Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Running the Routeburn - Twice... The movie
Last May I undertook an amazing adventure with my good friend Christian Martin. We ran the spectacular Routeburn walking track, not once but twice in one day. It made for an amazing 65km journey. As we were running I was also filming. Now available on-line for the first time is the film that I shotthat day. Co-produced by the fine folks at Lonely Planet TV – I did the shooting (and the running) and they handled the post-production. They’ve done a fantastic job of putting it together and I’m really proud of the final product! Follow this link to see the video and I hope you enjoy!
Running the Routeburn with LP author Scott Kennedy
Cheers,
Scott
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
The Remarkables
If you’ve ever been to Queenstown, NZ you’ve felt the power of The Remarkables Mountain Range. Sitting pretty above town they keep a watchful eye over proceedings. This past weekend along with fellow adventurer Adrian Nankivell I went on an amazing trip. Our plan was to traverse the Remarkables from north to south along the tops – starting at the Remarkables Ski Field and ending in the small lake-side town of Kingston 45km away. The elevation profile looked insane – millions of ups and downs – nearly the entire route was on the long rocky ridge that extends the length of the mountain range. In the end we didn’t make it all the way to Kingston – we were thwarted by terrain that was a bit chewier then we wanted and made an early escape at the 30km point. The result was a trip that totally blew my mind – my eyes are wide open to what’s just out the front door... to be continued!
The Season Kicks Off
A few weeks back I wrote a post about The Season (the new web-TV series from the makers of The Dirtbag Diaries) – well it’s up and running and looking great! Have a look at the latest episode that most definitely qualifies as sea-kayak-porn (a not-oft uttered phrase...)
Enjoy!
Enjoy!
The Season Episode 2 from Fitz Cahall and Bryan Smith on Vimeo.
Vancouver Part II
My recent post about the Vancouver Olympics has generated some great discussion and some interesting points of view. I’m all about discussion, debate and by no means do I think that my opinion is the only point of view. With that ethos in mind I thought I might share a few of those other opinions.
“As much as I freakin' LOVE the Winter Olympics, I gotta agree that VANOC has done very little to make me feel good about any of this. The dismantling of the mental health care system in BC has a lot to do with the problems on East Hastings, which is appalling to see first hand. Also appalling is the billions in cost overruns in the midst of already difficult times. I mean, Intrawest (owners of Whistler/Blackcomb) are teetering on the verge of bankruptcy/creditor protection. What's even more ridiculous is that pointing such things out brands you a terrorist in the eyes of VANOC security. I hate to say it, but I just wish it were somewhere else.”
--Chris Marchand (http://muskellunge.blogspot.com/)
Another rather strong opinion comes from the ever opinionated Matthew Good
http://www.youtube.com/user/Qtv#p/c/6AE847ACA8C5D941/179/YBdzgPtlBho (sorry they won't let me imbed it...)
What do you think?
***UPDATE***
Here are a few opinions that have come through via the Facebook page
"There has been a lot of things said about the Olympics that have turned me off of the protests against it. There is nothing that annoys me more than a bunch of middle class white kids running around saying "no Olympics on stolen Native land", when the local first nations tribes are involved in the Olympics and have been so since the initial bid. None of my First Nation friends have joined in on that rhetoric.
I also read articles comparing VANOC to Hitler. I can't get behind certain folks endless overuse, and misuse of the words "fascist" and "nazi". There was a great bit that The Daily Show did a few years ago which concluded that the minute you use the word "fascist", your argument loses all credibility. I can get behind that.
The problems in the Downtown Eastside are decades old and have absolutely nothing to do with the Olympics. VANOC didn't cut funding to the health care system. They have no authority over anything other than the Olympics. I'm no fool. I know that the Olympics hefty price tag has inevitably led to the cutting of funds to other projects, but they're not the cause of problems in Vancouver that have been around longer than most of us care to admit. Ever see the Henry Rollins interview where he talks about how Black Flag hated playing Vancouver cuz it was nothing but a bunch of drug addicts that would steal their gear? That's 25 years ago.
I just don't think anyone cares to see the big picture. Something does need to be done about the Downtown Eastside and a lot has been done in the last 10 years, but nothing is going to solve the problems faced by a community overrun with drug abuse overnight. No matter how much money is thrown at it. And good luck getting Coca-cola to sponsor that initiative.
Yes, the Olympics are a major expenditure for a one time event, but its not a one time event. The venues that are built will be used by athletes for training, for world cup events, and by locals who wish to learn and train for Olympic sports. We also received a new skytrain line, replaced a dumpy waterfront industrial area with an entire new community, and widened the highway up to Whistler, which I'm personally very thankful for after driving it every day in a 3 tonne truck in the rain."
--Jeff Munt
"You cannot think that the 5 billion dollar deficit that the olympics will be leaving this province in will have little effect. as a nursing student, i have already seen the effect that this is having on our health care system, with nurses being layed off and LPN`s being put in their place....even in the OR`s of this province. it is frightening to think that if i require surgery i may no longer have highly specialized OR nurses, rather LPN`s in these positions.
I am also seeing the effect that this is having on our education system. millions of recent cuts to education, including hundreds of newly graduated teachers being layed off. mental health in most places is largely misunderstood, let alone managed in any worthy or healthy way, so i don`t expect the majority of people in this province to be anything more than blissfully and arrogantly ignorant of these challenges and while Vanoc didn`t cut funding to health care, i can think of many ways to spend this province`s citizens money.
Perhaps you are in a cushy, well preserved place in your life, and are not concerned with the well being of anyone other than yourself for the time being, but heaven forbid you get in a motor vehicle accident and have a head injury......i don`t hate feats of athletic prowess or big happy groups of festive people, however, i do think we will definitely be in a terrible position in this province once this brief display of lavishness is over and the budget is finally made public"
--Fiona Wheeler
“As much as I freakin' LOVE the Winter Olympics, I gotta agree that VANOC has done very little to make me feel good about any of this. The dismantling of the mental health care system in BC has a lot to do with the problems on East Hastings, which is appalling to see first hand. Also appalling is the billions in cost overruns in the midst of already difficult times. I mean, Intrawest (owners of Whistler/Blackcomb) are teetering on the verge of bankruptcy/creditor protection. What's even more ridiculous is that pointing such things out brands you a terrorist in the eyes of VANOC security. I hate to say it, but I just wish it were somewhere else.”
--Chris Marchand (http://muskellunge.blogspot.com/)
Another rather strong opinion comes from the ever opinionated Matthew Good
http://www.youtube.com/user/Qtv#p/c/6AE847ACA8C5D941/179/YBdzgPtlBho (sorry they won't let me imbed it...)
What do you think?
***UPDATE***
Here are a few opinions that have come through via the Facebook page
"There has been a lot of things said about the Olympics that have turned me off of the protests against it. There is nothing that annoys me more than a bunch of middle class white kids running around saying "no Olympics on stolen Native land", when the local first nations tribes are involved in the Olympics and have been so since the initial bid. None of my First Nation friends have joined in on that rhetoric.
I also read articles comparing VANOC to Hitler. I can't get behind certain folks endless overuse, and misuse of the words "fascist" and "nazi". There was a great bit that The Daily Show did a few years ago which concluded that the minute you use the word "fascist", your argument loses all credibility. I can get behind that.
The problems in the Downtown Eastside are decades old and have absolutely nothing to do with the Olympics. VANOC didn't cut funding to the health care system. They have no authority over anything other than the Olympics. I'm no fool. I know that the Olympics hefty price tag has inevitably led to the cutting of funds to other projects, but they're not the cause of problems in Vancouver that have been around longer than most of us care to admit. Ever see the Henry Rollins interview where he talks about how Black Flag hated playing Vancouver cuz it was nothing but a bunch of drug addicts that would steal their gear? That's 25 years ago.
I just don't think anyone cares to see the big picture. Something does need to be done about the Downtown Eastside and a lot has been done in the last 10 years, but nothing is going to solve the problems faced by a community overrun with drug abuse overnight. No matter how much money is thrown at it. And good luck getting Coca-cola to sponsor that initiative.
Yes, the Olympics are a major expenditure for a one time event, but its not a one time event. The venues that are built will be used by athletes for training, for world cup events, and by locals who wish to learn and train for Olympic sports. We also received a new skytrain line, replaced a dumpy waterfront industrial area with an entire new community, and widened the highway up to Whistler, which I'm personally very thankful for after driving it every day in a 3 tonne truck in the rain."
--Jeff Munt
"You cannot think that the 5 billion dollar deficit that the olympics will be leaving this province in will have little effect. as a nursing student, i have already seen the effect that this is having on our health care system, with nurses being layed off and LPN`s being put in their place....even in the OR`s of this province. it is frightening to think that if i require surgery i may no longer have highly specialized OR nurses, rather LPN`s in these positions.
I am also seeing the effect that this is having on our education system. millions of recent cuts to education, including hundreds of newly graduated teachers being layed off. mental health in most places is largely misunderstood, let alone managed in any worthy or healthy way, so i don`t expect the majority of people in this province to be anything more than blissfully and arrogantly ignorant of these challenges and while Vanoc didn`t cut funding to health care, i can think of many ways to spend this province`s citizens money.
Perhaps you are in a cushy, well preserved place in your life, and are not concerned with the well being of anyone other than yourself for the time being, but heaven forbid you get in a motor vehicle accident and have a head injury......i don`t hate feats of athletic prowess or big happy groups of festive people, however, i do think we will definitely be in a terrible position in this province once this brief display of lavishness is over and the budget is finally made public"
--Fiona Wheeler
Monday, February 8, 2010
Friday, February 5, 2010
Vancouver
In a little over a week the Winter Olympics are going to kick off in Vancouver, BC, Canada. Depending on your political persuasion, your social activist penchant or your desire to watch curling on television this event is either a source of excitement or rage. Rage? Really the Olympics conjuring rage in everyday average folks? Yup – if you talk to certain members of the population the mere thought of the Olympics is enough to throw them into a expletive doused tirade that would make a sailor blush.
So what’s the fuss all about?
Nothing in life is straightforward – least of all an event as large as the Winter Olympics. Vancouver, the Provence of British Columbia and the government of Canada (by this I of course mean tax-payers) have all opened their wallets to the tune of billions (yes the b words) to finance the cost of the games. The argument is that this money could be better spent on social programs and that staging an event such as this is at it’s best vanity and at worst a colossal waste of cash.
So what’s the fuss all about?
Nothing in life is straightforward – least of all an event as large as the Winter Olympics. Vancouver, the Provence of British Columbia and the government of Canada (by this I of course mean tax-payers) have all opened their wallets to the tune of billions (yes the b words) to finance the cost of the games. The argument is that this money could be better spent on social programs and that staging an event such as this is at it’s best vanity and at worst a colossal waste of cash.
On the east side of Vancouver sits a neighbourhood called East Hastings. Hastings is one of the worst neighbourhoods in North America. By worst I’m referring to the fact that it has the highest AIDS rate per capita then anywhere on the continent, the crime-rate is the highest of any place in Canada, the average income is the lowest in Canada and the list of other social problems and economic disparity is as long as your arm. The argument is that the money spent on the games could have been better spent on cleaning up this area of town.
Two years ago during the Beijing Olympics, all of the ‘undesirable’ folks (the drug addicts, the beggars, the homeless and so on) were rounded up and shipped out of town to whitewash the problems from the attention of the world. In Vancouver, there isn’t a plan to ship anybody out of town, but there most certainly is a plan to shield the public from seeing the not-so-nice side of the city. When Olympic officials came to Van to give the city the final once-over they were consistently routed around the troubled areas and it was kept most definitely on the down-low.
You can see the arguments that perhaps the dollars spent on luge tracks and giant torches could have been better spent on these people who really do need a hand. I agree – ending poverty, building habitable housing for the unfortunate and providing adequate healthcare for the masses is a cause that goes beyond nobility. But here is the real question – the tough one.
What makes you think that if the Olympics weren’t being held in Vancouver that the government would be doing anything about these problems? The issues in East Hastings have been around for at least 20 years and nothing has been done about it. Status-quo is a hard thing to fight – no matter how apt, noble or universal the desire for change.
There are always better things to spend money on. I make my living writing about travel, adventure and art – these are all things that are surplus to need in almost every way. From a pragmatic point of view the world would be a better place if we spent our surplus funds on charity. But that’s not the reality. I can’t very well condemn the Olympics and then remind people to buy a copy of the travel guide to Hawaii that I wrote. So what do I think is the right thing to do?
In many way’s I’m an idealist – I see the Olympic spirit as one of the last bastions of peace through sport and play. If we remove the Olympics what do we have left? Let the Olympics come to Vancouver BUT don’t let the Olympics blot out the problems that the city has (and so many other cities around the world). The media of the world is there – point them in the direction of what they should see. When else will the eyes of the world be so solely focussed on Vancouver for such an extended period of time? If there were no Olympics nothing would have changed for the underprivileged and there would be zero media coverage of any of these issues.
In judo they talk about using the energy of your opponent and re-directing it back against them. For those that don’t see the same opportunity here, you’ve lost sight of the opportunity of a lifetime.
Two years ago during the Beijing Olympics, all of the ‘undesirable’ folks (the drug addicts, the beggars, the homeless and so on) were rounded up and shipped out of town to whitewash the problems from the attention of the world. In Vancouver, there isn’t a plan to ship anybody out of town, but there most certainly is a plan to shield the public from seeing the not-so-nice side of the city. When Olympic officials came to Van to give the city the final once-over they were consistently routed around the troubled areas and it was kept most definitely on the down-low.
You can see the arguments that perhaps the dollars spent on luge tracks and giant torches could have been better spent on these people who really do need a hand. I agree – ending poverty, building habitable housing for the unfortunate and providing adequate healthcare for the masses is a cause that goes beyond nobility. But here is the real question – the tough one.
What makes you think that if the Olympics weren’t being held in Vancouver that the government would be doing anything about these problems? The issues in East Hastings have been around for at least 20 years and nothing has been done about it. Status-quo is a hard thing to fight – no matter how apt, noble or universal the desire for change.
There are always better things to spend money on. I make my living writing about travel, adventure and art – these are all things that are surplus to need in almost every way. From a pragmatic point of view the world would be a better place if we spent our surplus funds on charity. But that’s not the reality. I can’t very well condemn the Olympics and then remind people to buy a copy of the travel guide to Hawaii that I wrote. So what do I think is the right thing to do?
In many way’s I’m an idealist – I see the Olympic spirit as one of the last bastions of peace through sport and play. If we remove the Olympics what do we have left? Let the Olympics come to Vancouver BUT don’t let the Olympics blot out the problems that the city has (and so many other cities around the world). The media of the world is there – point them in the direction of what they should see. When else will the eyes of the world be so solely focussed on Vancouver for such an extended period of time? If there were no Olympics nothing would have changed for the underprivileged and there would be zero media coverage of any of these issues.
In judo they talk about using the energy of your opponent and re-directing it back against them. For those that don’t see the same opportunity here, you’ve lost sight of the opportunity of a lifetime.
Monday, February 1, 2010
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