Archive for February 11th, 2009
11/02/2009
Chimu Inka in Bristol, NH Fall'08
The Andean Folklore music band from Cusco Peru, Chimu Inka, headed by Guillermo Seminario and joined by Wachi Taype and Mario Montalvo visited the USA in September and October of 2008. Their tour was a success beyond measure. They touched our New England communities with their grace, professionalism, humor and warmth.
The group’s schedule was packed from beginning to end, and venues were calling asking for them to play at the last moment. Unfortunately we were only limited by the number of days in a week, and our energy. MSI Director Randy Richards hosted the trio at his home in Sunapee, and although they based out of Sunapee, aside from the engagements there, they didn’t spend a lot of time in town.
Chimu Inka in Bennington, VT Fall'08
The group covered Bennington and Montpelier Vermont to Gorham NH and Sturbridge Mass. They played universities, schools, coffeehouses and even one bar. According to Director Randy Richards, it was “mission acccomplished” at the end of the tour. “We definitely connected people to each other through this music exchange, and to themselves through the power of the music and the performances,” said Richards.
For more information on their tour in 2010, their hosting MSI participants in Peru July 2010, see their webpage at www.mtnspirit.orgor their blog at www.chimuinka.wordpress.com
Tags:adventure travel, Agusto Taype, Bob Stremba, Brenda Dowst, Chimu Inka, Cindy Heath, Craig Cimmons, Dexter R. Richards, ecospiritual psychology, Experiential Education, Guillermo Seminario, Holistic Living, Mario Montalvo, Mountain Spirit, Mountaineering, mtnspirit.org, Music Exchange, New Hampshire, Peru, Peruvian Folklore Music, Randy Richards, Spiritual, Sunapee, Sustainability
Posted in Holistic Living, Music, Peru, South America, Spiritual | Leave a Comment »
11/02/2009
Machu Picchu
MSI is excited to be working further with Guillermo Seminario and Chimu Inka this summer. For anyone interested in joining us, a small group, (limited to 6-7) will be going to Cusco, Machu Picchu and Lake Titicaca with Guillermo and Chimu Inka as our hosts. MSI has been running programs to Peru since 1998, (R Richards had been mountain guiding before that in Peru), and we are excited to be working with who we consider our dear family members Guillermo, Wachi and and Mario.
Amantani Island, Summit View
We will visit with locals, do a small service project, stay in the Sacred Valley, venture to Machu Picchu and Lake Titicaca. There will be a base for a few days in Ollantaytambo where we will head to Willoc to study weaving in action. This area is known for it’s traditional weaves with mainly vegetable dyes. Of course, Guillermo and his band members will provide a strong musical influence, not only by performing, but sharing with us their history and love of traditional Andean folklore music.
There is still space available, airline prices are at an all time low to Lima and Cusco, so we hope you’ll consider joining us. For more information see MSI’s website at www.mtnspirit.org or contact Randy Richards at 603-763-2668 or by email at randy@mtnspirit.org .
Tags:adventure travel, Andean Folklore Music, Bob Stremba, Brenda Dowst, Chimu Inka, Cindy Heath, Craig Cimmons, Cusco, Dexter R. Richards, ecospiritual psychology, Experiential Education, Guillermo Seminario, Holistic Living, Lake Titicaca, Machu Picchu, Mountain Spirit, Mountaineering, mtnspirit.org, New Hampshire, Peru, Randy Richards, Spiritual, Sunapee, Sustainability
Posted in Holistic Living, Leadership, Mountain People, MSI News, Peru, Power of Place, South America, Spiritual, Traveling | 1 Comment »
11/02/2009
Stacked stones, Fantail Falls, NZ
Fantail Falls is at the trailhead for Mt. Brewster at the Haast Pass road on New Zealand’s South Island. Taking off from the parking lot, the trail has a short bypass to the falls. After a few days at the Mt. Brewster area, I decided to drop my pack off at the car, and come back to the falls. Not only was I treated to the falls on the far side of the river, but also to the piles of rocks left by strangers. I doubt one person or family did them all. Whoever stacked these rocks spaced them peacefully and artfully in front of the falls. The next rain will most likely send them toppling when the river rises. In searching on the internet for a particular name of stacked rocks done in a meditative aire, I stumbled across an interesting article on the subject.
Update: Since I wrote this piece, I’ve driven to the south island’s west coast and back, and noticed these stone piles at a few inspirational locations, the beaches on the Tasman Sea, and inland, near Mt. Cook.
Tags:adventure travel, Balancing Rocks, Bob Stremba, Brenda Dowst, Cindy Heath, Craig Cimmons, Dexter R. Richards, ecospiritual psychology, Experiential Education, Holistic Living, Meditation, Mountain Spirit, Mountaineering, Mt. Brewster, mtnspirit.org, New Hampshire, New Zealand, Peru, Randy Richards, Spiritual, Stacked Stones, Sunapee, Sustainability
Posted in Inner Work, New Zealand, Power of Place, Spiritual | Leave a Comment »
11/02/2009
Family heading back from Aspiring Hut
Recently, during a New Zealand national holiday, the Aspiring Hut saw a full house last Saturday night. There were climbers, trekkers, and people of all ages. Some were making the Aspiring Hut their destination, others were headed further for Cascade Saddle, French Ridge or Mt. Aspiring’s summit.
One family was the most unique there that night. A young couple was there with there 11 month old baby. I was amazed to see the baby stroller in the hut. It seemed so out of place. Upon quering the couple, they said they had been ill advised about the stoller, and shouldn’t have brought it. (There is a good portion of the trail where it can be used however, not enough to warrant carrying it as much as they did).
The hike to Aspiring Hut, NZ
Congratulations to these two for coming into the mountains with their new baby. They, and others here in New Zealand, show us that the backcountry is a place for the young and the young at heart. The next day, an elderly hiking group from Dunedin, numbering 40 or more, with an average age of 60, hiked to the hut for the day. Well done.
Tags:adventure travel, Aspiring Hut, Bob Stremba, Brenda Dowst, Cindy Heath, Craig Cimmons, Dexter R. Richards, ecospiritual psychology, Experiential Education, Holistic Living, Mountain Spirit, Mountaineering, Mt. Aspiring National Park, mtnspirit.org, New Hampshire, New Zealand, Peru, Randy Richards, Spiritual, Sunapee, Sustainability
Posted in Health, Holistic Living, Mountain People, New Zealand, Power of Place | Leave a Comment »
11/02/2009
Returning from snow school, Mt. Brewster, NZ
Some friends and I had a great time in the Mt. Brewster area last week. We did the two hour plus verticle hike to the hut from the valley floor, which got us there in the afternoon. As Aspiring Guides Director Martin Hawes writes in their blog, “The track to Brewster Hut wastes no time in saying which way you are going: you leave the car, cross the river and then its straight uphill. At 2575 metres, Mt Brewster is over 2 000 metre above the road and fortunately there is no valley slog to start. There is an honesty to this track. It takes you directly where you want to go – upwards, and no messing about.”
Lisbeth & Amanda headed for Brewster Hut
Amanda is the roving hut ranger for DOC, and her roster took her there to collect hut fees, do maintenance and be a presence at the hut. When we had a bit of free time, she and mutual friend Lizbeth Asserhoj from Denmark, did some basic snow school/ice axe lessons for the afternoon. The following day we worked our way over to Mt. Brewster glacier. But because of poor visiablity rain and slippery glacier polished rock we didn’t make it on the glacier. Even though we were well equipped for glacier travel, we decided to turn back for the hut. Some glaciologist who had earlier in the day been deposited by helicopter also decided to head for the hut. We later caught up with them at the hut, where they described their studies the effects of climate change on the Mt. Brewster Glacier.
Sunset from Brewster Hut
We based ourselves at the new hut, recently put there by the Department of Conservation in 2007. It replaces a four bunk hut that had been there for years. Even though we didn’t have time to get near the mountain itself, we enjoyed our time doing some ridge walks, snow school and getting towards the base of the mountain. Next time we’re up there we’ll poke around a bit more, time permitting.
Tags:adventure travel, Bob Stremba, Brenda Dowst, Cindy Heath, Craig Cimmons, Dexter R. Richards, ecospiritual psychology, Experiential Education, Glacialogy, Holistic Living, Mountain Spirit, Mountaineering, Mt. Brewster, mtnspirit.org, New Hampshire, New Zealand, Peru, Randy Richards, Snow School, Spiritual, Sunapee, Sustainability
Posted in Climate Change, Climb/Ski/Mntneering, Environment, Mountain People, New Zealand, Power of Place | 1 Comment »
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