There are so many reasons the trip up to Stanley was so unbelievably unforgettable. For me it wasn’t just the powder snow or the aesthetic qualities of the place but rather the people we got to meet. We met everyone from the owner of our log cabin to the outdoor director but the most important person we got to know was Sean Peterson or Pink for short. He’s one of those people who if you needed to explain to a friend you’d probably have to carve out an hour of their time, sit them down, and open a beer. This man has truly been there done that and then did it another 10 times.
I was first introduced to Sean during the prep course of Winter Wilderness when we read the amazing book Traplines by John Rember. His book focuses on the changes he’s seen in the Sawtooth Valley and the people who have impacted his life. In the chapter Skiing Volcanos we got a quick rundown of what this man has gone through. He’s an avid adventurer who operates at the highest levels of mountaineering an expert in everything that gets you up a mountain. But he’s more than this because he died once and was brought back to life, he had to relearn how to talk and walk, he became a professional chef, got back into skiing, and learned how to make bowls on his giant lethe. He has a perspective on life few know and he teaches it everyday to the people he interacts with.
The gravity of this man is palpable his skin is weathered and the way he carries himself is something I wish I could learn. I’ve never had a hero in my life it always seemed weird to idealize someone who sits on the cover of a magazine or floats in the imagination of millions, but this man has claimed that spot for me. He claimed that spot for many on the this trip and alumni the same. I’m glad that I had this experience to teach me creative writing skills, a passion for backcountry, and social skills. But most of all, I am happy I got to be part of Pink’s reality to observe and learn from him.