So....this blog was supposed to be about my life as a mediocre mountain biker and why adventure is important whether you’re riding remote terrain in the Himalayas or you’re cruising on your local paved trail. But yesterday was my birthday and because of the uniqueness of our current world situation, I thought I would write about a birthday in isolation.

First off, I’m very lucky. I live in a place that is surrounded by wilderness. Fresh air and trees are part of every moment. But like most people, I’m a social creature and thrive on the after ride beer with my riding companions. Yesterday I did one of the things I love most to do alone.....trout fishing. It seemed natural to explore the water and focus on the beauty of the stream. It’s something I often do on my birthday. I was raised on a trout stream and the sound of the water is in my DNA. Its a calming place for me and on the day that I turned 45 it seemed fitting.

Honestly it brought a lot of normalcy to a day that could have been lost in anxiety over the world. Instead it created space to think about this moment in all of our lives. How we are all being effected in similar ways and ways that are very different. I am very fortunate, I’m able to work from home and for now my job is very stable. But for many others, that is far from the case. The uncertainty in some lives is extreme. A lot of my day job is trying to find assistance for small businesses that are suffering and I worry about about our little town. We are a budding outdoor recreation community that has made significant strides over the last several years. With a reviving downtown and more adventure access, things were going well. As we quickly approach the summer season, all that is in question now. 

Right now finding adventure is more important than ever. In an uncertain world, adventure grounds us. It brings us into the moment. Its something that we always need, even before COVID-19, but now its more obvious. When I say adventure, I don’t mean taking up a new extreme sport. It means allowing the outside world in. Going into the woods and letting the smells, views, and textures steady us in this moment. That was my birthday present....observation, and for me fly fishing is the pinnacle of observation. You spend every moment studying clues; water temperature, insect activity, seams in the river, tree cover, and if you’re lucky, a rising trout. 

So after a few hours on the stream I went back to the truck to check on the dog (he couldn’t come along because of a cut on his leg, future blog post “why some dogs suck as backcountry ski companions”). When I got to the truck an older gentleman drove up, and we chatted about the river and how special of a spot it was and how we were both excited for the season to come. The social interaction was refreshing and rounded out a birthday well spent. I still got my tailgate beer and enjoyed the solitude of a spring dirt road in the remote UP.....no complaints.