adventure daily.
My first chemo session (which, for lack of a better word, is what I’ll call the 2 weeks following each treatment) has been a breeze physically compared to what I expected. The day of treatment I started to feel a little weird a couple hours after my infusion ended. My stomach started to hurt and …
That was the theme for most of February. See-sawing temps and storms that dropped more sleet and ice than powder kept convincing me that conditions would be terrible for skiing, fat biking or just about any other activity in the woods, but every time I was (delightedly) proven wrong. February 14: Single digits sunrise at …
There is a sense of urgency that comes with having good snow for skiing and fat biking that I don't feel at any other time of the year. I love a gorgeous 65-degree, sunny, low-humidity day as much as the next person, but the fleeting nature of snow is different. It isn't guaranteed to last, …
Continue reading "Fat on the Front: Prince Gallitzin to Black Mo Snowmobile Trail."
In the month of February, I spent almost twice as much time skiing as I did riding my bike. I absolutely love fat biking and I certainly enjoyed plenty of that as well, but this year I also discovered a new winter sport in backcountry skiing. A constant stream of snow and more consistent winter …
Continue reading "Altai Hok skis in the Pennsylvania backcountry."
Back in mid-December, we got a snowstorm that dumped about a foot of snow and was amazingly not followed by an inch of freezing rain as seems to be the norm the last few years. This meant that we actually had some time to enjoy pristine, fluffy powder before the inevitable melting or ice crust …
I've had my eye on the Allegheny Front Trail (AFT) lately. I'm not sure why it in particular has garnered my attention over all the other great central Pennsylvania hiking trails --- maybe it's the proximity to Evan's new workplace and our general newly found interest in the Black Moshannon area, maybe it's its attainable …
As I emerge into openness, the wind whips across the grassy landscape and burns my cheeks. I've been climbing for a while and, as evidenced by the wall ahead, still have a while to go. But behind me, I'm beginning to see the valley far below, proof of my labors. I'd started from my office …
Evan and I have three days off together, in a row. This is a rare occasion. We had originally planned to go on a touring trip on our tandem, but the week snuck up on us and we failed to make some important arrangements, like finding someone who would take care of our very needy dog …
helena kotala 