What is #CancerRoadTrip and how did it come to be? Read this post to get the backstory!
Wellness doesn’t always receive the priority it deserves in our busy lives. Cancer makes us realize just how important self care really is.
Everyone needs a restorative break from life on occasion. From life with cancer, many of us need more than simple restoration. We need a deep mind-body-soul period of reflection and introspection. Here are three very different wellness destinations that offer a reprise and perhaps a bit of adventure. They’re on my bucket list!
Thailand
“Healing is the definition of reconnecting with ourselves”
What is #CancerRoadTrip and how did it come to be? Read this post to get the backstory!
This year the Sierras have had record breaking snow. The ride up Mt. Rose Highway is like driving through a tunnel, with well over ten feet of snow on either side of the road. Lake Tahoe has seen more than 25 feet of snow since New Year’s Day, and more is on the way. Renown meteorologist Chris Tomer is predicting 350-400 inches this season!
Squaw Valley hosted the 1960 Olympics and it looks like they had their share of snow that year as well:
Squaw has grown a lot since 1960. In 2011 it merged with Alpine Meadows, although each area retains it’s own identity. A single ski pass and a shuttle bus give skiers access to incredible terrain. Combined, the area provides visitors with over 6,000 skiable acres, eight peaks, 44 lifts, and 270+ trails.
The relatively recent addition of villages to each mountain has expanded the social experience on the hill. Shopping, wine bars, beer pubs and an array of other shops and restaurants offer skiers sustenance and amusement without leaving the ski area. And this year’s snow fall offers simply epic skiing!
Squaw’s original design was modeled after European ski areas and was very avant garde for the Sierras at the time. Alex Cushing, a Harvard trained lawyer who was instrumental in bringing the Olympics to Squaw, located the original restaurant, skating rink and pool at High Camp, at the top of the 2,000 foot tram that brings skiers up the mountain.
Outside the village, the Resort at Squaw Creek is a sleek modern building with 5 restaurants and all the amenities one could wish for. It hosts an annual food and wine event as well as numerous other summer events such as wine walks, concerts, yoga and writer retreats. And don’t overlook the spa! It’s a perfect way to indulge yourself with some TLC.
Squaw has always had prestige. It’s expensive, and it has a history that no other area resort can boast. But with the merger, I sense that a bit of the “je ne sais quoi” may be dissipating. The aura of exclusivity seemed just a little less so. Neighboring Alpine Meadows, which has traditionally had more of a family orientation, now boasts a beautiful Ritz Carlton slope-side for ski in/ski out dining and socializing.
The merger of the two areas (plus Homewood which is now owned by the same corporation) bodes well for winter sports enthusiasts. The combined terrain is simply unparalleled, and the recreational opportunities are stunning. But with the merger, a bit of that unique identity of each area is given up to a larger collective. Not good or bad, it just is.
And it may be in anticipation of hosting a future Olympics. A local exploratory committee had hoped to bid for the 2026 games, with the idea of utilizing much of the existing Tahoe infrastructure to create a profitable Olympics. But rising costs, uncertainty regarding snow and limits of the lake’s transportation infrastructure (there is just one two lane road that circles the lake, and it is often closed at Emerald Bay due to avalanche concerns in the winter), plus the politics of the event, make such a bid uncertain.
If the Olympics come, Squaw’s place in sports history will shine even more. But a bit of that old time mountain character will be lost. Get to Squaw now, and enjoy a bit of past and present on a marvelous ski hill.
What is #CancerRoadTrip and how did it come to be? Read this post to get the backstory!
Sean Swarner is a serious adventurer and a two time survivor of childhood cancer. A a result of his treatments, he only has one functional lung.
But cancer didn’t slow him down. On the contrary, it’s given mission and drive to his life. On this trip to the North Pole he’ll be carrying a flag with the names of people whose lives have been touched by cancer. If you want to support him, click here.
For Sean, this is the final road trip in a saga that has taken him to the seven summits and both poles. The Explorer’s Grand Slam includes Everest, Kilimanjaro (which I think he’s summited 17 times!), Denali, Aconcagua, Vinson Massif, Mt. Elbrus, Mt. Kosciusko, Carstensz Pyramid. He’s climbed them all. Plus the South Pole. Now only the North Pole remains.
One of the interesting facets about an expedition to the North Pole is that this pole is really a floating ice pack. That means that you may travel 20 miles, only to float backwards ten!
What is #CancerRoadTrip and how did it come to be? Read this post to get the backstory!
Tahoe is simply spectacular, and I’ve been lucky enough to call this area home for nearly 20 years. Skiing, hiking, golf…you name it, Lake Tahoe has it.
For me, Tahoe is a place of peace and healing. When I moved here, I found countless places that were special for me. Tahoe tends to have that effect on people.
See if you have what it takes to know Lake Tahoe! (If you score less than 100%, I recommend a Tahoe vacation!)
What is #CancerRoadTrip and how did it come to be? Read this post to get the backstory!
Conquering the world has nothing on conquering cancer!
For some, adventure suggests uncertainty. Insecurity.The unknown! Compared to cancer? Hah! Cancer is the ultimate unknown! Let’s compare:
Fun vs. Suck
Adventure is fun. It breathes life!
Cancer is not fun. Not at all. Not in any way. Not any day. It sucks life.
Exploring vs. Exhaustion
Travel means new things. New experiences. Energy!
Cancer means curled up in bed. Barfing. Beat.
Vista vs. Wall
Travel means new sights. Amazing vistas of new terrain.
Cancer is four walls and a bed.
Fresh Air vs. Med Air
Travel is being outdoors. Breathing life. Alive.
Cancer is hospital air. Filtered. Restricted.
Don’t wait until you have cancer to do what you want to do. Carpe diem–Seize The Day– is my official cancer battlecry.
Light vs. Dark
Travel is restorative. Light. Easy. Fun.
Cancer is heavy. Dull. Sad.
Love vs. Fear
Travel is loving life. Tasting, thinking, trying.
Cancer is about fear and loss.
Participation vs. Isolation
Travel is about new people, new cultures, new places.
Cancer is about being very, very alone.
Presence and Awareness
In spite of the ups and downs, cancer is an experience that has brought much greater compassion for others into my life; it has sent me on a quest for greater meaning; and it has caused me to cultivate the skills of presence and awareness, through meditation and yoga. I am actually grateful for these perspectives and grateful for the opportunity of #CancerRoadTrip. I may not conquer the world but I do hope to explore it.
What is #CancerRoadTrip and how did it come to be? Read this post to get the backstory!
Three Healthy Food Hacks!
How does one eat well on the road?
My diet has gone through an evolution since a cancer diagnosis and travel can wreak havoc with healthy intentions. I don’t do fast food; I don’t eat processed food; no whites (sugar, flour, pasta, rice); prefer organic; avoid dairy; avoid mass produced meats; lean towards vegetarian.
That means I usually look for salads, soups, and fish. No quick dish of yogurt (dairy plus sugar = no thanks!) No mystery meat burritos. No fluffy whipped drinks laced with sugar.
That being said, I’m not perfect and I don’t need to be. But I try to stay fairly close to a vegetable based, low glycemic diet.
Here are three quick travel hacks that I use to keep me on course:
Snacking
Fruit: The original fast food
Depending on the locale, I look for an organic market or farmer’s markets. Here in the States, I’m a fan of Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods. I usually pick up some organic fruit-apples are great-and keep it on hand, for snacks during the day and to assuage a sweet craving at night. Berries are great anti-cancer foods. Blueberries, raspberries and strawberries also make for a great breakfast.
Veggies and Hummus
I love vegetables and even if they’re not organic, pre-sliced veggies are readily available. Hummus comes in a variety of flavors and it stands up well on a warm day. It does need to be refrigerated, so I try to be sure I’m staying somewhere with a frig. Ditto for a kitchen. Given my druthers, I’m happy to cook a few meals so I know where my food is coming from.
Green Tea
I travel with my own teabags. Organic + green = anticancer healthy. Green tea is really a remarkable food. It is full of anti-oxidants and high in EGCG (Epigallocatechin gallate). I’ve recently switched my morning tea to a matcha latte (with almond milk and a bit of honey). It’s delicious, filling, and richer in EGCG than just tea. EGCG has been linked to a variety of health benefits including inhibiting angiogenesis (blood vessel formation to the cancer cell). Tea times two for me!
Eating out: Not as hard as you think!
Think Thai
Thai food offers some great options ranging from fresh spring rolls to broth and coconut milk based soups. There are almost always vegetarian options available, and you can often opt for brown rice (rather than white).
Think Fish
I love fish! Fish tacos, grilled fish, sushi (yes sushi may have white rice–it’s more in the treat category or I go towards sashimi.) I steer clear of fried fish and look for something fresh.
Think Soup and Salad
Vegetarian–or nearly vegetarian–soup is not hard to find. And a green salad, preferably with a nutrient dense green like arugula is fairly common, particularly in the States.
Eating a healthy diet on the road may not be a slam dunk, but it’s not that difficult either. The more you know about your food and food sources, the easier it is to make smart choices. For more information on smart food choices, visit Anti-Cancer Club and subscribe to their weekly mailings. They offer one food, flavor or nutritional idea each week to help you craft your own anticancer diet.
Looking to learn more about healthy eating? Check out Rebecca Katz’s excellent on-line class and community.
Inspiration, joy & discovery through travel. Oh, did I mention with supposedly incurable cancer?
What's on your bucket list?
Thank you for stopping by!
CancerRoadTrip is about making lemonade out of lemons.
As you read my story, you may want to start at the beginning to "grok" how CancerRoadTrip came to be. You can click here to start at the end (which is actually the beginning) and read forward! The posts are chronological, with the most recent posts appearing on the front page.
The relatively recent addition of villages to each mountain has expanded the social experience on the hill. Shopping, wine bars, beer pubs and an array of other shops and restaurants offer skiers sustenance and amusement without leaving the ski area. And this year’s snow fall offers simply epic skiing!
merger, I sense that a bit of the “je ne sais quoi” may be dissipating. The aura of exclusivity seemed just a little less so. Neighboring Alpine Meadows, which has traditionally had more of a family orientation, now boasts a beautiful Ritz Carlton slope-side for ski in/ski out dining and socializing.
Fruit: The original fast food
Green Tea
