Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Off Topic

Hello Everyone!!!

Wanted to get the word out that my first children's book is now available on Amazon. The title is Windsor the Bullied Wooly Mammoth. My hope is that in a small way it can become a tool for young children to be introduced to the concept of bullying and understand how to deal with some of the emotions they may encounter. While I am no expert on the subject, I thought I might try to contribute something useful that may help stop this behavior. If you know a child being bullied, I can think of no better way to get them out of that environment than to spend some time in the mountains experiencing the beauty and at the same time increasing their self esteem. I have only met a few of you on here a couple of times but I will be at the Orange County Children's Book Festival at Orange Coast College on September 29. For anyone that can make it, I would love to meet you. Hope you all had a safe and fantastic summer and a safer and more fantastic Fall and Winter where ever you are.

Regards...

Keith...

Yes, this is very off topic, and ,while it may interest some in the school community, it has no place on a mountaineering forum. How about taking your self promotion for your little book on down the road?

Thanks for your support Adrian. Feel free to delete the post if you see fit. However, the people that I have met on this board are kind individuals who care about others. Not asking for anyone to purchase a book but to open their lives to a kid who otherwise might never get to the hills. My apologies to anyone offended by my post.

Regards,

Keith...

Speaking of bullies...

Gee, Adrian, less than 150 posts in over 10 years on the WPSMB? I see you go for quality rather than quantity.

Why don't you go back to hiding in Appalachia for us?

KTHXBAI

Keith... good for you, your book sounds absolutely wonderful. I for one would be honored to meet you. Moose is right, and what I do know of her, she's not into bullies. Adrian, sorry buddy, you're out of line, and I think you know it. And yes, plenty of room for any off topic subjects in the community of hiking friends.

Thanks Laura...I really appreciate the support. Hopefully I will get to meet yourself and more of the people on this board in the near future. Great group...!

Keith... ")

Thanks Quillan...much appreciated...I haven't been able to get up to one of the group hikes but hope to sometime in the future. As I said, this is a great group of caring individuals. If you live near the Orange County area and have a few moments, I will be at the children's book fair at Orange Coast College on the 29th...would be honored to meet you as well.

Thanks,

Keith...

Mammoth...Mammut...I see a connection...

I agree...Parents, take your kids outdoors...get out of your comfort zone...enjoy.

DWS, may you have tremendous success with your book...

Laura;
I've read your posts with great admiration and respect during the last few years since you exploded into the Sierra scene a few years back. Many are lyrical and beautiful to read..
Seems like you jumped on me with both feet over this....While I can imagine the author of the children's book has a message, I just don't see it pertaining to this forum, any more than my own alternative energy business does. Sorry if I offended you.
Yes, not too may posts in recent years; advancing age and various ailments make my mountain days mostly a domain of memories.

Adrian

I absolutely agree: bullying of the bullyee or the bullier cannot be tolerated...on the trail/in the campsite or not.

Adrian, you're right: I did jump in with both feet, just as quickly as you jumped on the OP. If you actually read the original post, it may not pertain directly to mountaineering (esp in the context of Whitney in particluar), but it seems the premise to the book is indeed related to topics here, and other outdoor forums. Teaching children to deal with these emotions, particularly in an outdoor context, may lead to the next generation of outdoorsmen and women and how they appreciate the environment. Maybe that's a stretch (I haven't read the book), but that's how I read the entire post.

And if you have read my posts over the years, then you know that I stray often from the direct topic of mountaineering, and in particular, areas AWAY from the Whitney Zone. There are those who think that this forum should be relegated to Whitney topics only. If that is how you feel, then take it up with the forum moderator.

http://aderain.smugmug.com/Other/miscellany/6676950_bD7bZW#!i=427528808&k=SkDhQfB&lb=1&s=A

Don't know if this will copy, but that's me..

We get to spend so little of our time doing the things that enhance our life: hiking, biking, mountaineering, skiing -- name your game. On those rare occaisions, it all comes together, and not only do we get to do the thing(s) we love most, but like-minded folks join us and magnify the experience.

Halcyon Days

It seems that the rest of the time, we tear it all down on different forms of social media. Unfriending, Flaming, "Ignoring" -- whatever form of social divorce you choose; pick your poison.

I am beginning to think that we should all just button it up unless we are face to face on the trail, when nothing else seems to matter, and one does not dare waste an ounce of energy other than to reach ever higher.

Chris Horner (who is almost as old as me!) has the potential to win the Vuelta a Espana (know to us non-Spanish speaking as The Tour Of Spain)...

One of our better known members is heading over there some time soon to walk The Way...

I think it's cool that we have another member among us who writes professionally...

I hope I'm not considered a Bully... but so be it if I am.

BTW Bee, another one of our better known members just cancelled their Facebook Account... good for them!

You're a marmot? That explains everything!

I am glad to see this thread developing into frank but civilized communication.

I would like to add the reminder that "when you tug on one thing, you find it hitched to everything else in the universe". I don't know whether that guy - what's his name - could have drawn any kind of bright line between what relates to a discussion of his beloved mountains and what belongs down the road, but I certainly can't.

Well said, Bee!

Two things. Neither of which is on-topic to the off-topic post.

1. I don't know who our "better known" members are, or who our "lesser known" members are, but I hope everyone comes to the WPSMB potluck next month. I took a leap about a year-and-a-half ago and went to one of these events without knowing anyone. I had a great time, and one thing led to another, meaning more adventures and new friends. So, lurkers, if you are on the fence, please come.

2. Has anyone actually seen the summit marmot this year? (I mean the fat, fearless one with the bad leg.) I missed him/her both times. I hope he/she is still with us.

We need to spend more Face time and less time on Facebook (I never had an account)

We need to ignore the small $hi+ and get mad about the right stuff.

Spend a little less on gear and a little more on your lesser off buddy.

Use jealousy wisely, and kick your butt out the door (take a look at Akichow's pix for an example)

Bee out.

This not-so-little guy was helping himself from the backpacks left on trailcrest while their owners visited the summit on August 29th. We could only manage to scare him off a few feet while we re-tied numerous drawstrings.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/a09m9v8ptiy7tee/IMG_2178.JPG

ABSOLUTELY!!

I remember my first "group hike" in 2007 - it was actually with the High Sierra Topix board members, but they were all WPSBM members as well. I didn't know anyone (other than Doug and Earlene), and felt a lot of trepidation about being the "new" person. I got to the Lone Pine campgrounds early, and the first person to show up was Laura with her big, beautiful smile! She and everyone else made me feel so welcome! I met SO MANY wonderful people on that hike - all wonderful people whom I've come to love. Meaning (As Karin said) "more adventures and new friends".

I hope I see all of you again next month... and some new faces as well.