The End? Just the Beginning.

"Aim above morality. Be not simply good, be good for something." Henry David Thoreau

All good things come to an end, or at least they get put on hold for the winter. Madison is shuttered—closed for the season.

Now I'm forced to confront the question I've been avoiding. What next? On the surface, it's back to the grind. Setting my alarm, rolling out of a comfy bed into a heated apartment, a morning routine without alpine views or blizzards. Driving to work. Driving home. On the surface, it's lacks what I've loved about Madison so much.

But there's been a lot more to Madison than just the routine. By separating from so much: Espresso, my job, a relationship, technology, a bed. I know more of what I can do without, and what I truly can't. The challenge now becomes maintaining—not falling too far back into the routine of "normal" life—remembering what has made this special and seeking more.

So what's next? Short term, more hikes: A winter Presidential Traverse, soloing Katahdin in winter (it's now allowed) and finishing the New Hampshire 4000-footers with Espresso. Longer term goals: A road trip West, a job on Antarctica, and any other adventure that comes my way. If Madison has taught me anything, it's to go. Take the adventures. You won't regret it. When I was deciding whether or not to take on Madison, I asked my friend Pete "How can I afford it?" Pete's response: "How can you afford not to?"

And on a side not. I am going to keep this blog going. If all goes as planned, there will be more to write about.