Batkid Saves City

  Batkid Saves City



November is Diabetes month and a couple days ago the planet acknowledged World Diabetes Day on November 14th.  I will touch base on diabetes a little later, but first we have a super hero in our midst and he is Batkid, otherwise known as Miles Scott.  While I spent the day behind my desk pushing papers and computer keys,  the pint sized 5 year old rescued a damsel in distress, saved "Gotham" (San Francisco) from the Penguin and the Riddler and rescued the San Francisco Giants mascot.  Also on his batkid itinerary was a stop for a hamburger and some cruising around in a sweet lamborghini (aka the Batmobile).

For anyone who may not already know him, this is Batkid also known as Miles. (Courtesy: Make-a-Wish)

Nearly 12,000 volunteers and adoring fans holding signs crowded streets for the full-on transformation of the city so Miles, who has been battling lymphoblastic leukemia since he was 20 months old, could spend the day with Batman at his side.  This was coordinated by the Make-A-Wish Foundation.  Miles' cancer is in remission.

Batkid's adventures captured the hearts of residents and transfixed the nation on social media.  He has also captured the hearts of many who are dealing with a wide variety of different medical conditions.  Sometimes we need our hearts stirred.  Sometimes we need encouragement and sometimes we need the right mindset, the right attitude.  While she is not donning a comic book hero custom (that I am aware of), Anne Marie Hospod recently shared, "I did not choose diabetes.  But I can choose life". She shares that life changing attitude in her blog. Well worth the read!

http://drannemariehospod.com/2013/11/14/a-personal-post-for-world-diabetes-day-why-today-matters-and-why-you-and-the-media-should-care/



 

Fort Rousseau Causeway, Matt Hunter and 'the Mermaid'

Fort Rousseau Causeway, Matt Hunter and 'the Mermaid'

Military construction in Sitka commenced at break-neck in September 1939 to ensure that the Alaskan coast would be defensible if and when the Japanese arrived.  The Sitka Naval Air Station, located on Japonski Island in Sitka Sound became operational. When the U.S. recaptured Attu and Kiska (in the Aleutian Islands, Alaska) in the summer of 1943, the U.S. Army decided to close its Sitka establishment (including Fort Rousseau).  On August 15, 1944, the Sitka Naval Operating Base on Japonski Island was decommissioned. 

On April 2, 2008, the Fort Rousseau Causeway State Historical Park was created.  6 tiny islands scattered off the end of the Sitka Rocky Gutierrez Airport form the Causeway.  The 8,100 foot causeway was mostly finished by the end of 1942, at a cost of approximately two million dollars.

In 2012 State Parks completed a management plan for the site.  Through Sitka Trail works, the State Parks and the community the work has begun. 

 

The Allen Marine Boat slowly nudged the shoreline and the walkway was dropped for our small group to scramble onto Makhnati Island.  The area lacks a dock for easier exploration.  We didn't have a dock, but we did bring along a 'Matt Hunter'. 

While only 31 years old, Hunter is gifted at wearing hats.  He is a school teacher at Mt. Edgecumbe High School, a state of Alaska-run public boarding school in Sitka.  The school was actually begun in a deserted WWII building.   He is a life-long Sitkan, Sitka Assembly Member and EMS volunteer.

I had met Matt during my time involved with Sitka Mountain Rescue.  If you get into a tough spot with nature (my hand is raised), you fail on your 50 foot snowboard jump, you meet Mr. Grizzly, etc., he is a great person to have nearby.  If you decide to visit the Causeway, Matt Hunter is beyond great.  He is a walking text book.  No, more like a walking Google. 

Inside Battery 292

 My video inside the building above (Battery 292) 

Matt would take us into a number of buildings, including the impressive Battery 292.  This was the main headquarters building.  Matt would lead our 'tour' with details on how most of the rooms were used.

Would have been an ideal post for Halloween!

Hunter estimates that up to 8,000 soldiers, sailors and aviators were stationed in Sitka, along with a few hundred private contractors and a contingent of Marines.  This in a town of only 2,000.

 New Archangel Dancer, Angela McGraw, enjoying the "Dancer Explosives" sign

"The Mermaid"

He would even lead us to the "The Mermaid".  I had heard stories of her existence.  She actually does exist and spends her time under a disco ball.  The Causeway is cram full of history with some stories thrown in.  We all learned so much about the Causeway, Sitka on the brink of war, the many lives lost during the construction of this facility and that Matt, surprisingly, does not even teach history.    

Fort Rousseau Causeway teaser

'Halloween' photo taken at the Fort Rousseau Causeway State Historical Park(Sitka, Alaska).  The fort was developed in response to military threats to U.S. soil from the Pacific just before World War II.  Looking beyond this graffiti, the Causeway is very historic and is an amazing place to explore.  Story to follow with photos and video.  

R.I.P. Mario Richard

R.I.P. Mario Richard

I am guessing that if I said "Mario Richard" the response of almost everyone would be "who?"  I would have said "who" not long ago, but my friend google would share with me that Mario might help me scratch off another empty box on my adventure tick list. I found Moab Base Adventures and thought that I would email Mario regarding a new airborne challenge, off the canyon cliffs of Moab, Utah. 

Mario Richard - Photo by Hunter Imagery

Moab Base Adventures is one of only two companies I know of that offer tandem base jumps.  I have jumped with Tandem Base (Twin Falls, Idaho).  Rather crazy to step off of the platform on the Perrine Bridge in Twin Falls, Idaho (486 feet).  Leaping with out a back up parachute does take a different mind set. 

A couple of emails gravited into phone calls to possibly set up a jump date in October.  October was approaching, but a date was not set........or would ever be set.  On August 18, Richard and his wife, rock climber and base jumper, Steph Davis took a cable car to Sasso Pordoi in the Dolomites of Italy.  They would be making wingsuit flights and had made the same jump three times the day before.  Something went wrong in-flight, and Richard hit a cliff close to the Piccolo Pordoi towers .  Davis would land, alone. 

Mario Richard in a tandem base jump near Moab, Utah - Photo by Hunter Imagery

On the fatal jump, the Alpine rescue service believe that he miscalulated by only three meters.  He was 47.

Richard had 20 years of B.A.S.E jumping experience and over 2000 B.A.S.E jumps all over the world.  Richard moved to Moab in 2007 and soon met Davis.  They married in 2011, atop the majestic Parriott Mesa outside Moab, and celebrated by running and leaping off the meas and gliding to earth with parachutes.

I am sorry to hear of the passing of Mario Richard.  I am inspired by the life he chose to live and I regret not having made a cliff reservation, for earlier on the calendar.  Take full advantage of life and the opportunities that you have.  Life can change in the blink of an eye. 

The Toughest Bicycle Race on the Planet

The Toughest Bicycle Race on the Planet

If you love to travel, can deal with seriously rough levels of sleep deprivation, and enjoy serving, then you are open for amazingly unique opportunities.  Although I do not see myself classifying with all of the above mentioned traits, I seem to get myself aboard with the unique opportunity to ride along with the Race Across America (RAAM) almost yearly! 

Outside magazine voted RAAM the most difficult athletic event.  While the debate could rage on, it certainly is sheer madness!  A very special kind of madness that covers 3000 miles, 170,000 feet of climbing, and crossing 12 states.  There is no other race in the world like it.  RAAM is a nonstop blur!  Once the timer starts, the clock doesn’t stop until racers reach the finish line. 

 Rick Schultze dealing with the Mojave Desert

  

Many tasks for the crew.  Andre Richison crossing one off the list, above Sedona, AZ

By the time 2013 rolled around, I was on my 5^th tour with the RAAM parade.  This year I was on the crew for Team ON/ABB.  A crew is made up of a number of positions, or roles that assist the team rider(s) to cross the country in speedy fashion  The racer just rides, but the crew makes most of the decisions, and must constantly improvise, adjust, and adapt.  It is an adventure that unfolds minute-by-minute, hour-by-hour and mile-by-mile. 

Dave Preston in the magnificant Monument Valley, Utah

The Crew Chief is the CEO, the boss and leader of the team.  They provide the overall direction for the crew and have to be ready to make decisions, even unpopular ones.  They must always think of the racer, and balance with that the crew needs.

 

The Team ON/ABB crew worked hard to keep Rick Shulze and Dave Preston rolling east.  We started the race in Oceanside, California with 10 crew members.  By the sunrise of the second day, no one was a ‘rookie’ crew member anymore.  Our team consisted of drivers, navigators, a crew chief, a photographer and a bike mechanic.  The note-so-popular roles included sandwich making, fetching water, scrubbing dishes, scurrying to peg requests on the racer’s list, tracking down route changes, were done by any available crew member, at any hour.   

  Matt Hoffman at the base of the dreaded Yarnell Pass, AZ

America the beautiful, is also America with the often searing Mojave Desert, the mountainous Rockies, the wind-swept plains and the steep and rather wicked hills of the Appalachians.

 L to R:  Manny Casillas (crew chief), Rick Schultze (rider), John Wood, Andre Richison and Matt Hoffman

After a tough series of events, Team ON/ABB lost one of its 2 riders, due to possible heat exhaustion.  Through grit, determination, encouragement and dedicated support from the remaining crew, Dave Preston rode the last 450 or so miles solo to the finish line in Annapolis, Maryland.   

  Rolling into a distant gas station in Kansas

Dave generously shared, “Much of RAAM’s spotlight is usually on the racers, but the lion’s share of the heavy lifting to get a racer or team across the finish line is in the hands of the crew.  I am certainly humbled by the dedication the crew had to get our team across the finish.  So thank you crew – you truly taught me some valuable life lessons.”

 Most of the crew at the finish line in Annapolis, MD.  L to R:  John Foote, Adot White, Joe Felder, Manny Casillas, Alan Low, Dave Preston, Denny Preston, Rick Schultze, John Wood.

The Edge of Night

The Edge of Night

I turned off the jeep headlights and was immediately immersed in darkness.  My eyes tried to adjust and make sense of my new surroundings.  My head tried to make some sense of what I was about to do.  Fail.......

Above me dangled a lone source of human connection.  The source was a glow stick suspended off of a fairly tall bridge.  I marveled at what a unique, rather cool sight it was, also at the amazing opportunities I have had to live life and take on different adventures. The list would grow this evening.

I flipped on a headlight and prepared myself for what was next. Just a few

hours ago I had received a short phone call inviting me to join the adventurous group for the evening,

at a bridge,

on a catwalk,

to do a bungee jump

in the dark. 

Not really the kind of 'invitation' you get every day.

My bungee partner, Matt and I were on our way-

to the bridge,

to spend a long evening,

on a rather freaky, narrow catwalk

in order to leap into the world of blackness

                                                                                                                                Catwalk and River

  stellar jump during the day!

The catwalk, far above the churning Snake River, is one of my favorite spots on the planet! While it is understandably frightening for some to even imagine standing on a small ledge overlooking a rushing river, this type of adventure feeds my spirit and defines the crazy adventure seeker that I am....sorry Mom and Dad! 

A click of the carabiner and a screw of the gate and I was hooked into the bungee cord.  Since bungee jumping is not a totally new adventure for me, I decided to explore a new challenge for this jump.  Instead of the carabiner locked in front of me, I had it secured at my back instead.  As I climbed the beam, high above the flowing river below, I hung before I let go and 5,4,3, 2, 1 dropped into the darkness of the night. 

Luckily, because there were only a few night time dare devils, we all got to take multiple jumps.  We had glow sticks attached at the end of the retrieval rope. 

You can barely make out the glow sticks below

 The evening was one of those rare experiences that makes me who I am: a seeker of new challenges, new adventures and learning to live life to the fullest (and sometimes scariest)! Wonder what crazy adventure will top this! 

Sightseeing in the Tortolita Mountains via running shoes

Sightseeing in the Tortolita Mountains

 via running shoes

Rail X Ranch sign with the Tortolita Mountains in the background

 I emerged from my dad’s pick up with a Nathan running vest in hand, an ipod cranking out some inspirational, but mainly  butt kicking tunes to keep me in motion, and a goal that looked, well, distant.  The sun-fried, tiled  sign in the parking lot, decorated with a hummingbird, mountains, cactus and a rather unique, ugly looking gila monster, welcomed me to Catalina, Arizona.  A nearby dirt track etched into the desert landscape,  the Rail X Ranch Road,  rolls west to the faraway Tortolita Mountains. 

Windmill with the Catalina Mountains in the distance

Not your typical tourist, I was here to site see via my own transportation.  A pair of running shoes.  I had a gnarmous (healthy chunk of dirt real estate) amount of miles to slowly take in the sights of the desert landscape sprawled out before me.  The Arizona desert  is a world away from my rainforest environment in  Alaska.  Oh, and its 75 degrees on this cloudless day in November.  It will be a day of contrasts.

A small herd of perhaps 15 horses (feral horses) roam the rugged ridges and canyons of the Tortolita Mountains NW of Tucson.  Not expected on the edge of the sprawling Tucson Metropolitan area.

According to officials and people who once operated ranches in the area, that the feral herd originated sometime in the first half of the last century when horses escaped or were released by ranchers.  I was not expecting to see wild horses today.  I would gladly settle for javelina, jaguars, mountain lions, tarantula or rattle snakes.

White Rock Mine

About an hour and 1/2 of slow, steady motion and the ipod blasting, takes me to the end of the Rail X Ranch Road and a gate.  Beyond the gate is the White Rock Mine, opened in 1958. Posted on the rolling gate is 'Attention Security Guard on Duty'.  Hmmm.  Guessing that this sign is the actual guard on duty. A much cheaper option. 

Sunset in the Tortolita's 

Did I mention that at the turn around point the sun was minutes away from setting?  That setting orb on my right, makes for a beautiful sight, and some beautiful photos, but the run, which has taken longer than anticipated, has become a lot more interesting.  My ultra-mini pinch light and I are now best friends.

 Tucson in the distance

The view of the twinkling lights in the distant world of concrete, stoplights, Big Macs and lots of human beings is a closing reminder of why I am making tracks on this lonely dirt road in the desert and not 25 miles south.  The lights of Tucson, become more apparent as the sun dips behind the lofty spine of the Tortolita range. My current world consists of cactus, agave, dirt and a rare windmill, clicking as it spins in the light breeze.  The lights of Catalina slowly come into view and the traffic whines along Oracle Road.  I slide into the truck, flip on the lights, and head north.   

Short story for The Diabetes Diaries

 



Short Story Submited to The Diabetes Diaries (150 words or less)

My name is Dave Nevins and I run, bike, kayak, bungee jump, sky dive, base jump, climb, am a photographer, writer, adventure seeker, direct a diabetes group and I also happen to have type 1 diabetes. I have had diabetes for over 35 years and while it can be difficult, it has positively shaped me and created who I am today. The disease has given me a passion to encourage others with diabetes At times, diabetes has been a challenge but I have found that by staying active, and focused on my health and diabetes care, I am able to live healthier than most individuals and I have been free of diabetes complications and I look forward to what my next adventures will be and hope to inspire others along the way.

A True Honor

A True Honor

Medtronic Global Heroes 2012

Hero:

A hero is a person

who, in the opinion of others, 

has

 heroic 

qualities

or

has

performed

a

 heroic 

act

and

is

regarded

as

a model

or

ideal. 

Earl Bakken is an original hero.  Growing up in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Earl had a fascination with electricity from a young age.  By age 9 he had built a telephone system that stretched across the street to a friend's house.  As well as being fascinated with wires, cords, plugs etc. he was also inspired by the movie, "Frankenstein."  Life restoration by electricity "my career dream"  What intrigued him the most as he sat through the movie again and again, was the creative spark of Dr. Frankenstein's electricity.  Through the power of his wildly flashing laboratory apparatus, the doctor restored life to the unliving."

On April 29th, 1949, Earl Bakken and Palmer Hermundslie formed a partnership to service medical electronic equipment. They called the company:  "Medtronic."  Over the years Medtronic adapted technologies for the human body, including radio frequency therapies, mechanical devices, drug and biologic delivery devics, and diagnostic tools.  Today Medtronic technologies are used to treat more than 30 chronic diseases affecting different areas of the body. 

Director of Diabetes Research Katie Szyman (in red) surrounded by five heroes. All wearing insulin pumps. From L to R - Celine Parent, Daniela Arantes, Gabriela Arantes, Katie Szyman, Dave Nevins and Torbjorn Harstad

Medtronic Global Heroes:

Medtronic Global Heroes are 25 people who, have heroic qualities or have performed a heroic act.  They are also runners who have been diagnosed with a medical condition such as heart disease, diabetes, spinal disorders, chronic pain or neurological disorders.

Matthew Taylor giving an inspiring interview after his race

Recently I had the great fortune and privilege to spend time with the 24 other Global Heroes.  It was a true honor to mingle with individuals, who despite difficult, challenging conditions, are taking life head-on and living life without limits!

Group Huddle

A cooperative effort between Twin Cities in Motion and the Medtronic Foundation, Global Heroes is a first-of-its-kind program that brings runners from around the world, who benefit from medical technology, to Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota to run in the Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon events and to spend time with Medtronic staff and fellow heroes.  This would be the 7th year of Global Heroes hosting extraordinary runners from 9 different countries. 

The term 'Hero' sounds a bit overly dramatic, but as I spent time with the Global Heroes, it made sense!  They are heroes because they are amazing!  Each hero dealing with medical challenges, while still being triumphant and impressive role models for others.

with my parents, Pat and Marilyn Nevins, during an enriching time in Minnesota

5 Rides to Make a Difference

5 Rides to Make a Difference

Only 18 miles left for the JDRF riders

Five rides to make a difference, to change lives and to find a cure for diabetes.

The last JDRF (Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation) ‘Ride to Cure Diabetes’ was the El Tour de Tucson in the beautiful desert terrain of Tucson, Arizona, which has become known as the most prestigious bicycling event for cyclists of all ages and abilities. Bicycling Magazine selected this event as "one of America's ten best centuries."

JDRF riders arrive at the JDRF aid station

Approximately 170

riders from around the world ride the whole race or sections of the popular perimeter ride through the saguaro studded landscape of the Old Pueblo.

These riders have two challenges:

raising money needed to fund research for better treatments and a cure for diabetes, and reaching a personal training goal to prepare for a destination cycling experience.

    LtoR: Allison Sytz, Joe Maissano, Lauren Sytz and Molly Sytz

                                                         In the middle:  tons of food to fuel the JDRF riders

Luck, fortune, karma, blessing or a combination of all landed me in Tucson during the El Tour and a connection with a friend on the JDRF support team, Manny Casillas, who opened an opportunity for me.

We set up an aid station at miles 28 and 93 to furnish the JDRF riders with fuel, drink, humor and smiles.

Our insanely crammed van included Manny, Joe Maisano, and the Sytz cheering squad:

Lauren, Molly, Allison and myself.

Even though Lauren was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes 14 years ago, she will be playing on the varsity field hockey team this year!

Her father, Steven, pedaled the whole El Tour course like a pro, seeing as this is his 7th year of participating in Ride to Cure Diabetes.

The gals received a well-earned shout-out and were rewarded as co-winners of the ‘Spirit’ award for their awesome participation!

Field Hockey time for Lauren Sytz

LtoR:  Lauren, Allison and Molly Sytz: the Cheer Squad!

This was a first time for Ethan Erickson, a 13 year old with Type 1 diabetes who cycled through 111 miles of insulin pump challenges and rolled through the finish line with an incredible effort.

Ethan even pocketed the ‘Best Youth Rider Award’.

Adam and Ethan Erickson

All the riders and crew would shared a life changing-memorable experience.

Ethan’s mother, Tiburon Erickson, said it out well when she said, I believe the best way to beat diabetes - riding to cure it.             

Ethan Erickson taking care of business (both on and off the bike)

 JDRF will add a 6th Ride to Cure in 2013 with a stop in Nashville, TN.

2013 Ride to Cure Diabetes Events:

Burlington, VT - July 25-28

La Cross, WI - August 15-18

Lake Tahoe, CA - September 6-9

Nashville, TN - September 19-22

Death Valley, CA - October 17-20

Tucson, AZ - November 21-24

For more details visit

www.jdrf.org

-Dave Nevins

The Nearly Endless Trail Book Project

The Nearly Endless Trail Book Project

In a zippered binder, bout 4 feet from where I am plunking on the keys on my piece of my junk laptop, sits a nice, neat stack of loose papers that are numbered 1-293.  Those pages are packed with stats, details, descriptions, maps, photos as well as many memories! 

Each of those pages reflect a journey to the stunningly beautiful mountains, dramatic desert canyons and magnificant alpine lakes that make up the glorious (and hill ridden) Idaho topography.  Those pages are slowly being woven into a new trail book for the Boise, Idaho area,

Boise Backcountry Adventures.

One afternoon in the summer of 2001, Boise rock climbing guidebook author, Sandy Epeldi, and I were discussing the boundless potential for trail running in Boise and came to the conclusion that a trail book was long overdue. Much of my paycheck each week went toward gear at an outdoor store.  That store had no Boise hiking/trail running books on its shelves as none existed - yet!  A week later we were at the Military Reserve trail system to begin the fieldwork for our book.  Since we were both trail runners dealing with some time contraints and some horrendously long trails to cover, we made a brave decision to run all the trails (except the canyoneering sections).  This seemed to throw in a little extra challenge to a duanting project. 

Over a thousand miles later and 11 years........a trail book is near completion.

smallest of the Warrior Lakes near Swanholm Peak (Idaho City area)

There have been many delays:  trail additions/subtractions, trail changes, kids being created, homes being purchased and remodeled, Dave moving to Alaska, other pressing projects........but Sandy, who has done the bulk of the work, has done an amazing job with incredible detail and accuracy.  I was a grime assistant, involved in the initial coverage of trails by 2 sets of running shoes.  Guess I was a partner in grime. 

Brown's Creek Canyon in the Owyhee's

Little did I realize that this project would slowly etch a mark on my life.  Within a couple summers we would cover mileage in Idaho's backcountry that the average Idaho Joe might have a difficult time covering in a lifetime. We saw amazing sights, ran nearly endless mountain climbs, waded through deep canyon pools, endured snow, ice, scalding heat, finished in eerie darkness, scrambled some challenging rock formations,and got lost (oops, I can't list that. We are guidebook authors!).  

Sandy Epeldi

The value of this piece of my rather unique life is coming into focus as the book nears.  Not just because of the actual product (book), but of the many opportunities that it offered.  In the gain category:

• The memories pasted to the ceiling of my brain. 
•  The value of being in good shape and almost being able to keep up with Sandy.  He may be a climbing guru but truth be told, the dude can run.
• The experience of being involved in a publishing project and being a co-author
• The diabetes element.  Not gonna let this disease stop me! I hope to encourage others through this slice of my life
• The many invaluable pictures gathered en-route
• The value of rising to the challenge of each day, no matter what the distance, elevation gain or what mother nature was chucking out direction
• In the loss category:  weight.

  Sandy on the trail

 concentrating on non-runnable sections

Memories from the trail:

Favorite Trails:  Hart Creek Canyon, Red Mountain Lakes, Jump Creek Canyon, William Pogue National Recreation Trail, Jenny Lake

Most Difficult Trail:  Cottonwood Creek ( A rather rough day with the diabetes)

Time it took to nail a title for the book:  10+ years

When can you buy

Boise Backcountry Adventures?:  S

hould be this summer!

Favorite Area:  The Owyhee's.  The canyons are awesome!

a little canyoneering in the Owyhee's

wild horses in the Owyhee's (near Murphy, Idaho)

20 Second Therapy Session

20 Second Therapy Session

I lifted my left leg and swung it over the roughly 4 foot high railing that seperates the spectators from those with a death wish, or those with a wish to live life to the fullest.  It was an odd feeling as my dangling leg stretched to find purchase on the wood platform that had been inserted just a few minutes ago.  I lowered myself down to the platform, now assuming a truly unique and somewhat freaky view off the harrowing edge of 486 foot high Perrine Bridge in Twin Fall, Idaho. 

Perrine Bridge in Twin Falls, Idaho

With the railing at my back, I was one step to free-fall and the river.  To prolong my 20 second therapy session, I requested an additional photo.  Not just a regular snapshot of Dave doing his first base jump but I wanted something a bit out of the ordinary (as if leaping off a bridge is ordinary).

No Longer a spectator

Ok, so while I was attached to my trusted friend, a 1 inch piece of webbing that secured my harness to the bridge, I inched toward the end of the jumping platform.  Man, what a sick view! 

Despite the nerves, it was a unique spot to be as I leaned forward and snapped some history with my Canon Rebel and  handed the camera back to Summer Eldridge, a bungee jumping friend, who had come out to watch me test gravity off of another really high stucture.   

On the Edge once again

In his book, Extreme Fear, Jeff Wise shares that while most of us try to avoid stress in the course of our daily lives, it's the stressful, emotionally intense memories that will live with us the longest. 

This bonus bucket of stress was compliments of Tandem Base, the only company in the world that offers tandem base jumps.  They had just opened up this heart in your throat opportunity just a handful of months before I would be traveling through the area.  I have had some special moments attached to a bungee cord at the Perrine.  I have swan dived off the bridge a couple of times,  been thrown off (pall bearer toss) and now a new chapter in my life, a base jump.   I had wanted to join the base jump crowd for many years.  True story, but the script had no plot, no storyline and no hope of reality until tandem base jumping arrived in Idaho.  Base jumping has a gravity cousin called Sky Diving.  In Base, instead of exiting a perfectly good airplane (or at least one that flies) you are bounding off of a

b

ridge,

a

ntenna,

s

pan or

e

arth.  No time to flail for a back up parachute, so get it right the first time.

Topsy Turvy feeling

Speeches were rather short while on the platform.  A quick clip to the amazingly tall, Mark Kissner,  and an unclipping from the webbing that was temporarily connecting me to the railing while I climbed over and took the "I was there" photos off the end of the platform.  After we sauntered to the edge, I was told to let gravity do its thing and gradually lean forward.  hmmm.  Guess I'll check that theory out. 

Theory worked, and we dropped with staggering speed.  The parachute was quickly deployed and a quick veering to the right and then the left, with the side of the canyon looming to our side brought us into the landing zone.  Therapy Session success. 

There are 3 common routes for exiting the canyon.  The climbing option in which you ascend straight up the canyon wall, the hiking option, in which you follow the river to a turn around point in the road, or the boating option which will drop you off at the park. 

Ribbons for those who had leaped off the Perrine without a parachute or bungee cord

The 50 foot climbing section is not terribly hard but can be a little intimidating for someone who doesn't climb much.  A short note from a base jumping page encourages those on the climbing route to be careful because there are spots on this rock where falling could certainly mean serious injury or death. Point taken. 

I spent a lot of quality time on the bridge taking pictures of the beauty that encompasses the canyon, the Snake River far below and the desert that engulfs the area.  It was an incredible sight to absorb but the real experience and the memories that will always be cherished were the more stressful, emotionally intense moments of hoisting myself up and over the railing, making my way to the edge of the platform, a lean and a flight. 

Climbing option out of the canyon

View looking toward the west side of the canyon

My leap on Youtube:

http://http//www.youtube.com/watch?v=V34n27VgHBM&feature=g-upl&context=G2d12ac3AUAAAAAAACAA

One of the views from the Perrine Bridge

Make Sure It's Inspiring

Make Sure it's Inspiring

As we near the end of November, I am reminded that besides being a month focused on turkey, leftover turkey (and even some pardoned turkeys) some extra days off and giving Thanks, I cannot forget that this is also diabetes awareness month.

The 'I Challenge Diabetes' race team at the Canadian Death Race

An excellent time to communicate the seriousness of diabetes and the importance of diabetes prevention and control. With nearly 26 million children and adults in America living with diabetes, and another 79 million at high risk for developing type 2 diabetes, the disease is taking a devastating physical, emotional and financial toll on our country.

Pumps Rock at the No Limits Sitka Sound Adventure Swim post swim dinner

Yet, most Americans don't consider diabetes a serious matter. They feel it is someone else's responsibility; someone else's problem. That someone else, just happens to include me. I am one of the 26 million. That bit of news hit me 36-ish years ago. I had rocket high blood sugar (in the 500+ range), felt like I was in the walking dead club and got that very unwelcome news that I not only had diabetes but I somehow am striving for extra credit, with Type 1 diabetes, a lifetime chronic disease.

This tidal wave of news had a deep impact on me, of course, but also touched the core of the Nevins family. This disease would affect each member in the family in different ways. I am forever thankful for my loving and adaptable family and the support they have showered me with.

Our film, created on a kayak adventure, to inspire others

It made all the difference.

Receiving the Reifenstuhl Award for promoting community wellness

"Your life is your message to the world. Make sure it's inspiring."

~Lorrin L. Lee

I stumbled across this quote during late night Facebook manuevers. Life with diabetes has been a challenge but it has also been a truly amazing ride. I have chosen to chase and spread "inspiration".

Make sure you do the same.

Our sky diving event

Grinding Up Mt. Hamel

Grinding

Up Mt. Hamel

This is Canada:

• Really good people reside here. Jaime said it best, "Canadians aren't faking, they really ARE that nice"

• Overuse of the term eh!

• An obsession with hockey, curling and Tim Horton's. Tim Horton's website sadly informs me that I am 253.5 miles from the nearest Tim Horton's (Whitehorse, Yukon Territory)

• Creation of some rather cruel races

• Home to the Canadian Death Race

• My feet on Canadian soil, I was headed off to one of my more unique adventures. The Canadian Death Race is set on a stunningly beautiful course. The wilderness of Canada, the lofty mountains, glassy blue lakes and a thick blanket of forest just screams, Adventure! The race is 125 kilometers and touches the sky while summiting three peaks. Using the conversion factor, a kilometer equals: extremely hilly, muddy and pain to follow. Using the complex conversion factor indicates that rain is a must. Eh!!!

I Challenge Diabetes - Team Shot

The route from the start line to our sleeping bags back at Tent City would scramble our two teams of 5 and two solo runners over hill and dale.  Hill would be the insufficient, lacking term, that really means mountains,  lofty peaks that this race makes no effort to avoid.  The 3 summits tagged in the death race equate to over 17,000 feet of elevation gain

Dale (Tuck) would be the race founder and C.E.O. of Canadian Institute of Extreme Racing.  With a title like that, and the creation of an event known as the Death Race, need I say more?

Starting the trek up Mt. Hamel

I was racing on the

"I Challenge Diabetes"

team.  This is an organization created by Chris Jarvis (a Canadian Olympic Rower with Type 1 diabetes)  for people with Type 1 diabetes.  We had 2 relay teams of 5 and 2 solo racers.  A truly amazing group of people.  Inspiration has a home.  We were here to inspire others with diabetes and to continue living the adventure that defines who we were.   We had cool race shirts and we had diabetes and we were soon to become death racers.... 

 I was on the 4th leg of the race and had much of the day to rivet into race mode.  I went over my vital, required gear list, my recommended gear list, and my necessary diabetes items. Prepared for most everything except a Moose attack, I was off to the transition zone.

A team that planks together....Igor!

Late afternoon, the first drops fell from the heavens.  Within a few minutes, Marco completed leg 3 with a hand off of the official timing chip and race coin.  That coin would be payment for Anne's shuttle across the Hell's Gate Canyon, at the confluence of the Smokey and Sulphur Rivers.  I am guessing that the ferryman is not in a very pleasant mode if you arrive without the required coin.

Game time and off I rambled. To work for a magical view means that you climb like hell.  I would have about 5,000 feet of gain within 6 miles, before I reached  the top of Mt. Hamel.  It was quite the grind but  well worth it.  There were even nice Canadians running, hiking and crawling along the route.  Suffering, but still nice.

One of my favorite quotes from the race came from Heather when she shared to the team one of our experiences.....that you all got to experience a real "Albertan summer" (rain, sun, wind, cold, sort of warm all within the same hour).  I lived the Albertan summer experience only to find that the experience would evolve into 5+ more hours of rain

Grand Cache from Mt. Hamel

I was running well as I headed down Hamel.  A heinous climb meant that there had better be a long, long downhill.  Unbelieveable sights as we wove our way down the rugged terrain.  Hamel Loop conquered, I zagged past the aid station and loaded up on H20 and began the last 6 miles to the end of this leg.  Inventory time:  H20 - check, food - check, working headlight - ok, not really, so I pulled out headlight #2 - check, trekking poles ------------------------trekking poles - uncheck.  Yea dude, the expensive trekking poles you borrowed.  Back up the hill to the aid station for poles and evidently to make up some wild dream that I needed more mileage on top of about 23 already. 

For lack of a way to verbalize that sound that a insulin pump makes when it is not happy and there are issues, beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep, beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep, you get the idea.  I had a dead pump and deader than dead continous glucose monitor system.  Error message on the pump informed me that it was now retired and  the latest victim of the 'death' race.  Thank goodness that I was within about 1 hour of finishing and that I was spending my weekend with a bunch of people with type 1 diabetes, and extra pumps. 

Time chip and race coin handed off to Anne, rain crashing down, mud pits beginning to swallow runners whole.  It was near midnight, I was cold, soggy wet, blood sugar was creeping upward  and I knew that this was one of the greatest experiences of my life. 

You Must Live in the Present...

"You Must Live in the Present"

picture that Trever gave me after the kayak trip

A large framed picture adorns my cluttered office space. It is the picture above, while three kayak warriors camped at beautiful DeGroff Bay, during our amazing 2010 No Limits Destination Alaska Sea Kayak Expedition. Those who know me, probably know that I plant inspirational and meaningful images in my living and work areas. This surprising gift was compliments of wisdom from Henry David Thoreau and the kind thoughtfulness and checkbook of fellow kayaker, bungee jumper, adventurer and card carrying diabetic, Trever Alters. Trev joined guide Scott Harris (Latitude Adventures) and myself on the kayak journey that took us into some secluded waters of Alaska.

Trev and I had crossed paths, amazingly, through bungee jumping when my casa resided in Boise, Idaho. He understands that people with diabetes can lead incredible and adventurous lives. And he lives and breathes it (scuba diving in Puerto Rico in two weeks is another confirmation!). He was a key component to No Limits and our many unique events. Bungee jump and sky diving fund raisers, an adventure racing team, rock climbing, ultramarathons, it was a grand time. Henry David Thoreau sought to rise above common thought and ideas. He would have smiled at our lifestyles.

While I was stoked to receive a lasting memory of our incredible 4 day kayak journey near Sitka, Alaska, it was the Henry David Thoreau quote that made the gift primo.

"You must live in the present, launch yourself on every wave, find your element in each moment".

perfect. Thanks Trev.

Trever in Nakwasina Sound

A very non-scientific ratio that is in my notes from the trip and which I cannot prove or disprove, but I had noted that this year's weather was 234% better than the 09 trip of weather horror. Yes, we survived in 2009 and a bloody well yes, we had a good time but Miss Mother Nature was beasty at times.

This year the animals came out to play. Lots of them. This is Alaska! The critter log:

Grizzly Bears - 4

Eagles - vast quantity

Harbor Seal - at least 1

Mink - 1

Commorants - ok I am not a bird person so don't know the count

Porpoise- 1

Sea Lions - a few of the big guys

Jelly Fish - enough for any horror film

Jelly fish touch contest - many close encounters

Trever explores the Neoga near Hallack Point

I set up the video cam to allow each person an opportunity to share their thoughts on the trip, life, diabetes, current girl fiascos, etc. It was just the cam and their thoughts meeting on the shore as daylight slowly faded.

Much after the trip, life settled a bit and I made way to view the footage collected from an excursion awash with excellent company, stories and many kodak moments.

Before the trip, Trever had shared that he was excited about kayaking and that he had wanted to come visit me and to see the Last Frontier. I knew that he had just returned from a trip from Hawaii and in the back of my mind I was slightly jealous of a summer that included Hawaii and Alaska. Little did I know....

As darkness crept foward and the sea slowly lapping the shoreline of DeGroff Bay, Trev would share his angle on life as a person with diabetes, Alaska, etc. The footage rolled forward but Trev took a left turn from his usual fun, optimistic, humorous mood. He would bare his emotions as he dug deep to share the recent loss of his brother Nate. Nate had been hit by a car on March 18, 2010. Trever had planned on visiting him in Hawaii in May or June but that would never happen. He made the trip despite Nate's passing, as a memorial. He spent most of his time in Hawaii hanging out with Drew, Nate's closest friend. The Alaska trip was good timing for Trev as he had to deal with Nate's death amongst other circumstances that made the year a challenge. It is my guess that Trever did not want to share the tough details of what he was going through so that it would not hover or drag down our trip.

My heart fell.

Photo by Scott Harris

In the 35 miles of sea that we paddled through, we explored a shipwreck, went snorkeling, beachcombing, exploring, ate some incredible feasts created by Scott, our great cook/guide, compiled footage for a future film, saw animals galore, managed to get growled at by a bear, tree climbing and absorbing information on diabetes and the great outdoors, in a classroom called Alaska.

We did our best at living in the present....

launching ourselves on every wave.......

finding our element in each moment..... May it continue for a life time.

Scott and I are working on our the next expedition which will be July 16-19 (with a possible extension to July 21). If you are interested and have diabetes or are involved in diabetes care please consider joining us. Contact me at

runalaska@yahoo.com

.

L to R - me, Scott Harris, Trever Alters at DeGroff Bay ps- Trever is living in the present as he spent this last weekend in remembering Nate. He traveled to Boise, Idaho to unite with family and friends as it was the 1 year anniversary of the accident.