As a climber and watch designer, I've always believed that true adventure lies in pushing your boundaries. This particular day at the Brickyards clay pit in St. Paul, Minnesota was a perfect example of that perspective, offering an exciting winter adventure for beginner ice climbing enthusiasts. My climbing partner Marc and I arrived early, the frozen waterfall before us a challenge waiting to be conquered. As an experienced rock climber, I knew my skills would transfer, but ice climbing is a different beast entirely. The precision required, the careful placement of each ice tool and crampon, demands a level of focus that keeps you razor-sharp. Rock climbing and ice climbing share fundamental principles, yet differ significantly in their execution. Here's...
Getting outside, challenging yourself, and moving your body are essential components of a healthy lifestyle. Especially as fall turns to winter and the holiday season sets in. Embracing the outdoors not only enhances our physical health but also significantly boosts our mental well-being. Here’s why prioritizing time for your health through outdoor activities is crucial. The black dial Venturian Wildsider watch heads out for a winter bike ride The Physical Benefits of Getting Outside Increased Physical Activity: Spending time outdoors naturally encourages movement. Whether it’s walking, hiking, biking, or engaging in sports, being outside prompts us to be more active. Research indicates that individuals who spend time in nature are likely to engage in physical activities for longer durations and at...
Ready for a micro adventure? In a world where major achievement adventures are thriving, fueled in part by the global lockdown pushing boundaries, it's time to ask yourself: What summit are you chasing, what crag are you aiming to bag, or what distance are you ready to conquer? What's your ambition this year? Are you on track with your resolution? Will you look back at 2024 and wish you could have done something cool, challenging, or different? Drone pilots like Sebastian Schieren, based in Innsbruck, Austria, are pushing the envelope. His recent exploits in Iceland, showcased on Instagram, reveal an incredible pilot and filmmaker capturing the beauty of uncharted territory. This is no quick feat. Sebastian and his buddies cover...
Launching Venturian is a dream, but it isn’t my true north. Instead, it results from looking in a mirror to understand why I am on this spinning marble in the first place. It was a journey that started with questions. Questions about who I am, how I live my life, what’s important to me, and more. Until about ten years ago, life was about everyone else—my workmates, family, and friends. And then a song played on the radio that begged a question. The first time I heard the song “Some Nights” by the band F.U.N., I was entirely captivated by it. It was raw, fun, AND thoughtful. In it is a lyric that questions the very pursuit of all of...
As you contemplate whether to create a New Year's resolution — dig into these definitions first (via @google). Resolution is a firm decision to do or not to do something. The quality of being determined or resolute. My resolution this year is "commitment". A more determined way to say that would be "self-reliance." I will commit to getting outdoors more, challenging my technical and physical skills, getting stronger, and generally spending more time outside. My objective would be to become more competent outside—specifically, learning new technical climbing and camping skills. Why is that? I generally feel too comfortable. I feel too reliant on my home and would like to feel more capable of living outside the house. You can find it...
