Climbing and Biking and Snow, Oh My!

Hello everyone, I am writing to you on the day of our first snow here in lovely Decorah. It has been a very cold and incredibly windy day, but it is nice to be sitting inside, nice and warm. But I have a lot to share with you, so let's dive right in.

Since the last time we spoke, two major events took place. First off, the much anticipated fall break climbing trip. Second, the annual Night Shift mountain bike race. Let's start off with fall break.

So, as I mentioned in previous posts, I was one of the leaders taking a group of students to Devil's Lake State Park in Wisconsin as part of my duties with Backyard Wilderness Pursuits. It was a fantastic three-day trip to an absolutely awe-inspiring area of the Midwest. The fall colors were at their peak and the weather was in our favor for the three days we spent near the lake. There were nine of us total, each having different interests in the outdoors, but the main portion of our time there was spent hiking and climbing the beautiful quartzite rock that surrounded the lake. The climbing and hiking went flawlessly, and everyone had a great time. The only problems we ran into were with the locals. You see, the raccoons in the park really liked to advance on campsites and see what they could get their paws on. And it so happened that they were successful in getting our bacon and hamburger the first night, so we had to work that out. The second night, however, we were more prepared and I was ready when I was forced to chase off a raccoon that was trying to make off with one of our backpacks.

All in all, the trip was one to remember. I spent three days hiking and climbing with eight wonderful people out in the wilderness. There is not a lot more I could have asked for.

Last night was the 6th annual Night Shift Mountain Bike Race held on the trails of Decorah. It is a night race, which means every rider must have a headlamp to compete. It was about 7.5 miles on mostly singletrack mountain bike trails. Yesterday was beautiful, so last night treated us well, too. It was a little chilly as I rolled up to register, and the temperature continued to drop as we rode to the start. It was a mass start on a gravel road so that there was opportunity for the riders to spread before hitting the trails. It is always a fun experience to ride at night, especially with so many other people. There were 54 riders total, so there was always a light flashing in every direction as we wove through the woods and prairie.

I ended up placing 8th in my age division and 13th overall. I was very satisfied with my place considering I just entered a new age division upon turning 20, which spans ages 20-29. I say this because this group has some pretty tough competition, whereas my age class last year was a little easier (I placed first last year). However, the beauty of this race when compared to others is its relaxed feel. Each and every rider is racing because they just like to bike, and the friendly competition is more encouraging than anything. This is, by far, my favorite race to ride so I had a great time and am looking forward to doing it again next year.

So that was my exciting week. If only every week was so enjoyable and action-packed. I suppose it could be if I just took the time to seek out the adventure. I'll get working on that. Each of you should follow suit, and maybe we'll meet each other out there. Anyway, take care of yourself and others and we'll talk again soon.

Peace,

Collin

Sticky Hands

Breaks are truly wonderful things. It is so nice to just sit back, relax, and not have the nagging thought of finishing homework, attending class, or any of the other hassles of school life. No, I cannot say that school is overwhelmingly stressful, because it is far from it. However, it is always nice to take a break from the normal routine and take some time for yourself.

 

So tomorrow I am heading out on our first big Backyard Wilderness Pursuits trip. One of the other leaders and I will be taking 7 people to Devil's Lake State Park near Baraboo, Wisconsin for three days of hiking, camping, and rock climbing. We have stocked up on food, gear, and are hoping for good weather. 

 

It is surprising how much planning goes into a trip like this. It takes a bit to arrange payments, numbers, food, and all the general logistics of getting people from one place to another without any major mishaps. Hopefully this trip will be successful, and will encourage others to join in on some of the activities we have to offer. It seems like we are going to have a good group to spend some quality outdoor time with, so I am definitely looking forward to it. Be sure to check in next week; I am bound to have some photos and stories to share with you all.

 

One exciting thing that happened today was that I went and pressed apple cider with my girlfriend's family. You see, she lives out on 35 acres in a completely off-the-grid home and has a beautiful garden and an apple orchard. So we went out, picked bushels upon bushels of apples, and pressed them using an old, hand-cranked press and churned out somewhere around 17 gallons of cider. This was distributed to all who came to help, and my goodness, it was tasty!

 

Other than that, my break has been pretty low-key. Good times spent at home with my family. It is just a nice, warm feeling to be back at my home. It is a familiar place with a comfort that is not shared with any other location. So I am glad to be here. 

 

Well everyone, like I said, be sure to check in later so I can share all my tales of rock climbing and the wilderness. It should be good. Take care all, and I will see you soon!

 

Peace,

Collin

What an Adventure!

Start of the race. My partner,Brad, is in the nice pink shorts.

Hello again to one and all. I hope life is treating you all well. Let's jump right in...

 

So yesterday was a big day for me. It was the second annual Backroads Adventure Race here in Decorah. What it consisted of was a 5 mile canoe section followed by a 13 mile road/gravel bike ride, and concluded with a 3 mile trail run. It is a mini triathlon in essence, but with a little different attitude, you could say. It was really a blast. There were somewhere around 100 participants, which was more than last year, so that was fantastic. There were three divisions in which people could participate: solo, duo, or relay of three. My buddy Brad and I decided to team up again after having a successful race last year. This year felt even better. The bike ride was a little longer, but both of us really love cycling, so that was in our favor. Each member of the team of two does the whole race as if competing individually (except canoeing, which was done with a teammate) and the two times are averaged. We are still waiting for the official results, but when Brad checked the times, he found out that he had the fastest overall time, so congratulations to him. It appeared I ranked around 6th, so I am very pleased with that. We are crossing our fingers hoping that those two times put us first as a team, but we shall wait and see. 

 

I tend to be a pretty competitive guy, but this race really released me from it. Brad and I decided to wear some pretty interesting outfits in an attempt to lighten the mood of the competition, and it ended up helping out a lot. It seems as though when less emphasis is put on winning, and more is put on trying to just have fun, one performs better and enjoys it more. At least that was our experience, take it as you will.

 

Hopefully the same type of event will happen next year, and I assume it will based on the success of this year. My next race is in a couple of weeks. It is the annual Night Shift mountain bike race here in Decorah. It, too, is a fantastic time. It consists of racing on the mountain bike trails in the dark with headlights. So we will have to see how that turns out.

 

Anyway, I wish the best to all of you out there. Feel free to leave me any comments you have have. I always love hearing from you all. Take it easy.

 

Peace,

Collin

Small Town Boy in the Big City.

Hello all, I hope that things are going swimmingly for each and every one of you. We are back again, recapping another week in the life of Collin, a real, live Luther student.

 

I guess the most important event in the life of Luther College this week was Homecoming. That took place this weekend, so there were all kinds of Luther alumni of all ages coming back to visit their alma mater. It was fun to see some familiar faces of those who graduated last year. 

 

Although, I missed some of homecoming because I was in the Twin Cities visiting my brother in his new, fancy apartment. I hadn't seen his home because I left for the summer just before he moved in, and I hadn't had a chance to visit him. So I spent a night in Minneapolis. We went to a late night comedy club, which was a very good experience. That is the thing about cities, there is always something happening.

 

However, I don't know what I think about cities. I feel as though I am more of a small town kind of guy, since that is what I grew up in for the most part. I mean, I was born in Minneapolis, so I got to experience that a little bit. I also lived in a few big cities in Australia and New Zealand, so I feel as though I have experienced city life to know what it is like. And I do love the multitude of activities available. But I prefer a more modest approach to life. I am not a huge fan of all of the excess and glamour that a city possesses. I guess that is, in a big part, why I chose to come to Luther. I looked at a few other schools, some of them in pretty big cities, including St. Paul, but decided that Luther has the perfect balance of social pursuits and small town charm. Decorah is the perfect size for me, I love the balance and integration with the natural world here and the people are fantastic. 

 

I know that was kind of a rant, but stepping away from a place really makes you understand why you like it. Not to say that I didn't know that I like Decorah, but visiting a place that is so very different makes "home" so much more comfortable. So this is what I have to say: Life is for exploring, we must continue to go out and find new places to investigate and take advantage of all the experiences life has to offer, but there will inevitably be a place that just feels right, and I guess that is what we can consider our home. Good luck finding yours.

 

I hope all is well in your neck of the woods, and take care until we speak again.

 

Peace,

Collin