Linden Bader “An adventure is an inconvenience rightly considered.”

This is one of my favorite quotes and it really represents the time I spent with Tad. He taught me more than anything to have fun, do what I love, and grasp every moment in life.

Just a few of my favorite Tad memories in no particular order:

Visiting his hometown in Kansas with him, going to his one-building elementary through high school and witnessing everyone literally greet Tad as a celebrity. He truly is the hometown hero. Every single person there remembered Tad, wanted to know what he was doing, and bask in his aura – from the lunch ladies to the school nurse to the football coach. We spent at least 2.5 hours there. Amazing.

Tad banging down my door in the leader house at 7 am the morning after finishing a trip hollering, “Wake up – Snow King is not going to run up itself!” Feats of strength everyday.

South America – 4 months, 5 countries, countless adventures, gastrointestinal maladies, and overnight rides on busses built for people under 5’8”. I just reread his recounting of the theft of his daypack in Bolivia. For me it truly embodies Tad’s attitude towards life. “An adventure is an inconvenience rightly considered.” Only he could so eloquently recount such a comedy of errors with humor, humility and a sense of adventure.

And then, of course, only Tad could convince a group of multinational strangers to pose for a “full moon” shot in full daylight.

There are so many more. I’ll never forget you, Tad. Thanks for all the good times.
Linden

Mark Olsen “Lead Like a Champion”

I met Tad on his first day of his career leading for Backroads at the Berkeley warehouse.
He was scheduled to take a van and trailer with all the supplies for the season up to Jackson Hole, Wyoming. When he showed to the warehouse bright and early he was raring to go! He redefined what organized is for any organization (a breath of fresh air) and I was ready to have him inventory the gear the bikes and quickly send him on his way with Tony, Tanya, Ashley and the rest of the new leaders heading up to the Tetons. After he methodically cruised through taking care of all the gear and checking off the inventory like some one mowing through corn-on-the-cob like a type writer on roids we found one hick up. The trailer break lights were not working properly. This when I learned about who Tad is as a person.

At this point it is 8 o’clock in the evening and we have tried everything to trouble shoot the wiring and we both reached wits end because we had no electrical experience. Was it a short, all the wires were connected, did the manufacturer wire something something backwards. We had to find a higher power to help us fix the situation ASAP. Who would have the knowledge and take our phone call at this late hour? Our fathers. We both pulled out our cell phones and called the other side of the country knowing they are about to go to sleep but knowing they would always answer the phone, help us solve our problems. Tad shared with me his father in Kansas fixed tractors with ease or anything else for that matter. I knew then in that brief moment that Tad was from good stock, salt of the earth, a son of his father. Fix the problem and move on. In a brief moment it defined Tad as being up for any challenge with grace, ease, patience and of course providing laughter every-step of the way. We found out the van was wire wronged and Tad did not get on the road for what must felt like a week which never let forget: )


When Tad shared a story I felt I was right there. I would laugh so hard from his stories that I lost the much needed oxygen to my brain and forget I was actually not there. One of the many stories that stand out is when I saw him one summer in Jackson. Tad told me how he left a message with Bill Sutherland (the enforcer of keeping a tight ship and tighter schedule) at the car crash derby. Tad said, “Hey Bill, Tony and I were at the derby and we’ve entered a Backroads Van in the derby.” The noise of the all the engines roaring loud in the background. Tad then called Bill again a half hour later and said “Hey Bill we made it to the second round and Tony is duct taping the bumper on right now. I do not think we will be able to run the next trip with it.” Bill called him back and jokingly told him he drive a van up himself.



A quote by the son of Kansas. A group of us are having fondue at Laurie Forstrum house before the season started in the Tetons. We are poking at these tiny bite size pieces of food with are little fondue forks which prompts Tad to grumble, “This is not how you eat food!” He gets up and grabs a giant serving spoon, grips it like a wrench and delares, “where I come from we shovel our food.” Of course we all busted out laughing.
Tad always reached for the shovel to dig for the treasures of life. He found long ago anything less was too small to unearth greatness. Tad you will never be forgotten and will always be celebrated.

Enjoy the view from the mountain top my friend.


Mark