Wanderlust, running, injuries, and life.

my grapes are starting to get ripe - a good harvest coming up

That should cover most of what I've been up to lately. I've been pretty negligent with the blog... As mentioned elsewhere I've got a 100K "race" coming up. I have no illusions about having a good time, I just want to complete it before the cutoff. I have been training - up to a 44.8 mile trail "run" as well as many lesser jaunts. During one of these I tripped while attempting to put my camera back on the chest holster and hurt my wrist. It was getting better when I re-injured it in a wet granite slab slip. Since then I've been trying to wear a brace on it, and it is getting better.

Last week I joined a heap of YogaSlackers at Wanderlust in Squaw Valley. We were teaching slackline and slackro classes as well as playing. With my hurt wrist I was somewhat limited, but as long as things were somewhat slow and didn't require a flat wrist I was able to do some hand to hand and other things. I also go humbled by the waterline the first 2 days I tried it, the third time was the charm though. It was nice to get to reconnect with people as well as meet some of the new slackers. I also got to see Michael Franti and Thievery Corporation in concert.

Eric walking the waterline like a boss

Link supports Liz

one of our classes on the dome

I support Liz in foot to hand in the pool at high camp (Eric Ward Photo)

After that I met up with Geordie and two other Australians at Lover's Leap. I was able to do some climbing, although I stuck to toproping in case I needed to drop off. I am able to pull pretty hard as long as there aren't any weird twists or bending my wrist back involved. It was very nice to be able to get back on the rock.

climbing at Lover's Leap - the horizontal dikes are just begging to be climbed

the milky way and trees - taken with the fisheye

Wanderlust Colorado 2013 with the YogaSlackers

On my way across the country I stopped to join some YogaSlackers at Wanderlust in Colorado to help teach slackline and balance classes. After 3 days on the road I was pretty tired and picking Jordan up at the airport and then driving up got us there around 1:30 am. That night we just went to sleep.

The next day we had a 2 hour slackline class at 10:30, then we had to start planning and practicing our part in the Wanderlust Spectacular set for that evening. This spectacular included some talented people dancing, hooping, acro yoga, budokan, music, and us. We did a little bit of acro and hoisted Raquel up on a human anchored slackline, then we lifted Sam in Peacock pose. I didn't get any pics of this because I was in it, but I poached some from Facebook. I should have brought my camera though, as there were opportunities for cool pics of the other performers. Hopefully a video will surface some day.

we started with a little acro - rolled back into reverse shoulder stand (that's me 2cd from rt)

Jordan flips across on our feet and hands - my feet are next

Sam, myself, Mark, and Jordan hold one end while...

Raquel walks the line

Sam gets hoisted in peacock pose

Most of the rest of the time was spent teaching, playing, conditioning (much better with a group), talking, and sleeping - although probably not enough of the latter. Things are never dull with the YogaSlackers, plus I got to meet a few more of this incredible group. I also managed to take 2 classes, and eat and drink a fair number of the delicious free samples they were handing out. MMMM coconut ice cream. The weather was pretty schizophrenic with hot sun followed by chilly shade and wind and back to hot sun. We got a little bit of rain too.

Jordan shows off her henna guns on a sunny day

Jordan tries to stay warm on a rainy day

attempting a shoulderstand on the line with Mia - it felt possible, but more work is needed

The last day a group of us rode up the ski lift and took a bunch of fun pics. Here are a few of them.

Josh doesn't usually get off the ground - he IS the ground

Raquel risks hypoxia from the added elevation on top of Josh

Headstand - made possibly by the 7 fps of the Pentax K-5

Garret flips Colin

I posted some more wanderlust stuff here:

http://www.electricant.net/grundyman/wand2013.html

Slackline and other fun with the Yogaslackers

Things have been a little hectic and when I finally get around to it I should have some good pics to post. Meanwhile I have a few teaser pics.

From the East Side I went over Sonora Pass to climb a bit at the Columns of the Giants with Ted et al. I did ok, but once I got too tired it was all over. Then I headed up to Grass Valley to join up with Sam and meet Isha, Jenny, and Phoenix. We swam in the beautiful Yuba River, set up some slacklines over the Yuba and a longline in a park. Fun was had by all - although there was some excessive uv exposure too.

Jenny falling off the waterline - some photoshoppery involved with this one

Sam on the waterline - he didn't fall

Here I am on one of the Yuba River lines

Sam leaping onto the longline

Raquel on the longline

From there I headed up to Squaw Valley for the Wanderlust Yoga and Music Festival. We set up a heap of slacklines and taught slackline and balance classes. I also got to meet more Yogaslackers - both old and new. It was fun to hang out with such an entertaining crowd. We also set up a line over a pond which was more fun when you were sort of wanting to get wet than when you were cold. Another entertaining thing was being a small part of a performance during one of the opening acts for Ziggy Marley. 

Teaching at Wanderlust - note Ben & Jerry booth behind - free frozen yogurt samples

Jason's reflection from the waterline (flipped)

Anya on the waterline

Here is a link (or embedded) video from Prana of Wanderlust 2012. There are some good bits of Sam slacklining and you can see a bit of our performance near the beginning.

After the end of Wanderlust I headed to Lover's Leap for 2 days of climbing before moving on to Salt Lake City for the Outdoor Retailer (OR) show. Someday I plan on sleeping too, but the Sierra Challenge is coming up fast.

Sam at the ToeSox booth

Dan and Sam at the Brenthaven booth