28

August

0

Mountain Echoes

After a hike in the rain, I had the pleasure of attending a couple of sessions at Mountain Echoes, a literary conference in Thimphu, Bhutan, orchestrated by Her Majesty The Queen Mother Ashi Dorji Wangmo Wangchuck. The session, Woman Up, was a panel discussion with four successful, confident women who have made huge marks on many fronts: Amrita Tripathi, Barkha Dutt, Kuenga Wangmo, Padma Lakshmi. It was brought up repeatedly how younger women today have issue with the term feminism. I have run across this as well, so I was so pleased when most of them stated they were not only proud feminists but could only be in relationships with men who were as well—I was inspired—as I am in […]

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Category: Bhutan

28

August

0

Highlights of my day in Thimphu

1) Checking out progress on the gorgeous home (mansion!) that my Bhutanese sister, Yangki Tshering is building. Yangki is as humble and strong a woman as I’ve ever met and I feel privileged to know her. That said I’m glad I’m not one of her home building workers, as she is putting them to task in creating a stunning place! 2) Eating lunch at my favorite local spot, momo house, and once again buying lunch for the family who had the balls to sit at the table with the lone outsider chick (yeah thats me). Downside of the day: getting clear on how embarrassed I am to be an American right now, given the world view of our abomination of […]

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Category: Bhutan

28

August

0

Back in Bhutan

After dealing with a flight mix up (which involved calls to various embassies by friends in Bhutan and US to try and sort out where I was!!!) and a typhoon I have arrived in my beloved Bhutan, again. While on the drive from the airport to Thimphu I felt so much joy to be back in this beautiful, peaceful place. My heart is full. It was fitting that the first familiar face and hug was from Secretary General of Bhutan Olympic Committee! Bhutanese love to joke so I threw down my first at the airport when they did what is so common here—collect several people to do one task. “How many Bhutanese does it take to put a bike case […]

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Category: Adventure

16

August

0

2-Days in Yosemite Backcountry—Pondering Perception and Freedom

One intriguing aspect of my long term relationship with the Range of Light is how it pulls at me like a magnet. Most readily when I am in balance, and sometimes when I am feeling weighted down. Experiencing the latter as of late, I took off in the middle of the night on Sunday to Tuolumne Meadows for two days of tough solo hiking in the backcountry and one night of blissful sleep under the stars. I never know what will surface from each foray into the Sierra Range except that I will have wiped the slate clean on unproductive mental grappling, and in position to create what I wish moving forward. This familiar scenario played out, yet this time […]

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Category: Adventure

04

August

0

Adventure in Bhutan

Adventure Travel Bhutan: After creating, planning and executing Expedition Bhutan, a 2-month trekking and mountain biking journey across the country of Bhutan in 2011, I could have never imagined the intimate and ongoing relationship I’d develop with this stunning, culturally intriguing country.          Since that first foray into the land of Gross National Happiness, I’ve fundraised for Bhutanese individuals and non-profits, and lived and volunteered there for more than a year in total, co-creating the Bhutan International Marathon and Half Marathon and consulting on additional sporting initiatives.           As I get ready to head back again in a few weeks to, once again, ride Tour of the Dragon, a 268K, one-day mountain bike event which traverses the country (see my post on my first finish), I’m reflecting on how much […]

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Category: Adventure

28

June

0

Sierra to the Sea

Kudos to the Almaden Cycle Touring Club (ACTC) for hosting the 30th Annual Sierra to the Sea Bike Tour this past week—a 450 mile/7-day ride across our beautiful state. About 120 riders plus staff enjoyed an impressive 7-day route from South Lake Tahoe to San Francisco on some of the most scenic and historic backroads our state has on offer. Each day of tough riding wound through little known towns, up memorable climbs and with views that remind us why we spend so much money to live in this state. I felt giddy, like a kid at Christmas each time we headed down yet another stretch of backroad I had never ridden. After sitting in a frigid river or swimming […]

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Category: Adventure