Hello mountain world! My name is Ryan O’Malley and I am creating To Summit Up to document my mountain experiences, spark discussion on places to travel, explore cultures, share photographs and videos that capture the beauty of my travels, to provide insights on gear I’ve used, and to inspire both readers and myself to pursue the pure happiness that blossoms in the mountains. I enjoy climbing and hiking up mountains and skiing down them. Mountains have the power to cure us from our demons and give us an open canvas to paint the riches of our life’s experience. Whether climbing up to a summit or skiing down, mountains are full of challenges that offer us the opportunity to find fulfillment in overcoming obstacles and sustaining a journey through its end.
Although my journey as a skier began as a kid, my true exploration of the larger variety of skiing in the northeastern United States (where I grew up and currently reside) is much more recent. I began exploring Vermont and New York’s larger mountains within the past 5 years. My hiking adventures began even more recently when a college friend exposed me to the Adirondack High Peaks. I recently expanded my exploration west to the American Rockies including Colorado, Utah, and Montana. There have been many experiences to date that I’d like to reflect upon on this blog. I plan to recount my previous Adirondack adventures and northeast skiing extravaganzas. As new experiences surface, my intent will be to stay current with my experiential recaps and galleries. I am expanding my skiing ventures west THIS FRIDAY, as I will be headed to Whistler-Blackcomb, British Columbia! My first blog posts and photo galleries on this platform will give you a look into this pacific northwest experience. Some posts will be longer while some will be shorter. Some posts will be opinionated while some will be factual. I hope to post SOME form of content weekly.
I wish to inspire passion and conversation about life and the very mountains that allow us to live it to the fullest. Find your inner calling and use all of your resources to pursue it. Breathe the fresh mountain air let freedom run through mind and body. The mountains give us the simplest metaphor for life’s journey and all of the lessons, challenges, and rewards that come with being human. To summit up, this blog will be a portal into my mission to adventure to the mountains.
Peace out.
-Ryan
