How do you define your adventure family? How has your family encouraged you to take up new and massive challenges? And what gear have you shared through a marriage, from a childhood, or across generations that holds your memories and is as nostalgic as American Thanksgiving? In this episode hear about how one woman was influenced by her adventure loving pups, a man by his father who he lost to brain cancer, and how a husband and wife team give life to their adventures and family growth through the use of a very special tent.  

Adventure Storytellers: Sue Grandjean, Chris Owens, Katy/Zach Mayer
​From: Portland, Oregon and Seattle, Washington
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This episode is dedicated to the memory of Dale Owens, 1941 - 2005.

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This week's featured adventure stories

Sue Grandjean's Adventure Story: A tribute to four legged adventure buddies

Sue Grandjean told a heartwarming story about Uma and Lucy, the dogs who have made a major impact on her adventure life. 

Along with being an avid orienteer and mountain biker, Sue once finished 2nd place in the world shovel racing championships. Yep, that's a thing! About that experience, she says:

"Shovel Racing!  I did this when I spent a winter season in Taos, NM working at the ski mountain.  I used to hitch hike up to the mountain and one time I caught a ride with a guy who once competed at the X-Games as a professional shovel racer.  He told me shovel racing happens annually at Angel Fire Ski Resort so a group of us adventured out to give it a try, why not?! 

I took two practice runs and then was ready, a real pro!  60mph on a shovel and finished 2nd! After my run, a local told me I had the best form he's ever seen!  Not too bad :)"

If you want to give it a shot, here's where you can find the info: World Shovel Racing Champs.

And if you want to follow Sue and her totally adorable animal adventures, you can find her on:

• Instagram @lucythedog_linusthecat
• Youtube @youtube.com/user/grandjean4242

Sue at the Summit of Engineer.

Beta on Climbing Engineer Mountain

The hike/climb up Engineer Mountain in Colorado featured largely in Sue's story, so we asked her about it.  It's a 12,968' peak located between Durango and Silverton in the San Juan National Forest. It's 4.5 miles round trip, and is considered a half day hike to the locals.  (But I have to say - we've met some of the locals in that area, and they're hearty!)

Summit Post is a great place to start if you're interested in climbing Engineer Peak yourself.

Chris Owens' Adventure Story: A Moving Memorial

Chris Owens told a moving story about a remarkable, 3 day, self-designed run through Southern WA and Northern OR, which he completed in memory of his dad, who passed away from Glioblastoma, an aggressive brain cancer, in 2005.

Chris describes himself as "a runner that loves seeing where my own curiosity and two feet can take me", and he said that, 

"My dad instilled in me a thirst for adventure.  He allowed me to fall down, a lot. He taught me how to plan, how to stick with a plan and how, when necessary, to abandon a plan.  He was brave, smart, meticulous and he loved my mom fiercely."

Chris has a blog that chronicles his ongoing adventures, which you can follow at Where Chris Runs.

​It includes a post about the run he talked about in the podcast, as well as most of his other adventures. 

He does a lot of what he calls "Journey Running," and his blog is a nice testament to the life-shaping role that running plays for him, and for a lot of other runners out there, beyond just the mileage.

Learn more and help fight Glioblastoma

Glioblastoma, the form of brain cancer that Chris' dad had, is the same disease that Rick Mathis - Tim's dad - passed away from in 2015. With an average prognosis of only 14 months, it is among the most aggressive and deadly cancers. While there is currently no cure or even effective treatment in the long term, there is a lot of promising research happening with this disease, and now is a great time to get involved and support Glioblastoma research. 

• A good place to start on recent research about the disease is this article from the National Cancer Institute.
• And a good place to start if you want to support is by donating to the American Brain Tumor Association, which works to research and fight brain cancers.

Katy and Zach Mayer's Adventure Story: Not just a tent

Katy and Zach told a story about their  adventure tent - which traveled with them from the start of their marriage through their early parenthood, and continues on even today - because they wanted to represent the parents out there that worry that their adventure days are over in lieu of the demands of toddlers and parenting challenges. Along with figuring out how to continue hiking, they also took up ultra running around the birth of their second child. Many of their hobbies, like paddle boarding, are equally enjoyed by their boys and dog; Zach says that everyone takes turns or goes out in groups on the board.  

Zach and Katy are both are native Northwesterners who grew up camping with their families and  thoroughly enjoy the outdoors wherever they go. They say that having kids provides some challenges to this, but also a new perspective and approach to outdoor adventures.

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Music

Ukelele Jam. Maricz.
Campfire Song, Chris Haugen
Parkside, and Glen Canyon, Dan Lebowitz

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