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scotgmeyer · 5 years

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Top # Travel Tips

I’m currently in Germany, sitting on the balcony of my small hotel in Inzel, a small town at the foot of the Bavarian Alps. Because I’m traveling solo, I’ve had some time to think about what I like about traveling solo, what I like about traveling in general, and how I feel like I’ve optimized my travel for enjoyment, convenience, flexibility, comfort, etc. Below are a few tips that I am currently employing or would like to employ in the future. I’ll provide links to things where helpful and I’ll often cite where I stole the idea from, because many of these are pirated from another who made me thing “woah, no way. Definitely going to do that next time.”

I’d say “top 10” but I don’t want to limit myself, or force myself into a number, so I’ll leave this open ended. Perhaps I’ll come back to it and update it, perhaps there will be a version 2 somewhere down the line, who knows.

Also, these are in no particular order...

1. Bring tea: Green tea for a quick pick-me up after a red eye or a quick caffeine boost before heading to meetings. Sleepy tea for a better nights rest on your travel. Herbal tea as a soothing way to spend your evening (or when camping, serve as a mixer for whisky or simply as a way to add flavor to a warm beverage around the fire). “Digestive” tea for those who don’t do so well with keeping the system going on the road. Travel sometimes leads us to eat things our body isn’t used to (for me thats tons of bread, beer, and yogurt via muesli in Germany right now) so tea to help sooth or activate your stomach can be helpful. Almost all hotel rooms or AirBNBs have a microwave. Also a great way to bond with a stranger if the situation arises.

2. Bring a blue tooth, portable keyboard (link): I am currently typing this on a Logitech that I originally purchased for my IPad. I now bring it on trips and blue tooth it into my phone. It allows me to hammer out longer from content, emails, etc. without having to lug a computer around. Lighter, faster, less chargers, more efficient. (Sources this from Tim Ferriss).

3. ExOfficio Boxers: I have had one pair of these that I’ve worn for travel for a while but always brought others because i wasn’t sure that these could really carry the load (no pun intended) all by themselves for an entire trip. I bought another pair before this trip (now have two pairs) and they are doing just that. I wear compression shorts for hiking and have 1-3 pairs of those. Then I wear these ExOfficio boxers for everything else. Two pairs allows me to wash one in the sink and hang try it in my hotel if I really feel the need to. Because they are Merino, they can do a bunch of wears without feeling dirty. While I’m at it, just get everything merino, or everything “antimicrobial” so that you can wear it multiple times without having to wash clothes or back too much. Brands that do this well - Smartwool, Patagonia, Lululemon, ExOfficio.

3. Bring a storable grocery bag: You never know when you are going to need a bag to carry some side items from the market, or a dirty/muddy pair of shoes, or they tell you you have to check your bag but you want to keep your water bottle, book, headphones, charger, pen, journal with you on the plane - enter the collapsible grocery bag. It takes up about as much room as a protein bar and I have started bringing mine everywhere.

4. Screenshots (for international trips): Screen shot any directions you need ahead of time with both the maps, the step by step directions, and the address of the place you’ll need to be before you next might have wifi. I didn’t do this in Germany so had to activate my Data. Just poor planning on my part. Guessing most people already do this.

5. LL Bean Wool socks: This is a total comfort thing that I stole from a close friend. Whether it is after a day of skiing, after a day at the beach, a city vacation where you’re on your feet seeing sights, etc. these socks will feel great. They are extra thick so they take up a bit more room than I’d love, but they still go in with me everywhere. For $20, they are hygge embodied. (Friend who convinced me here was Jon Livadas after he busted them out up in Tahoe).

6. Kindle: Not just for travel but for everything. I have read 3 books so far on my Germany trip. Never would I have been able to do that if I had to bring all three. With a week left I’m hoping to finish this third one and start a fourth, of which I haven’t selected but can chose from via amazon. Endless possibilities. Also, I prefer Kindle to Kindle App on a phone because then you’ll make the excuse that you don’t want to read because you don’t want to run down your battery. Kindle battery can last for super long, so no need to worry about that. (Inspired to purchase one by Luke Okerman).

7. Language: I did not do this and I want to start doing it so its a tip and a hopeful. Learn some of the language of where yo are going so you can make basic communication even if thats just “i don’t understand ______” or “I’ll order whatever is the favorite.” Duolingo is supposed to be a good way to do this? Maybe start 30-45 days a head of the trip and be diligent. I’ll let you know how this goes next time.

That’s what I have for right now. More to come later I’m sure!

Cheers and happy trails.

-Scot

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scotgmeyer · 5 years

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Germany Beer Journal

Beer journal

DAY 1: Augustina - Pilsner (hell) a at Mokkacino

Next was a weibier. Larger and a bit darker. The beers here are $3 it’s ridiculous.

Each glass here has a fill line on it - I guess so bar tenders don’t cheat their customers. So great.

I’m at this bar and they are playing all of these American hits. And then nickleback comes on, lol. It’s amazing.

Bar tender speaks 0 words of English. I’ve not encountered a language barrier so bad ever I don’t think. In Italy I could speak enough to get by. Same in Costa Rica. Canada speaks English obviously. But this woman speaks no English and doesn’t understand my horrendous attempts at speaking a few words of German based on what I have looked up on google translator. Lol.

I’m finishing the night with an espresso in hopes that it keeps me up until past 9:30 so I can get on the right sleep schedule. At this bar that means nespresso, lol. Still good.

I asked for a glass of water to drink with my beer and she didn’t understand why I would possibly want that. It requires that I point at the faucet and a glass 3-4 times before she was willing to oblige and fill a beer glass with water. Far cry from California where most places keep a pitcher of water on the table.

Day 2: beer 3 - backerei konditorei cafe schmuck

After walking about 12 miles, I stop in the town of Grassau before heading back to my hotel to get a coffee and a snack. Being Germany, that means a pretzel, a mini apple streusel pastry and a beer. This time I opted for a Weizen Hell which seems like it equates to a heifeweizen back in the states. A wheat beer of sorts that is still pretty light.

Coffee is a thing here but it’s not super strong and it seems like just another substitute for water, similar to how they drink beer. Still flabbergasted that a half liter of beer costs 3€ here. The beer is smooth and not hoppy at all like American craft beers that have gotten popular in past 10 years

Beer 4 and 5: Dinner at WEbnerhof Hotel

After initially setting out to walk back into Grassau for dinner, i decide to eat at the hotel instead because a number of cars pulled into the parking lot as I walked out and I realized that I wanted some authentic bravarian food anyway, so that was probably a great bet. It was.

Again, no english whatsoever but I just picked some random items on the menu that looked like soup and wiener shnitzel and went with it. One was a soup with vegetables and two large beef meatballs. After a coldish rainy day, it was delicious.

I started off with an Austeiner Pilsner, similar to my first beer the night before. This seems to be the go-to light beer in this region and I think possibly their replacement for drinking water. Not that its not good, but its very lite and doesn’t seem to have a ton of alcohol in it. Highly drinkable.

With my shnitzel (served straight out of the fryer - awesome and hot) i had a Weibner Hell’s, a golden wheat beer. These are my favorite.

At dinner I sat and observed the people around me, some fo them probably making fun of the fact that I was here eating and drinking alone. I also had my kindle with me so spent time reading The Obstacle is The Way. Looking to finish 3 books on this trip!

NOw waiting in the lobby for the taxi to come grab me to take me to the next town which I think is a ski town where I take the lift up to the top to get started. Just walked in the door so we’re off. Here we go! Day 3 (hike day 2).

Beer 6: about 3/4 of the way through my hike today I stopped at a little mid mtn chalet for a beer and a coffee. The place was amazing. It made me want to come skiing in Europe even more than I already do. The restaurant probably could fit 50-75 people. Being summer/shoulder season there were only 5 of us there - they are still offering the full menu and fully staffed. It’s awesome. You get the sense that many of the owners of restaurants, businesses, bars here take a great deal of pride in their work, presumably because they are family businesses. I sipped my beer sloppy, downed my coffee while I admired the view and read The Obstacle is The Way (Ryan Holiday) on my kindle. Btw I think this beer was hoffbrahaus beer which was a lighter Pilsner like beer.

Beer 7: hells down in Ruhpolding. After arriving in down slightly dehydrated and a bit tired, I found my hotel, showered, and set out for a snack. I settled on a bakery across the way and got a shot of espresso, a pretzel, and a donut with peach filling. All pretty fire. I then proceeded to walk around the town. Ruhpolding was definitely more happening than the other towns I’d been through and it seemed more akin to a normal mtn town with majority of the businesses being focused on activity or dining/drinking. Still no Americans.

I think that has been something I’ve realized about this trip. Traveling solo is great when you know you can go out and meet new people anywhere. It’s more difficult and perhaps a bit lonelier when you go out and no one around understands you or can really communicate with you. Nonetheless I am really enjoying having my time to read and recharge. Just getting over the jet lag I think and hopefully tonight will be a great night’s sleep.

After my pretzel and espresso and pastry I explore town a bit and checked into a few stores to see if anything cool to take away as a souvenir. Nothing really to be had. So I continued on to another coffee shop, bought a full cup of coffee, pulled out my kindle and read my book more. This coffee place felt more like a big Starbucks with a modern aesthetic and quick drink service. I drank my coffee out on the patio which was situated right off a roundabout that seemed like the main intersection in town. It looked out on the mountains and the direction that I think I’m headed for my hike tomorrow. After finishing my coffee I decided to walk around a bit more and explore some shops. That was short lived and I returned to my same seat on the patio and ordered a beer - this one a hells. This is a light type of beer too and fine but not anything special. I think I’ve determined that I like the hefe or weißers - similar to a hefeweizen back in the US.

Beer 8 and 9: people don’t write reviews in Germany so it’s tough to really know which food places, bars, restaurants are going to be good. I decided to wander into Janos, a Hungarian Bavarian place a few steps from my hotel with big wooden tables and more people than any of the other bars. I made the right order this time....a weißer. I also ordered goulash and a grilled meat plate to stock up on some protein. I’m still more than a week out and I’m already looking forward to vegetables when I get Home. That said, I’m loving living the Bavarian diet for right now - beer, meat, potatoes, pretzels, pastries. When hiking 10-12 miles a day I guess that works and you don’t get fat. We’ll see if I’m still feeling fit in a week. Currently sitting at the table in Janos considering #10 of the trip. Why not, right?

Okay. I went for #10. I just asked for whatever the guy recommended. He didn’t’ really have an opinion and answered with “beer is beer, right?” He must not have been German. THe one I ordered was the closest thing I’ve had to an American beer and you could maybe even taste a little bit of hoppy ness in it. Anyway, by this point in the night I’m four large beers deep so I don’t have a ton else to say about that one. I just enjoyed it while reading my book and waiting for a group of attractive Americans/Italians/Brits/Australians/etc etc to walk through the door and be looking for another English speaker to chat with. DIdn’t happen. ;)

———

Today is now Saturday. First fall Saturday I won’t have watched any college football in a long time. Interesting to think about that. I am currently sitting on the balcony of my hotel in Inzel, Germany with a cup of tea and looking out at the mountains. Not a beer entry, and I haven’t had one so far yet today. Not sure if I will? Okay I probably will. I did partake in the German tradition of afternoon Coffee and Cake which is great. Inzel is a super small town. Walking around it felt like most of the restaurants were closed for the season. Anyway, I was looking for a place to hunger down and get a coffee and a baked good - neither of the other two in the “center of town” (haha I say that in quotes because there are legit like 10 buildings with open businesses in the center of town) just didn’t resonate. The cakes looked too much frosting and to be honest, I was kind of looking for someone who might speak english. By the time I walked upon this place I was just ready to get something and this had tables outside where I could sit and listen to some podcasts so that was great. I went in and the girl asked me, in German, “for here or to go?” Naturally I had no idea wtf she said so I kind of just looked at her and then muttered “no speichen de Deutsch”. She responded “oh, for here or to go?”. Awesome when people can transition that quickly. I’m going to try to get to do that with Spanish. Anyway, her english was great and it honestly boosted my spirits just peaking with someone who could understand the words I was saying. I complemented her on her English and she seemed to brush it off like “okay, whatever, thanks weirdo.

It also comes across as a biking town as people are riding around all sorts of bikes. Road bikes, mtn bikes, BMX bikes. Really cool culture around that. Also when i walked into town my legs were still feeling great so I walked over to the speed skating arena in town which is supposed to be an incredible world class training facility for the sport. I peaked in the window and could tell that there were some elite athletes training there. Wonder if it was the national team or any olympians. You can tell an elite athlete by how they move and the dillegence with which they warm up. Especially in speed/ endurance sports like that.

The hotel I”m staying at is a boutique. This kind of thing would crush it in Jackson hole or Ketchum or any mountain town in the US with a bit of a bougie customer contingent. They have what looks like a nice restaurant and a sauna and great views of the mountains. I need to figure out where the skiing is here though, kind of confused by whether there is a lot of downhill or if most of it is cross country skiing and other winter sports. ANyway, signing off now to continue reading my books. Before I do that though I’m actually going to start a travel tips entry. Might post that one publicly too actually. DInner will be my next decision (get to make all by myself! Let’s go! Benefits of solo travel!)

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scotgmeyer · 5 years

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Book report/takeaways: Getting Beyond Better (by Roger Martin and Sally Osberg)

This book was gifted to me by my brother, Ryan. I had added to my list in the context of better understanding the world of impact investing and how the social impact entrepreneurship world may differ from that of normal entrepreneurship.

Below are the passages throughout the book that I underlined. Some annotation or color added by me.

-This is a book with a collection of stories about people “who set their sights on creating opportunities not only for material and professional success, but also for lives of well-being, wonder, wisdom, and giving.” (foreward)

-On social transformation and its parallels to scientific transformation. “The standard narrative of scientific progress goes something like this. (1) Scientific understanding moves forward in a steady, if occasionally plodding way, with each scientist building on the work that came before, adding and enriching our shared understanding over time.” (p33). As with science, most of the time societies move forward in modest increments as we hone and refine an existing model, accepting the current paradigm and attempting to make headway within it...We accept that inefficient markets are just a feature of the world, and create businesses to exploit those inefficiencies rather than creating organizations that eliminate them. We accept the current equilibrium, which remains widely stable, if unhappy. As we have noted, this not to say the progress made within the normal science phase is necessarily unhelpful.” (p37)

-On what actually creates change in societies. “Revolution can come from many quarters, but in our view, it is helpful to frame our understanding of social transformation by looking at two forces that produce transformation in distinct ways: Government and business. While buiness does so through ventures that create NEW MARKETS, and change the terms of existing ones. Government generates transformative change through policy innovation and legal frameworks.” (paraphrased to a certain extent. p39)

-On the shortcomings of charitable giving... “Most often we use charity to avoid recognizing the problem and finding the solution for it. Charity becomes a way to shrug off our responsibility. But charity is no solution to poverty. Charity on perpetuates poverty by taking the initiative away from the poor. Charity appeases our consciences.” (p53)

-The process of social entrepreneurship. Starts with a feeling of abhorrence or a feeling that something has gone horribly wrong. But a visceral rejection of an all-powerful system tilts completely to abhorrence, making it difficult to engage with the system deeply enough to see the levers for change.” p83 “The most successful change agents by contrast, must manage to both abhor the existing conditions and appreciate teh system that produces them, deeply and well. They must truly understand how and why an equilibrium works, while remaining steadfast in their mission to shift it.” (p84)

-The second step is as follows. “Many social entrepreneurs come to their work of transformation as experts in a specific domain.” Ex: Mohammed Yunus was an economist with allowed him to understand lending when he revolutionized the micro-lending and credit system in Africa. Expertise can be a trap in which we see the world from a single perspective. Effective social entrepreneurs understand that expertise must b balanced with naïveté, a willingness to see the world from a very different vantage point - that of the apprentice.” (p91-92). Alternatively donning the hats of expert and apprentice enables him to see what others don’t, and to delve ever deeper into the nature of the existing equilibrium.” (p93)

-Three other important qualities in a successful social entrepreneur...”Must draw on their hearts and minds, emotions and intellect as they channel mounting abhorrence at conditions of injustice...” “Use all of their expertise by embracing the insights their knowledge affords about the current equilibrium, but at the same time recognize the limitations of such expertise and apprentice themselves.” “Drive towards decisive action by engaging in a continuous process of experimentation that resolves itself in a commitment” to create a new equilibrium (p104).

- “Typically, the social entrepreneur’s winning aspiration will target its principal clients and make clear the case for serving them...They must also take into account other essential actors, articulating a new configurations of interest that, ideally, distributes benefits more equitably.” (p116)

-”A model is the framework of theory that social entrepreneurs use to shape their work. The model’s function is to bridge their visions for a transformed equilibrium to the new state - as such, it serves as the scaffold for getting from undesirable to desirable.” (p131)

-Three ways soc. entr. bring change value into existing equilibrium. (p137)

1. Difference is the source of the value. Creates additional willingness to pay from customers. Ex: Labeling as sustainably sourced beef.

2. “Enables government action, often increasing government willingness to pay through a measurement rubric that reframes and increases the value of government’s investment.” Indian entrepreneur who uncovered lack of education to females and got government to devote resources to that. He shifted government’s focus on quality of schools rather than # of schools.

3. “Creates a methodology at no greater cost, causes a key asset already in hand to generate more value” Better seeds for farmers producing higher yielding crops and more economic value. (p146)

-On Social entrepreneurs: “it is therefore important to temper our instinct to paint them as bigger than life. They aren’t. Their ambitions and dreams are not unlike those of any thoughtful person. They want for the world and humanity what most of us want. More equitable societies, healthier people, clean air, a sustainable environment, and the chance for our fellow human beings to develop their gifts. The difference is their willingness to take direct action to achieve such outcomes.” p198

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scotgmeyer · 6 years

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#parkcity lakeblanche hiking utah spirotrail

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scotgmeyer · 6 years

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Fall in Park City

San Francisco’s summers seem to be getting foggier and mistier than ever. While waiting for our “Indian Summer” to finally arrive in the Bay Area, Julie and I decided to spend a weekend in Park City enjoying the changing of the seasons.

While Park City is one of our favorite places to spend winter weekends, neither of us had experienced PC in the fall. As with most ski towns, it takes on a whole different persona in the off-season, but still has tons to offer. The hills are covered with fall colors rather than a white blanket. Skis are traded for hiking boots or a bike. And Apres is exchanged for...okay, Apres stays the same.

A few notables from our long weekend in the Wasatch.

Where to stay: For me, walking to coffee, dinner, the town, is one of the most enjoyable parts of spending time in the mountains. When you break up each day with a commute to the main attraction, it just takes away some of the coziness. Leron’s AirBNB right off Main Street was a great launchpad for us throughout the weekend. Bonus - the place has a roof deck that looks over Main Street.

Coffee:-------

-Atticus: Local’s spot. If you’ve got time to sit down, relax, and enjoy this bohemian-style coffee and tea house and book store, do it. Food is decent but coffee/tea is definitely their forte.

-Stoked: This spot is in the middle of main street. This is a pure coffee spot and a great location to grab that coffee right before/after Apres if you need that afternoon pick-me-up.

Food: -------

-Harvest: A healthy cafe that is great for a warm weather morning with a patio that looks out on the Park City Mountain Resort. Buddha bowl and acai bowl were both good.

-Riverhorse Provisions: Cafe in a historic building at the top of main street that you’d miss if you didn’t know it was there. Great pumpkin bread, brisket hash, and cocoa smoothie bowl. Good coffee as well. The ambiance here is great. Sit out on the porch, and listen to the locals talk about life in the area while you look up at the houses of Old Town and muse about what it would be like to live there yourself. (Pro Tip: Main street is absent of convenient/grocery stores. This is your oasis for when you need pasta, Advil, crackers, etc. The selection isn’t extensive but you can get what you need.)

-Chimayo: Great cozy atmosphere, great service, great drinks. In a mountain town where menus can be monopolized by burgers, wings, and quesadillas, this somewhat upscale South American food was terrific. I loved this place. Go with their tortilla soup, avocado salad, and fajitas. Don’t skip out on the bread - you’re on vacation.

-Deer Valley Grocery Cafe: If you are ever feeling overwhelmed by the t-shirt shops and crowded feel of Main Street, Park City. Take the bus, a bike, or a walk up to DVGC. The porch has a great view of Deer Valley’s mountain and served up a great chicken taco plate.

-High West: The one place we didn’t make it this trip. I’ve been here in the past and it is a great spot. If its your first time in PC, it is a must do. Will be top on my list on my next trip back.

Things to do:----

-Mountain Biking: Armstrong Trail to Spiro Trail. We had never been mountain biking before. If you aren’t up for a challenge, don’t start on this one. Find the trailhead near the base of PCMR and climb up to the top over the course of 4-5 miles. Then enjoy the ride down as you hop rocks and weave back down the mountain, taking in the fall foliage along the way. Great views of Park City and the valley the entire time. Get out on this trail early, it gets busy.

-Hiking: Lake Blanche Trail - Big Cottonwood Canyon. A 40-minute drive from downtown Park City, this was a great, tough hike. You’re climbing 2,700ft over the course of 3.35 miles...at altitude. 6.7miles round trip might seem like child’s play but don’t underestimate this one. Make sure to hydrate, bring lunch for the top, and keep your eyes peeled for moose. Great foliage in the fall.

-Groceries: While the Whole Foods in Kimball Junction is awesome (no joke, check it out), we also shopped at a small health food store, Fair Weather Natural Foods. Their sandwiches were cheap and a great mid-hike lunch. Their baked goods were next level. In fact, their vegan blueberry muffin was so good that I wrote to them and asked them for the recipe. Perhaps the best I’ve ever had.

Cozy fireplaces, strong coffee, physical activity, comforting food, and good whisky wrapped into one - weekends like this remind me why I enjoy spending time in the mountains. Being back here brings back memories for both Julie and me, and I hope to create many more. While Main Street does have the kitchy t-shirt shops and can have a touristy vibe, the town still preserves its old mining town feel with classics like High West, No Name, and buildings that have been there for generations.

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scotgmeyer · 6 years

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Books I’m Reading: Deep Survival by Laurence Gonzales

I read Deep Survival by Laurence Gonzales book over the course of six months. That was not because I did not enjoy the book, although, I admit it is not your traditional “page turner”. With other books, travel, work, and other things going on, this book always happened to play second fiddle. That said, it was an enjoyable book with a few important takeaways.

My favorite part of the book came after a few interesting, yet repetitive, survival stories...on page 166. The author describes a man getting lost on a hike while struggling with his fitness level, becoming disoriented, losing the trail, and getting stuck in bad weather. At this point, it gets real. “Being lost is not a location; it is a transformation. It is a failure of the mind.” Therefore, each one of us can get “lost” in real life and it happens in five stages. (1) You deny that you are disoriented and keep pushing forward, bending reality to your mental map or story. (2) You realize you’re lost. You realize you’re in trouble. You can’t think clearly, and your actions become dangerous and unpredictable. (3) After injury or exhaustion, you form a strategy to find yourself again. (4) Your strategy often fails and your emotional state continues to deteriorate. (5) You run out of options and rely only on your ability to reform a mental map, keep your head about you, and survive.

This can be seen in companies that are not sure what direction they should go. It can happen with people in toxic relationships. It can happen to people in careers they don’t love. If you’ve ever been lost in the wilderness, and also lost in some aspect of your life or seen someone else in that place, it becomes easy to compare the two. This section alone made the book worth the read.

What this book is not:

This book is not a survival guide. You will not find instructions on how to start a fire, or dig a fresh-water well, or orient yourself using the stars. It is not a collection of interviews with people that found their way out of sticky situations in the wilderness with step-by-step instructions on how you can do the same if faced by a blizzard, marooned on an island, or lost in the woods.

What this book is:

A reminder. A reminder about the mental fortitude that it takes to survive when disaster strikes. A discussion about the characteristics, personality traits, and decisions that people make when they are put in life-or-death situations. What are those qualities? To highlight a few - the ability to stay calm, and come up with a plan. The ability to be cautious, yet decisive. A relentlessly positive attitude supported by gratitude and “play”. And perhaps most importantly, determination to continue on.

Enjoy.

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scotgmeyer · 6 years

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Top Books of 2017:

One of my goals for 2017 was to read 20 books. After getting off to a really fast start, I came up shy with a total of sixteen books. For me, the best part about getting into reading was having an entertaining activity to look forward to in the evenings that didn’t involve sitting in front of a screen and felt educational.

For those that are looking for a few new books to start of 2018, below were four that I particularly enjoyed.

Tools of Titans (Tim Ferriss)- If you are thinking “Isn’t Tim Ferriss the guy who claims I can be rich, ripped, and restaurant worthy chef in 4hrs a week? Spare me.” Give it a shot. It different. This book serves as the “cliff notes” to the first 200 episodes of The Tim Ferris Show (podcast) in which he interviews top performers and all sorts of fields/industries. It distills their quotes, lessons, recommendations, etc in quick, easily digested chapters and was my main inspiration for reading more in 2017. Not only do TF’s interviewees preach the value they derive from books, many have written their own. Several of the books on my 2017 list come from those mentioned or recommended here.

Saltwater Buddha (Jaimal Yogis)- Up until this one, I had read almost exclusively business books. Saltwater Buddha was a refreshing, lighthearted story about Jaimal’s early life and how he got into surfing, buddhism, and how they overlap. His writing style is hilariously conversational and you feel like you are friends with him afterwards. As a San Franciscan, his notes on Santa Cruz, Ocean Beach, etc., were a neat window into local surf culture..

Never Eat Alone (Keith Ferrazzi)- Keith Ferrazzi is a master connector. He talks about how he approaches networking including tips for getting in touch with “powerful” people and how to create lasting relationships that can shape you career and life for years to come. A goal for 2018 is to host and attend a meal based on some of the tips he provides.

Born to Run (Christopher McDougal)- I flew through this book while in Hawaii. It is an incredibly entertaining story about the world of ultra marathon running and a few characters that have helped shape the sport. It talks about how humans have evolved as bipeds and makes you want to get out, lace up your shoes, and test your limits on the road. After reading it, I’ve added a half marathon to my goals for the future (hopefully 2018).

I took something from all of the books I read which I think is all I can ask. Below is the full list. Feel free to reach out if you’ve got questions about any of them OR suggestions for me based on personal favorites.

Full reading list: Tools of Titans, The Nature Fix, Touching the Void, Vagabonding, Living the Life, Stumbling Upon Happiness, Never Eat Alone, Alone on the Wall, Saltwater Buddha, The 4-Hour Body, All Our Waves are Water, How to Talk to Anyone, The Power of Full Engagement, Born to Run, The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck, Side Hustle

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scotgmeyer · 7 years

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Granite Lake- Emigrant Wilderness - Stanislaus National Forest

Julie and I had this backpacking weekend with Cal and Lola on the calendar since April/May because it took us that long to find a weekend that worked for everyone. We needed a quick trip from the city to fit into a standard weekend and Granite Lake fit the bill. A few notes below.

Granite Lake: Not many write-ups on this online so wanted to provide a few quick notes. Call the Summit Ranger Station for your permits. Start at the Crabtree Trailhead right outside Pinecrest, CA. Take the trail to Camp Lake (2.5 miles in) and Bear Lake (4 miles in). At the far end of Bear Lake, pick your own trail up to Granite Lake. Make sure you have a map. The AllTrails App was great for these purposes. Plenty of water along the way. So much Granite.

Vs. Yosemite: Stanislaus is just north of Yosemite. The difference? I called on Friday morning to get a permit for Granite Lake. Yosemite? I would have had to make a reservation 4 months in advance at 6am. Stanislaus had no tour busses, fewer crowds, but the scenery, lakes, solitude was just as amazing.

Camp Kitchen: A set of good camp cooks makes a huge difference. Lola and Calvin brought the heat. Top tips? Bring hard fruit for oatmeal. Pre-make sandwiches with prosciutto and some great bread for lunches that will keep at least a day. Cut a bunch of veggies up beforehand and cook those in water and avoid dehydrated meals.

Neat New Experience: We started the weekend off with night hiking in to Camp Lake. First time night hiking was great. Cooler temps, less people on the trail, and much better than waking up at the trailhead/parking lot.

Purchase I’m Loving: Finally got to put some miles on the Osprey backpack Julie gave me last year. Great experience so far. 70L is more than enough for a weekend and will be good for longer trips too.

On the way out: Hit Alicia’s Sugar Shack for your first meal out of the woods. Acai Bowls. Sandwiches. Coffee. Pastries.

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scotgmeyer · 7 years

Photo

Backpacking Granite Lake in Emigrant Wilderness, Stanislaus National Forest with Julie, Calvin J., and Lola V. 9/15-9/17/2017.

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scotgmeyer · 7 years

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Banff National Park - Travel Tips

My most recent travels brought me to Banff National Park. See below for a few tips/recommendations.

Canmore vs. Banff: I really enjoyed the few nights we stayed in Canmore. Known as one of Canada’s top climbing towns, I’d describe it as Banff’s more mature older brother. A bit further away from the ski mountains, it has a more relaxed vibe, less tourists, and is a great spot to stay for summer visits. While Banff is known for its tourist-visa Australian working/partying population, Canmore is for the locals.

Restaurants:

The Grizzly Paw Brewing Company (Canmore): Popular spot right off the main street. Elk-pork Burger was top notch. You’ll find their beers in bars across the area.

Magpie and Stump (Banff): Good Mexican food. Drink specials. So good we came back twice.

Banff Ave Brewing Company (Banff): Find a spot on the porch overlooking Banff Avenue for quality beers, snacks, and people watching. Don’t settle for a spot inside. The porch is worth it, especially at sunset.

High Rollers (Banff): 40 beers on tap, bowling, pizza. Good energy if looking for something a bit more up-tempo.

Hiking: The hiking here is unbelievable. You can’t go wrong and the hot spots are great but make sure to get off the beaten path a bit for a less Disneyland-style experience. If you plan on hitting the bigs - Lake Louise and Moraine Lake - get there early. Parking lots fill up, shuttles can cost money, and the scenery is best appreciated without ten busses and fourteen selfie sticks in your way. While at Lake Louise, hit the St. Agnes Tea House (4.5 miles round trip, 1300 ft of elevation gain).

Other great hikes to consider are C-Level Cirque Hike with views of Lake Minnewanka (5.8 miles, 2680 ft of elevation gain) and Rockbound Lake (11 miles, 2500 ft of elevation gain). Check the photos below for the views.

Wildcard Experience: Mt. Norquay’s Via Ferrata. Must do. Unbelievable experience. Think ladder rungs built into the side of a mountain with cables to keep you from falling off the rocks. Amazing views of the entire valley.

Lodging: Book early, especially during high season. If you are staying the night in Calgary on the front or back-end of your trip, check out Margaret’s AirBNB. Amazing hosts with a great spot near the airport that has a separate basement studio.

Favorite New Canadian Vocabulary Word: “Skookum.” It means great, strong, legit. In a sentence, “They have a skookum set up at their cabin, right next to the maple syrup factory and walking distance from the ski hill.”

Purchase I loved during the trip: Mountain Hardwear’s Chockstone Hiking Pants. I’ve tried a handful of different hiking/outdoor pants and these are head and shoulders above the rest. Its all about the stretch - 9%. Can transition from hiking, to climbing, to dinner in town after.

Book I am currently reading: Never Eat Alone. Tips for connecting with people and building lasting relationships with people professionally and personally.

Other notes: The sun sets at about 10:30pm in Banff in June. Could really get used to that. People stay active/out for longer and there is plenty to occupy that daylight. Great time to visit.

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