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Sustainable Outdoor Activities 0

In 2012 I popped the A2 tendon in my ring finger badly enough to put me out of climbing for a year. I was climbing beyond the limit of what my tendons were ready for because I wanted to send my project. 

Being the type of person that's in love with activity and would go nuts (or become an alcoholic) without activity I transitioned as quickly as I could to an alternative. Running. I thought it was a sustainable activity until again, my ego took-a-hold. I mean look at that ego just shining through below. It was 2013 and was the last time I ran. 

 

how not to run sustainably

Being skinny and somewhat familiar with running in my previous city life days, running came easy for me. I increased my endurance quickly by running on the winding trails within the San Juan National Forest near Durango. With music pumping me forward, I chased the flow state adventure goers yearn for as I strode up and down the hills.

Striking the trail with barely the entire ball of my foot, I could push my body forward floating over the ground never fully striking.

It felt like a mountain version of Mario Cart. Just me and my dog Maybel flying through thick pine forests leaping over rocks and streams. 

I signed up for my first organized mountain race. The Kendall Mountain Run is 12 miles long, starts on Main St. in Silverton Colorado at 9,300ft runs up an old mining road to the top of Kendall Mtn at 13,400ft and then back down to town where I would stop running for years to come. I held true to my typical regiment of drinking wine the night before with friends and getting high immediately before running.

     I placed 7th overall (results) and broke my body doing so. 

I think mostly my ego decided for me after the turn around point, when leaping down a scree field from the summit at full throttle, that I was going to give this more than was physically sustainable for me. 

On the way down as I'm throwing my legs forward with my hips because I didn't have the muscle capacity to move them a few things were evident. Wearing minimalist shoes on a rocky road was a bad idea and I probably wouldn't be a runner after this. But, my mind was set to give this everything I could mentally bare. After crossing the finish line and collapsing yards away the guy who finished behind me came over to let me know...

"I thought you were going to crash the entire downhill portion, you looked out of control but you somehow kept your shit together. "

 

sustainable training for injured climbers

When I crossed that finish line I could barely stand up, my right knee pretty much gave out and we immediately went to the rum bar.

During the descent it was a beautiful example of mind over body, my body had told me no miles and miles ago. My ego wanted to beat that guy behind me and I suppose my curiosity wanted to see just how hard I could push this. 

I miss running. But learning what your body is capable of is a truly enlightening experience. Everyone should attempt challenging their boundaries often, but in a safe environment and in a more sustainable way then my running story. 

I truly believe activity is the elixir to a long full life and I want to be active until I turn to dirt. Now when I assess an activity I use the mantra of

Can I do this and continue to crush well into my 60's or 70's? If the answer is no I re-assess. Or go for it, occasionally. 

 

 


 

  • Bryant AuCoin

Keep It Flowing 0

best of the internet today

The Super Taco - this is a revolution in my taco eating which was introduced to me by taco genius Luke Mehall of the Climbing Zine one glorious evening around the campfire in Moab. Grill all your vegi / meat goodies as usual and separately spread a bunch of cheese between 2 tortillas and grill. Essentially you're just creating a quesadilla. Use this magical crispy cheesiness as your vessel of delivery. Taco's may never be the same.

super taco cheese

Electronic Music - Plaid - Unbank

Netflix - Cooked, is an awesome take on the basic elements of cooking and looking back at the history of those elements too. The episode Air is all about bread and specifically breaks down why sour dough bread is the best. Which is awesome because now I don't have to feel guilty gorging on it as usual. 

Tinder for Bears - Canadian Wildlife Crossings

Short Adventure Video:

  • Andrew Nehlig

Keep It Flowing 0

tips and tricks

Music: River Whyless. Sorta modern folk I suppose, from Asheville. 

Fruit: right now these oddly shaped Sumo Oranges are in season and they're the best damn oranges you'll eat from a grocery store. 

sumo oranges are amazing

World's softest bestest hoodie: Melanzana - hands down the coziest hoodie that you'll never want to take off and when you have to wash it you'll wonder what you're going to wear. Their website is seriously bad but they update the inventory hourly as they hand make each hoodie in Leadville, Colorado. High quality stitching and warm. 

The Ultimate Peter Pan Video: living an entirely different way of life than most know at 51 years old up in Silverton Colorado...

(YETI Presents) John Shocklee : A Fairy Tale from Talweg Creative on Vimeo.

 

  • Bryant AuCoin

Wiggle / Walk even when it's raining 0

daily movement increases health

Walk, wiggle and move every damn day for 30 minutes at a minimum. I've been doing this for a few years and rarely miss a day except for injury. Sometimes wiggling means shoveling the driveway. Sometimes you start on a hike when it's raining and the trail is nothing but an icy slush fest and then it turns into a wintery wonder land like....

I've noticed significant creativity and moral boosts from walking. Most of the stickers you see on this site were thought of while in motion of some sort. There's a bunch of long gone famous thinkers that did the same around their towns and city streets daily. It's a the most effective habit I've found to help appreciate the life around me more too. 

When you're contemplating whether to take that walk because it'll be too cold or whatever excuse you have, you don't know until you go. More often than not your way happier you went and realized it wasn't that cold and you were that tired. So go! 

What is Sticker Art?

What is Sticker Art? 0

sticker art founder bryant aucoin

exploring silverton colorado

As I’m road tripping around with my wife, friends and pup to climbing and hiking locations I look for moments that could inspire sticker designs.

Once back home in Durango I collaborate with a group of talented illustrators here in Colorado to bring those concepts to life as Sticker Art. 

camping and backpacking bumper stickers

The Sticker Art above was inspired by backpacking in the San Juan Mountains pictured below.

backpacking in the san juans

Most of the time my phone stays in my pocket on the trail or on the road (on airplane mode to avoid over connectedness & save battery life). As inspiration comes I take a few photo's of the moment and then move over to the note pad app and jot down my feelings at the time.

There's a story printed on the back of every sticker describing those feelings for the moment that's illustrated on the front. And that's where I credit the illustrator who helped design the sticker so they can garner new clients from their work. 

Each sticker is meant to share those feelings we get when exploring. To bring back the memories of that awesome route you climbed or epic backpacking adventure with a specific friend. Hopefully it also inspires people to get outside more often and keep them stoked through the work week for upcoming adventures whether in their backyard or abroad. 

snowboarding goggles frozen beard

Snowboarding in single digit temp.'s with a frozen beard at Wolf Creek, C.O. which inspired the snowboarding sticker below. 

outdoor snowboarding sticker

I'm incredibly grateful for my parents encouragement at a young age in entrepreneurial endeavors. Before I had a driver's permit I was selling boiled peanuts on the street corners of Charleston, S.C., went on to buying and selling used cars out of our front yard and had a route of candy and soda vending machines. 

My dad and I spray painted an entire El Camino jet black once and made around $200 flipping it - it was an awesome time that taught me a lot about business.

sticker rock climbing

Climbing Wham Ridge on Vestal peak (13,864 ft) above inspired the Alpine Rock Climbing sticker below.

alpine rock climbing sticker

When I got the idea for Sticker Art on a climbing trip I immediately knew of one big hurdle - I have no idea how to draw anything. Those previous entrepreneurial experiences though taught me to sell an idea well and to not be afraid of failing.

So I jumped in and contacted a few talented artists I found online and pitched them the concept via email. Luckily a few illustrators were down to help and after 6 months of toiling away on this concept after work from 5 - 9pm with them, I quite my job and went all in on stickers!

working on the road

Bryant balancing running a small business and playing outside with his dog Maybel.

The artists I work with each receive a small royalty as I sell the stickers they illustrated so we all benefit as the business grows. Sticker Art really wouldn't be possible without their talented minds to help create the illustrations that make Sticker Art what it is. 

Now I balance running this small business and get to spend way more time with my wife Emily, my friends and pup Maybel adventuring outdoors where I get even more sticker ideas. 

I love what I do and I'm incredibly grateful for all the supporters, like the small businesses who sell our stickers and those people who connect with the illustrations enough to buy a sticker. 

Our illustrations are getting better as the artists and I get the feeling of how to make the most beautiful Sticker Art. I am stoked at what is to come, like the new overhung limestone sport climbing inspired sticker I'm finally getting around to creating! 

www.StickerArt.com - Scope out the latest designs

climbing desert towers
Bryant and his wife Emily climbing the desert tower Jah Man in Moab, Utah. 

Small Business Behind The Scenes 0

small business packaging process

Running your own small business takes dedication to small repetitive tasks, something I find oddly satisfying (thankfully). My business is small enough right now that I don't have to outsource fulfilling / shipping sticker orders so this gives me a chance to look at all of them.

On every single order that goes out I put a thank you note. So I've written hundreds of little thank you's over the last 2 years because I truly am thankful people appreciate & buy these small pieces of art. This also gives me a chance to stand up and move around the small room I call an office (10' x 10'). 

I like seeing where the stickers are going and what people order. Fulfilling orders brings my own since of fulfillment through the daily dedication to shipping. The above it a little peak of what that process looks like. Thank you for all the holiday orders I really appreciate it! 

Music - Jurrasic 5 - Canto De Ossanha