gotta say, hard to believe i gotta take Dewa and Ben back to the airport the day after tomorrow… how the hell fast can a week go by?
as fast as a lightning strike when you are a rookie #emptynester daddy and your daughter (and her precious bf) visits for one week for Spring Break before going back east 1,300 miles…
took the kidz climbing today; it would be Ben’s first time ever technical climbing outdoors (aside from that time he was like 12 at a birthday party in his home state of Iowa – whereupon he climbed up the plastic walls until he got terrified and had to come back down). had to give significant consideration as to where Daddy would take them, figuring the logistics, making sure all the gear was safe, and default plans for if the very limited beginner/intermediate climbs in Durango were occupied by the now seemingly omnipotent ‘groups’… so, ilg did what any conscious Daddy would do: took time off from two of my jobs to recon the upcoming experience for Dewa and Ben (aka; BenWa)…
tbh? reckon this lifelong ritual of ilg to preview, research, and recon my private training intensives, workshops, training camps, and then as a father has provided Dewa as safe and inspirited for MORE outdoor experiences than ever… reckon there is a Teaching in there for new parents and conscious teachers/leaders of all group exercise leaders; know intimately your terrain/logistics/gear needs well before the actual event.
the venue that ilg chose?
X-Rock… Durango’s local climbing crag which hovers in a sandstone vortex a couple of hundred vert just north over my sacred h(om)etown… we are very BLESSED to have such easy access to high quality sandstone spires that offer an intriguing variety of routes with high challenge and great scenery…
as soon as we roped up and went over basic technical tenets for safe climbing with Ben, it was evident in their smiles and the renown Durango pranic ether?
this evening was gonna be a Go(o)d Sesh….
Ben approaching the crux of Elementary Dihedral (5.5+)…absolutely full sending…ilg has been honored to share technical rock climbing with hundreds throughout the decades directly, and many thousands indirectly… yet?
Ben? was astonishingly natural upon the vertical sandstone with superb mental focus, on spot problem solving and really solid kinesthesia “for a runner”… truly don’t see this very often…Dewa knows how to pick her boyfriends, gotta say…
Dewa belays Ben as he begins the 5.9 “Elementary Face”… a grade that is super hard for a second-time ever climber and first time climber outdoors… note the mental focus between Dewa (belaying) and Ben (climbing)… you see Parents? if you use the Outdoor/Mountain sports wisely? the physical and metaphysical medicine plays out cellularly, physically, spiritually, even molecularly… until this m(om)ent shown above? Dewa and Bens 6-month relationship was hard wired as teammates on a collegiate XC/Track Team, yet, until this m(om)ent? Literally Dewa had Ben’s well being in her hands … the climbing rope tethering them together? a monument of trust unknown, untested, unchallenged by mediocre couples of their age.
Dewa, approaching the 5.9+ crux of Elementary Face… which she flashed in a most dramatic of full send ways…
Dewa hands up after her flash of Elementary Face (5.9+)
Ben tops out on Elementary Dihedral as his gf Dewa belays him…their smiles say it all..
yet another generation inspired…
reckon? feeble ilg? not so feeble after all…when we inspire our younger generation to reach Higher, climb Higher?
through CHALLENGES, USING challenges?
instead of being addicted to comfort?
thus, our Human Race continues the race…
TOWARD ENLIGHTENMENT!
“Of all the outdoor/mountain sports I’ve done – many to world class competitive levels –
TWO of them remain tethered as most Sacred…Nordic Skiing and Technical Climbing”
– coach steve ilg
“Have a friend photograph you
doing something physical that
you enjoy. Notice how energetic
and free-flowing you look.”
– Steve ilg
Be-Good-To-Your-Body Therapy
Abbey Press, 1992
published in over 15 countries in 13 langauages
These teachings are the "Rasas" or "sap" of Wholistic Fitness. You’ll find insights to ponder, student chi to keep your own chi topped off, and plenty of proven training techniques to test on your own body, mind, and spirit! Also, you’ll find my very popular Race Reports, and news of our Sangha’s (community’s) latest transpersonal fitness adventures!