Dirtbag Diaries: The Dreamers

It's Friday, and the Dirtbag Diaries are here to help you celebrate solstice with some sonic storytelling. Show host Fitz Cahall has the beta on today's episode:

“I had convinced myself at that point that my goal was so important it was worth dying for,” says alpine master Steve House about his 15-year-old dream of climbing the Rupal Face. Big Dreams require big commitment. We may not all dream on the same scale and commitment levels, but we all share dreams. They pull us through our lives on solid ground. Today writer and climber Sarah Garlick presents: The Dreamers – reflections from four generations of the world’s best climbers: Steve House, Henry Barber, Steve Schneider, and Colin Haley. In the process Sarah found out a little bit about herself. Do you have a life long dream? What if you completed it? What if you never realized it?

Listen to "The Dreamers"
(mp3 - 31:15 - right-click to download)

You can subscribe to the Dirtbag Diaries via iTunes and RSS, or connect with Fitz via Facebook and Twitter. For more from today's guest host, Sarah Garlick, check out her book Flakes, Jugs, and Splitters: A Rock Climber's Guide to Geology or her Patagonia field report "Open Bivy."

Visit the myspace page of The Secret Life of Sofia to purchase their album Seven Summits -- the featured music on today's episode. Says Fitz, "I really dig this album. It's very difficult to write songs that speak to the power of high places without falling into ridiculous cliché. I've listened to this album dozens of times and at each listen I find some new historical reference or emotion I recognize from my own connection to the mountains. It is in some ways as much a novel as it is a record and [lead singer Kyle] Wilson avoids the cliché by sticking to inventive images that we all know and recognize but would never think to include in a song. Seriously, check it out."

Comments

[Michael Toledo]

I am what I would consider old school surfer, windsurfer, snowboarder/mountaineer.
I have been a wearer of Patagonia outerwear
for the past 20years, I've tried the rest and nothing compares to the styles, the colors, and the durability. I have outer wear that I have out-grown but can not let them go because I have this special attachment and memories of my past outdoor
experiences.
I have been receiving your cataloges for yrs
and prowse through them and want to order everything. I love the profiles you write in every cataloge on the people who are also dedicated to the outdoor life and the natural environment.

I have worked in the building trades most of my life and have been involved with "Green Building" and renewable energy.
Because of the building reccession I have had to make some adjustments over the past couple of yrs, meaning that I have had to go back to school in order to make a career change. Considering I have always been a environmental advocate and am dedicated to the outdoor life-style, I am now studying to work in the wind energy industry. This new career challenge has its drawbacks, one being that I am a full-time student and am not financially independent.

Working on wind turbines involves inclemental weather conditions, and most wind farms are located in the mid-west and mountain states. My patagonia outer wear
will be the ticket I need to maintain optimal comfort while working on wind turbines.

If anyone can guide me in the right direction concerning possible sponsorship
or who I could contact to be a part of one of your profiles on indivduals who are dedicated to the natural environment who has been involved with action sports for the past 40 yrs and is working in the renewable energy industry. I beleive I would make a interesting story profile for your cataloge, you have profiled individuals who work in trades related to your outerwear clothing line many times, but I do not recall you doing a story on somebody such as myself,"an action-sport
enthusiast who works on wind turbines and has been dedicated to your clothing line for so many, many years.

If someone is interested in this proposal
for a Patagonia sponsorship or doing a personal profile write-up, please contact me at the email posted.
Thank you, sincerely, Michael Toledo

[Free]

Michael,

Thank you for contacting us about this opportunity, but I'm not sure if we can help. Just to be clear, you should understand that resources that might go to donations and sponsorships have been earmarked for another purpose; Patagonia has elected to donate its dollars and goods to non-profit grassroots environmental organizations. These groups work to protect the environment and to educate people to reduce the daily impact that we have on the Earth. By donating to these groups, we are helping to promote and protect the environment for everyone.

On rare occasion, we help people who are pushing the envelope of a particular sport. For your request to receive serious attention, we need a physical sponsorship packet with supporting documentation (plans, timelines, previous accomplishments, environmental contributions, etc.). We appreciate your interest and will be happy to review anything you can send us to help us make our decision. Please send the packet to:

Patagonia, Inc.
Attn: Sponsorships
PO Box 150
Ventura, CA 93002

No matter how this turns out, good luck!

[kelly]

another great episode, and especially insightful -- too often we only hear the "rahrah!" of fulfilled goals/dreams. liked the depth here, and sarah's a superb narrator. keep 'em coming.