Scott Thoughts

SNOW!?

2010-02-03T07:38:00.000-08:00

Having been raised in Columbia South Carolina is a most a bad joke. I think it snowed there four years ago... that was cool.

Since moving to NC I have been quietly steeping with anticipation of our first real snow up here. Five days ago it actually happened! SNOW! WHAT? I was in my dorm room on a friday afternoon, totally done with class when I saw the first of the many snow flakes to fall. Awesome! I had heard rumors of anything between 6 to 12 inches by the weekend's end, so when the light flurry turned into a guster of ice i was not surprised just very excited!

I had to get in on this action!

I decided to wait an hour or so to let it build up a bit. It didn't take long; within the first 60 mins there was already half an inch to an inch of snow built up.

I texted four of my friends with plans to hike up to the top of Look Out mountain. None of them seemed to have received my message so i decided to make the ascent anyways (solo adventure can be a very good thing). However on my way up I bumped in to Rodrigo and Javie, then outside of Howerton we found Lisa and Will! All the people who i texted just happened to have the same idea and we all went out at the exact same time!

We stopped at Javie's house to pick up a sled, and then walked all the way to the top of Look Out. Slipping and sliding the whole way up i would randomly throw myself into the snow covered trees agitating a sudden downpour of winter magic! One at the top we sat in a circle and admired the powerful gusts and swirls of snow being blown around the white sky.

After appreciating the flurries me and Rodrigo decided to blaze a trail back to the trail head. Look Out being a very steep mountain it didn't take much effort as we allowed gravity to drag us downhill through piles of built up snow.

Once at the trail head we reassembled and prepared to arrange our selves on the sled. For those of you who don't know look out road it is very steep and very long (this is what we had hiked up to get to the trail and this is what we were going to ride all the way back into campus). All five of us squeezed on to the sled and shoved off! Best sled ride of my life! We had to work together to steer it down, all leaning in the same direction at the same time to avoid parked cars. We rode for for what seemed forever (probably 10 mins) but thats a long time for a sled ride. The road took us straight through the center of campus where we hopped off and walked into the caff for dinner! Epic.

Later that night me and brandon took our boards out and attempted some urban campus rides/tricks. Every ledge, hill and stair case turned into a challenge waiting to be conquered by us.

Then the next day we woke up at seven to head off to Wolf Laurel slopes for a sweet day of snowboarding.

I love the snow.

Walk Your Own Line

2010-01-29T18:33:00.001-08:00

The academics have kind of officially picked up now just finishing my second week of classes. My schedule has been pretty packed with that so its been harder to get out as much; also the weather has been kind of crappy with a lot of chilled rain. Days have been a little more standard than the first week of 0 responsibility, but we jumped at the first opportunity when classes were out and the weather cleared.

We went back to the same place where we set the first swing up but this time with bigger and bolder ideas.

We set out to build a high-line. For those who dont know what this is its basically a tight rope that is suspended off the ground (usually more than ten feet). In this case we went to set one out over a wide stream about twenty or so feet up. To do this safely we decided to set a safety rope up along side the line we were walking on. We would then clip our harnesses to that safety line. Set-up took way longer than i expected. It took close to two hours because we had to make sure that when we brought the ropes across the stream that they wouldn't get wet (it happened anyways). So anyways, we got everything set up and tightened the safety rope with a pair of ascenders. Go time.

I've set high-lines up before but had never successfully walked all the way across. Slacking on the ground and slacking 20ft up over rocks is a whole other story! I can consistently walk a line w/o falling and can even do a couple tricks but stepping out on this line felt like the very first time again! I nervously let go of the tree and took my first step out over the gully. My feet shook with nerves on end as i tried for step two. Success! When i reached the middle of the line I realized "oh dang! I can actually do this!" but as soon as i thought about how awesome it would be to finally complete a high-line I immediately thought about how terrible it would be if i fell. This thought spiked my nerves all over again! With both feet on the line my entire body swung dramatically to the left and then to the right. Desperately my feel clung to the narrow strip of webbing trying to regain control. To my dismay i managed to calm my nerves and slow the swinging. Cautiously I decided to try another step. Then another, and another. Before i knew it I had done it! Oh man what a great feeling, I was super stoked!!! I wish you could add these kinds of things to job resumes or something. Ah well these life experiences are way better than anything money could get me.

Swing, Swing, Skate, Skate

2010-01-23T11:45:00.000-08:00

I mentioned before that I've entered this semester with great optimism and this last friday is one of hopefully many manifestations of these aspirations.

The day started cold and rainy but later in the afternoon the sun decided to come out. Looking to take advantage of this window of opportunity my friend Rodrigo came up to my room. "Dude, get your gear out, lets just look at it until we think of something awesome to do." We ended up taking everything with us: three ropes, two ascenders, one shunt, petzl trolly, two harnesses, figure eight, atc, and tons of webbing and beaners. We headed off into the woods after grabbing another buddy Robert, together we set off looking for anything "adventure." We quickly found a stream with steep banks and an overhanging tree, perfect for some "stupid human tricks." After contemplating wether we should make a zip line, a rappel, a swing, or a leap of faith (emprovised bungy jumping we settled on a big swing! I quickly shimmied out on the tree to set a webbing anchor and set the rope. Rigo elected to be the ginny pig and took the leap. Swinging out off the twenty foot drop off screaming he soared towards the opposite bank and back again! After him, robert and I took our turns with similar successfulness!

Many more stunts will be tired here.

After our swing we went strait over to a friend's house for some banana pancakes. Later that night we had college night at the skate ring, so what ever energy we had left.

Good first weekend back, I hope keep it up!

Back at the Treat

2010-01-21T10:14:00.000-08:00

I relize that I am terrible at keeping up with a blog.

It seems to be too big of a responcibility, so naturally the best thing to do is to start another one and keep two blogs haha.

I just started a kind of outdoor log and decided to keep it online because it may or may not be useful to others. I am really not too experianced and any of the three topics I write about (climbing, paddling, or biking) but it is what it is so if your into that sort of thing maybe it'll help. The link is

http://bolteoutdoors.blogspot.com/.

In other news, simply for the purpose of having a more recent post than my last one I'll say it's good to be back at Montreat College. I had an amazing six weeks off from school and I've just started my second day of classes today. There are good vibes floating around the air with the

hopes of a great semester! We are all very excited! My friend Rodrigo and I conspire almost everyday about all the different potential adventures we will be having this year. I'll be sure to post more as these manifest themselves into being.

Yesterday my buddy Phil and I decided to add a little humor into the world. Have you ever been camping out in the middle of the woods to take the next turn in path to find things that just don't belong? I've encountered items such as bowling balls, couches, and toilets located deep, deep in the woods.

These things make me smile and i can't

help but wonder, "how? and why!?"

We decided to contribute. Phil had an old door/door frame which we decided needed to aspire to something great. So being the clever college boys that we are, we loaded it up into my truck, and drove it to a trail head. Once there, we unloaded the door, followed the trail all the while carrying the door until we found a suitable location. Once deep enough into the forest we

settled on a location between two trees. We then continued to nail the frame between the trees until it set nicely upright by its self. Behold the Magic Forest Door! Who knows maybe one day it will serve as a portal to allow some blessed child into the world of Narnia!

Barefoot

2009-01-24T21:05:00.001-08:00

Anyone who knows me at all will know that i am normally found without shoes. I realize that this is unusual behavior for the culture of Columbia South Carolina. While this is completely normal feeling for me, others feel differently. Some are indifferent to the idea and accept it as me being strange and no more. Some people are for it and encourage the idea, still some find me this lifestyle disgusting as being barefoot normally leads to dirty feet. When asked about why I choose to boycott shoes on a normal basis, i normally respond with an interesting, yet semi shallow half-truth answer "I was raised in Hawaii." Fact, i did live in Hawaii, but only for a year, it is also true that people there really don't wear shoes that often. I didn't even have to wear them to school! But living there for one year doesn't really classify me as "being raised there" but something about that culture has been engraved into my very being. So this being my shallow answer, I will now go forth and reveal the deeper truer side of barefootedness.

In essence the whole idea is actually extremely metaphorical to the way i see life. I have been blessed and cursed with the need to explore. Now when i say need, I really mean need. I cannot sit still. I cannot accept humdrum existence. I must adventure, I must see the world, and new experiences are like air to me. While on a backpacking trip with two very close friends i was given the name Walkabout, and the definition of the name Scott is actually "wanderer." I have found that my number one passion in this world is adventure. Not just adventure like epic quests, yes i love those. But there is potentially adventure in everything. New opportunities for experience everywhere. I am so desperate for the feeling of experience, and sucking the juice out of life that even unpleasant experiences are welcome. I say this because while yes, unpleasant experiences are at the moment well unpleasant, later those times can be used in contrast with something good, and it makes that something good so much better. It is also that you would otherwise never have known. Comparatively gravel and grass hold very different textures. But if you've only walked on grass your whole life, you would never appreciate that feeling compared to the hard gravel. This is where bare feet come into play.

For all practical purposes I will compare life to a hiking trail. (typical Scott, yes i know w/e). Regardless of what you do, you will experience during your hike. There are exausting uphill climbs, relaxing slopes, and all sorts of other things that you will classify as good or bad experience. Now consider this, by taking your shoes off while hiking this path, you open up a door to all new levels of intimacy with life. I was on this one hike that i decided to do barefoot. the beginning of the trial was all gravel. It hurt. I won't lie about that. but then after about a half mile of tedious hiking, the gravel ended, and instead of rocks the path was covered with patches of this amazing moss. It felt better than the softest carpet you've ever walked on. The moss was great, and while the gravel hurt to walk on i left that hike with a perspective and experience that i believe few people have. So take this idea and apply it to everyday life. There is so much information to take in, so much to experience. The next time you walk by a bush, lift your arm up and run your hand along its leaves. The next time you see a big puddle go for it, and don't be afraid to take off your shoes.

The Bride.

2009-01-20T11:57:00.000-08:00

Its been a decent amount of time since my last post, but i recently had a revelation and felt obligated to share. Its not a new revelation like when you learn something new and it blows your mind, but more of a "felt" realization, one that you already know but all of a sudden becomes reverent and real and meaningful to you. By now you've probably come to the conclusion that I am either talking about my future wife, or the church, and I don't plan on getting married anytime soon, so. Before I begin I need to confess of my terrible attitude towards the church, but God willing he'll give me a change of heart. So here we go...

I'm not sure what it is, but the easiest way to say it right now, is that myself and the church have conflicting personalities. Before I go on and share my surface-perspective of the church let me say that I know not all of this is true and some churches are awesome and totally get it, and even the church as a whole may not be this way, but thus far this has been the general perception. I see churches as very tame, bound to societies expectations. When I think of church or even the word "Christian" I think of sweaters, smiling faces with perfectly white teeth, kids sitting quietly in uncomfortable pews waiting to go home. I think of polite bible stories and felt boards, but mostly conservative, "good people". Now, like I said not of this is true, and for the most part it is a skewed exaggerated idea of the church today, but subconsciously I've noticed emotions linked to these stereotypes of church and they do not sit well with me. I don't like thinking about God as a felt character against a green background, it's too safe, or fluffy or fake for me. Growing up in the church somehow I've acquired these perceptions of God. But getting older and re-evaluating God for all the Bible says about him and all that the earth proclaims him as is nothing safe, predictable, or tame at all. God is crazy! There is no way of putting him into one of our boxes of understanding. He is simply beyond that. Beyond time, beyond mass, and space, he beyond colors and smell, he is beyond sin, or right and wrong. He is more secure than the largest mountain, and more agile than the fastest cheetah in the plains. He created creation, and even the idea of creation that we now hold as reality and scientific fact. He created all these things for us. For us to hold, to see, to imagine, he created our reality, but he is not bound by it like we are. I'm trying to say God is awesome beyond comprehension. But the most amazing thing is that the God of all that wants a relationship with us, and I feel like church misses that. For the most part it seems that the church is mostly invested in creating "good people," oblivious of the power surrounding it. Ok, Im done being down on the church, now for the ridiculously redemptive part!

Unlike myself, God has an amazing attitude on the present situation. Where I see an organization who is totally missing the point, God sees an opportunity for love. Which is a good thing, because if I compare the characteristics of the church to myself, we are actually pretty similar. We both are in ridiculous need of grace, and patients. Alot of times we both miss to see God and look to our own tools for salvation. But unlike me, God says, "yes I will associate myself with you, but not only that I am going to Marry You! You are the love of my life, I will never divorce you, and always peruse you! You are beautiful and despite your unfaithfulness I will never let you go!" That is Amazing! And Uber good news for me and the church. Realizing the contrast between God's attitude and my attitude reminded me of how big God love really is and made it real for me. Thank you God and please give me your heart.

just as a side note i woulden't recomend talking bad about God's woman. The person who talks bad about my woman better watch himself, and I'm pretty sure God's a LOT stronger than me.
scott

Richland Two, A Student's Tale

2008-09-25T14:52:00.000-07:00

Calling all former and current Richland two students. So I was taking a shower yesterday (dispite assumptions you may have about me, this is a fairly normal activity), and as I bathed I began to reflect. Just as a side note, the shower is an amazing place to ponder life, and reflect on your days. Its like you get to metaphorically (and pysically for some people), wash off all that's weighing you down. It is really a theraputic place. But anyways enough ranting about my passions of moisen bathing areas. As i bathed/ reflected, I relized that i really should start documenting all of my school stories. If you know me at all you know i have a problem with authority. A big problem. I don't really understand it, but I like the idea of haveing some great evil or injustice that demands to be over thrown. So for last 12 years my vile imoral monster has been the public school system. I understand most people arn't as angry at "the man" as I am, but i thought it would be cool to have a collection of all the small injustices committed against us, if for no other reason than for my own selfish pleause. So if you find it pleasing, write your story down and send it this way, I really am quite curious.

This first storie is kind of small, but it is what imidiatly comes to mind currently. There are more, and more will be comming, but for now this is it, so, enjoy:-)

09-??-08

Anatomy Class

For the sake of manners I will keep from using direct names despite my wanting to, so we'll call her (the teacher), Madam Umbridge. We have a test in two days and Madam Umbridge has neglected all usful methods of teaching save but lectures. Which in some cases can actually be informative dispite their normal nature of being extremely, extremely boring. But in this case they were not too helpful but it was actually the only information we have availiable. Well i take that back, we have coloring packets.... COLORING PACKETS!!!.... Coloring is fine and everything, its actually a lot of fun when there's nothing ells to do; but when you have a test (not that i care too much) in two days, it would be nice to actually be in the process of disscusing the contents of the upcoming test. Oh well. The day before we began a review packet for the test, but since the distrabution of the packet, we had done nothing with it. Madam Umbridge has a wonderful way of spending 40%+ of her time sitting at her desk and surfing the web. Not to helpful for us kids. So, wanting to pass the test i inquire to find an alternate method of studying for the test because for some reason coloring funny shaped bones diffrent colors didn't really help as much as i had hoped. So i approched Umbridge. "Do you think we go over that review packet from yesterday as a class and talk about whats on the test, i don't really understand all that its on?" I thought this to be a fair question but possibly im just ignorant. Anyways, i received one of those looks. One of those "death glares." The look that says "I hope you trip into a microwave and it accidentally turns on" kind of look. "No Scott. Sit down, and finish your coloring packet like everyone ells!" Umbridge demanded. FINISH MY COLORING PACKET!? What!? Ok, since when did coloring become a 12th grade anatomy standars, and since when did anyone acutally learn anything from staying inside the lines? No one at least since second grade. Here we have a student approach a teacher, asking to learn, and with out two thoughts was deniged, dissmissed, and sentanced to an entire two periods of mindless sribble. She must have been watching somthing amazing on youtube, because that's rediculous.

Spring Valley I really want to hear about the "Vogons"!!!!

Apple Press

2008-09-16T11:10:00.000-07:00

There is a place like an apple press where minds are processed, preservatives added, and with just a touch of Red 5 finely tuned machines are manufactured.

-Public school system.

A Walk

2008-09-15T09:47:00.000-07:00

I love hanging out in down town Columbia.

There's always something to do, or some where to go; and it's not a city that tries to "glamorous" or "sparkely," it is what is. At first glace most people would say it appears "un-groomed," and old, or maybe trashy, but I see it as personality, and genuine character (not to say that it's always good, but at least you know what your getting). But anyways, this past weekend i got a ride downtown with a friend to see a concert, but after the concert I just kind of roamed from place to place in a vagabond sort of manner, so for the majority of the weekend i was living out of my backpack, and relaying on other people for rides. Well sunday i found myself in five points. I thought i had plans to meet someone ells there (ie. someone with a car) but the plans fell through, so i was alone in five pts. with out transportation. For a while i contiplated differnet thoughts of what i might do. I could get somthing to eat, explore some of the shops, go off on a photography tangent, but ultimatly i decided to start walking to church. I go to midtown; so for those of you who don't know about midtown, they meet in the state museum in the vista. I was in five points. Im not sure exactly how long of a walk that is, but i'd say two or three miles. What i didn't consider is my appearance in context of my culture. Most residents local to the five points area would most likely describe me as a "white, little, rich-boy." Completly ignorant to this fact i embarked on my walk.

The first person i met approached me along the strip of buildings contianing stores such as hipwaze, and f-stop. He was a black boy; about my age, and coulden't have been older than 19. He wore a large, tattered shirt that was one a natural red, but soaked crimson by sweat. Edward was his name. "Excuse me sir, dont mean to bother you none, but how are you doin today?" he said to me. I'm pretty used to homeless people approaching me, but never while i was completly alone, and with out a set agenda. So without anything ells to do i just started talking to him. He explained that he was hungy, and homeless, and assured my multiple times over that he didn't do drugs. I was intested, so i asked him to walk with me and offered to buy him some subway. Midtown does a lot with homless people, and i've wanted to do my part but am never really in a "position" to help (which could also mean that I am so selfishly blind, i just naturally hold my personal scedual as an un-movable oblogation). But now i had a chance to just try to love on someone. Granted i was a little nervous being alone. But, he declined the subway and suggested that getting groceries from food lion would help him more. So i blindly followed, genuinly hoping to be able to get him some food. Walking into the food lion i oberved a female police officer at the front of the store who at first gave us no notice. As we were about to decend down the first isle, she saw us and quickly approached us and explained that we had to leave. I was confused so inquired as to why. She replied "this man is not welcome here, and if your with him neither are you, and if he didn't tell you that, well more shame on him." Still unsure or why, I simply accepted her authority and we left. He later explained to me that he had stolen somthing from the store was was hence forwth banished (not his words, i just like old phrases). This didn't really phase me much, i didn't care what he had done in the past, I've done stupid stuff before. And especially didn't care, because that was probibly the only way he could eat at that time; at that point is isn't stealing, its survival. He explained to me that there was some other place he could buy some food. I was hesitant to just give him cash for obvious reasons, but what he does with his money is up to him. The money i have, I have because God has given it to me, so i wasent going to selfishily denin this man the potencial of food for a week because i may use if for somting ells. In any case, i was much better off than he was so who am i to hoard God's gift all to myself. (ha, psh what i always do) but in this case my heart was moved to give. I gave him twenty bucks. As soon as i handed him the money another man joined us.

Frankie was old. He had an enormous overbite sourrounded by prickly white scruff. At times it was hard to understand what he was saying, like he had acorns in his mouth, and only half try to form full words with his mouth. After talking to Frankie for about a miniuet or so i noticed that Edward was gone. Where, i don't know. I don't know if he went to get food, or to buy his addiciton. But he promised me he would go to midtown with me someday, so i'll find him. Still standing in front of food lion, and havent walked any significant distanec, i also invited him to walk with me to midtown. He politly diclinded but agreed to walk as far as Gervais street with me. I still haden't eaten anything, so i again invited him to subway with me, he also declined the offer. He told me that all he wanted was some "sol foo. " Translated means "soul-food." I asked him aobut this thinking soul food must taste pretty good, but learned that it was a soup kitchen about five miles away. When we reached Gervais street I gave him five dollars, probily enough food for a couple days at this Soul Food Kitchen, took a quick picture to remember him by, and we went our seperate ways. Frankie also promised that he would attend midtown with me someday, and i'll hold him to that as well. Alone now i pressed on to midtown, hoping to get there on time.

Next come the crazy part. Note i am still a "small, lil, white boy" with a camera in hand, and a backpack. At the corner of Gervais street and what ever that street is that leads into five pts. there sate to black men. This particular stretch of road is very poor, very run down, and very deserted save but the "locals." These men would cirtainly fit 50 cent's deffinition of a thug. Big black dudes wearing wife beaters, Not doin nothin, just chillin by an old gas station. I thought as long as i didn't look at them they would leave me alone. Wrong. "Hey boi! Come ova hea!" one of the men shouted at me. I tried to ignore them. "Boi, Im talkin to you, get ova hea, or i put a bullet in yo head!" he agian shouted at me, this time with a new furry. This scared me. I was by my self, and not really in an area where many people go. I had a pocket knife on me, but i sure as heck didn't want it to come to that. So I mustered a bit of courage, and smiled real big at the man. " No man, sorry brother i'd love to hang but i've got to get to church." I said it cofidently and as much authority i dared with this man. At that he also smiled "alright man, catch you later." That could be good, or it could actually mean he was going to CATCH me later. So i quickly booked it out of there, every now and then looking over my shoulder to make sure i was alone.

Our city. I had the rest of the two miles left to process all my recent going-ons. It was a good time for me. Everyone knows thugs and homelss people live everywhere. Its no big deal. But have we ever taken the time to be among them. Every time i go some where i get in the car, windows up, music loud, sealed away from the world. I live in a buble. I have no idea what some people go through. I thought, "wow that was a crazy experience!" I LIVED THOUGH IT ONCE! The homeless live that EVERYDAY! I have no idea what thats like. Those bullet cappin thugs by the gas station are their home. That street i walk along is their carpet. A dumpster at the end of an alley way, their room. I dont know what thats like. I was talking to another homless guy at midtown telling him a little about my wak and he just smiled and said, "heh, yeah, wait till it gets dark man, whole nother world." I can't imagine! That night at midtown i worshiped like i haden't worshiped in months. Dustin talked about missionaries choosing obediance over comfort and saftey. I've heard that before, but this time i really HEARD it. I got a peep hole of a glimps of what that means. For the rest of my walk i imagined myself as a homless person. Just walking to midown. All i owned was what was in my back pack. The people passing me in their cars going 45 mps look forign and untouchable. I was alone. But what a wonderful experiance. I am so thankful that God allowed me to go on my little walk. It was well worth the twenty five dollars and soar feet. How many people have no idea what i am talking about. How many people can hear a story like this. But how many people actually know. I don't even know. My experience is like looking at the cover of a book i dare not open. But guess what. We're called to read the whole thing! I am terrified, comfored, and exited all in one. I hope to take some more walks soon.