Hi friends,

I’ve been quieter on social media lately. Not because I don’t care. Not because I’m disengaged. But because I’m choosing depth over noise.

Social media has continued to feel like a place where you’re expected to declare your stance loudly and repeatedly, or be punished for nuance. Where outrage performs better than understanding. Where complexity gets flattened into slogans, and silence gets interpreted as complicity.

That space doesn’t leave much room for real conversation. And it doesn’t leave much room for care. So instead of shouting into the void, I’m stepping deeper into long-form spaces like this one, where we can slow down, think, and talk like humans again.

Here’s what I’m noticing, through my very Tahoe lens; Studio numbers are down compared to last year. That’s not unusual, our town is always variable, always tied to snow, weather, and seasonal work. But this year feels different. Less snow. Fewer shifts. Shorter seasons. Tighter margins. More stress. I don’t think people suddenly stopped valuing movement, community, or their health. I think a lot of people are just struggling.

When work is uncertain, when income drops, when the future feels shaky, especially in a mountain town that depends on winter, bandwidth disappears. And when bandwidth disappears, self-care is often the first thing to go. That’s not a personal failure. That’s physiology.

When everything feels political, urgent, and high-stakes, the nervous system shifts into survival mode. And bodies in survival mode don’t make long-term plans. They don’t optimize routines. They don’t calmly “prioritize wellness.” They brace. They cope. They get through the day.

Somewhere along the way, health, wellness, and movement got pulled into the culture wars, treated like statements instead of supports. As if taking care of your body and mind means you’re disengaged from the world, or not paying attention, or not angry enough. I don’t believe that.

I believe caring for your body and mind, is one of the most human things you can do, especially when the world feels heavy. I want people resourced, rested, and capable. Not just informed. I want people to have enough energy to think clearly, enough strength to show up, enough stability to care for one another.

That’s what Summit Stronger has always been about. Not perfection. Not purity tests. Not performative anything. Just steady, accessible ways to help people feel more grounded in their bodies so they can live their lives, on the mountain, in their families, in their work, and in their communities.

I know many of you are tired. Financially stretched. Emotionally overloaded. Unsure what the next season will bring. If that’s you, I see it. And I want you to know this space is still here for you. This community isn’t about drawing lines in the sand. It’s about finding common ground.

Movement doesn’t belong to an ideology. Rest isn’t a political stance. Caring for yourself isn’t checking out, it’s how you stay in.

So if you’ve also stepped back from the noise… if you’re craving fewer hot takes and more real conversations… if you want a place where complexity is welcome and humanity comes first, you’re in the right place.

I’m not stepping back. I’m stepping deeper. And I’m really glad you’re here with me.

NBC-HWC | ACSM-CPT

⛰️PEAKS: Imbolc, In-Between Seasons

Lat Sunday was Imbolc, the midpoint between the winter solstice and the spring equinox. Traditionally, it’s a time that symbolizes the first stirrings of light, even when winter is far from over.

And honestly? That feels about right.

Here in Tahoe, it’s been snowless and dreary, gray days, muddy trails, and that strange limbo where it doesn’t quite feel like winter or spring. Meanwhile, other parts of the country are getting hammered with cold and storms. Wherever you are, this stretch of the season can feel heavy.

Winter parenting or caregiving, makes it even harder. I recently read a Psychology Today piece about how winter disproportionately drains parents, especially those in the thick of schedules, logistics, and emotional labor. When the days are short and the demands are high, parents are more likely to experience fatigue, low mood, and a quiet slide into survival mode. Not because they’re doing anything wrong, but because winter asks more while offering less light, less energy, and fewer obvious rewards.

For mountain parents, there’s an extra layer.

So many of us are:

• running kids to ski team 2–4 times a week
• standing on the sidelines in the cold
• loading gear, packing snacks, driving icy roads
• cheering everyone else on… while not riding, moving, or doing anything for ourselves enough.

You’re supporting winter joy, but not necessarily participating in it. And that’s when the couch starts to call. Imbolc is a helpful reminder that this isn’t the season to overhaul your life or suddenly become wildly motivated. It’s a season for small sparks, tiny acts that keep you from going dormant.

Not necessarily, “train harder.” Not “do more.” Just: don’t disappear from your own life.

That might look like:

• 20 minutes of movement while your kid is on the hill
• a short strength session instead of scrolling in the car
• walking, stretching, or breathing before collapsing at night
• choosing one thing each week that’s just for you

This is true for everyone; you don’t need a full day on the mountain. You don’t need perfect conditions. You don’t need to earn rest by burning yourself out first. You just need to stay gently engaged, physically, mentally, emotionally, so winter doesn’t quietly swallow you whole.

Imbolc reminds us: the light is returning, even if you can’t see it yet. And tending the flame now, however small, makes the rest of the season more livable. Especially for the parents. Especially for the helpers, and care givers. Especially for those holding everyone else up. You count too.

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