37. The Arc

For the Love of Climbing

Pam didn’t have a lot of tragedy in her life, so she didn’t know about the arc. And as a grieving person, it was hard to look forward to anything, especially on top of the pandemic. But the world started opening up again, and she and her husband Jim rode 1,300 miles self-supported from the coast of Oregon to Montana last summer. When Jim started not feeling well, they decided to return home to California.

And it was almost like she had a little bump, so she was devastated when they had to come back. It felt dark and isolated, and Pam realized—she didn’t totally have it nailed.

Pam knows about the arc, now. She knows that she has to build a future with things to look forward to and that give her purpose, if only to help her to not feel sad. And it might be like this for the rest of her life, so she takes the good when she receives it and doesn’t expect it to last. But when she’s stuck in a moment, she recognizes that it’s only a moment and to hold fast—that all storms pass.

Episode 37 is in loving memory of Brad Gobright, & in dedication to Pam, Jim, and Jill. We love you.

For the Love of Climbing is presented by Patagonia. Additional support is from Deuter USA, Gnarly Nutrition, Allez Outdoors, and Ocún.

Music is by Chad Crouch. Additional music is licensed by Music Bed.

Cover art by Kika MacFarlane.

Read the transcript here.

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