Here's what you missed in Joshua Tree
Our time in Joshua Tree started with my trying to figure out how to scale down my basal insulin dose because I was going low all the time. In fact, I didn't take any rapid insulin for the first three days we were in Joshua Tree--although I eventually acclimated and had to start up again. Still, it was a nice break and a great way to get back to being active after being back east. I love being able to take low carb meals without worrying about rapid insulin peaks--and that's just one reason I am such a big proponent of being active outside. The sustained nature of hiking and climbing always seems to make my basal insulin work a lot better.
Can a SONY RX100 M2 replace my DSLR?
Everything in this post was shot with a SONY RX100 M2 which I got off of ebay (used) for under 300 dollars. It's worth mentioning that most of my youtube videos of late have been shot with this camera as well. Less space and time to fiddle around with bulky camera setups and a greater need for functional diversity (video AND photo) drove me to get some smaller and lighter gear. I wouldn't call this a review as such--many people online write much more technical pieces about how everything works. For me this is just an opportunity to share what I've been fortunate enough to create and hopefully reach others who are looking to create but may not have a huge budget to work with.
Type 1 diabetes meetup in Joshua Tree
Our first type 1 diabetes meetup is in the books for 2016. It's always a learning process trying to do something new--especially when it involves coordinating activities for a group of people. Part of this process has meant really distilling the purpose of these events and getting a clearer idea in my own mind of what I want these meetups to provide--the service that they can be to the diabetes community at large. There is a need for independence and freedom within the diabetes community. The outdoors are a place where we can tap into those ideals as a group and disengage from the narrative of disease, sickness and limitation that is so pervasive.
Ketogenic climbing | low carb athletes with T1D
I am considering doing a video series in the near future for low carb athletes with T1D about my dietary approach, trial and error and adapting the ketogenic diet to give greater blood glucose stability and athletic performance. I still feel like this is all in the "test phase" because the results I have had are not extensive. That said, I will be sharing developments as they occur in hopes of pushing the limits of what we are able to do with our diabetes.
Losing control, gaining influence
Somewhere between pride and despair lies acceptance. I could only hear the sound of wind whistling past my ears as I stepped delicately around the airy corner; about 1500 feet of nothingness separated me from the ground. The fact that I was actually able to stand on the sloping, sandy ledge beneath my feet seemed to defy what I'd come to learn about physics. 'Here goes literally everything' I thought for the 1,336th time since starting to climb "Cowboy Ridge" that morning. I shifted my weight forward to test the only viable handhold that would grant me access to the ledge above. I tried to weight the hold gradually because I didn't want to ricochet off into the void if it popped. I pulled back a handful of sand as the rock disintegrated in my hand.
Climbing Cowboy Ridge in Zion National Park
I've spent a lot of time in Zion National Park over the last few years and it's no secret that the climbing here is outside my comfort zone. Maybe that's why I keep coming back--because there are "easy" climbs like Cowboy Ridge that have mocked me from afar. It's a 5.7 filled with route-finding, loose rock and lots of elevation gain. It's a long day and it's far from civilized comforts should poor planning or blood sugar fluctuations interfere. It's not the dark side of the moon, but it's more involved than lowering down off a single pitch climb and 'calling it a day'. Maybe this is part of getting back into the swing of things, but I've been more intimidated by this "loose end" than I'd like to admit, so I decided to tie it off ASAP.
Zion climbing and hiking
Zion climbing and hiking is always fun--even when it's not. But let me clarify that statement because there are two types of fun. That's right, I wasn't just making a pun about my type 1 diabetes. Type 1 fun is enjoyable in the moment. It feels fun. Type 2 fun on the other hand just doesn't. One of my favorite quotes (I believe attributed to either John Long or Jim Bridwell) is "It doesn't have to be fun to be fun". Type 2 fun is more enjoyable when it's over and you've survived. Or healed. Or cleaned your soiled underwear. The beauty is that there is a choice to have fun which circumstances can't take away. Seems like this might apply to Type 1, too.
Joshua Tree type 1 meetup: March 2016
By now I hope my mission to share the health benefits of adventure in the outdoors is resoundingly clear, but in case it's not, I'd like you to come to our Joshua Tree type 1 meetup. It will be happening March 4-6th in Joshua Tree National Park. It's free to join and there's plenty of fun outdoors to entertain people of all age groups--from the most adventure tolerant to the risk averse. If an unincorporated gathering of adventurous people with diabetes sounds like something you'd like to be a part of, read on!
Meet our tiny home!
After months of trepidation and wondering--talking and scheming, the day to pick up our new home has arrived. I'd be lying if I said that I wasn't a bit nervous. Almost all of this is new to me. Everything from setting up a living space the size of your bathroom to making sure that the strain of towing the trailer won't blow up my engine--it all leaves me feeling like one of those dreams where you show up to work naked.
The journey begins!
The first leg of my journey begins with a stop in at my dad's place where I ate some chicken soup to help ward off a cold that I've been battling for a few days now. I struggled with the desire to capture the trip out to Minnesota to get the trailer because after all, it's not anything grand and not too adventurous. Right? As it turns out, learning how to shoot, edit and post from my phone in a pinch is good practice for what lies ahead. Besides, it's important to capture the less polished moments of the adventure because that's what we are all about!
