I had the opportunity to catch-up recently with the immediate Walkley clan (pictured at left in Telluride this past summer) over a frigid weekend in Minneapolis at my brother’s place.  We survived the sub-freezing temps and even got to watch my 10 year-old nephew dominate his basketball game (they won).  Thankfully, the game was played indoors!  It was great to see everyone and I certainly appreciate my parents flying in from temperate Charleston, SC, so that we could all be together for the weekend.  I look forward to seeing everyone again in Jackson, WY, over the 4th of July.

I was also fortunate to catch-up with childhood friend, Michael Rhea, on his company ski trip to Vail.  It had been so many years since we had last connected in-person that we couldn’t remember when the last time was that we had crossed paths (“at someone’s wedding at some point in the past” was about as close as we could surmise).  Michael had generously invited me to present my “Seven Summits” adventures (the climbing expeditions I’ve done on the highest peak on each of the seven continents) to his GE Capital team and their key clients.  We had a great time and then the next day skied an aggressive 20,000′ of vertical on great snow under bluebird skies.  What a great couple of days.  My thanks to Michael for putting it all together.  Hopefully, we can do it again next year! I’ll try to bring back some good photos and stories from this go-around in the Himalayas to warrant a repeat performance.