Peak Experiences

Peak experiences are described by Maslow as especially joyous and exciting moments in life, involving sudden feelings of intense happiness and well-being, wonder and awe, and possibly also involving an awareness of transcendental unity or knowledge of higher truth (as though viewing the world from a mountain peak). They usually come on suddenly and are often inspired by intense feelings of love, exposure to great art or music, or the overwhelming beauty of nature. The experience can also be triggered by intensely negative situations such as severe illness or confronting death.

Peak grabbing in the High Sierra. Especially, a snow climb up Mt. Morrison in knee deep snow. Most of the people in the group turned back before the half way point - it was very heavy going. Finally reached the top after about four hours. Beautiful view made all the effort worth while. Wearing wind pants and carrying an ice ax, I glisaded all the way down the mountain, using several self arrests to avoid going over the edge of a cliff or banging into rock piles. The descent was glorious and took approximately an hour.

Backpacking in the High Sierra with Sancha, a Black Labrador Retriever. She would run ahead up the switch backs, and then back down to me. By the time we made camp, she was exhausted. When I fed her, she ate lying down.

Making love in the cockpit of an O'Day 37' sailboat at night in Wolf Bay.

Cross country skiing in Newfoundland with Sancha.

Sailing at night from Tobermory, Ontario, to Port Huron, Michigan.

Surviving a lightning storm in the North Channel in a 36' Catalina sailboat.

Night sailboat crossings from Ft. Lauderdale to the Bahamas on many occasions.

Sailing from Honey Harbour, Ontario to Parry Sound.

Sailing back from Gulf Shores, Alabama, to Mobile Bay in a heavy thunderstorm (I'll sail with you, she said, as long as we have good weather).

One week of sailing school from Ft. Lauderdale to Biscayne Bay.

Desert backpacking in Anza Borego. Up Rattlesnake Canyon following a ridge. From the top, looking East the Salton Sea; looking West the hanging valley sloping down to the desert floor of the park.

Nights with Lorraine in Fort Lauderdale, Miami, Baltimore and Annapolis.

Driving my Porsche at 120 miles an hour.

Snow camping on San Jacinto - hot lemonade laced with rum.

Sailing in the Virgin Islands.

Running my first 10k in Gulf Shores, Alabama.

Running a half-marathon through the hills of Birmingham, Alabama.

Fishing on the Wisconsin River near Rhinelander.

My first (and only) touchdown playing for John Marshall High School in Los Angeles.

Kayak touring in Newfoundland.

The Maine Photographic Workshop.

While driving home on Los Feliz Boulevard one night, I was listening to KFAC, a classical FM station in Los Angeles. They played Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, which I had never heard before. I had to pull over and park to absorb all that intensity.

Running in the rain.

Flying in a five passenger single prop airplane from St. John's, Newfoundland, to St. Anthony.

Hearing Carmina Burana for the first time.