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

Stained feet and Native Americans

It has been a incredibly busy weekend. I haven't had this much to do as long as I can remember. Luckily, it was not schoolwork that was taking up my time, but rather things that I enjoyed doing. Where to start, that is the question...

 

Probably the most odd activity was the grape stomping I did. There is a winery just outside Decorah called Winneshiek Wildberry Winery and each year they have their grape stomping festival. It consists of what you would expect, stomping on grapes. The weekend held fun for all, from musical performances to tours of the brewing facilities and games for the youngsters. There was a lot to do, and it was a good way to spend a beautiful afternoon.

 

However, I had to run directly from that to our second slackline clinic that was held as a one of Backyard Wilderness Pursuit's activities for the year. It was a great success, with lots of visitors and good times had by all. Especially this fella:

I also attended the second Center Stage Series performance at the Center of Faith and Life. It was the Lakota Sioux Indian Dance Theatre. It was a really fascinating performance win which a group of Native Americans shared their traditional dances and information about their culture. I've always had a deep respect for the Native American culture, and so this performance was really intriguing for me.

 

I won't bore you with all the other events that took up my time, mostly it consisted of riding my bike in the woods, spending some time with a few good people, and enjoying the beautiful weather characteristic of autumn. I did manage to get my banjo to school because a friend of mine asked if I'd be interested in jamming with him and a few buddies, playing some bluegrass and folk, so maybe that will develop into somethings. Rest assured that you will find out straight from me. Thanks for reading, and I hope that all is well in your homes and lives.

 

Peace,

Collin

  

Another note:

If any of you are inclined to help me out with a conflict that I have been having, I would appreciate hearing what you have to say. I know it is still early in the school year, but I am currently planning my next adventure for next summer. I've narrowed it down to two options: 1) a few of my raft guide buddies want to head down to South America and travel a bit, or 2) a solo bicycle trip across the United States from the west coast to the east coast. Now, I've been to South America before, but would not mind visiting there again, but I'd also like to have an epic bike ride like this. So leave a comment, tell me what you think, or email me at thomco02@luther.edu. Hope to hear from you!

This year is the "next year" you worried about last year.

So you may want to ask me, "How does this year compare to last year's experience at Luther, Collin?" And if you don't want to ask me, that is fine, I will tell you anyway.

It is amazing how different of a place Luther seems once one year is through. The campus is no longer foreign at all, the flood of faces seen each day is full of familiar smiles, and living in the dorms seems pretty regular. Obviously I had some new adjustments this year; I have a new dorm, new roommate and a new schedule, but these were far easier after having the first year under my belt.

I must admit, at the end of last year, I was getting a bit burnt out with the whole college experience. I wasn't sure what I wanted to make of it, and wasn't sure if it was the right thing for me to be doing at this point in my life. However, I stuck with it (obviously) and I have a somewhat different attitude towards it now. I am still a restless individual, but I feel as though things have improved for me in regards to school.

One main contributor to this attitude is that I feel I have a larger impact on the campus community this year. I am leading a student organization, rather than just participating, I am meeting more people each day and taking part in various activities that intimidated me last year, and I just feel more at home among all the students here.

People kept telling me last year that freshmen year can be hard. It is not always easy for people to adjust, but everyone kept saying that sophomore year was so much better for them. I can now speak from experience that this is true in many ways. My first year was very taxing, I didn't know how to act or react to a lot of things that college life threw at me, but now it seems like I can take these challenges in stride with confidence and make the most of my time here. So anyone who is anxious about going to college, or is at college and is stressing about it, I will tell you this: I am a firm believer that college is not for everyone, and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. Some people will be much more productive and feel it is more beneficial to spend their time to do other things, and I totally respect that. But if you feel as though college is worth trying, go for it. And if it seems hard or not worth it, just give it some more time. You may end up feeling the same way I do now. So good luck.

Anyway, I hope I didn't scare anyone away, or make anyone uncomfortable, that is not in my intentions. Life is all about exploring; trying new things to find your place in the world. So I wish everyone the best, and you will hear from me again very soon!

Peace,

Collin

One week down.

So here we are, after the first full week of the 2008-2009 school year at Luther College. It went relatively smoothly, but it did seem a bit long. I've grown accustomed to Luther life again, but because of that it seems like I have been here several weeks, rather than just two. However, I know that at the end of the year it will seem like it flew by, just as it always does.

I jumped off a cliff the other day. I know that sounds like a bad idea, but it was actually pretty fun. A few of my friends and I decided it would be a good idea to go and do something adventurous in order to ease ourselves into Academia from our habits and love of summer. So I took them to a place near town where the river cuts through the limestone and we jumped from a 25 foot ledge into the water. It was really cold since there was no sun and the rain has chilled the water a few days earlier, but it was still a fantastic time. Definitely a good way to spend a Sunday afternoon.

Speaking of pursuits involving the wilderness, our first Backyard Wilderness Pursuits activity - a meet and greet campfire - went really well. We had a surprisingly large turnout, and everyone showed a lot of interest and enthusiasm about the organization and activities. This coming Saturday, I will be instructing our first clinic on slacklining. I am very excited to see how that goes, because it seems like a lot of people are excited about it.

Another first happened on Friday - it was our first climbing event of the year. We hosted a headlamp/flashlight climbing party at the wall. Once again, lots of people attended, making it a huge success, and therefore, a lot of fun. I don't know what is different about this year, but it seems that more and more students are showing interest in things like BWP or the rock wall, so I am very excited to see where their (and my) enthusiasm will take us. I think it is going to be a good year.

One last "first" that I feel I must mention was the first Center Stage Series event last night. Luther does a fantastic job of bringing in quality performances for the students and community. Kudos to the Student Activities Council for all their hard work. Last night, as I said, was the opener of this series of events held throughout the year, and the performance was done by the Capitol Steps, a group of musicians/comedians that focused on political issues and scandals. It was a really funny performance, and they left no politician alone. They had a song or rhyme for every scandal, debate, and issue in Washington. So if you like political satire, check out the Capitol Steps.

All is well in our little corner of the Midwest. Now it is Sunday, so all the students are busy cramming all the homework that has been put off all weekend. So I suppose I must follow suit. Take care everyone, and feel free to drop me a line anytime.

Peace,

Collin