16

September

0

What Matters to Alex?

Project What Matters – Alex Alex is from Seattle. He and a buddy, both 21, were headed across the U.S. on bikes, and from their load I could tell they were not savvy at this type of endeavor. For a reason I was never quite clear on, they decided to pass through Yosemite where we met up in the backpackers campground. Their plan was to ride trails up to Tuolumne then onward out to 395. Over beers and a ton of laughter in camp, I unveiled the folly in their plan, at which time they altered their route. The next morning before I took off for the high country I asked Alex, What Matters? Alex: Looking back without regrets. Maximum […]

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Category: Inspiration

16

September

0

What Matters to Neil

Project What Matters: Neil Neil is 48 and lives in Arroyo Grande. I met him at the backpackers campground in Yosemite where he was getting ready to take off on the John Muir Trail. He said he’d wanted to hike this trail my whole life and kept putting it off. So this year he realized he either needed to just do it, or keep talking about doing it. So with a thumbs up from his wife and kids he was on his way. “What Matters Neil?” Neil: I’ve thought about that a lot recently and what I’ve come to is, nothing. That its nothing. Nothing really matters. Amen, Neil. Happy Trails

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Category: Inspiration

16

September

0

What Matters to Joey?

Project What Matters – Joey When I met Joey at a trail planning meeting in Hot Springs Arkansas, several things came to mind: This guy is intense, he knows his shit, he knows people, and he’s super into what he does. Passionate for sure but the kind of passion that is in motion, the kind that oozes out like an energy field. Joey is a master trail builder for International Mountain Bicycling Associations, Trail Solutions and, along with my bro, Steve, we got to hang and drink some beers. And we got to ride. Or rather, Joey played tour guide on some brand spankin new trails that his crew had just built in Northwest Arkansas. Trail designs that I’d never […]

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Category: Inspiration

16

September

0

What Matters to Mark Sullivan?

I met Mark while pedaling along on the Camino de Santiago trail. From minute one he easily melded into our group, which then expanded to 5, and we’d not only finish the trail together but he would hang with us for a couple more days in Santiago and beyond before he continued on. Mark was enroute to southern Portugal; he’s there now, surfing. He is involved in a few businesses, is from Chicago and lives in Denver. I could tell immediately he was an easy traveler, an open seeker and someone I’d be interested in engaging in more adventures, partly because I didn’t find out the logistics of his life until a couple of days had passed. Bypassing the usual “what […]

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Category: Inspiration

16

September

0

What Matters to Steve Schneider?

What Matters to Steve Schneider? My brother Steve is one of my favorite people. Mostly because he’s got up energy, he’s curious, and he enjoys learning—so we feed off of those aspects of each other. I can call Steve and as soon as he picks up, throw down the most random, offbeat question about life and he doesn’t miss a beat in diving in on the conversation. Love that. A couple years ago he left his many year job to take a position with International Mountain Biking Association and since then he has been on fire even more so than usual. Love that too. So What Matters to a guy who is living his dream? Steve: understanding human behavior, practicing […]

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Category: Inspiration

16

September

0

What Matters to Ruben Parma?

We met Ruben, a Venezuelan who lives in Barcelona, in Rabanal, on the Camino de Santiago trail. We had ordered too much pasta at our albergue, so we invited him to finish it off for us. This meal would be the start of a lovely friendship, solidified while we all pedaled the pilgrims route. He is not only an amiable, upstanding guy but one with whom, silence and intriguing conversation both run deep. Due to my effervescent curiosity, I have been known to have an ‘interrogation’ style of getting to know someone I believe may be interesting. One of the tests of that first conversation is whether the recipient of my barrage of questions, is equally curious, or not. Ruben […]

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Category: Adventure