Climbing Mount Sanity Day 1

Climbing mount Sanity
October 11th

This weblog will document my project climbing Mount Sanitas in Boulder, Colorado for 28 days straight at sunrise and sunset each day. The project is limited only in the sense that I have to do the entire circular trail which runs about 3 miles with an elevation gain of about 1500 feet. I can’t just go up and back. The idea is vague, mostly a type of ritual that I’m calling artwork. A performance really, without much of a current audience. Not a known one at least. I pass lots of people on the trail, but they’re not very aware of their status as audience members per se. Instead, they’re more curious why I’m taking so many pictures of their dogs. Which is the other thing I’m doing. Documenting the process intensely with photographs. Sometimes up to 400 in one hike. The intention is to create a short film combining moving stills or still photos strung together, with audio. All the other options are yet to be seen. Oh yeah, I’ve also chosen to abstain from alcohol for the duration.

My theory, as I’m in graduate school and am spending a lot of time creating theories, is that even with a busy academic schedule, this six-hour ritual everyday will help me think and write and create more clearly then if I hunkered down trading off caffeine for beer depending on my orientation to noontime. I chose to start on the 11th of October because it was a new moon. I will end on November 9th, if all goes well, the next new moon. I’m posting this having just finished day 4 which has been the hardest day yet as you’ll see below. Your support will be crucial, please email me, it is only with a community that I believe I will make it.

Day 1 October 11th, 2007 (dedication: Bill Agle)

Up extremely early for when the sun came. There were moments standing in the pitch black where I realized I’d forgotten what being scared of the wild even was. But the more time spent in that place, the more aware the place becomes of you and the less it causes fear. I struggled to even notice the beauty, except in reflection tonight as I edit the photos. The camera was my focus and my footing. Not enough memory in my camera, not enough sole on my shoes. I took the morning slow because I had to in order to keep from tripping, but tonight I practically ran. The footage was barely ever shots where I held still. I’m curious if this will ever change. I feel proud of what’s happened today. I feel flexible with the project. The only rule is that I go up there twice a day. The rest of the project feels like it has a mind of its own. I’m exhausted, but I just had a fantastic salad made out of every last fresh vegetable in the fridge. Raddicchio, carrot, green pepper, lettuce, raisins, almonds, and raspberry vinaigrette dressing. It’s just what my body needed somehow. Here’s hoping Bill’s surgery went well.