Meditations
Flight of the Hermit Thrush
Meditation #61 - Flight of the Hermit Thrush Haunting symphony. "Loveliest of all birdsongs", Abbey's Hermit Thrush.
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Meditations
Q - Why Are Scientists Such Poor Messengers?
Q - Why Are Scientists Such Poor Messengers? A - Because They're Trained to Be Have you read any peer-reviewed scientific papers recently? They are thick on modesty and thin on absolute conclusions. In nearly any paper, you’ll find milquetoast disclaimers, limitations, concessions and more…. * While we
Meditations
Dreams of Ancient Warriors
Traveling this week. Have a piece by our old friend Basho. And one for my good friend George Gardner (previously published, spring 2020).
Meditations
Are People Who We Think They Are?
At a winter sports conference not long ago, I was having coffee with a sponsored snowmobile athlete. She was having a hard time wrapping her head around an avalanche accident that involved her party this winter. I was shocked, she said. Tell me. When Ryan was buried, we all looked
Meditations
Final Thoughts on Expertise
I have come to believe that expertise in a field is gained through many years of curiosity, reflection, and humility. Curiosity about the world leads to the openness of possibility. Time and proper reflection can reveal powerful lessons (rather than what I’ve viewed as Hindsight 20/40). Humility helps
Meditations
Making up Lies to See Schmitty
I have had a number of friends recently diagnosed - or having just passed - from cancer. So. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Many years ago, I had this mentor in college, Gary Holthaus. He started out as a Methodist minister in Smalltown, Montana and later became Director of the Alaska Humanities Forum. I was
The (Continued) Death of Expertise....Part 1
I am woefully behind in my writing. But - I received so many thoughtful and engaging letters on last week’s teaser “The (Continued) Death of Expertise”. I wish I could print then all. Thank you DC, JB, DD, AK, ML, GA, DC, RC, JT, JT and JR. An old
Meditations
Cormac McCarthy's Dream
This week's Meditation was originally titled The (Continued) Death of Expertise.* I continue to come across arguments and studies that diminish experience, regarding it as something of a hindrance in judgement and decision-making and that novices are equally good at choosing the "right course of action"
Meditations
Risky Business at the 7-11
I was running late to the office but wanted to pick up some half-and-half for the morning tea. It was 345am. For almost 25 years I’ve sipped a liter of Earl Grey tea during the morning forecast shift. We share an office with the National Weather Service in downtown
Meditations
The Crackle and the Buzz
Last spring, a keen young backcountry skier asked my wife and me if we’d go out on a ski tour with him. It was his last semester in college. At the top of Gobblers Knob, one of the prominent high peaks along the Mill Creek - Big Cottonwood ridgeline,
Search & Rescue
What does Acceptable Risk even mean?
Not long ago, I was asked this question by another long-time avalanche professional after sitting in one of our annual fall Snow and Avalanche Workshops. In an avalanche accident this winter, I found - what I believe - to be a clear example. First some definitions (these are my definitions)
Meditations
Return to the Heart of the Desert
We've just returned from the Heart of the Desert. It's there, just downstream from the Chew Ranch where two great rivers join together. One is brown and wild, the other Green and longing to be wild again. One day. Pool Creek flows past our camp and