Coming Winter 1:25 PM

By morning the storm clouds have dispersed and fresh snow on the surrounding peaks reflects the rising sun. We drive into Mammoth for breakfast waiting for the temperatures to rise as the sun ascends. Our journey is nearing it's end so we drag our feet and spend a bit more time bouldering on some volcanic tuff amongst towering Jeffrey pines before packing up for one last time.

A Year to Inspire 3:54 AM

Somewhere back in October our blog stranded a bit. More time was spent doing things than writing about them. We still have plenty to go back and write about and more images and adventures to share, but for now our year on the road has come to an end and the reality of a more "normal" life looms. Yet the inspiration that led to taking a year off to spend as a family is still ever present. While we won't be able to spend as much time on the road or in the mountains, we have learned that home isn't necessarily a place, but a state of mind. Home is being together, eating together, playing together, exploring together. Home is learning new things, rekindling old interests, and sharing in all facets of life. Our curiosity and adventurous spirits will lead us into new experiences in the coming year.

The Wild and Majestic Tetons 3:49 AM

Leaving the caldera of Yellowstone National Park, we approach the alpine landscape of The Tetons Range. The majestic peaks slowly rises in elevation and grandeur as we drive south around Jackson Lake. Most of the autumn color has past, yet a few groves of golden aspens remain, stubbornly standing against the approaching winter. Being mid October, these high mountains have already tasted their first winter snows and down here in the valley the tourist season is already over. We feel refreshingly alone and content.

Bozeman - At home on the road 10:10 AM

 As events unfolded over the course of summer, we came in contact with with a family of Norwegian descendants and were invited to come visit on our autumn travels through Montana. And while our journey would have taken us through Bozeman regardless, getting to see and experience a place through the generosity of locals creates a much deeper impression. So while we hadn't travelled far from our previous destination, we again welcomed the sense of hospitality of new friends.

Fire on the Mountain - The Sawtooths of Idaho 9:56 PM

Headed north, toward the Glacier National Park, the landscape slowly changes. The High Desert of Nevada gives way first to the farmlands of Idaho. And then, on a whim, we detour off onto the Sawtooth Scenic byway, and soon signs of autumn become prevalent. Suddenly we are immersed in fall beauty.  Driving past the resort towns of Ketchum and Sun Valley, the colors began to emerge in the aspen covered hillsides. The mountains come alive and entire mountainsides are seemingly on fire. Reds, oranges and yellows contrast the bright blue sky and we slow our pace to take in the awe inspiring colors. And as the hillsides grew steeper and bigger, the colors became more vibrant.

Backpacking in the High Sierra 10:25 PM

As we gaze at the imposing jagged peaks surrounding us, we try to forget the mosquitoes and enjoy our pristine surroundings. We find ourselves amongst some of the most spectacular mountains in northern Yosemite, polished white granite contrasting with a crystal clear blue skies and alpine lakes. Here, we are bringing our children closer to nature, showing them some of the beauty that has influenced our own lives and decisions. We've brought our boys here to get away from the unpleasant summer heat of the lower elevations.

The Rainy Pacific Northwest - Olympic National Park 10:05 PM

The rain continued to fall as we left Portland. Not suprising perhaps since we were headed toward the rain forests of Olympic National Park. Up until we reached Portland, we had followed the coast s much as possible and had a sense of where we were headed. Leaving Portland though set us off on a new adventure.  All we knew was that we were still headed north toward Victoria British Columbia, but how we get there was a matter of making decisions underway. Olympic National Park seemed like a worthy destination so we braved the rain and made our way out toward the Pacific coast once again.

Portland, Oregon - Urban adventures 5:23 PM

After a couple weeks along the wild Pacific coast, it was a little strange to be headed inland. At the same time it was great to break the routine of camping and getting wet and dirty. For a couple days we traded in the spectacular coastal scenery for more urban adventures.

Small children and big cities. Having done a little background reading on Portland, we had a few things we wanted to see and experience, but how to fit in meals and naps remain a challenge. To keep it simple, we simply kept our expectations reasonable, and fit in what we were able to fit in. It's often hard to decide what few things to prioritize when there is seemingly so many interesting things to see and do in Portland, but we decided to spend one day roaming the cities famous gardens, and another wandering through the downtown shops and streets.

Beaches and brews on the Oregon coast. 1:24 PM

Apart from a couple signs along the highway, there was little to indicate our crossing from California into Oregon. The beautiful and dramatic coastline continued uninterrupted with cliffs and sea stacks jutting into and out of the turbulent sea. Eventually though, the ragged landscape gave way to more gentle terrain with sand dunes, and endless sandy beaches. However, something was different about Oregon, although it's something difficult to describe it's something positive. Perhaps it has something to do with fewer people and fewer tourists and an equally inspiring coastline. Oregon just feels a little more relaxed, like they know something that the rest of us don't. Whatever it is we made our way north, dodging rain showers and enjoying the spectacular views of the coast.

More Redwoods, and Rain 11:20 PM

The Avenue of the Giants led us toward the last few little cities in Northern California, Humboldt, and the quaint college town of Arcata, before leading us into even more redwoods and the largest concentration of old growth coastal redwoods in Redwood National Park. For the most part our journey so far has seen mostly  sunny skies with some coastal fog, but as we get further north the weather has turned, predictably, and become more unsettled. The challenges of sitting together in a car, and sleeping together either in our ecamper or tent have required compromise for each of us.

Redwoods and Rhododendrons 10:03 PM

Westport Union Landing, California. A week has passed since we began our journey. Progress has been slow, intentionally. After traveling the Pacific Coast Highway from San Francisco, it was somewhat disappointing to leave the coast (if only for a little while) and move onto somewhat better and wider roads. However, the detours are still ever present and we take every chance we can to get off the main highway to experience the scenery at a slower pace.

The Pacific Coast Highway - headed north 9:18 PM

Ocean Cove, California. The waves crash against the rocky shore lulling us to sleep, a fitting end to a day driving and exploring along the Pacific Coast Highway. Without any place to be or time to be there, our pace and journey are being influenced by the sights and sounds as we pass by. The beauty of where land meets ocean, waves meet sand, rocky bluffs, and the coastal mountains are the what have inspired this journey northward along the coast. Wildflowers abound, "Happy Cows" and other seemingly content animals graze in the lush meadows and pastures, and small coastal villages beckon for a stop, if only for a cup of caffe latte and short stroll among art galleries and local crafts and locally grown foods.

Monterey and the Bay Aquarium 10:14 AM

Getting close to nature isn't always as easy as taking a hike in the woods or a stroll along the beach. Sometimes the only way to get close to exotic wildlife is through a glass window. For children though, the experience can be equally fascinating and wild. Visiting Monterey gave us the chance to do both. After leaving Lake Tahoe with our fully packed ECamper, we met up with family for a weekend on the rocky Monterey Peninsula, for a visit to the Monterey Bay Aquarium and to hang out on the sandy beaches and explore tide pools.

First Tracks 11:09 PM

The allure of looking back at a fresh set of tracks carved gracefully in new fallen snow is something most skiers can understand and appreciate. A winter storm rolled into Truckee and sent me out into the snow in search of some of those precious first tracks.  However, that same allure is felt by many and the search for a patch of untracked powder often proves difficult, particularly in ski areas inhabited by an overpopulation of ski bums. On two particular days this March, the usual crowd was thinner than expected and the search proved easier than anticipated.

Back to the Mountains 10:17 PM

A fresh snowfall last night left enough snow to blanket the upper slopes of Alpine Meadows and provide for a few more turns in light powder. The spring like weather of the past week or so had left most of the hill skied out and pretty bumpy, so the fresh powder was more than welcome. Today, the rest of the family granted me the first hour or so by myself so I hurriedly put on my skis and headed for the top of the mountain. What was waiting for me wasn't just the great skiing, but also a beautiful landscape begging to be photographed. So instead of hastily heading to the best lines I could find, I stopped and tried to capture some of the beauty that surrounded me. The blue sky, craggy outcrops, Lake Tahoe in the distance, rime covered trees, it was all as inspiring as the skiing that followed.

Farmers Market - Santa Barbara 11:41 AM

While planning this whole trip, the opportunities to be able to get fresh fruits and vegetables for the season has been one of the main treats to taking a sabbatical in California. Fresh local produce, flowers, plants, freshly baked pies and preserves, eggs, locally raised meats and much more! Finally! We are able to get fresh fruit and vegetables!

Waiting for the Big Snow 10:41 PM

Despite arriving to a fair amount of snow on the ground last week, and another 15-20 cm a few days ago, the impending snow storm is the one we've been waiting for, not to mention one of the reasons we decided to spend the winter here in Truckee. While Elias and Frêney don't really care whether it's a few centimeters or a couple meters, daddy does... So really it's me doing the most waiting and being the most optimistic. Although both boys (well at least Elias) do love the thrill of snow falling and accumulating

The year of getting dirty 12:01 AM

While our adventures already began a few weeks ago, the dawn of 2010 brings with it the vision of our planned year together on the road. Up until now, we have been planning and preparing, but now our mission begins. We leave again the comforts of home and head into the unknown, well at least partly. We have no definite plans for where we are headed or what we expect, only that we want to spend this time together as a family learning, growing and most importantly....getting dirty! After a recent day trip into the mountains, the thought struck me that what we really are looking for is to immerse ourselves in nature, to, yeah, get dirty.

As the year progresses we'll see where we end up, but along the way we want to feel course granite with our finger tips as we boulder in places like the Buttermilks in the east side of the Sierras, taste the salty breeze coming off the Pacific Ocean as we comb the sandy beaches along the coast, enjoy beautiful sunrises and sunsets in remote places, sleep under the stars, enjoy the snow under our skis and the dirt under our bare feet, see lots of wild animals, and just plain be outside as much as possible.

In the short time we already have been here, we've already had a good start, but now it's time to really pull up the anchor and set sail. We hope that you, also will join us as we journey along and share our adventures both in words and images. And above all, we hope that you too will make time to get out.

A California Christmas 10:24 PM

Surrounded by national forest and with Yosemite just a short drive away, the beautiful Christmas weather has given us all a chance to get out and play and spend time with family. We are grateful for the chance to wind down from a hectic autumn and look ahead to the adventures planned for 2010, but more than anything we are enjoying the moment and being together with our children and their aunts, uncles, cousins, and grandparents.

A few days before Christmas, we took a drive up into the mountains on a small dirt road as far as the snow would allow. Here we stopped the car and got out to breathe in the scent of pine trees and allow the boys to get out and get dirty. As I watched them climb and crawl over boulders and search for sugar pine cones, the theme for our year together suddenly came to me. The year of getting dirty. The coming year is all about getting outside together and getting dirty, trying new things and doing more of the things we already enjoy doing outdoors.

Inspiration 12:12 AM

Inspiration. Sometimes everyday things get a bit overwhelming and time for ourselves seems rare or non-existent. Even with two fantastic kids, sometimes a few minutes alone to collect (or rather empty) our thoughts goes a long way. Whether it be a run through the forest, or just a few moments in solitary meditation. We all need these moments, yet we have to balance these with our routines of everyday life, children, work, making dinner, grocery shopping... At the end of the day though it all comes down to priorities and weighing up what really needs to be done today, and what in fact can wait. Sometimes our inner being needs to be fed more than our physical being.

In planning our adventures for the coming year, these times for spiritual nourishment are equally essential to pursuing our dreams as all the other activities on our to do list. We need to remember to plan for time for morning walks or yoga on empty sandy beaches, and time for afternoon reading in mountain meadows while the kids are off running picking flowers and collecting pine cones. Until our adventure begins, it's important not to let the chores of our daily lives cloud the beauty we already have around us.