In Nina Caprez’ instagram profile, she describes herself as a “Sponsored athlete, life artist with a free spirit.” I had the chance to interview her for Arc’teryx. This story ran on Arcteryx’s Bird Blog in late March 2019. Nina Caprez is a straight-talking weapon of a climber who is not ashamed to have big goals. That makes…
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How an unlikely couple of craft cider makers started Squamish’s Northyards Cider Co
This is one of the best dharma (finding your calling) stories ever. It was a treat to connect with Alison and Kathleen of Northyards Cider, to hear how they came to start a craft cidery in Squamish. I definitely need to do more thorough research in the tasting room, though. In the meantime, this story…
Crowning a “junk” tree with overdue appreciation
“What’s this?” asked my clutter-resistant husband, observing the giant mason jar of oily plant matter on the counter. “Ohh, it’s medicine! It’s called Balm of Gilead,” I explained. “Oh. But what is it?” “Cottonwood tips in oil.” “Hmm. And what’s it good for treating?” he asked, in an impressively neutral manner, eyes scanning to the…
Breath technology: the promise of a sober high
Edward Dangerfield admits that he’s a little bit intense, probably in the way that many Whistler folk are. Type A. Overachiever. Dive in. Go deep. He’s working on that. He’s been exploring his pathologies and life path since getting caught in an avalanche and completely burning out from the restaurant business in 2014. “I totally…
Picture this: vision boards as a way to cut and paste your way to a clearer sense of your deep desires
To the publishers, art directors and editors who work so hard to put great magazines together, I’m sorry. I spent Sunday night deconstructing your work in the most primitive way. (Rip, tear, cut.) And I loved it. I didn’t think I could, when I first heard about vision boarding – a kind of personal insight…
Coding for Greatness
I’d just finished reading The Culture Code,a book by Daniel Coyle about the culture of great groups, when I drove through the night, blasting Mofro, up the snowy winding pass to Crystal Mountain in Washington. Pemberton skier Susan Medville, a freeskier and mountain woman originally based in Crested Butte, had invited me to join a…
Falling upon kindness
6am. We’re pulling into the gas station at the southernmost edge of Squamish, when we realize that my partner has forgotten his wallet and ID. We’ve been up since 3am, our plane is leaving in two hours, and we’re 100 km and 80 minutes from the living room where the black backpack containing crucial ID…
Remembrance Day
99 years ago, on November 11, the “war to end all wars” ended. The poppies at our local stores have attracted my 4 year old’s attention. “What’s that?” “They’re poppies.” “What are they for?” Oh man. How do I explain this? “They’re to remember the wars. And all the kids who went to fight in…
The Last Times: my slightly morbid twist on a gratitude practice
We cross into Oregon after 10 hours of driving – a welcome sign, seriously numb bums and the speed limit drop announce that we have officially left California, the desert, and it’s endless sun, behind. The iPhone plugged into the car stereo is playing a cached playlist from our favourite internet radio station. Dave managed…
Switching to Airplane Mode: what I got out of a 20 day digital detox
We’re in the Redwood Forest. “Did they name it after the song?” my four year old asks. We’d borrowed a remix of Woody Guthrie music from the library once and This Land is Your Land evidently made an impression. I come from a country where the indigenous people believe the world was sung into being….
