Gone Alpine ~ who are we?
Good question, we never really know, but here is a little of what we do, who we are and why we go.
Karin
"Because of early influences in life, hiking here in the Pacific Northwest with my family, mud became second nature. My addiction to the mountains I believe is a life long problem, always looking for more, wanting to be able to go anywhere I want to go, the high country is definitely where it's at. I've lead many groups into these mountains via with a pack or on the end of a rope. Climbing and backpacking from the mountains in the PNW and into the depths of hell (Grand Canyon) are a continuous accomplishment. It becomes the solitude and peace that one comes to cherish within the soul, plus it's a killer legal addiction! Gone Alpine is my small contribution to what I feel are some of the most incredible places on earth.
What's my story? I do believe I was ruined at an early age, much to be blamed on by my parents. First of all I was pretty much the only girl on the block. Second my dad gave me a 4 x 4 as my first vehicle (what was he thinking). I grew up here in the Great Northwest, the mountains were where I played. I've been active in these parts since I was young, from ski bum to instructing wilderness navigation, backcountry skills and climbing, I've been all over. I have much appreciation for the mountains, and find much peace and harmony there. I tend to spend my time doing a bit of everything. I like the rock, mud, hills and valleys, the physical training, backpacking, the endurance of riding. I really like finding places that nobody really goes much and finding out exactly the reason why nobody goes there. You can find me making my way through smelly dark bat caves to waking up to the sunrise on a summit somewhere.
As far as exactly what I've done... who cares! All I know is that its all continued to grow and this web-site will tell you a lot about where I've been, what I've been up to and where my crew likes to go. Seeing that I've been living in the Portland area I have made myself comfortable in my newer playground. I've been finding out what I can hang off of, run around and splash in, so far so good. I've been taking on many more areas and new adventures, we are always taking on a new challenge and looking forward to every minute of it. If you are a follower of my stories, click on to the Psyche pages and you'll find many things to read about. I have no issues sharing my crazy adventures and hilarious horror stories, I hope you find them as amusing as we do."
What's my story? I do believe I was ruined at an early age, much to be blamed on by my parents. First of all I was pretty much the only girl on the block. Second my dad gave me a 4 x 4 as my first vehicle (what was he thinking). I grew up here in the Great Northwest, the mountains were where I played. I've been active in these parts since I was young, from ski bum to instructing wilderness navigation, backcountry skills and climbing, I've been all over. I have much appreciation for the mountains, and find much peace and harmony there. I tend to spend my time doing a bit of everything. I like the rock, mud, hills and valleys, the physical training, backpacking, the endurance of riding. I really like finding places that nobody really goes much and finding out exactly the reason why nobody goes there. You can find me making my way through smelly dark bat caves to waking up to the sunrise on a summit somewhere.
As far as exactly what I've done... who cares! All I know is that its all continued to grow and this web-site will tell you a lot about where I've been, what I've been up to and where my crew likes to go. Seeing that I've been living in the Portland area I have made myself comfortable in my newer playground. I've been finding out what I can hang off of, run around and splash in, so far so good. I've been taking on many more areas and new adventures, we are always taking on a new challenge and looking forward to every minute of it. If you are a follower of my stories, click on to the Psyche pages and you'll find many things to read about. I have no issues sharing my crazy adventures and hilarious horror stories, I hope you find them as amusing as we do."
Ken
For Ken, peace and contentment is found in the depths of the Grand Canyon but... Ken is very well acquainted with the Oregonian hills for which I am becoming more accustomed too. He's been trekking around the Oregon Cascades over the last several years. MountAdams, the Sisters and Jefferson are but a start of where he has been. Ken likes killing his feet on endurance riding and events like the Hood to Coast as well as others. Time will tell as to how much trouble we will get ourselves into together but so far we've done quite well.
What's Ken's story? Ken started really taking to the mountains and valleys number of years ago. Although always have had a fascination and enjoyed hiking and the like prior he didn't start to intensify things till a little later in life as many do. But when he did, it came with a bit of intensity! He just jumped right in, he backpacked for several days in the Grand Canyon on a number of occasions solo. Climbed a number of local mountains and hills here in the Oregon Cascades, hiking in the back hills of Hawaii and seemed to pick up a bit rock-climbing and scrambling along the way. He's been an active supporter of the Hood 2 Coast in the past and is looking forward to some new adventures to add to the resume of many accomplishments. We have been taking on snow-shoeing, backpacking and our new toys are street bikes. We are hoping to take on some bike trips from time to time. Otherwise Ken's been looking forward to expand his local awareness near Mt Hood and the parts of the PCT with friends and
family.
What's Ken's story? Ken started really taking to the mountains and valleys number of years ago. Although always have had a fascination and enjoyed hiking and the like prior he didn't start to intensify things till a little later in life as many do. But when he did, it came with a bit of intensity! He just jumped right in, he backpacked for several days in the Grand Canyon on a number of occasions solo. Climbed a number of local mountains and hills here in the Oregon Cascades, hiking in the back hills of Hawaii and seemed to pick up a bit rock-climbing and scrambling along the way. He's been an active supporter of the Hood 2 Coast in the past and is looking forward to some new adventures to add to the resume of many accomplishments. We have been taking on snow-shoeing, backpacking and our new toys are street bikes. We are hoping to take on some bike trips from time to time. Otherwise Ken's been looking forward to expand his local awareness near Mt Hood and the parts of the PCT with friends and
family.
Maddie
I've been just followin my mom up rocks, down zip-lines, in sand, across and down rivers, through mud, tromping on snow, uaaa sleeping in tents, cars, back of trucks and wherever else she gets us into. Aside from the occasional blister, cold, burning heat, nasty wind and nasty freeze dried meal we have a good time.
Tonya
"It was just my older brother and me growing up and I followed him EVERYWHERE. Through the woods and up the trees as kids and right out onto the football field with all his buddies as a teenager, (almost always the ONLY girl). Needless to say I was very active and very thin. THEN one month before I got engaged to be married I went through a trauma that made me pretty much lose my mind for about 5 yrs. I was very depressed and very inactive and got quite heavy for my 5'3" frame - pretty much a mess. Just about the time I regained my sanity I started having children - again unable to really take care of me, too many others to take care of.
Finally, when my youngest was about 3 years old I started to be able to focus on me a little. I started by reading a weight loss book that just really clicked for me. I changed the way I ate, thought, and even lived. I got active and I started to believe in myself again. I started with just walking. My goal was three miles a day (which I couldn't do at first). It didn't take too long though before I joined the gym and was able to run three miles on the treadmill. I usually worked out with a friend at first that was in a LOT better shape than me and she'd push me to run faster and even got me up to 5 miles occasionally. When it started getting warmer outside I tried running in my neighborhood. TOTALLY different story to run on the road as apposed to a treadmill. I could only get about 1/2 mile before dying. I kept pushing myself though and by summer ran in my 1st 5K. I LOVED IT! Another friend ran it too and had so much fun she started looking into sprint distance triathlons. We did one as a team (more to check it out and see what it was all about than anything). I did the swim and the run and she did the bike. We trained all summer and by September we both did the Reebok women's triathlon (although it was the shorter version) We also recently signed up to do the Danskin women's triathlon this summer (2005) which is regular sprint distance.
When I was a teenager I went on a 3 day 18 mile backpacking trip with a friends family and literally cried all the way home. I just LOVED being away from
"civilization". Now, since I'm finally in the shape to do it, when I look at the mountains I'm just itching to climb over them, to look down from the top of them
and to see what's on the other side. I'd been stranded in the city for some time, fortunately for me I have Karin. She's promised to take me on some of her
adventures, she actually took me on a small one already. A little scrambling (I think my favorite thing in the world), a little repelling (really scary at first, then just plain fun) and a teeny tiny bit of climbing (hmmm - don't think we did enough to really decide what I think - have to try some more).
At this point I've lost a total of 60 lbs and my focus is more on training than losing weight (although the weight seems to keep coming off anyway). I really
want to try a lot of different things. I'm doing the Reach the Beach (104.6 mile) ride with Karin this spring (again 2005). One of my goals is to get into sprint distance adventure racing and Xterra triathlons. I also really want to complete an Olympic distance triathlon eventually. I figure as long as I'm training for events I will stay in shape and I just feel sooooooo much better this way.
I feel like I just woke up after being asleep for 15 yrs and there is sooooooooooo much new stuff to do!!!!!!!!!!!!"
Finally, when my youngest was about 3 years old I started to be able to focus on me a little. I started by reading a weight loss book that just really clicked for me. I changed the way I ate, thought, and even lived. I got active and I started to believe in myself again. I started with just walking. My goal was three miles a day (which I couldn't do at first). It didn't take too long though before I joined the gym and was able to run three miles on the treadmill. I usually worked out with a friend at first that was in a LOT better shape than me and she'd push me to run faster and even got me up to 5 miles occasionally. When it started getting warmer outside I tried running in my neighborhood. TOTALLY different story to run on the road as apposed to a treadmill. I could only get about 1/2 mile before dying. I kept pushing myself though and by summer ran in my 1st 5K. I LOVED IT! Another friend ran it too and had so much fun she started looking into sprint distance triathlons. We did one as a team (more to check it out and see what it was all about than anything). I did the swim and the run and she did the bike. We trained all summer and by September we both did the Reebok women's triathlon (although it was the shorter version) We also recently signed up to do the Danskin women's triathlon this summer (2005) which is regular sprint distance.
When I was a teenager I went on a 3 day 18 mile backpacking trip with a friends family and literally cried all the way home. I just LOVED being away from
"civilization". Now, since I'm finally in the shape to do it, when I look at the mountains I'm just itching to climb over them, to look down from the top of them
and to see what's on the other side. I'd been stranded in the city for some time, fortunately for me I have Karin. She's promised to take me on some of her
adventures, she actually took me on a small one already. A little scrambling (I think my favorite thing in the world), a little repelling (really scary at first, then just plain fun) and a teeny tiny bit of climbing (hmmm - don't think we did enough to really decide what I think - have to try some more).
At this point I've lost a total of 60 lbs and my focus is more on training than losing weight (although the weight seems to keep coming off anyway). I really
want to try a lot of different things. I'm doing the Reach the Beach (104.6 mile) ride with Karin this spring (again 2005). One of my goals is to get into sprint distance adventure racing and Xterra triathlons. I also really want to complete an Olympic distance triathlon eventually. I figure as long as I'm training for events I will stay in shape and I just feel sooooooo much better this way.
I feel like I just woke up after being asleep for 15 yrs and there is sooooooooooo much new stuff to do!!!!!!!!!!!!"
Mark
"High above in the country of Canuks is where I roam. I have spent many of travels here with friends, family and in solitude. Canada is where I was born and raised, here is where my first exposure to the elements began. By the time I was 24 I'd done the West Coast trail twice, then it was off to plant trees with the forest service. For about 5 months I
spent my time roving the mountain sides of Canada, hope to share some of those memories with you soon."
July 29 for the MS Climb with George Dunn read his story on how it went.... amazing trip, as always.
spent my time roving the mountain sides of Canada, hope to share some of those memories with you soon."
July 29 for the MS Climb with George Dunn read his story on how it went.... amazing trip, as always.
Malcolm
One of these days I'll actually get his story up here, its a good one.
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Chris
Chris comes from Arizona and is loving the northwest for all that it holds. From climbing steeps to slodging through rivers and creeks he's a true explorer. A true test of will power is his trips through the Grand Canyon.
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Sabrina
Sabrina is newer to Gone Alpine but not new to her field of expertise... Photography
"A Little about myself... I live in the Pacific Northwest. I'm an artist from a family of artists. My photographic instincts have been honed by over two decades of dedicated shooting. I know what I like, and my trained eye is never off duty. Whether I'm shooting people, places, or things, nature, close-ups or abstract, I'm always on the lookout for interesting light, emotion, composition and symbolism. What I present means something to me and I hope you find meaning in my imagery as well. You will see many of my photos littered throughout the Gone Alpine website.
If you are interested in contacting Sabrina regarding her work or if you have an event, place or thing you are interested for her to shoot, please contact her at sabrina.nwimages@gmail.com or call 503 348 4332.
"A Little about myself... I live in the Pacific Northwest. I'm an artist from a family of artists. My photographic instincts have been honed by over two decades of dedicated shooting. I know what I like, and my trained eye is never off duty. Whether I'm shooting people, places, or things, nature, close-ups or abstract, I'm always on the lookout for interesting light, emotion, composition and symbolism. What I present means something to me and I hope you find meaning in my imagery as well. You will see many of my photos littered throughout the Gone Alpine website.
If you are interested in contacting Sabrina regarding her work or if you have an event, place or thing you are interested for her to shoot, please contact her at sabrina.nwimages@gmail.com or call 503 348 4332.
