Alpine Classroom

FromThe Dirtbag Diaries

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Alpine Classroom

FromThe Dirtbag Diaries

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Length:

49 minutes

Released:

May 12, 2023

Format:

Podcast episode

Description

A young man hungry to learn how to recreate in the mountains, and a veteran guide leading the NOLS course in the Waddington Range of British Columbia. Their recollections of the trip, the challenges they face and the moments they find memorable, do not always line up.

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Released:

May 12, 2023

Format:

Podcast episode

Titles in the series (100)

This is what adventure sounds like. Climb. Ski. Hike. Bike. Paddle. Run. Travel. Whatever your passion, we are all dirtbags. Outdoor writer Fitz Cahall and the Duct Tape Then Beer team present stories about the dreamers, athletes and wanderers.

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All These Things: Today, Becca Cahall brings us All These Things – a story about getting older and skiing faster. We’re headed for British Columbia’s Selkirk Mountains – an incredible range of open alpine faces, perfect tree skiing and tight chutes that every backcountry skier dreams of visiting. by The Dirtbag Diaries
22 min listen
No Big Deal: In 1996, photographer John Burcham and three friends completed the first foot traverse of the 650-mile long Alaska Range. Burcham decided to leave the group at the very end of the trip in order to make it to his sister's wedding. He was alone in the continent's last great wilderness with a sobering realization -- crevasses, hungry wildlife and hypothermia can kill you, but loneliness can drive you crazy. by The Dirtbag Diaries
22 min listen
Mister Smart Goes Big: Rangi Smart was riding a small spur of his favorite single-track trail when he stumbled upon a perfectly designed mountain bike jump. The 33-year-old math teacher thought to himself, “What kind of nut-job rides off something like that?” Then Rangi imagined that he was that nut-job. We bring you the hopes, dreams and goals of professional athletes, regular joes, parents, soldiers and students. Here’s to the dirtbags. Here’s to Mr. Smart. by The Dirtbag Diaries
20 min listen
The Monoboard: Gaper. Touron. Weekend warrior. As mountain people, we can be a cold, hard lot adhering to an "Us and Them" mentality, but at the root, what makes a dirtbag a dirtbag? Is it a look? The clothes we wear or the skis we ride? Or is there something deeper to out culture? Can anyone be a dirtbag? by The Dirtbag Diaries
10 min listen
A Brief Moment in a Beautiful Place: This week we're headed for Laos to recount the story of two friends and one spectacularly bad idea. Join us as we follow Jacob Bain, Colin Brynn and a bamboo raft down a river at the edge of the world. by The Dirtbag Diaries
24 min listen
Help Wanted: There’s no such thing as a perfect job. What if there was a magical place where you could get paid to climb? At the center of this kingdom is a mountain, and all you have to do is climb it. Find out what happens when a bunch of climbers are left unsupervised with the keys to the Magic Kingdom. by The Dirtbag Diaries
25 min listen
A Lifeline Home: Today, we bring you the tale of Ryan Utz and Micah Helser -- both climbers, both soldiers -- and their quest to create a lifeline back from the frontlines to the things that matter the most – friends, family and that freedom found only in open spaces. We are headed to the world’s most improbable climbing wall. This is Camp Taji. Welcome to Iraq. by The Dirtbag Diaries
27 min listen
The Brotherhood: On a remote cliff in northern Arizona, we join rock climbers Albert Newman and James Q Martin as they attempt the first free ascent of Tooth Rock. by The Dirtbag Diaries
21 min listen
Anatomy of an Accident: This week the Dirtbag Diaries presents the Anatomy of an Accident. What do you take away from a near-death experience? Is there meaning in it? If so, what does it say about our relationships with these mountains, these rivers and these oceans. by The Dirtbag Diaries
17 min listen
The Crusade: Today, we bring you the Crusade, the story of two stockbrokers, an engineer and a nuclear physicist who, with a little help from the Internet, helped shaped American ski mountaineering without ever leaving their backyard. by The Dirtbag Diaries
35 min listen
A Thousand Words: There is no textbook on adventure journalism, but if there were one, it would contain one single, steadfast rule -- you can't photograph adventure from a safe distance. This week, adventure photographer Corey Rich gives us photos and the untold stories behind them. by The Dirtbag Diaries
26 min listen
The Reckoning: In 2005, photographer, writer and avid cyclist Blake Gordon joined the Logsdon brothers in the midst of pedaling 15,000 miles and raising money for the National Brain Tumor Foundation. Today, we present The Reckoning – a story plucked from the pages of a young photographer’s notebook. You can ride your bike to the edge of a continent, but when the road ends it doesn’t always lead to neat resolutions. by The Dirtbag Diaries
27 min listen
Datos Insuficientes: In the summer of 2007, kayaker and blogger Shane Robinson found himself paddling down Peru’s isolated Apurimac River with Andrew Oberhardt and Bryan Smith. They had no map, no aerial photos and enough food for five days. Fifteen years of kayaking had led to this moment. by The Dirtbag Diaries
26 min listen
The Year of Big Ideas: Today we bring you the “Year of Big Ideas? – a show all about goals, some big, some small. We’ve interviewed friends, professional athletes, random people on chairlifts, anyone we could rope into contributing. Here’s to dreaming big and going bigger in the New Year. by The Dirtbag Diaries
15 min listen
The Golden Hour: In spring of 1991, Tom Broxson survived a 200-foot fall off the top of Yosemite Valley’s Washington Column. To this day, Tom, his climbing partner Pat and the rescuers who saved his life aren’t exactly sure what happened. Today we bring you Tom’s story of survival, recovery and will. by The Dirtbag Diaries
27 min listen
The Human Mule: Through the years, I’ve tried to escape words and journalism, but the writing life always has a funny way of creeping back into my world. This time it came in the form of a 230-pound cameraman with a fear of heights, a fast talking New York producer and a 30-year-old broadcaster trying to return to her childhood. It turns out you have to earn your 15 seconds of fame. by The Dirtbag Diaries
19 min listen
Fear Squared: To celebrate Halloween, we bring you two tales of terror. Contest winner Chris Peters explains why it pays to listen to the safety talk and a very special guest remembers a family vacation to the Alaskan wilderness gone wrong. by The Dirtbag Diaries
29 min listen
The Shorts -- Balance: The Bohrer clan isn’t your average Idaho Falls family. Juggling goals in the mountain with parenting is no simple task. Sometimes balancing competing passions requires combining them into a lifestyle. After all, whether you’re old or young, everyone likes to play hooky if there is snow on the hill. by The Dirtbag Diaries
7 min listen
Prayer for a Friend: Today on the Dirtbag Diaries, we’re traveling from the halls of a New England boarding school where two boys forged an unlikely friendship to the wind-swept wilderness deep inside the Cascade Mountains, where a trio of climbers have been hard at work solving one of the Northwest’s greatest free climbing projects. by The Dirtbag Diaries
20 min listen
What Is Hardcore?: Our sports have long heralded rating systems that let us know just how we're doing. We may bicker over their ratings, but we return to them again and again. They help us set goals, and push ourselves harder. Today, Brendan Leonard dives in with some simple ideas on who and what are hard core. How do you measure up? by The Dirtbag Diaries
24 min listen
Seeds: It was a tough summer in the climbing community. We lost heroes, friends, mentors, legends, sons and parents. We celebrate their lives with stories and memorials, but then the living are left to confront hard questions and dark emotions. This year, 22-year-old Evan Piche’s world turned upside down. He discovered, that even in the worst moments there are seeds of growth. by The Dirtbag Diaries
17 min listen
The Shorts -- Indiana Powder Day: When listener Andy Guinigundo’s email appeared in the inbox on a rainy spring day, I read through it, read it again and thought “Damn, I wish I could have been there.? That’s because no matter where you ski, a powder day is a magical thing. I’d been wanting to create some smaller shorts between feature episodes, so Andy joined us in the Dirtbag Diaries Midwest Studios and gave us his own farewell to an unforgettable winter season. by The Dirtbag Diaries
7 min listen
The Shorts: The Simple Joy of Moving Upward: After loosing his leg in a climbing accident, Craig DeMartino had to retrain his body and learn his craft all over again. DeMartino takes us to Vail and the Teva Mountain Games. Behind the bright lights, big names and massive crowds, climbing’s everyman gets his moment in the sun. by The Dirtbag Diaries
8 min listen
The Earth Throne: Seventeen years ago, Sean O’Neill – artist athlete and big brother to pro climber Timmy O’Neill – lost the use of his legs. After the accident, Timmy dreamed about helping his older brother climb El Capitan. In 2005, the brothers decided it was time to act. James Mills brings us a story about two brothers, one very big cliff face and a 17-year-old dream. by The Dirtbag Diaries
24 min listen
The Shorts--By Any Means Necessary: Growing up in Ireland, writer Lisa McGonigle wasn't immersed in snow and mountains. But a trip to the Pyrenees when she was 19 to try snowboarding realigned her priorities. While little rivals fresh lines on a powder day, she discovered the fine line between passionate and obsessed can be difficult to distinguish. by The Dirtbag Diaries
12 min listen
Tales of Terror Vol. 2: It can be difficult to separate an initial seed of fear from the growing tangle of possibility that can quickly emerge in your head, but sometimes that sprouting seed is very tangible. Today, we bring you stories from Sara Porterfield and Jeremy Allyn. They'll make the hair on the back of your neck stand up. You'll try to shudder them off. But the seed- the seed will remain. by The Dirtbag Diaries
24 min listen
The Shorts -- Knees and Weather Permitting: When writer Sarah Wroot took her first hike through Scottland’s craggy hills, she was overwhelmed with a surprising notion. “If I had a pack and a tent, I could keep going. I could be free to go wherever I want,” she thought. The idea took hold. Today, Sarah takes us all the way the Scottish Highlands and a journey that changed her life. by The Dirtbag Diaries
10 min listen
The Shorts: Year of Big Ideas Reprieve: In the Year of Big Ideas, my childhood friend Brad laid it out – he was going to climb El Cap in 2008. We planned and tried to convince others to join us, but in the end, Brad and I were on our own to wrestle with one very big – arguably bad – idea. A third of the way through 2008, where are you in your year of big ideas? We’d love to hear from you. Leave a comment and a little inspiration. What have you ticked off the list? What’s left? by The Dirtbag Diaries
7 min listen
The Shorts -- Friendship is a Used Bicycle: “’You should get a bike. It will change your life,’ my friend Nick said. I heard this over and over again like a nagging brake pad rubbing on the one wobbly spot on a dented wheel,” writes Colorado-based writer Brendan Leonard. Leonard wasn’t a believer until his friend showed up his doorstep with a gift – a 1989 red Trek bicycle. As he began riding, Leonard found his life falling into the smooth order of a finely tuned bike. by The Dirtbag Diaries
9 min listen
The Shorts -- Friends In High Places: Two and a half years ago, climber and Diaries contributor, Kelly Cordes, signed up for a Facebook account, promptly forgot the password and found out that negotiating social media can be every bit as difficult as picking a path through gaping crevasses, rotten ice and snow-covered rock. It’s certainly just as time consuming. by The Dirtbag Diaries
16 min listen

More Episodes from The Dirtbag Diaries

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Beth Rodden: A Light Through The Cracks: Fitz chats with Beth about her new book, A Light Through the Cracks, and what it means to live a big life. by The Dirtbag Diaries
38 min listen
States of Adventure book Pre-order: Fitz and Becca have been working on adapting 30 episodes into essays and pairing them with incredible imagery. by The Dirtbag Diaries
11 min listen
Live From 5Point Vol. 10: John Francis, Renan Ozturk and Taylor Rees joined us for a live conservation at the 5Point Film Festival. by The Dirtbag Diaries
55 min listen
The Shorts— Everybody Loves Lyle: A weekend of surfing with buddies turns epic when everyone’s favorite pup, Lyle, goes missing. by The Dirtbag Diaries
18 min listen
Querencia (Español): Vanessa Chavarriaga Posada se propone esquiar el pico más alto de México, con un reto especial: que sus papás la acompañarán en el campamento base. by The Dirtbag Diaries
45 min listen
Homecoming (English): Vanessa Chavarriaga Posada sets out to ski the tallest mountain in Mexico with a twist: her parents would join her at basecamp. by The Dirtbag Diaries
42 min listen
The Only Way Out Is Through: Natalie Brechtel leads a month-long traverse to the South Pole and redefines what it means to trust herself and feel safe in one of the world’s harshest environments. by The Dirtbag Diaries
45 min listen
The Shorts-- Chasing A Vision: Brice Ruiz and Ashley Lose tackle uncertainty and demonstrate wild resilience in creating the lives they want to lead. by The Dirtbag Diaries
36 min listen
Race Day: The magic of race day, from the perspective of a race director and race day volunteers. by The Dirtbag Diaries
37 min listen
The Winter Rangers: Rob and Laura Pilewski recount tales from their thirteen snowy seasons as the Tuolumne Winter Rangers. by The Dirtbag Diaries
43 min listen
The Shorts-- The Wilderness Within: Julia Hoer and Josie McKee grapple with life-changing experiences and learn that everything they need is already within them. by The Dirtbag Diaries
34 min listen
The FIFTY: How did Cody Townsend decide to attempt to ski the 50 classic ski descents of North America, and more importantly, why? by The Dirtbag Diaries
51 min listen
Grand Traverse: In 1997, Pat O’Neill signed up for the very first Grand Traverse, a 40-mile ski race that connects two iconic Colorado mountain towns, 25 years later he reflects on how the race has shaped him. by The Dirtbag Diaries
41 min listen
The Shorts--The Myth of Stars: Lauren DeLaunay Miller fulfills a lifelong dream to see a shooting star and appreciate glittering lights in all their forms. by The Dirtbag Diaries
12 min listen
Right Place, Right Time Rivalry: Armed with facts, waxing poetic prose, and a touch of emotional heat, our staff goes toe to toe to determine which region has the best season. by The Dirtbag Diaries
54 min listen
DBD+ Preview: A Fine Line with Graham Zimmerman: Alpinist and labradoodle devotee Graham Zimmerman joined Fitz for a live Q&A. by The Dirtbag Diaries
8 min listen
Paso a Paso (Español): El amor por el correr inspiró a Arlene Gonzalez a crear espacio y comunidad para las Latinas en el deporte. by The Dirtbag Diaries
36 min listen
Paso a Paso (English): Arlene Gonzalez’s love for running inspired her to create a space for Latinas to find community in the outdoors. by The Dirtbag Diaries
34 min listen
Tales of Terror Vol. 14: In our annual Tales of Terror episode, we’ve got dark caves, unsettling landscapes, and unexplainable figures in the night. Mua ha ha. by The Dirtbag Diaries
35 min listen
The Shorts--Seeking Caribou: During a summer in the Arctic searching for caribou, Tim Irvin found a harsh landscape full of struggle– and immense beauty. by The Dirtbag Diaries
28 min listen
Diaries+ Preview: Right Place, Right Time Rivalry: What region has the best season? by The Dirtbag Diaries
8 min listen
Endangered Spaces--Castner Range: Gabaccia Moreno talks with some of the people who helped The Castner Range become a national monument. by The Dirtbag Diaries
34 min listen
Diaries+ Preview: Yes To Never: A Campfire Chat about the silly things we've done and that we would never do again. by The Dirtbag Diaries
5 min listen
The Shorts -- Walking Tall: Lance Garland and Eileen Hall embrace who they are at sea and on the trail. by The Dirtbag Diaries
27 min listen
Mayor of Eldo: When Aubrey Runyon faced a big challenge of visiting her childhood home as an adult, she leaned on Eldorado Canyon for strength by way of a big goal– to reach 10,000 pitches in the park. by The Dirtbag Diaries
36 min listen
Diaries+ Preview: Ask Me Anything: You ask, we answer with anecdotes, stories and advice. by The Dirtbag Diaries
2 min listen
The Shorts -- Suddenly Solo: Laura Buchan heads out on a 1500-mile bikepacking trip along the West Coast after her partner bails last minute and learns that she has everything she needs within her. by The Dirtbag Diaries
14 min listen
Diaries+ Preview: Will To Wild with Shelby Stanger: Shelby stopped by to talk about the leaps she's made in her own life and her motivations for writing her new book, Will to Wild. by The Dirtbag Diaries
9 min listen
Endangered Spaces: Eastern Sierra: Emily Markstein uses a 200-mile bike tour to reconnect with the landscape of the Eastern Sierra before three potential gold mining projects begin. by The Dirtbag Diaries
41 min listen
Diaries+Preview: Forbidden Ring: A wild hunt for a lost wedding ring and our first AMA. by The Dirtbag Diaries
9 min listen

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Alpine Classroom

Alpine Classroom

Description

Titles in the series (100)

More Episodes from The Dirtbag Diaries

Related podcast episodes