Scouting – Marianne Duijst

A Challenge: Climbing 55 Feet High

Posted on February 23, 2013May 7, 2013 by Marianne Duijst

On Friday night, I went indoor climbing for the first time since my teenage years. The indoor climbing hall measures 55 feet and never before had I managed to reach the top. I’m afraid of heights. Not so much that I avoid heights altogether but enough to be intimidated at the prospect. Over the summer, I climbed Sweden’s highest mountain Kebnekaise which measures 2106 metres. There are two routes up the mountain. The western route is a (very long) walking path that gradually increases in height, and where one has to essentially climb another mountain first before climbing Kebnekaise. The eastern route can only be taken with a guide (or enough experience & gear of your own). This route includes crossing a glacier and climbing (Klettersteigen) 150 metres. We chose the eastern route. I made it to the summit and back. Climbing up was fun; climbing down was terrifying. We Read More …

A Roller Coaster Ride

Posted on February 2, 2013May 7, 2013 by Marianne Duijst

Life is a roller coaster. Everything is happening with tremendous speed, anticipation and apprehension. The shifts and turns, up and down, moving so quickly it hurts. A few weeks ago, I was drowning, lost at sea, drifting, treading water. Now, I’m slowly relearning how to swim, am hanging on to the raft I found and am trying to find my way back to solid ground. Yet, even in the midst of the storm, there have been moments when the wind gracefully stopped blowing for a few hours; when my mind could let go and I could just enjoy. Last Saturday night, during scouting, we made cheese from milk and butter milk. Put a litre of both in a pan, add some lemon juice and heat it up until it separates. Scoop up the white curd, sieve it to remove the whey, add some salt and spices and put it in Read More …