like my life as I knew it was over. I had plans to ski on the 24th (today..where they are getting tons of snow in VT, and the first weekend in march an all girls trip to Mad River Glen, VT.) I watched the movie when I got home from the hospital on Friday to make my self stop feeling sorry for myself. If CR, one of my skiing heros could come back from square one in just one year, surely one month of not skiing will not kill me. CR was a true inspiration to me and what I consider a leader. CR passed away today while skiing at Squaw Valley, CA. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends. And my thanks are sent to him to being a true leader for me and someone to look up to.

I'll try and add the video of CR's recovery in 2005..but I'm still new to this blogging thing.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n4Ji9o8R1Ao

the sad story of his death.http://www.theskichannel.com/news/skinews/20100224/Update-on-circumstances-of-CR-Johnsons-death-at-Squaw-Valley

Shame on me..

I suppose I will use this blog to share some of my secrets of being a "bad environmentalist." OK. I have only gone to a farmers market once in my life. It was in the summer of 2002, I was living in Park City, UT. Like most of my friends, I worked seasonally, in the winter and in the summer. The other seasons were made for exploring, mountain biking, hiking, kayaking, rock climbing, you name it. Everyone lived off their seasonal savings, and their unemployment checks. But that was our choice. I remember the carefree lifestyle, every wed night there would be free concerts in the park, a great way to unwind after a day of biking or spring skiing. So one day my friends and I decided to ride our bikes to this new even that was happening in the parking lot of the Canyons Resort, (the resort I worked at.)So we went to this event, a farmers market. There were tents filling the parking lot. They included fruits, veggies, and if I remember correctly, the local bakery used to make bread, and maybe some people selling soap or something. This was my first and only time at a farmers market. It was not what I had imagined, it seemed as more of a social gathering than a shopping experience. People showing off their new 3,000 mountain bikes to each other, their newest patagonia gore tex uber light weight rain coat, etc. So maybe it was traumatic to me I remember buying cherries, and a bag costing me around $10.00 and a few other things but I know the $25 I took from the atm probably would have gotten me more food at a present day whole foods. I was supposed to get a snack that I could share at the concert at the park that night and I came with a few handfuls of cherries. And I had to bring a bottle of wine. Mind you this is UTAH there are stupid laws on booze here, so there is not cheap Trader Joes Charles Shaw wine. Not for hundreds of miles. Long story short, I could not afford the farmers market. It was tailored towards a more elite audience. And come to think of it, how many farms are there really in Utah, its so dry there, who knows where the food came from. But because of this shameful day of not being able to afford the farmers market, I have not been to one since. And of all the talking of farmers markets in our classes, I feel like I should be eating my food from there. But I feel like its a place I do not belong, like an elite club that I never received the invite to. I have to wonder if I am the only person who feels this way?

Wait..Am I A Leader?

Given two choices leader or follower, I believe I fall into the second category. I am thinking back on my life trying to think of times when I have been in a "leadership" role. Was it in high school when I ran for class officer. Doubtful because I only did it because my friends were running for other positions. And no one ran against me. I was a shoe in. Was it when I moved to Vermont to become a ski instructor? Doubtful, I think I was just running away from a stupid boyfriend. Perhaps when I convinced my roomate from Vermont to move across the country to Utah with me to work for the 2002 Olympics. Again nope. I already had a friend out there, so it was easy. Then I was thinking hey, I was a ski instructor for 8 years, totally a leadership position. But really I did it for the paycheck and the free skiing. Totally selfish reasons. Then in college I joked that we should start a hydrology club for all the students that were in the degree program. It was a joke. Even though we actually formed a club, I think it was really just a way for people to network and catch up. My teacher/boss took over as the "leader" as she could get funding from the school. I probably could have asked for funding from the school, but it was just easier to let someone else take charge and do it. Now I am in a grad program where one of the words in the degree is "Leadership". I believe this will be my hardest challenge. Believing that I have the qualities to be a leader. And that I can find something that I am passionate about to actually be a leader in. This should be an interesting journey. All aboard.