Weekend Guide: 02.19.2021

No sound. White. Nothing.

Last week I was drawn to longer, brighter days. Sun. Sand. Surf. Getting tan. 🌞

This week I chose to root my mind in the present. Bitter cold. Short days. Gray mornings. Chapped lips. Waves of untouched snow. Skiing alone down an empty wooded trail. Majestic!

Speaking of skiing. This week I spent a lot of time with The Man Who Skied Down Everest by Yuichiro Miura & Eric Perlman. First the book, then the Oscar winning Documentary (1975). This short book details the lead up and prep - mental and physical - Yuichiro Miura and his crew took to climb 🧗‍♀️ then ski 🎿 down Mt. Everest. The *highest* altitude ski event ever. It chronicles a tireless pursuit of a worlds first. The book reads less adventure/suspense, more stoic philosophy. It’s a masterclass in the art of dedication and monk-like discipline. Five stars. Would read again.

Read if you dig:

• ‘The Blizzard of Aahhhs’ (1988)

• Anything by Alan Watts

• Shredding fresh pow (I would never actually say this IRL)

If you are going to grab a copy of this. I highly recommend the hardcover first edition. It’s pretty darn handsome. eBay has a bunch listed.

The book is great. Yes. But the documentary is, dare I say, better! Like the book, it’s short and meditative. If you’ve read the book, you can watch it with the sound off. Just breathe in the visuals.

I don’t know if this documentary has aged perfectly, or if these guys were just operating on a higher frequency - but I was in complete awe of the style these dudes were serving. Wow! (insert Eric Wareheim head explosion .gif here) I took some screenshots that totally do not do the swagger justice.

If you know anyone looking for something different to read you can always share the guide. Share it with your dad, your aunt, your best friend. All are welcome.

If not, hey, no worries. I still send peace and love vibrations to you and yours. Let me know in the comments what you think I should be reading. I always appreciate a good back and forth.