Many Ways to Climb a Mountain - Part 1

One could write a monolith as tall as the Himalayas with all that we can learn directly and indirectly from mountains.

Achieving new heights, raising perspective, overcoming the arduous, learning by doing, commiting to a goal, and enjoying the effort by taking in the views and vibes.

I relocated to the coastal mountains of British Columbia over two decades ago. A prairie girl following her vision to become a mountain woman.

When I think of my years here... the landscape, wildlife, people, wilderness, and energetic forces that pervades everything... fantastic memories, dreams, realizations, goals, stories, and lessons merge and flow through my mindseye.

I have experienced so much while immersed in the land of big rocks and giant trees, the visions I have of the past, in the present, and for the future comfort me. I feel at home here.

Wanting to live an unconventional and meaningful life, to reach professional heights while rooted in core and evolving values and ideals, to feel alive, and thriving in luminous integrity, my spirit nourished and jazzed up - well this is what I came for and why I never really left.

Personal-Professional Journey

The Mountains began calling to me since I first saw them in Mexico as a child. They were hugged by a sparkling sea where dolphins leaped and sand stretched under sun beams. No doubt I saw them as magical. They can be equally intimidating and enriching. Like life.

A nudge would continue from time to time until I took the leap and left my home province in the prairies to drive west for Textile Art school in North Vancouver, and to be near the forest, mountains and ocean. I spent almost a decade there studying and working with fabulous companies, such as Mountain Equipment Co-op and QE Home, before relocating to the Pemberton Valley when FYi Design Dept recruited to me lead their technical department, serving clients around the world. That was my first introduction into unconventional business that fulfilled a wish to have a great textile career while living immersed in wild nature. This to me was a sublime existence. My profession is tied to my personal awakening, and vice versa.

Each time I made a change, finding a new trail and a new edge, I followed my heart and it led me to beautiful enriching places. Which is exactly what happened when I once again moved place and adventured to the California coast to work for Yvon Choinard's visionary company named after an epic mountain range.

Once again I would be with the magic of the dolphins.

Traversing the Peaks and Valleys

Some of the largest mountains in my personal life crossed over into professional and back. We work a great deal in our lives so it makes sense. When I left BC for California to work dream jobs (yes plural) at Patagonia in 2015 and then back again to return to Western Canada in 2020, on the cusp of the pandemic. Both times I was at a ledge, at a personal threshold, that encompassed career and romance. My romance of partnership, nature, and of seeking, and with a delightful mountain man. My soul was also calling for something more.

Often in my own life's saga when a big life event occurs it is x3 or 10. My story has been punctuated by these more than less. Straddling these events were side-route explorations of a spiritual, artistic, and experiential nature. Basically a lot was tucked into my rucksack of wondering and wandering, many many layers, and my maps spread wide and far linked to an inner compass. So on que in the cycle of things, a significant change in job and home coupled with a personal and then a global emergency, and moving countries into a semi-off-grid 179 sq/ft tiny home with my semi-long distance partner, all while in the midst of a health crisis. Following inner wisdom, and listneing to my body, I chose to take some time to settle and reorient a spinning compass. Luckily I'm a dancer and I've got twirl game.

To add another layer of challenge, we began building a small home and studio. During this I started exploring 9-5 jobs and hoping/looking for another "dream job" (of which I've had more than I do fingers), I realized if I wanted this life I dreamt of I needed to take bold action. It was not an option, but a requirement. Life favours the prepared and reward the brave. I am indebted for each unique path that were a mix of the scenic route and the fast approach.

Embarking Fearlessly

On an early winter day in the dark of winter solstice (especially dark here in the shadow of the north face of Ts̓zil!) Mystic Peaks Studio was born. With it a devotion via deep commitment to myself and my contributions in a world I love dearly. While it felt like I could finally rest and take in the gold of my efforts (well yes I did that too), I was also at the base of yet another mountain. Challenges in partnership and entrepreneurship are vast opportunity for growth, as they include ourselves as a partner who dynamically resides in everything we do.

When embarking on any new journey, new muscles are engaged and strengthened. Awareness is essential for reasons beyond the scope of this post. I did become starkly aware I had achieved my dreams again, yet the hardwork was not over and it felt really good in a fresh way. My love of career was revivified and the backcountry party was just getting started. All of this came together because of the risks I took time and time again. The rewards, connections, and snacks have been more than worth the effort of pushing past any fears. It catalysed an intense artistic, wellness, romantic and spiritual journey simultaneously. I am beyond grateful I embraced courage and climbed my own mountains.

It is when we rest between the climbs that we can attune ourselves to see the treasures we have found, the sacrifices we have made, and the map that links them all. We can orient ourselves to where we are on the greater landscape and assess in real time and scale, where we want to go. From there we can move slowly or quantum leap, and sometimes both.

The truth is I had no idea what lay ahead. The mountains with all their mist, outcrops, and caves are progressively mysterious and play games with your imagination. The trails would twist, there would be a plethora of decisions to make, and all of it forever changed me.

Stay Tuned for part two coming next week.

“When preparing to climb a mountain – pack a light heart.” — Dan May

Happy Trails!

~Nichola

About Mystic Peaks Studio: MPS specializes in co-creating innovative, sustainable products across adventure, sport, wellness, home, and performance categories, focusing on apparel, accessories, fitness/wellness tools, and outdoor gear. The studio emphasizes brand integrity, ecological and social responsibility, and a collaborative approach that blends customer empathy with technical expertise to deliver mission-driven, market-ready solutions tailored to client needs and values, following a local to global impact conscious mindset.

Ts̓zil - Sliding Mountain In Mist