Blog

Hello From New York

• July 2007
• Uncategorized

Hi Steph,
I am so happy to have found your website. High Infatuation is such a special book for me. The photos, climbs and stories are truly inspirational. Knowing you are one of the best climbers out there, it is striking how much of your book focuses not on grades but the experience of the climb. That really speaks to my own hunger for the rock. hill. mountain. I am a climbing newbie, discovering it, the outdoors and athleticism only recently at age 37. In fact I’ve only been climbing for about 6 months. Perhaps because of my late start and having lived all my life in Brooklyn, NY the climbing bug hit me like Ebola. I’ve got it bad. So after 38 years I am looking to make major life changes and move up to the Gunks, New Paltz, N.Y. I won’t be living in a truck – yet. But I’ve already got the dog (wink).

I have so many questions but I will settle for two if that’s okay?

One advice on sustaining a life devoted to the outdoors. I’m not old but I can’t help but struggle already with how to balance my new found passion with my financial responsibilities and relationships. And two are you going back to Patagonia. I want to hear more stories about Patagonia between your book and Enduring Patagonia I think I have a hankering for ice as well.
Thank you again for all the inspiration. And if your ever on the east coast come visit.

All the best,
Carolyn
PS attached is a picture of my 9 year old pitbull Saoirse.

Dear Carolyn,
Saoirse is an adorable creature! Thanks for sending her photo! And I’m so glad you got some inspiration from my book!
I struggle with that question–how to live simply in the natural world, when the flow of our society seems to push the other way. Sometimes it seems easy, and sometimes it seems impossible. I’ve found that I just have to do it–get out there, I mean. Otherwise my brain can start whirling with all the worries and what-ifs. When I just go out and live like a natural creature, things seem to line up and work. I think the most important thing is to be happy, because that makes me a better person. When I get too sucked into all the “stuff,” I try to figure out how to be a little more wild. I do believe that being content and filled with good energy spreads more good energy, and attracts it back again. I also believe that it’s a mistake to make choices on the basis of some idea of what the future holds, because one thing I have learned is that things change in the blink of an eye. But I also don’t want to live irresponsibly…..hence, the conundrum which you have already identified! In the end, you have to do what you feel is right.
And your other question, about going back to Patagonia–speaking of being a little more wild! This summer I am getting back into the backcountry again, in Rocky Mountain National Park. I was distracted by Yosemite and El Cap for several years, and it’s almost like waking up from a deep dream, to find myself here in Colorado again, going into these mountains that I have always loved so much. It reminds me that I’m made for moving, and having adventures in the wild, pure places–I love being in the mountains as much as I love pure rock climbing. It’s hard to stay away from Patagonia for too long, and I didn’t go there last winter….