A couple week a ago a friend (LMVA Client, and a former NOLS student) Cary Girod was killed while on a bike trip south of Seattle.

She was traveling on the shoulder of the road when a truck hit her and her boy friend. Her boyfriend will be ok but Cary suffered sevear head trama and was killed.

In 2007 LMA organized a sea kayak trip in Newfoundland for Cary and a group of her student high school student from NJ.

There is so much to say about Cary. Here are a few of the things that jump into my head when I picture Cary:

- Her bright eyes and bigger smile - Her infectious laugh - Her hilarious sense of humor and quality dirty jokes - Her enthusiasm, and love for the wilderness - Her passion for teaching and caring for her students - Her strength and fitness, she was one of the smallest NOLS students I have ever had but she threw around her 50 plus pound pack and paddled her single kayak with ease. - Her intelligence and constant desire to learn more about everything. - After days and days of rain on her NOLS course Cary and a few of the other students, after a long day would always say with a good laugh “lets go make brownies and cry”. She never complained once!

As an avid triathlete we often talked about training and cool rides we would like to do some day. Her awful accident hits me especially hard as I am currently training to compete in the Ironman Canada Triathlon as the end of Aug and am doing a tremendous amount of road riding these days. When I learned of Cary's death I was headed out on a 100 mile training ride. I was in tears for most of the ride as I thought about Cary and was especially frightened any time I heard a large truck coming from behind.

If there is any consolation in Cary’s untimely passing please know that she died doing something she absolutely loved to do and in my eyes there is no better way to go than doing what you love.

Until next time: LiveMore!

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