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I’m headed to California to meet up with a couple of guys to hike Mount Whitney, the highest mountain peak in the lower 48 states. I’m excited to get on the mountain, but as I made preparations to leave the midwest I’ve been reminded that adventure is more than just places and activities. Adventure is a community.
I have been the happy recipient of the adventure community’s good nature, guidance, and wisdom. In return, I happily do my best to contribute to the community by sharing what I learn, and helping people as best I can. I don’t want to simply receive the good graces of the adventure community, I want to be an active part of it, helping my fellow travelers as they seek out new experiences. That’s a big part of what Intrepid Daily is about.
In this adventure community, we help each other out, share knowledge (not to mention fires, food, cold sodas and beer), and bond over similar experiences. We find friends and teammates, swap stories, and occasionally apply pressure to stop bleeding.
The adventure community is weird. It’s full of misfits, non-conformists, and dreamers. We’re weekend warriors, professional travelers, and full time dirty hikers. We’re covered in dirt, blood, tattoos, mud, sun, and scars. We look like a bunch of savages at times, but we’re a welcoming bunch. The adventure community isn’t exclusive; the price of membership is exploration and friendliness. Assholes need not apply.
I’m writing about this because I’m about to go walk up the side of a mountain on the far side of the country, and in the off chance that you are too, I want you to say hi. Or if you see me on a trail six months from now. Or if you never see me at all and just want to send me an e-mail. Don’t be a stranger. It doesn’t matter how far you’ve come or how far you have to go, if you’re just starting out or you’re an old pro.