Category Archives: Inspiration

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Cyclo X 2025

Team Debo plans a great ride.

Every year- Aaron Shafer – seen above at right- plans a great ride to and through each of the Pittsburgh City Parks. People ride it with different types of bicycles. I always say it is a mountain bike ride and although there are lots of road miles, when you get to the parks- we ride the single track and double track. In my mind, you need a mountain bike but there are some who ride it with narrower knobby tires and some with cross bikes. But whatever you choose, the ride takes you through some interesting places.

It all starts and ends at the Grist House in Millvale.

Starting at 8 AM- it was a spirited start with the A and B group riding out together. The pace was quick as people were anxious to get started and I admired the people who were on cross bikes or narrower tire bikes as we rode the rocky sides of railroad tracks for several miles.

Greg and Shannon Nass- rode narrower tires and handled the terrain like pros.

Typically the A group are the younger riders and very skilled. They ride close to 80 miles and almost 8 thousand vertical feet of climbing. The B group rides between 40 – 50 depending on the mood, and usually around 4 thousand vertical feet. People don’t realize how hilly Pittsburgh is, but for the A and B group- climbing Mt Washington is no joke. Whether you take the tight switchback trails to the top or ride one of the steep roads to the top, you are happy when you get to lunch at the new Shiloh Plate and Pour.

Everybody is happy with some lunch up at the Shiloh Plate and Pour.

After pounding the gravel besides the railroad tracks, riding some very nasty off camber single track in Highland Park, and riding in Frick Park with its technical trails, the climb up Mt Washington is a real test.

Shark- Coach Lou and yours truly taking a breather before the big climb to lunch

We had some carnage this year with the Shark- seen above on the left- getting rear ended by a car, bending his rim and getting his share of road rash. But, in typical mountain bike fashion, he toughed it out and rode back to the Grist House to await the group later in the day.

The Dirt Church banner was flying at the event
The usual cast of characters show up.

After lunch, Aaron and the tough guys took off and we didn’t see them the rest of the day. We were just interested in getting down off the Mount, getting through town, over to the Point, and back on to the Northshore Trail. We checked off Highland Park, Frick Park, Point State Park, Shenley Park, and decided to avoid the Evergreen Trails on Mt. Washington and Riverview. The interesting thing about city park trails is depending on what park you ride, the conditions of the trails vary. From tight singletrack, not well maintained with glass and debris, to the more conditioned Frick Park trails. The tight , off camber trail through Highland Park also took down another rider- me!! I overshot a left hand turn on some slimy rocks and careened to my left into a ravine and had to be helped up by Fred Fisher and Tom Tiernan. I was still clipped in and sat there for a little bit but all was well- save for some stoved fingers. The city park trails are no joke either and I am always glad I have my mountain bike.

The B group at Carnegie Mellon University on the way to Schenley Park.

After a group refresh at the Grist House, we packed it up and headed home. Another Cyclo X in the books but the A group was still out there. How they ride that many miles and vertical on mountain and cross bikes just proves one thing- youth is wasted on the young. I was also proud to think that I was again the oldest rider of the day, and with 71 staring me in the face in November, I wonder how many more grueling climbs up Mt. Washington are left in this body. But then again, like I always say- keep going. Keep riding and keep the fun times alive. Heck- my Garmin says I am 58 so I will go with that. LOL!! But it is good to test yourself, no matter how old, and the stress of a good mountain bike ride is not only good for the body, but good for the soul as well. It keeps me connected and with continued blessings, I can participate in Cyclo X 2026. Thanks Aaron, thanks to all the A riders who inspire, and thanks to our B group who brought our B game to an A ride. Good on ya. Thanks for reading.

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” I can do all this through him who gives me strength” Romans- 4:13

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New Boards

So, I know it is only August, but I pulled the trigger on another new pair of skis for the upcoming season. After looking at some reviews on- line, also from the Stockli rep, and consultation with my friend in Tahoe, I decided on another pair of Stockli Stormrider 88s. I have a quiver of Stockli skis but the 88 under foot is always my go to ski and I was happy to get another pair.

It is interesting that at this time of year, I start to get itchy for the new season. Buying a new pair of skis kind of jump starts you a little bit. I got our passes early, committed to ski trips, and in short- I am ready when the first flakes start to fall. However………………………..screeeech!!!!!! We still have the wonderful season of fall ahead.

Colors in the Laurel Highlands.

My one friend JR always looks at his watch and sees how long it will take for me to mention skiing on a mountain bike ride. For a guy who lives in Pittsburgh, skis locally, and gets two western trips a year, I get a fair amount of skiing. Not as many days as my friends who live out west, or in New England, but for a local guy- not bad. I always think Janet and I should be living in the mountains. She likes the beach better and alas there is the rub. But we both like Pittsburgh, our friends are here, and we are resolved to ski locally and travel. But that does not temper my enthusiasm for the sport- even in the summer. But again………………….screeeeeeech!!! The nicest time of the year around here is coming soon. But for now, the dog days of summer are to be enjoyed.

You never know what you will see in the fall on a mountain bike ride.

One of the good things about the late days of summer riding is that you are in pretty good shape for the shape that you are in. At 70, I am grateful for my health and when we are barreling down the trails on our bikes, I am usually one of the oldest guys. My Garmin Connect says I am 58, but I know better. The chronological advancement is not lost on me, but I try to stay with it. I want to be doing this for as long as possible and when discussing skis with my friend Eric in Tahoe, we both said we need to stay active. We both thank God for good health to enable us to ride and ski for many more years. It’s not like I am riding like I was when I was younger, but I can still ride and ski enjoyably. Eric and I keep each other honest as we both have lost friends. Other friends are slowing down but we try to keep rolling on the rubber wheels and on the slopes. We are starting to feel like the last of the Mohicans, but there are good days ahead………….if we keep at it. Updating equipment like skis and mountain bikes, help with that.

I am even ready for the ski tuning season with new vices from Swix, new files and diamond stones, and new bevels to accurately tune the edges. My friend Eric gave me a tutorial last spring when we were skiing together on tuning in the 21st century. I was still doing it the old way. But the new way with the bevels and getting the skis stone ground to a specific bevel is next level. I am totally prepared.

I mirrored Eric’s set up here in Tahoe.
Will be using bevels this year for the side edges
When it gets tough- use the Beast.
Our friend Freddy from Tahoe. He is in his 80s and still skis 4-5 days a week.

So, not to rush the season or anything, I am looking forward to fall riding. A bunch of us will be going in September to ride the new Monday Lick trail system in West Virginia and staying at the wonderful Jerico Pre-Civil War cabins there. Jan and I also will be heading to Maine for a fall coastal trip. But I will be looking for the FedEx driver every day to see if the new boards are being delivered. Hey- it’s fun getting excited about things. Thanks for reading.

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“He who hurries his footsteps errs” Proverbs 19:2

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Results Versus Process

You know, hindsight is 20/20 as they say and thinking back, I might have done things differently or maybe had a different perspective. Like youth sports with my son Jack. Now interestingly enough, I always played sports because my folks encouraged it- even though they were not athletic at all. I skied, swam, ice skated, played baseball, football, and played tennis and golf. Took lessons in all of them and really took to skiing and cycling which has stuck with me. But with this background, you can see how excited I was to get my son Jack into sports as a kid. He is now 30, and we laugh about the good old days, but I do have some thoughts on my zeal to encourage his basketball. Again- hindsight is 20/20.

Listening to a podcast with Peter Carlisle, the acclaimed sports agent who counts Michael Phelps and Simone Biles as clients, I was interested to hear his perspective on youth sports. He basically said that in today’s world, specialization is the only way to move from youth sports to high school sports. He was always a fan of diversity of experience for youth sports, and how important it is for kids to try a lot of sports and appreciate the process rather than the results. But in today’s world, if you have talent and want to move ahead with your sports endeavors, you have to specialize. He spoke of the differences in personalities of the kids who move ahead. There are the 80 percent of them who like to win. But the difference makers, in Peter’s perspective, are the 20 percent who hate to lose. He also said that it was more important for his own kids to have that diversity of experience. The ones who have the drive will achieve, as his own son plays college baseball. But he is also realistic in noting that only 6 percent of high school athletes move on to college sports, and an even smaller percentage ever go on to the pros. So, for most kids, the experience of sports and what it teaches you, is way more important than the results. Maybe not so for a guy like Michael Phelps, but for most kids, diversity of experience may be the key that will prepare them for challenges in life.

So, getting back to Jack, I always wanted him to ski with me and to perhaps ride a mountain bike with me, but he gravitated eventually to basketball and initially that was a challenge. I used to say” Basketball?” We ski in the winter, Jack.” But Janet always said,” it’s not about you, it is about Jack and his friends.” So I figured I would go all in on basketball and my own skiing came second as we moved along. We got Jack involved in grade school and high school basketball. But perhaps his best experience was AAU basketball with Daryn Freedman and eventually the DeJuan Blair All Stars with Darell Porter. Darell, a former all American from Pitt, asked me if I taught Jack how to play. I laughed and said I never saw the inside of a gym as I was a skier. I can’t even dribble. He laughed and said he would teach me everything I need to know, but he liked Jack’s three point shot.

Darelle Porter in his days at Pitt
King James AAU Tournament in Cleveland with the DeJuan Blair All Stars

Fast forward, Jack had a much better experience in AAU than he had in high school ball, and received very good training from Pete Strobl, who I engaged to teach Jack the finer points of the game. Pete’s Scoring Factory was a great experience, but it was my way of pushing the basketball a little too much. As time moved on, about Jack’s junior year, he had issues with his high school coach and the rose was off the bloom for basketball. Jack told me he didn’t want to play anymore, even though he would have been a starting player for his high school team. I asked him….” What about Friday night lights Jack?” ” You never get those days back.” He replied,” Dad- it means a lot more to you than it does to me.” Kind of disappointing at the time and I was not happy. But looking back, perhaps I pushed the issue too far. Not real sure, but thinking back, perhaps Peter Carlisle is right. The diversity of experience and the process of sports is way more important in most cases than the results. Unless you are a extraordinary talent.

In todays world, there is a lot of pressure to succeed. It starts ramping up in youth sports, gets serious in high school, and with all the NIL considerations and pressures in college sports, has become more of a business than an experience that prepares kids for life. Even though Jan and I gave Jack a lot of opportunities with many sports, it was the basketball that seemed to fit and my pressure for him to succeed, was perhaps detrimental. I would encourage any parent today to value the diversity of experience and get their kids into many sports. More to show them that sports can teach you discipline, camaraderie, and performance under a little bit of pressure. All traits that are important in life. If the kid has real talent, his or her cream will rise to the top. But parental pressure to succeed is a mistake. Easy for me to say now looking back 13 years or so.

As an epilogue, Jack loves to watch the NBA and plays in a YMCA pickup league. He still enjoys the game and uses it for exercise in his increasingly busy life. So, hopefully some of my past zeal gave him something to carry forward. But it will be interesting to see what Jack does and his perspective on things when he has a child someday. Will he get him or her into youth sports? We will see. He watched me when he was a younger athlete and maybe he will not make the same mistakes I made even though my intentions were noble. I guess looking back it is like the old adage of climbing Mt. Everest. Most climbers say it is the process rather than the result of summitting, that is the most rewarding. I probably should have had a more mature perspective on things when Jack was playing. But again…………hindsight is 20/20. Hoping Jack will say someday that it was a good overall experience rather than not. Thanks for reading.

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Happiness is Like a Perfume

Janet in her happy place

My mother always said, ” Happiness is like a perfume- you can’t sprinkle on others without getting a little on yourself.” Good line and so true. The other day I was listening to a podcast with Dr. Laurie Santos from Yale University on the subject of happiness. Lots of conversation about how happiness is a byproduct on how you choose to live your life. She spoke about the intensity of ivy league life and the fact that many students are not happy. One of the most popular courses at Yale is her class on Happiness, because so many students are trying to find the key. They have achieved the pinnacle of academic stature but because of the pressure to succeed, they are fundamentally unhappy and under a lot of stress.

The conversation went on to say that many highly successful people, like those in Hollywood for instance, are not happy because they are trying to fill their lives with things that really do not solve the fundamental problem of being …..unhappy. No matter how much success or money they have, their lives are unfulfilled, and they are always trying to fill the “Black Hole” with things that they think will make them happy. Dr. Santos believes that happiness is found when we concentrate on bettering the lives of others and can really appreciate helping someone else be happy. Happiness is a byproduct of our unselfish zeal to be there for someone else in their time of need. One of my mother’s other sayings was ” to have a friend is to be a friend.” Being a friend to someone or some cause can certainly trigger happiness, and self- centeredness will never fulfill that goal of filling the black hole.

My happy place of being with friends on a ski outing.

When I think of things that make me happy, I think about skiing and riding my mountain bike. I can be happy enjoying the outdoors, getting some exercise, and being with friends and my wife Janet. This definitely makes me happy, but there is more to it than just satisfying my need to be outside. That is all well and good, but the real happiness occurs when you go out of your way to help someone or some cause to which you feel attached. It’s kind of like the old Christmas saying, ” giving is better than receiving.” To see a child’s face on Christmas opening a gift, to see a person who has lost a loved one smile at you for showing up for them, to be there for someone in the hospital and see that smile, to volunteer for a cause and see the fruits of your labor help the cause. All of these things can trigger that byproduct of happiness and really, can satisfy that need that is often lost in self -centered behavior.

Sandi Hilton and Janet volunteering at Ronald McDonald House

Finally, Dr. Santos talked about being grateful for what you have. Sometimes the most downtrodden individuals in the world shock us with their grateful spirit for what they do have. Their happiness is evident in their smiles amidst some pretty dire circumstances. People who seemingly have a lot, are sometimes not grateful. There is always the need to want more, and their unhappiness is evident in their ungrateful spirit for how fortunate they really are. If you are stuck in the rut of always wanting more than you have, think more of what you do have and be grateful. We all fall into this rut at some point, and it is important to thank God for your health and your ability to do things and enjoy life. The black hole is not filled by things, or trips, or wealth. It is filled by happiness initiated by a generous spirit and a comfort in knowing that your lot in life is to be there for others.

I used to do a skit with a friend of mine at our church called ” The Black Hole.” Basically, it showed us talking about what we did to try to fill that hole and it was always recreation, trips to somewhere, more money, cars, big house, etc. The gist of the skit is that you can’t fill the black hole with things that you think will make you happy. The finish of the skit was to show that happiness and filling that hole begins with an unselfish attitude toward life and knowing that the only thing that really fills the hole is your faith in a God who loves you. Be grateful for what you have and be there for others, and you will fill the hole and genuinely be happy. If you get the chance Google Dr. Laurie Santos. She has some pretty good things to say and even though the commentary is basically secular, have a listen. Thanks for reading.

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A Third Place

I was reading an interesting article this week about “A Third Place” in the latest issue of Outside Magazine. The Third Place is described as a place where people can meet and socialize with strangers, acquaintances, and friends. This would be outside the home ( first place), and the workplace ( second place). In our world, the “place” sometimes varies but the important thing is to meet and be held accountable for meeting. Take mountain biking for instance. We meet at different ” third places”, but the social interaction is there on the ride and also the post ride with libations and snacks in the parking lot. This was particularly important post-pandemic when we were all basically shut in and longing for a third place to meet and socialize. In our case, in an athletic endeavor.

In the winter, our third place oftentimes is the ski area. We have our standard places but also we make it a point to make a ” third place” not only the local area, but a vacation spot where we can ski together and socialize on the chair lift and also in an apre’s ski venue.

The local” third place.”

So what is the real importance of finding a place to exercise and gather socially outside the home or workplace? It is important to have an outlet to be with friends in an environment where we share an activity. The “place” is not as important as what we do in that place. Group exercise meetings fulfill the need to blow off some steam from the workplace and to get out of the house on a nice day or not so nice day depending on your level of intensity. Gloria Liu, in her article in Outside, says that” Third Places are posited as a solution for finding and building community during a time when Americans are increasingly alone. ” Coffee shops, bars, and other meeting places are not necessarily conducive to creating a community like a meeting place, where we are all held accountable to a mutual love of an athletic endeavor. Endorphins are released, people get excited, and make plans to meet again for a ride or a ski day. Thus the “third place” is actually a metaphor for a mutually enjoyed activity that fosters friendships and a community dedicated to health and fitness.

The “Third Place” has actually been quite important to me in that most of my good friends and social interactions have been found there. To me, it is important to have friends who hold you accountable no matter the circumstances. Weather, time constraints, etc. can all derail meetings, but when things are really clicking, you meet at that third place regularly and it becomes an important part of your lifestyle. It is not just something you do, it literally is who you are. Gloria Liu also says that the third place is one that you make, not just one you find. You become more involved. As you become a more senior member of a group, you volunteer to bring along the new people, introduce them to your other friends, and let them make new friends and be held accountable. This type of social interaction is not found necessarily in the workplace, or for many at home who perhaps are single or alone. But it is an important step in developing relationships that last a lifetime.

So, make it a point to make that weekly ride, meet friends who will ride with you daily. Perhaps a hiking or running group? There are many of them around if you search the internet. Find that third place for social interaction and become an integral, teaching part of that group. They can learn a lot from you, and you can learn a lot from them. And as I said in my last post, age really does not matter if your shared love is a sport that you can do for a lifetime. For me, riding, hiking, and skiing are those sports and I have found my “third places” for all of them. Thanks for reading.

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Adventurefest 2025 Surviving the Storm

The prayerful starts.

I always post on Adventurefest every year because it is such a great gathering of Christian, outdoor oriented men. The Boyer’s Pond Campground serves as the venue, and Greg Nass and his team hit a home run every year with activities like mountain biking, hiking, fishing, Harley rides, and even a welding tutorial. But more importantly, some thought provoking messages by his talented roster of Assembly of God pastors. There is nothing like physical activities in the beautiful Laurel Highlands coupled with spiritual activities that complete the whole experience of being in God’s wonderful natural environment.

Friday- Upon arrival at Laurel Mountain in the afternoon, our group of mountain bikers assembled in the parking lot near the ski area to take on the challenging trails as a start to the weekend.

Shark’s prayerful start to the Laurel Mountain ride.
Some of the local residents of Wolf Rocks welcoming us to Laurel Mountain. Mom and newborn.

We dodged the rain, which came at the end of the ride, changed clothes and headed for a wonderful meal at The Fat Squirrel in Jennerstown. Heading to Boyer’s Pond in a rainstorm, we set up our tents and headed to the 3 Cs Church on the campground. We heard Pastor Michael Abreau tell us how a lot of us are like a ’64 Impala waiting to be restored. God is the master mechanic, and the potential renovation is available for all of us if we let Him into our lives. Great message to end the day and head back to the tents. Rained all night but we managed to stay dry with functioning rain flies on the tents.

Saturday morning- Awoke to coffee, served by Shark, and oatmeal served by yours truly, with Roger Evans from West Virginia providing an egg casserole. Good thing we had John Casuccio’s awning for his camper to get out of the torrential rain to eat. We headed to the Quemahoning Reservoir to take on the challenging trail system in deep mud and slime. We were caked, along with our bikes after the ride, but managed to finish in sunny conditions after starting out in in the pouring rain.

Living Evidence Ministries let the music worship in the 3 Cs Church after all the activities ended.

After a quick lunch and shower, we all headed to the 3 Cs Church again to hear a panel discussion with Pastors Jonathan Whyns, Paul Boseviert, Pete Gacialone, and Todd Pugh. They answered tough questions about faith and spirituality. Time well spent with 4 guys who know the answers or are at least willing to comment humbly on the subjects presented. The session ended with Pastor Jimmy Rivera from City Limits Assembly of God in Philadelphia giving us an exhortation on seeking the Lord and allowing him to search your soul. Jimmy spoke about the unlimited neediness of the soul matching the unlimited grace of God. God the Creator breathed a soul into all of us ,and will come looking for that soul someday. Really convicting, followed by a passionate prayer from Jimmy for all of those guys willing to come forward in humility. Jimmy and Mark “Shark” Sauers prayed individually for all the guys. Shark was a great MC for the event and we all said- he found his calling for sure.

Normal Joe’s worshipping their God.
The Shark with his kilt- doing what great MCs do. Bringing it to the group.

After another great meal at the Fat Squirrel, ( courtesy of Bill Belch), we headed back to the campground and the walk to the Cross. Friday and Saturday nights, Greg and his team set up time for guys to come forward at a wooden cross and give their testimonies. Then after their testimony, they hammer a nail into the cross signifying that they are giving it up to the Lord. Amazing stories of drug dealing, addiction, potential suicide, lost families and spouses, and how someone who inserted themselves into their lives saved them from ruin. Those evangelistic souls preached the saving message of Christianity to people who really needed it, and the fruits of their labor stood at the cross and pounded those nails.

Greg Nass speaking at the Cross

The cool thing about Adventurefest and the organization -Adventuremen.org, is the evidence of humility and grace. In this troubled world, people need prayer and that is why most guys come to the event. Sure, they want to experience the camping, the fellowship, the fun events, the fires, the breakfasts, and on and on. But they are all normal Joe’s trying to get along in life. Nothing condescending about them. They don’t have an “above it all” attitude. These guys want to hear a good message that means something in their lives. They want to hear about forgiveness and the grace available for believers. Greg and his team provide a wonderful experience in the wilds of the Laurel Highlands- rain or not. Who cares?

On a final note, we lost our buddy Bob Anderson last year who attended Adventurefest for the first time. He loved it, had a great time, and after wanting to get more involved, tragically passed away two weeks later on the trails that he loved. We always say Bob went from Adventurefest to Heaven. What a journey! Greg fashioned a screw with Bob’s initials, and I screwed that into the cross on Saturday night. What a nice tribute to a great guy that we all so deeply miss. But we surely know where he is, as we knew his path in life.

Bob Anderson- second from left. Adventurefest 2024

About to tackle the mud at the Q

So, not to get too preachy here, but if you have an urge or curiosity, come to Adventurefest next year. Always the weekend before Father’s Day. Great times in the woods with a bunch of guys who will ride Harleys with you, throw axes with you, fish with you, hike with you, mountain bike with you and most of all……..inspire you. http://www.adventurefest.org http://www.adventuremen.org Thanks for reading.

” I can do everything through him who gives me strength.” – Phillipians 4:13

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Keep it Rolling!

” Don’t count your years, make your years count.” – Billy Graham

You know it is interesting, when I spend time on my mountain bike I tend to think about a lot of things. Entering the seventh decade tends to do that and I think about the friends that I have lost, and many who have been injured or are recovering from medical issues. Stuff happens when you hit my age, and I am so grateful to have been blessed with good health so far. I make it a habit to visit people when they are in the hospital, and try to be there for the family of those who have lost a loved one. But I also try to do the best that I can by eating right, and exercising. Doing it all of these years I believe has helped me. But you never know. Try to do the best that you can and thank God every day for your health.

Recently, I finished Dr. Peter Attia’s book called ” Outlive- the Science and Art of Longevity.” The interesting takeaway for me was that he says his methods are not to extend life for as long as we can, but rather to maximize the quality of life in the years we have left. He says we have to backcast to where we are now, if we want to see a future of rolling on the ground with our grandkids and being able to get up off the floor. He says whatever decade in life we are, we need to figure out what we would like for our future and make changes if necessary to create that future.

From the chair at Diamond Peak.

But as much as I think about these things, I also know that you have to keep things rolling. It has its rewards like my last day of skiing this year with my good friend Eric. We had some great snow and I hauled out the fat skis (107mm under foot) and made a day of it. We were the first on the chair and last off at 70 years old. The cool thing is that there were a lot of people there that day who were a decade older than us.

This guy Freddie is 88 and skis 4 -5 days a week.

Lots of vertical that day and even though my friend does a lot of skiing and basically is my mentor on the slopes, he smiled at the end of the day. He said that was one of the best days of the season for him and it certainly was mine. We just need our pal Hutch with us next year. Yes, we don’t ski like we did when we were in our 20s, but we keep it rolling by staying in shape and just going for it.

I don’t ride like I used to back in my 20s,30s,and 40s, but I still enjoy it and can head in a slightly different direction now. I used to be the weekend warrior and loved to chase the age group awards as I got older. I loved to get into the next decade to compete and beat up on the older guys. Sometimes successfully but often getting my head handed to me by an older guy. Now, as I head into this decade, the object is not to be competitive with anyone other than myself. I will still try to eat right, exercise, and basically enhance the quality of life that is left. Not necessarily ” counting the years, but making the years count.” Thanks Reverend Billy Graham. Also, the new Pope Leo IV is just entering his seventh decade in September. He needs to make his years count too. My friend Jaime reminded me that we are older than the Pope. We laughed, but it is kind of sobering too. I always thought the Pope was an old guy. LOL!!

Keeping things rolling along, I like to use a little technology on my rides. It is important to be aware of your state of being while exercising. And the new technology of “wearables” are pretty accurate.

I check out the data on my Garmin watch after a ride and just look at some metrics that are beneficial to me. Lots of data on there that is not necessarily relevant, but interesting things about miles ridden, altitude gained, aerobic and anaerobic effort, sleep quality, HRV status, that can tell you how you did and where you are with your fitness. But nobody knows better than you. You know your body and can listen to it. No matter what the data says, you know better than the Garmin. It can give you some signals, but do what makes you feel good. But listen to the “wearable” if it tells you to back off. LOL!!

In any event, as I wade through this new decade, I won’t think about what can happen. I will just be aware of things. Ride to ride another day, and appreciate things like that last ski day of the season. Thanks for reading, take care of your health, and be there for your friends.

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50 years of Being BOLD

“Maggie- did she say nude kayaking?” With that, I thought Maggie Ostrowski was going to fall laughing on the floor. Maggie was one of our best blind skiers back in the day, a Para-Olympic medalist from the Atlanta Games, kayaker, rower, and all- around great athlete. We just heard Nancy Leverett, the President of BOLD, telling the crowd at the 50th anniversary party at Boyce Park, that we had a lot of “new” events. Aside from the “nude” comments, there were a lot of laughs at this event held last Saturday. BOLD athletes and guides are such fun people with really great senses of humor. BOLD stands for Blind Outdoor Leisure Development which was established back in the 70s by a French ski instructor in Aspen- Jean Eymere. His mission was to develop skiing for visually impaired folks not only in Aspen, but nationwide and Pittsburgh had one of the first chapters – established in 1975. 50 years later, BOLD has had a lot of fun with visually impaired athletes and guides taking part in activities such as alpine skiing, cross country skiing, water skiing, tandem bicycling, camping, hiking, ice skating and lately kayaking and tennis. You have to have a good sense of humor to try these sports with vision issues. Also, the guides have to be patient and have a good sense of humor too. I ran the ski program for 34 years and always told my skiers to ” watch where you are going, will ya?” I always got a laugh out of that one.

Fred Siget, Tom Burgunder and me at the National Blind Skiing Championships back in the day at Blackjack, Michigan

Today the BOLD ski program is run by Scott Gray and his lovely wife Leslie. They both do a great job and took over for me a number of years ago as I retired from BOLD after 34 years of running the ski program. I could write a book about BOLD. Some of the fun times we had, like when I let Fred Siget, our best blind skier, drive my International Scout in the upper parking lot at Seven Springs. It was snow covered and I let him do donuts at night. The first time I guided him was at Snowshoe and the only tree on the slope was like a magnet. It sucked him right in due to my guiding and we laughed as he crashed right in front of the tree. I told him it was the only tree for hundreds of yards.

We had another guy, John Good, who used to ski with a flask of booze, cigarette hanging out of his mouth, and didn’t know his right from his left. I would tell him right turn and he would go left. I laughed and said ” the other right, John.” We would laugh and narrowly escape disaster. Or John’s good friend J.R who could see partially on cloudy days and not at all on sunny days. He always wanted to race John and people were afraid to guide him because he skied so fast and often out of control. I think I was the only one who could really keep him in check.

How about at the National Blind Skiing Championships? The hardest week of my life with 13 visually impaired skiers under my watch due to a bad snowstorm and wicked cold conditions. Minus 40 straight temps on a lot of days – not windchill- straight temperature. 40 below. I taught skiing in Maine but never had cold like that in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.

I went on a blind skiers camping weekend one time and one of my visually impaired pals, who will remain nameless, drank most of the beer I had in my backpack and began putting the moves on a girl in the lean to right next to me. I told him he was blind drunk. We both laughed.

Maggie Ostrowski and Nancy Leverett are both wonderful skiers, even though Mag is now retired from skiing. Lots of fun with those two flying down North Face at Seven Springs much to the amazement of the folks riding up the North Face lift. Both ladies regularly skied out west and had the skills to ski blues and blacks. I am told that their guides out west were always amazed at their skill levels and when they told them that they learned to ski in Western Pa, they were truly astonished.

We used to use radios to transmit and receive voice commands. The guide had the transmitter and the skier had the earpiece. One time, I used the devices to guide Fred right up to Herman Dupre- the owner of Seven Springs, and tell him what a nice, red, flannel shirt he had on. Herman looked kind of sideways at Fred and told me later, after the gag, that “after all the years of giving Fred a free season pass, he tells me what a nice red shirt I have on.” ” I have to tell you Pat, I was getting a little hot under the collar.” We all laughed at that one. I used the transmitter one time and let Fred ski Stowe slope at Seven Springs all by himself. I guided him all the way to the bottom with me standing up at the top. People came up to me later and said, ” Pat………we saw Fred skiing by himself. Doesn’t he need a guide?” I let them in on that gag too. Fred was a good sport.

Nancy Leverett – current President of BOLD and my nephew Richard

Over the 34 years of running the ski program, I have enjoyed the company of so many great guides who selflessly donated their time not only to guide the skiers, but to drive them to and from the slopes. The skiers themselves have been amazing. Computer programmers, accountants, attorneys, all kinds of professional occupations and doing it while visually impaired. Incredible.

So, when the opportunity came up to attend the 50th anniversary of BOLD, I jumped at the chance. I got to see a lot of old friends, met new people who are involved in the “new” sports for BOLD, and in short, participated in a great event. As the folks came in from a hike at Boyce Park, they had smiles on their faces and as always with BOLD events, lots of stories to tell. I cherish my years with BOLD and hope that it can continue for another 50 years. I told everyone at the event that BOLD did a lot more for me, than I did for it. And that is the truth. Please consider donating to their cause. Western Pa. BOLD PO Box 9101 Pgh, Pa. 15224. Thanks for reading.

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The Secret Stache

Lots of people have a secret stache. Hidden collections of Oreos, candy, money, or other things that perhaps they want to keep quiet and only have available for their use only. I have a few of those, but perhaps my favorite stache is my “private” collection of MTB trails. Well, not so private, but I don’t want to spread the knowledge around too much for fear of private land owners shutting down my access to the trails. But suffice to say that these trails mean a lot to me and they offer me some privacy while riding.

Lately, I have been riding by myself and really enjoy the solace of the peaceful, uncrowded state of affairs on my stache of trails. I enjoy listening to music on my Shokz head pieces as I ride along. I have a rather eclectic collection of music. Grateful Dead, New Riders of the Purple Sage, The Flying Burrito Brothers, Poco, and other sounds from my college days. Other times I have Celtic music or even Gregorian Chant which keeps me in a mellow mood all the way around. My Garmin can tell what kind of music I have on by the results of the ride. But in any case, I enjoy riding by myself on the trails that I kind of keep to myself.

Even in the winter, these trails offer great opportunities for quiet hikes and riding. I have always ridden with groups of people on the road and on the MTB. But lately, I have found that I really enjoy either riding with one or two other people or just by myself with my music. Gone are the days when I have to chase people or have people riding up my back. To have a nice conversation with one or two other people or just having a conversation with myself or singing to myself has been very rewarding. This began as a COVID habit, but stretched into present day stache enjoyment.

My Shokz headpieces.

Now don’t get me wrong. I am not becoming anti-social. I will ride with a group if the opportunity arises, but I don’t seek that out anymore. There is something relaxing about riding with a small group or by myself. Especially on trails that a lot of people do not know anything about. I can still get a good workout and review my progress on my Garmin, but I tend now to do it at my own pace. You can see on Garmin Connect if you are loafing or working hard. But doing it on your own is something that I am finding value in lately.

The finish of my secret stache rides are enjoyable too. I ride to a bench in the area and just sit down and relax to my music. I have shown several of my friends this habit, and they enjoy it. The other nice thing about the bench is that if you look around, you can see the intimate details of the change of the seasons. Those first snowflakes, the blossoms coming out in the spring, the greenery of the summer and the flowers on the sides of the trails, and the telltale signs of the fall with the changing leaves. I really like seeing the change from the position of the bench. The music adds to the atmosphere and then……………I head home.

I am always trying to encourage older people like me with my blog posts. The purpose of a lot of this is to get people out of their comfort zones, take up an outdoor activity, and enjoy the fresh air. Like it is always said,” you don’t quit things because you get old, you get old because you quit things.” As we age, we look at the other sides of exercise. We don’t have to keep up and make it a race. We can ride pleasantly and still get good exercise. We can ride, to ride another day. And you can enjoy your own company and get answers when you talk to yourself. LOL!! So, maybe think about this? Think of your own secret stache of things and perhaps share them or………. keep them to yourself. Thanks for reading.

“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven” Ecclesiastes- 3:1

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A Great Connection

The Durfees and the Chetlins in Bend, Oregon

There was a recent Harvard study on happiness that stated that the number one thing people believe makes them happy is meaningful social interactions. More so than money, power, or even health. Also, it was noted that people found more happiness out of giving something to others rather than getting something for themselves. Shared friendships that grow over time are part of that happiness. The great philosopher Carol McCloskey( my mother) 🙂 always said,” happiness is like a perfume that you can’t sprinkle on others without getting a little on yourself.

One of the things that makes me very happy is to connect people that I believe would really enjoy each others company. The two couples above in the photo are some of my favorite people and I always wanted to get them together because they have so much in common. Two years ago, when we were all in Bend, Oregon, was the first time that I introduced the Durfees to the Chetlins.

Good times at Mt. Bachelor for Tim Girone’s birthday and the first time the Durfees and the Chetlins met.

We all had a great time and I was particularly gratified that Jeff and Julie got to ski and spend time with Helen and Eric. They are both extremely devoted to the outdoors, have camping vans that take them all over the west, and an ethos that I always thought would gel.

The Chetlin’s Sprinter Van and the Durfee’s Sportmobile in the Chetlin’s driveway in Bend.

Recently the Durfee’s departed on a whirlwind trip of ski areas in the west in their Sportmobile, and made the effort to stop in Bend to see the Chetlins. I was so happy to receive the pictures of the two couples dining together, skiing together, and enjoying each other’s company. Something that I had wanted to happen for a long time. It was important to me to have them meet and foster what I believe will be a lifelong friendship. As an aside, Jeff has made a wonderful recovery from a stroke and is doing all the things he always liked to do. Eric has fully recovered from a fall in Nepal. Jeff and Eric have had some real meaningful talks about their recoveries and some similar setbacks and issues regarding brain injuries. They are fortunate and can share their stories with each other and take comfort in the fact that by being in good shape, having excellent medical care, and with the power or prayer, they have been restored to their active lives. Thus, the zeal for both couples to do the things they like to do in the outdoors. So happy that they got another chance to do it together.

Helen, Eric, Julie and Jeff
Helen, Julie and Jeff at Mt. Bachelor

One of the cool things about skiing is that it brings people together in a fun outdoors environment. Lots of good conversations in the chairlifts about what is really meaningful in life. Along with discussions about skiing, family, travel and what lies ahead. As I communicated with both couples this last week, I was so happy to hear what a great time they had together. I can feel satisfied that I helped to foster what I hope to be a great friendship. Activities like skiing can be a great catalyst for bringing people together. Apres ski fun, discussions, and dinners together can bring lasting memories that will last a lifetime. Most of my really good friends I met through skiing and cycling. They are fun activities, but they gave me the chance to get to know some really great people in my life. My wife Janet is also grateful to know the Chetlins and the Durfees. They mean so much to us and the fact that skiing brought us all together is a testament to why I like the sport of skiing so much. There is way more to it than groomers, powder days, and beautiful ski areas.

Helen and Jeff- new ski pals.

We are all empty nesters now and it is important to cherish really good friendships. We are all blessed with good health, and a love for the outdoors. If you can take the opportunity to weave friends into your fabric of relationships, you have done your friends a great service, and you have surely sprinkled some happiness on yourself as well. Thanks for reading.

Photos courtesy of Eric and Helen Durfee and Julie and Jeff Chetlin

“Sweet friendships refresh the soul and awaken our hearts with joy” – Psalm 27:9