Early Wanderings

IMPORTANCE

It is important to give up in life 

That, which you will be forced to give up

in death

It is important to find in your life 

That, which will help carry you on

in death

It is important to learn in this life

That, which you must know

in death

It is important to live in this life,

That, which you will not regret 

in death

And yes 

It is very important

To get in touch with the part of yourself

That, knows no death

That is the importance of life
Skiing just makes it fun

My daily commute outside Valdez, AK. circa 2001

For almost 20 years I've been traveling around, posing as a professional ski bum in a motion picture that I play continuously in my mind. This keep me sane, because as a good friend once said to me,

"if you think that there might be something wrong with you, then your probably alright, but if your walking around thinking that everything is all hunky dory, then your most likely screwed in the head and need to seek help."

Duality, divine paradox; whatever you want to call it. It's real. And it's the world we live in. Keep digging, never give an inch.

The Foundation

posted by Chris Bangs

Some where in New Mexico,

Lost in a forest

With nothing to do

I spit in the sand,

and chalk my hands.

Life took on a new meaning

the moment my feet left the ground.

The searching,

And the training,

Everything was paying off.

Zen is happening in my life!!!

No thoughts

No worries

No where else to be but in this moment.

Why be a dirtbag?
Because you want it! That's why. You want the freedom, the earth, and your feet on the ground,,,, how do I know this? Because I watch the news. I see the sadness in the rich persons eyes because there is no connection, to themselves, to the earth, to their mothers and their fathers, and especially to each other.

One cold rainy day in Alaska, Rio (Old Rad Dog Rio) and I were picked up hitchhiking by a nice guy in a new Porsche. Cool I thought. I'm in a new Porsche with my dirty dog getting mud on this guys seats. This is going to be interesting.... Let's see where this goes.

As usual with hitching a ride on a rainy day. The conversation started out, "boy I wouldn't want to be you right now, stuck out in the rain."

Then just as usual (as it has always been in my life on the road) the conversation shifted. The driver of the hot little red sports car started asking me questions about my life, and was pleasantly surprised to find out that I was not poor or destitute. I was living.

I had just hitched all the way from Montana to Alaska, spent a winter living the forest, climbing mountains with my dog Rio and then skiing back down to my tent, and my bag of dry beans, and my forest friends. The squirrels, moose, and little voles that I feed at night.

To make a long story short (my life has a bit of the infinity in it, as I go on forever),,,, by the time I got out of the $100,000 cherry red 911 Porsche Carrera t-top,,,,, the poor sap wanted to trade me lives. Too bad, I've got no use for a stupid little status symbol in my life. I'll take the rain and the wind in my face. I'll take the good times with the bad. The days of feasting and the days of famine. Because this is life, and we were meant to live it, raw, real, and without compromise.

It's not that I wanted to be the catalyst for somebodies mid-life crisis,,,, but a wake up call is a wake up call. As a matter of fact, the happiest people I know are dirtbags. They have learned to accept life, to accept the good and the bad without attachment.

Mountains

Rain forests

Grasslands

Wetlands

The Foundation is not something that you can buy, rent, or steal; but a metaphor for your life. The Earth is infinitely more beautiful more than anything man can create. Protect her with your life!

The Ski Bum Institute

posted by Chris Bangs

Mount Moran

My first HPM style trip started in 2002, when I rode my bicycle from Missoula, Montana to the Grand Tetons.  I stayed for a month (for free) at the American Alpine Club Teton Climbers Ranch, (thanks Sue!) and climbed and skied and frolicked my merry way around the Grand Tittie Mountains. Running into old friends, meeting new ones, and taking care of old vendettas.  Namely Mount Moran, and skiing the Skillet Glacier. No other mountain at that time had cast a stronger spell over me than Mount Moran. The first time I saw Mount Moran and the Skillet Glacier from the shores of Jackson Lake during winter, I dropped down to the ground and almost puked. Instantly the mountain's spell overtook me. It was love at first sight. Drop me to my knees style love, monarch butterflies in my stomach, style love. I will never really have lived until I ski this line, all by myself, just me and the mountain, together as one, style love.

That first view of the Skillet Glacier was back when I lived in Jackson Hole in 1997. I was in the process of becoming a full fledged ski mountaineer, and seeing lines in the mountains like the Skillet Glacier always took my breathe away. This time though I was seeing the line in person, and in winter when the run from the summit, all the way down to the lake, is over 6,000 vertical feet of relief.

Five years later, having graduated from The Ski Bum Institute, located in Valdez, Alaska, I was now back in the Tetons, one my first HPM style trip. Looking for love. Good old-fashioned Mountain-Man-LOVE.

This is what love looks like.

authors notes:

The Ski Bum Institute, does not actually exist. Yet if you manage to graduate from The Ski Bum Institute,,,, then you're in your thirties, still living in a total dump, and probably don't have a girlfriend. 

Hemp Smoothie

Day 7 Smoothment Week

2 bananas

spinach

frozen strawberries

ginger root

3 Tbs hemp powder

2 Tbs acia powder

1 tsp maca

2-3 cups water

5 ice cubes

The Navitas Naturals Smoothment is a free online program that features easy and delicious smoothie recipes with educational content and a large discount on select superfoods.

After a week of smoothies with superfoods; chia, hemp, acia, maca, and mulberries,,,, I feel amazing.!!!! Big thank you to my sponsor Navitas Naturals. Check out their line of the best superfoods from around the world.  

Lemon Smoothie

Day 6 Smoothment Week

The Mountain Goat

1/4 Lemon

Spinach

2 carrots

3TBSP chia seeds

1 tsp maca powder

2TBLSP hemp powder

Frozen Strawberries

Frozen Peaches

water

ice

Mix in a high speed blender. Make this for one meal for one person per day, (20 - 40 oz) it is one of the most fantastic things you can do for your body. Do this everyday and you'll be chasing mountain goats up to the tops of peaks too!

40oz Breakfast Smoothie

Day 5 Smoothment Week

spouting buckwheat is easy (link here)

6 leaves spinach 

1/2 lemon 

1 carrot

1 cup sprouted buckwheat

1 cup frozen stawberries

1 cup frozen peaches

1 tsp maca powder

1TBSP acai powder 

3 TBSP chia seeds

3-5 ice cubes

3-4 cups water

Makes 40oz

Today I added spouted buckwheat to my morning smoothie. Spouted buckwheat is easy to prepare and is a great way to get an easily digestible protein source early in the morning. I use sprouted buckwheat as a training tool when I'm deep into any type of project. The natural properties of buckwheat enhance mental clarity and improve moods by aiding in the release of serotonin in the system.

 Ice climbing aides in the release of serotonin as well. Cheers. 

Mandela Smoothie

Day 3 Smoothment Week

Painting Mela Bangs

4 Pieces Kale
2 carrots; one yellow, one orange
1 cup frozen strawberries
1 cup frozen peaches
3 TBSP Navitas acia powder
1 tsp Navitas maca powder
1 TBSP chia seeds
1 TBSP miso
1000 mg chlorrela
2 cups water
3-4 ice cubes

Blend on high for 1-2 minutes.

Today I added miso, chlorrela, and acia powder to today's 30oz breakfast smoothie.  These giant breakfast smoothies are the surest way I've found to earn sustained energy from your food all day long.