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| Vol.3.86 | |
Through the Middleby Vince PoscenteAuthor of The Ant and the Elephant, Invinceable Principles and The Age of Speed The day before we were to attempt the unclimbed Chakri Peak in India a fellow neophyte climber asked for my perspective on mortality. He was nervous. With a wife, kids and a business back home and he was anxious about his own transience. Indeed, what would we face on this 17,000 foot mountain. Admittedly I didn't know what to expect either. My answer? To live with as much curiosity as possible. Over the next couple of days we summited and were back at base camp safely. We went right through the middle of our fear.
After getting the phone call, a memory jumped back into consciousness. Sixteen years prior I was in the middle of a West Coast Trail trek on Vancouver Island. Our group of rookie trekkers were soaked to the bone from three relentless days of rain. We were miserable as we trudged through mud and slipped up and down the steep trail. At the midpoint river crossing our group leader decided to quit and the group followed suit. I was left standing in a forest of pines saying, "We can't quit. We started this. We need to finish." My logic was lost on everyone else who knew that a dry bed was just a boat ride away. A few hours after the group was shuttled off up the waterway, the rain stopped. The sun shone for the balance of the trek. I met some amazing people and was immersed in the wonders of mother nature. It was a defining time in my life. I also learned something about myself. "You start. You finish." A simple formula. It breaks Jeff's heart to not join his handpicked expedition. Yet his passing of the torch is an interesting opportunity. Despite my limited experience in the outdoors we do have a superior team assembled for the trek. And that curious gene of mine is buzzing inside as if I was a kid waiting in line for a roller coaster. My mom has often said, "The best way through something tough, is through middle of it." On June 29th we leave for India. Sixteen days later we will have returned going right through the middle of a trip of a lifetime. By the way, there are two new spots available. How's your curious gene? Feel the buzzing? We're interviewing if you're game. Until next week it's full speed ahead,
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© 2010 Vince Poscente. All Rights Reserved. |
Two years later my curiosity gene is alive and well. I'm going back to India. This time we'll climb a new summit. Since it has no name, we have a new adventure in store. The expedition just got more interesting than naming a mountain. Our leader is Jeff Salz. I affectionately refer to him as a Jewish Indiana Jones. Jeff has a PhD in Anthropology and is a dear, close friend. We found out this weekend, on doctor's orders, Jeff can no longer lead our group to the Himalayas. I was Jeff's first call. Before you could say "Oy Vay, my name's Indy," I uttered, "yes" to being the trek's group leader. 