adventure airwaves by Adventure Airwaves

Adventure Airwaves Episode 2 - Preventer: A salty tale of a 1972 Columbia 30, two novice sailors, and a ludicrous journey from Los Angeles to San Diego

Reflections and field recordings from my first 100 mile run, the Cloudsplitter 100 in Norton, Virginia. This episode is not about how to run a hundred miles, but it is about why I ran and what I experienced. Music during the story played by me. The song played during the intro and outro is Benevolence by Seeking Madras.  

Drinking a cup of coffee, the host delivers an unscripted update on the summer, discusses a climbing gym experience, and shares a new song called 5 Panel Hat. The song played during the intro and outro is Benevolence by Seeking Madras.

The Art Loeb Trail is one of the premier backpacking and running trails in Western North Carolina. It begins (or ends) at a Boy Scout Camp near Black Balsam Knob, crosses the Blue Ridge Parkway, traverses a prominent ridge in Pisgah National Forest, and terminates near the small town of Brevard. On Spring Equinox, I set out to run the length of the Art Loeb Trail with no goal other than to finish before dark. The next day, while picking up my car from the trailhead, I crossed paths with a friend who was breaking his own record to establish the fastest known time. 

Sometimes one sets out to go for a reluctant run and, along the way, discovers something they knew all along.

"5 Stages of Whitewater Kayaking" is a story about moving from the coast to the mountains, trading flip flops for Chacos, letting go of what was, and accepting what is. Adventure Airwaves Episode 9 was written and recorded in Transylvania County North Carolina in September of 2020. This episode and my acceptance of adult-onset whitewater enjoyment would not have been possible without my friends in the Brevard radius who have shared their knowledge and time with me.  Especially Jason. 

Brevard, North Carolina is a unique little mountain town. This episode will not tell you anything about Brevard, unless you listen closely. Do you hear the rain? The birds? The wind rustling through the trees? During these strange times, we have found solace in the simple joy of two wheeled gallivanting and strumming guitar on the porch. The song Pump Track was written on a rainy day and recorded by me and Russell on a different rainy day four months later. Thank you for tuning in.  Acoustic guitar & Pump Track by me, Wes. Benevolence by Seeking Madras

An Untraditional Ballad of the John Muir Trail

Episode 6:  A few years back, I took an unplanned solo bike tour through Washington, Oregon and most of California. The trip crossed  rivers - like the Columbia, the Rogue and the Klamath, visited breweries - seventeen of them to be exact - and ended abruptly in the worst campsite on earth. This episode provides a glimpse into the quirky calamity of solo cycling and the understated joy of moments in between. 

Summer Road Trip Part 2: Wild and Scenic Rogue River Beyond Grave Creek

A crew of Californians and Carolinians converge on Oregon's Rogue River during the peak of summer. "Summer Road Trip Part 1: Going Rogue" is the first part of the adventure. This episode is a quick snapshot of the first 2,000 miles of driving in a mechanically challenged van full of kayaks and surfing gear.  The crux comes early in Topeka, Kansas. During the episode introduction, Russell and I discuss bike riding with friends on the Upper Davidson River and the controversy surrounding the skipping of rocks in a place that is home to hellbender salamanders. He quickly loses interest after I tell him that we can't touch the microphone. We agree to call a Pisgah National Forest Ranger to ask about the rock skipping. 

Grab a cup of coffee, sharpen your pencil, and sit on a rock by the river. You are far from home. Write down what comes to mind. Edit the words occasionally over the next decade (or two) and finally read them into a microphone. This episode of Adventure Airwaves was constructed from past recordings while flying from Denver to Des Moines in July 2019. 

Adventure Airwaves Episode 2 - Preventer: A salty tale of a 1972 Columbia 30, two novice sailors, and a ludicrous journey from Los Angeles to San Diego

In an era of two-hour Nose ascents and El Capitan Free Solos here is a story about two middle-aged friends who climbed an intermediate route and it took all day. In fact, this story isn't about climbing in as much as it is about life itself. The crux comes early when a drunk stranger poses a question, makes a prediction, and then walks away. This story relates to anybody who has ever wondered if they would spend their silver years camping alone.

Adventure Airwaves is a short-form podcast featuring joyful journeys, place-based predicaments, and adventures of questionable significance.