The Dirtbag Diaries

As the year comes to a close, two beautiful stories about stepping back, reflecting and moving forward from Phil Herbert and N.S. David. “I had one roll of film for the whole trip, which gave me eight frames. Nine if I was lucky,” begins Phil.  “I’ve done my fair share of wishing I was warm in my bed while strapped to the side of a granite monolith at 12,000 feet. I’ve torn holes in my clothes and my skin, I’ve broken bones,” writes N.S. as she explores the complexities of sharing her joys with her mother and their relationship. Support comes from Kuat Racks  Diaries+ Members-- Their support is powering the Diaries- thank you! You can join today. Our book, States of Adventure, 30 stories adapted from The Diaries, is out in the wild. See if it's available on your local shelves or order it here: geni.us/StatesofAdventure

In late October, Fitz headed to Duluth, MN for a live Dirtbag Diaries in front of a packed house. Joined by professional skier and Lakota activist Connor Ryan, indie rock legend and avid runner Alan Sparhawk and adaptive advocate and adventurer Quinn Brett, it was a night to remember with stories about trying hard, healing and growth. Thanks to the Minnesota Land Trust for making it possible.  Submissions for The Shorts are open through January 19, 2025. Learn more or submit your essay today. Support comes from Kuat Racks  Diaries+ Members-- Their support is powering the Diaries- thank you! You can join today. Our book, States of Adventure, 30 stories adapted from The Diaries, is out in the wild. See if it's available on your local shelves or order it here: geni.us/StatesofAdventure

In 2020, partners Niki Choo and Jared Gentz started dreaming of an epic canoeing adventure. Two years later, they started paddling on the Pacific Ocean, embarking on a thousand-mile journey towards the Arctic that would test their skills, grit, and adaptability.  Support comes from Kuat Racks  Duer Through Dec 2, 2024, save 50% off your first order at shopduer.com/Diaries Diaries+ Members-- Their support is powering the Diaries- thank you! You can join today. Our book, States of Adventure, 30 stories adapted from The Diaries, is out in the wild. See if it's available on your local shelves or order it here: geni.us/StatesofAdventure

“I didn’t expect to get to the top, let alone send. I merely wanted to push the limits of what I believed was capable for myself,” writes Shara Zaia. With climbing, Shara found a space to push herself as she strove to climb harder routes and created a community of friends. Yet, even while flourishing, one question continued to arise for Shara– did she belong? A version of this essay first appeared in The Climbing Zine in Spring 2024. Support comes from Kuat Racks  Duer shopduer.com/Diaries to save 20% off your first order Diaries+ Members-- Their support is powering the Diaries- thank you! You can join today. Our book, States of Adventure, 30 stories adapted from The Diaries, is out in the wild. See if it's available on your local shelves or order it here: geni.us/StatesofAdventure

In our annual Tales of Terror, we bring you three terrifying tales. Disembodied voices. Eyes in the alder. An enchanted clearing in the forest. Grab a friend (and maybe their hand) as these tales will have you peering over your shoulder. Happy Halloween! Support comes from Kuat Racks  Duer shopduer.com/Diaries to save 20% off your first order Diaries+ Members-- Their support is powering the Diaries- thank you! You can join today. Our book, States of Adventure, 30 stories adapted from The Diaries, is out in the wild. See if it's available on your local shelves or order it here: geni.us/StatesofAdventure

Tucked away in a corner of Chilean Patagonia, Valle Cochamó wasn’t going to stay hidden forever. The soaring unclimbed granite walls instilled dreams of first ascents in climbers. Industrialists eyed its free flowing rivers with their potential for hydroelectric power. Conservationists hoped it could provide a final puzzle piece of an incredible protected wildlife corridor. To the families who live there, it was simply home where they ranched amidst the 3,000-year-old Alerce trees. This is the story of how a coalition of Chilean gauchos, climbers and activists fought off development efforts for two decades. Now there is an opportunity for a lasting conservation victory. How do you make the next Yosemite? You start by buying it. Donate today: https://bit.ly/SavingCochamo This episode was produced in collaboration with Climbing Gold. Listen to all episodes on Apple Podcasts or Spotify Support comes from Kuat Racks  Duer Use link shopduer.com/Diaries to save 20% off your first order Diaries+ Members-- Their support is powering the Diaries- thank you! You can join today. Our book, States of Adventure, 30 stories adapted from The Diaries, is out in the wild. See if it's available on your local shelves or order it here: geni.us/StatesofAdventure

While most people curled up on the couch with a mug of hot cocoa, Emily Ford set out in the frigid winter to thru-hike Wisconsin’s 1200 mile Ice Age Trail. Over the course of their two and a half month winter vacation, Emily and her borrowed sled dog, Diggins, tested their endurance and found solitude, friendship, and beauty to last a lifetime. Keep up with Emily as she trains for the Iditarod at Emily on Trail: https://www.emilyontrail.com/support Emily's story is one that we adapted into a short essay for States of Adventure. See if it's available on your local shelves or order it here: geni.us/StatesofAdventure Support comes from Kuat Racks  Duer Use link shopduer.com/Diaries to save 20% off your first order Diaries+ Members-- Their support is powering the Diaries- thank you! You can join today. This episode first aired in 2021.

Wyn Wiley, often better known as Pattie Gonia, went out on a backpacking trip with an inkling of an idea and emerged walking a path. Today, Pattie Gonia’s feed is filled with joy– making music with famed cellist Yo-Yo Ma, raising hundreds of thousands of dollars for charity, headlining pride festivals, gravel biking– and most of the time it looks fun. But it’s what Wyn and Pattie have done with the decidedly less fun and hard parts of life that have profoundly shaped them. In this interview, Wyn and Fitz go deep on the birth of Pattie, nature as a muse, creativity, and facing fear. Support comes from Kuat Racks  Duer Use link shopduer.com/Diaries to save 20% off your first order Diaries+ Members-- Their support is powering the Diaries- thank you! You can join today. Our book, States of Adventure, 30 stories adapted from The Diaries, is out in the wild. See if it's available on your local shelves or order it here: geni.us/StatesofAdventure

Graham Zimmerman knows how to make decisions under pressure. As a professional mountain athlete, his life depends on it. Nearly a decade ago, Protect Our Winters saw this and brought him and his skillset into the political sphere to advocate for climate change legislation. In today’s episode he shares some tools from his kit to help you make your own tough decisions at the ballot box this November. Check your voter registration CO + MT voting guides coming Oct 1: https://powactionfund.org/ Support comes from Diaries+ Members-- Their support is powering the Diaries- thank you! You can join today.

Some of the most powerful learning can happen outside the classroom. In the summer of 1975, public school teacher Mr. Hodges took 22 of his students on an unforgettable bike trip that would impact the rest of their lives. Grab your cut-off shorts, a 10-speed bike, and a sense of humor, and you’ll be along for the ride. Submit your story for the 15th annual Tales of Terror episode Support comes from Kuat Racks  Duer shopduer.com/Diaries to save 20% off your first order Diaries+ Members-- Their support is powering the Diaries- thank you! You can join today. Our book, States of Adventure, 30 stories adapted from The Diaries, is out in the wild. See if it's available on your local shelves or order it here: geni.us/StatesofAdventure This story first aired in 2020.

Luke, Job, and Jonah have been best friends since childhood, and with the end of high school looming, they set out on their biggest adventure yet. During a month-long quest to canoe from Job’s backyard in Franklin, Tennessee, to the Gulf of Mexico, they encounter storms, venomous spiders, and alligators putting their skills and stoke are put to the test. Submit your story for the 15th annual Tales of Terror episode Support comes from Kuat Racks  Diaries+ Members-- Their support is powering the Diaries- thank you! You can join today. Our book, States of Adventure, 30 stories adapted from The Diaries, is out in the wild. See if it's available on your local shelves or order it here: geni.us/StatesofAdventure

Jim Donini has been a climber for over 50 years– since well before Tad McCrea was born. As the two developed an unlikely intergenerational friendship during an epic trip in the mountains of Patagonia, both climbers realize that mentorship isn’t just about showing someone the ropes on your way to the summit. It’s about reflecting on the joys, regrets, and lessons learned along the way.  Support comes from Kuat Racks  Diaries+ Members-- Your support is powering the Diaries- thank you! Join today. Our book, States of Adventure, 30 stories adapted from The Diaries, is out in the wild. See if it's available on your local shelves or order it here: geni.us/StatesofAdventure

Love is a journey full of twists and turns. RC Shaw and Scott Johnson each found this out on their romps in the wild. Both barely made it, and their stories warn weary listeners of the dangers that lurk when falling too fast. Support Comes From Diaries+ Subscribers-- Thank you! Want more episodes? Become a member today. Incogni States of Adventure– 30 stories adapted from The Diaries into a book– is available now for order: geni.us/StatesofAdventure

In the last few years, Alexandera Houchin has become a force in the world of ultra endurance mountain bike racing. As a Native kid growing up in Wisconsin, she never could have predicted the ways that racing her single speed would prove healing to both her mind and her body. In 2023, she set out to complete the Triple Crown Challenge– racing the Tour Divide, the Colorado Trail, and the Arizona Trail– all on a single gear.  Support comes from Kuat Racks  AeroPress Use code DIARIES to save 20% Incogni Learn more at https://incogni.com/dirtbagdiaries Pre-Order States Of Adventure– 30 stories adapted from The Diaries into a book! http://geni.us/StatesofAdventure Want more episodes? Join Dirtbag Diaries+ today

When their lives felt out of their control, both Cindy Hong and Dierdre Wolownick turned to running for solace. Each of their stories is a reminder of the value of putting one foot in front of the other, no matter the speed or destination.  Want more episodes? Join Dirtbag Diaries+ today Support comes from Kuat Racks  AeroPress Use code DIARIES to save 20% Incogni Learn more at https://incogni.com/dirtbagdiaries Pre-Order States of Adventure– 30 stories adapted from The Diaries into a book! http://geni.us/StatesofAdventure

Two people step outside their comfort zones to take action on the things that matter to them in the hopes of making their communities, and the world, a better place. For Caroline Gleich, that means running for a Senate seat in Utah. For Alex Haraus, that means advocating and mobilizing support for environmental protections using social media.  Support comes from Kuat Racks AeroPress Use code DIARIES to save 20% Incogni: Learn more at https://incogni.com/dirtbagdiaries Want more episodes? Join Dirtbag Diaries+ today  and support the show too! Pre-Order States of Adventure– 30 stories adapted from The Diaries into a book! http://geni.us/StatesofAdventure

We're sharing an episode from our friends at Outside/In. Their team of reporters combine solid reporting and long-form narrative storytelling that sits at the crossroads of the outdoors, science and the environment and how those themes interact with the rest of our world. Til the landslide brings it down explores what happens when a growing threat of landslides collides with a housing crisis. Host Nate Hegyi visits Juneau to see one example of why, across the country, even the most progressive Americans are rejecting tough truths about climate change when it comes knocking at their own back door. Listen to Outside / In on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or where you get your podcasts. LINKS You can check out Juneau’s new hazard maps, along with many of its neighborhood meetings, on their website.  Dive into why the insurance industry stopped providing landslide coverage to Southeast Alaska. KTOO had a wonderful story on how a 1936 landslide that killed 15 people in Juneau became a faded memory. Zach Provant, a researcher at the University of Oregon, spent months investigating the rollout of Juneau’s hazard maps.

Beth Rodden first started climbing in 1995, and it wasn’t long before she radically changed the sport. Within three years, she’d become the first woman to climb 5.14; within five, she’d established a still unrepeated free route on Yosemite’s El Capitan. Today, Beth is making waves in a different way: by leading the climbing community in difficult, vulnerable conversations. Fitz chats with Beth about her new book, A Light Through the Cracks, and what it means to live a big life. Support comes from Ketone.com/DirtbagDiaries Get 30% off your first subscription Kuat Racks  AeroPress Use code DIARIES to save 20% Pre-Order States of Adventure– 30 stories adapted from The Diaries into a book! Want more episodes? Join Dirtbag Diaries+ today

We made a book! For the last year, Fitz and Becca have been working on adapting 30 episodes into essays and pairing them with incredible imagery. And we are really excited to be able to (nearly) share it with you. You can pre-order States of Adventure: 30 Outdoor Adventure Stories About Finding Yourself By Getting Lost now through July 22nd. The book will hit shelves worldwide July 23rd. Pre-order States of Adventure: geni.us/StatesofAdventure

Thirteen years ago Fitz got talked into doing our first live Dirtbag Diaries at 5Point Film Festival. So, we were thrilled to to return again for the 2024 festival and talk with Dr. John Francis, Taylor Rees and Renan Ozturk.  In 1971, John gave up motorized transportation after seeing the effects of an oil spill on wildlife. Months later he took a vow of silence that lasted 17 years. A forerunner in the intersectional environmentalist movement, we talked about the influence of the Beatles, loneliness, and finding home.  In the last 15 years, the creative lights of Taylor and Renan have shown as bright as any through art, through photography and film. They hold an incredible duality of bearing witness to the human spirit and on the flip side, they aren’t afraid to look at the difficult parts of human nature and its impact on animals, humans and our planet.  A Symphony of Tiny Lights Trailer John’s book: Human Kindness: True stories of compassion and generosity that changed the world Support comes from Ketone.com/DirtbagDiaries Get 30% off your first subscription Kuat Racks  Want more episodes? Join Dirtbag Diaries+ today