These songs were all inspired by and mostly written in the outdoors. Hiking, backcountry skiing, paddling, riding, floating, and exploring wild places in nature has been a central part of my life and my creative process. Powered by the body, relying on oneself and one’s companions, reading the landscape, finding the routes, sharing sustenance, stories, struggles, and satisfaction with good friends takes me to new places of awareness and appreciation for nature – both inner and outer.
1. Don’t Take the Road Written at the Fowler-Hilliard Hut (CO) while snowmobiles buzzed by us pulling skiers as we climbed (previously) untouched slope.
2. Grunt Factor Written at the Eismann Hut (CO) after an epic ski into the hut in a blizzard
3. Geezer in the Weeds Written at Lake Durant in the Adirondacks.
4. Cramps Written at Janet’s Cabin (CO) in intense pain while my “friends” laughed at my St. Vitus dance.
5. Gentle Arm Written by Dave Carter — one of the best environmental songs ever.
6. Ride Written at the Opus Hut (CO) at the end of 4 days of primo skiing
GRUNT FACTOR details the delicate pain-vs-gain equation that goes into any wilderness workout (or any workout).
