My Story
Sergei Poljak
I’m Sergei, a professional writer based in La Grave, France.
I’ve been enthralled by the outdoors since I was a small child growing up on an old farm in Connecticut, USA. I would spend hours exploring and getting lost in the wetlands beyond my house. When not romping around in the mud, I was equally engrossed in books from an early age. I loved my home, but it was exciting to travel to other places through the power of words.
I was fortunate enough to attend Colby College, graduating Class of 2014 with a dual-degree in Environmental Sciences and Philosophy. Rather than follow the traditional path of professional development and career pursuits, I attended what some might call the “University of Life.” The program at hand consisted largely of living the bohemian life in Telluride, CO. In many ways, I discovered what it really means to be happy during this time.
I’ve always harbored a passion for words, and, to a lesser extent, photography, and these hobbies blossomed in the mountains. I was writing more than ever because it felt like I had such special stories to tell. These experiences that meant so much to me could sure be entertaining to others as well.
Soon after moving to Telluride, I began writing for a popular blog called Snowbrains, just for fun. It wasn’t until after COVID that I began to seek paid work as a writer. Remote work was all the rage, and I was able to find a niche writing resort and backcountry ski guides, van life stories, and anything else I could get my hands on. Soon I found PeakVisor, where I’ve been able to challenge my brain with ambitious articles and problem solving.
Linking up with PeakVisor and having the ability to work remotely has allowed me to continue my adventure abroad in the French Alps, where I’ve spent most of my time since late 2021. The Alps, and particularly La Grave, France, are a place that challenges my skill and determination every day.
La Grave is vertical. The steepness comes to define your life in ways you wouldn’t imagine. It’s steep when your driving, steep when your walking…even stairs are steep here, due to the old, unrenovated buildings. The skiing is notriously steep; the mountain biking, which is developing rapidly, is more of the same. Constantly moving up and down in the world has developed my mountain skills, and given me more experience to harken back upon in my writing.
That brings us to the present day. I’m always looking for new challenges in sports and writing; my goal is to continue to evolve as both a professional and an athlete.
One evening, several months before his 90th birthday, philosopher John Dewey was discussing cultural trends with some dinner guests. Suddenly, a young doctor of medicine blurted out his low opinion of philosophy. “What’s the good of such clap-trap?” he asked. “Where does it get you?”
The great philosopher settled quietly back into his chair and smiled in appreciation of the young man’s frankness. “You want to know what’s the good of it all,” he said. “The good of it is that you climb mountains.”
“Climb mountains!” retorted the youth, unimpressed. “And what’s the use of doing that?”
“You see other mountains to climb,” was the reply. “You come down, climb the next mountain, and see still others to climb.” Then, putting his hand ever so gently on the young man’s knee, he said, “When you are no longer interested in climbing mountains to see other mountains to climb, life is over.”
— The Progressive (Madison, July 1952)