February: Reflections from the Road

From the backcountry keys to the backcountry rockies

With each agonizing step up the mountain, I felt the weight of my ski boots compressing my toes, the burden of dragging my skis behind me, and the strain of my 30lb pack. In the bitter cold on mile five, weeks into our journey on the road, it occurred to me, “if I can do this, I can do anything.”

If I can do this, I can do anything.

This has become my new mantra. Whether I’m hitting a resistance point in my workout, facing relationship challenges that feel tough to navigate, or suddenly shy and anxious to show up by myself to an event, I remind myself, “if I can do this, I can do anything.”

This February, Ben and I embarked on a road trip to attend a wedding in Miami and a two day hike-to-hut trip outside Breckinridge, Colorado. After the wedding, we drove from Miami to Colorado in four days. We rested and acclimatized for one day before setting off on a 7 mile ski touring hike to hut adventure with 10 friends. From sea level to 12,000 feet. From a party on the beach to an expedition high in the mountains. From paddle boarding open ocean to skiing backcountry slopes. From ski touring beginners to backpacking into a hut. After that hike into Section House, I truly felt like I could accomplish anything.

Hike to Section House

I had bought backcountry gear just a month before - a beacon, a shovel and a probe. We took a crash avy course from our more experienced friends after waking up at Section House the first morning. Our probes informed us we’d be riding in over 9 feet of fresh powder. After burying a beacon in the snow, we were told we had 10 minutes to hypothetically save someone. Ready, set, go!

With tired and sore legs, we hiked half a mile up Mt. Baldy, just out our back door. On my first run, my skis felt like they had brakes on them — a consequence of leaving them outside overnight to ice over, a rookie mistake. After hiking over 7 miles for this one lap, I was frustrated to say the least. Then there's the feeling of realizing you dropped your glove a couple yards back when you’ve already extended your last bit of energy. This is the essence of what we call type two fun — fun that reveals itself in hindsight.

And fun was had! I got a redemption lap, we cooked group dinners, played salad bowl and chess, hiked up and down our private ski slope, and did yoga around the fire. Diana was convinced there was a man (ghost?) living in the bedroom upstairs with a bolted lock. We laughed and then promptly read dozens of logbook entries dating back to the 80s about this place being haunted, multiple about a ghost upstairs (the Ghost of Jeb Bush) and even one scribbled in kid’s handwriting: “there’s a man living in the bedroom upstairs.”

It was quite the change of scenery from our weeks prior…

Camping in the keys

Less than 10 days earlier, Ben and I had launched from a cul-de-sac on Cudjoe Key with a cooler, snorkel gear and a tent balancing on our paddleboards. We paddled 3 miles across the channel to Tarpon Belly Key, an island made up of mangroves. We had planned to island hop and stay out there a few nights, but tornado warnings and high winds put a stop to our efforts. We were still able to stay for a single night on Tarpon Belly, where we made new nurse shark friends, hiked around the island and paddled through the old shrimp farm canals. At sunset, we braved the no-see-ums to head to the leeward side of the island. We ate leftover Cuban food from Miami while the sun dipped below the horizon; I couldn’t think of a more romantic way to spend the evening.

Work on the road

As timing would have it, a grant application window opened and closed within the exact three weeks we were on the road. This allowed me to infuse work with play in a way that was extremely rewarding. I submitted seven proposals to fund my youth programs from start to finish on the road! I spent rainy Florida mornings in a coffee shop, then sunsets on the water, paddling through another mangrove or canal.

I plugged back in in the passenger seat, using a hot spot and soliciting help from Chat GPT as we drove across the country. I spent days co-working with some of my closest friends in Fairplay, with a jaw-dropping view of the Rockies out their window. And I successfully submitted the application on a Friday, after skiing four days in a row that week.

Our trip just happened to culminate the same day the proposal was due, on the same day LVDY Music was playing in Denver, at the same show that happened to be a spontaneous reunion for our Grand Canyon crew, on the same day we turned around to head back east. They shouted us out in the crowd AND covered Texas Hold ‘Em. It was a grand celebration.

I was complete and ready to head back to Richmond.

Lessons learned

On this 4 week road trip, we only stayed in a hotel twice, and stayed with friends or family the rest of the time. Loaded down with all our backcountry paddling AND ski gear, we stopped by my dad’s cousin’s place in Savannah, crashed with an old friend of Ben’s in the keys, get a hotel suite with a bunch of friends for the wedding in Miami, stayed with Ben’s sister in Austin, our friend Lindi in Taos, a group of friends’ winter ski share in Fairplay, college friends in Vail, old friends in Denver, and even a college friend in Kansas City on the way back to Richmond. We finished off the trip staying with my aunt and cousin in Charlottesville, VA, and my grandparents happened to be driving down for the day for a doctor’s appointment. I am so grateful for my supportive community of friends and family hosting us all over the country!

Now, back in Richmond, I’m reflecting on another season. As winter turns to spring, I am always reminded of the metamorphosis of a butterfly. I’m crawling out of my winter cocoon into the great big world. Spring weather has me wanting to eat meals outside, do yoga in my yard, journal outside, take meetings from outside… bring on the busy season!

I am now in the midst of retreat planning, summer scheduling, wrapping up winter and starting spring programs, planning events in my backyard and visioning for the future.

Join me in embracing the outdoors, trying new activities, and finding joy in the little moments. Let's embody spring by facing challenges with a sense of possibility, play and spontaneity, reminding ourselves not to take life too seriously. And maybe you reflect on a recent challenge you overcame and remind yourself:

“If I can do this, I can do anything.”