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Lucas Riley

@_lucasriley

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📍 far NorCal
🏔️ Mountains and men’s work
📚 Philosophy, poetry and peaks
🫁 Backpacking and breathwork

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I remember when my dad was alive, he knew I did some sketchy things and liked to live my life on the ‘edge’ so to speak. So he made me make him a promise - that I wouldn’t die before he did. Every time I was in the mountains or doing something that could potentially break that promise, I eased off the gas. But, now that he’s passed, his voice doesn’t linger in the back of my mind like it used to. I have the ability now to engage in more ‘risk adverse’ activities, and to be honest, it’s invigorating, but also scary because now I don’t have any excuses to really push my edge & find my limit.

I have my friends, I have my people who have become my family, but I don’t have much blood family left. Some will say this is a selfish way to live and think, but for me, it’s what feels right for my life. My people know and understand this about me.

I feel fully alive when I’m doing ‘risky’ things, when real danger is present, when the present moment requires the most precise movements, and this is probably the former addict speaking, but… it’s the truth. Obviously I’m not going to intentionally put myself in unavoidable danger because I like my life and I want to live for a long time. But, we can all die at any moment, so when I do go, I certainly hope it’s in the mountains, not in a hospital bed or crossing the damn street.

📸 @sadie_simonis

#mountains #summit #backpacking #nature #life by @_lucasriley

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8 months ago

Ladies, if you can tell that a man wants to be in a relationship with you, and you do not, do not ‘let him down easy’ because you don’t want to hurt his feelings by saying ‘let’s just be friends.’ Be direct with him. He may not be happy, but he will understand & respect you for your clarity. You’re saving him, and many men a lot of future hurt and wasted time because the thing is, a lot of men don’t view the phrase ‘let’s just be friends’ as rejection. We see it as more of a ‘not right now’ scenario. So, we wait and try to become a better suitor under the presumption that we may have a chance with you in the future.

#sunrise #nature #menswork #mountains by @_lucasriley

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7 hours ago

Don’t let anyone tell you what you can or can’t do with your life. Be the walking contradiction. #motivation by @_lucasriley

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a day ago

I was reminded by a friend the other day that my life is pretty awesome, even if, most of the time, it doesn’t feel like it. To be bloody honest, I don’t think my life is that grand, I’m just a normal guy, and maybe it’s an odd thing to be numb to what others perceive as awesome, but, in a way, I am.

I feel like there’s a lot of pieces missing in my life, or maybe just not found yet, but, to others, I’m living life in a way they wish they could. It puts alot of things into perspective, you know? & it’s a strange thing to experience. I’ve been told it a handful of times, and it doesn’t make it any easier to accept, all I can do is be grateful for the life I’ve built, the time I have, even if I’m not where I want to be, because I know that the journey is never ending. Life continues to unfold, and you can’t get time back, & you can’t buy it, making it the highest commodity there is.

Whenever I feel like I’ve arrived, a new door opens… normally in the form of choices, and I descend deeper into the labyrinth, entering the continuous loop that will continue until the day I leave this Earth. Continuing to descend, deeper, and deeper, until, maybe one day, I fully arrive.

#nature #sunrise #explore #mountains #backcountry by @_lucasriley

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2 days ago

Men,

If you’re interested in a woman and see a text from her come through and you’re not busy, fckng respond.
It doesn’t make you ‘needy.’ It shows interest. It’s respectful. It shows her you care. None of this ‘wait 12 hours before texting back’ BS. Better yet, if you have the space, dial her and talk with her for a few minutes. This is a rare occurrence nowadays. If you want to stand out, this is the way. Trust me.

This points to the contrast of responding immediately.
If you’re busy, or don’t have the capacity to switch gears, don’t. She will respect both. But, if you do have a moment, but can’t fully reply, acknowledge her message by saying something like this, ‘I received your message, I will reply later when I have time.’

Fckng simple. She feels seen & heard. Now her brain doesn’t spiral into worst case scenario. You’re helping keep her nervous system regulated and intact.

#nature #mountains #explore #menswork #backcountry by @_lucasriley

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4 days ago

some times you gotta do hard shit to remind yourself you can do hard shit. one of my favorite views in all of the Trinities, and it’s even more special at sunrise.

#sunrise #summit #adventure #mountains #explore by @_lucasriley

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10 days ago

XIV - 14 years clean. I’m grateful everyday.

Heading to the mountains for a few days to celebrate.

#nature #backcountry #backpacking #outdoors #healthyliving by @_lucasriley

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14 days ago

I overhear men speak often about how their woman ‘should,’ and they wish she ‘would,’ do this or that, or act in a way that fits their preferences, and it makes me wonder… what are they doing to create the environment for her to blossom? To soften. To take off her armor. To feel confident in his ability to lead. To want to surrender and engage in intimacy. To trust him.

Are they making their pleasure her responsibility? As if pleasure is a duty…

Are they tending to their own sexual energy, their desires, their fantasies, their sexual wounding, and how are they working with their energy?

Are they present? Are they attuned? Are they in their body, or are they in their head? Are they performative? Are they attentive to her pleasure, to what she actually desires? Are they breathing deeply into their belly, and into their genitals?

Is there an unspoken expectation that she must take care of his needs?

& if she doesn’t, resentment starts to fester, whether he expresses it or not. by @_lucasriley

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15 days ago

didn’t take alot of photos this trip, but happy with the ones I did take. full moon at my favorite spot with friends.

summer is over, and fall is here. the nights are cold and I’m ready for the change of seasons and to chase some leaves. 🍃

also, am I the only one who’s annoyed by trending audios? I literally hear the same song on everything. 😑

#moon #nature #backpacking #outdoors #explore by @_lucasriley

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18 days ago

be discerning with whom you share your energy & time with, not everyone deserves access to you.

only stay in places and relationships where you are loved, valued, & received, even when you’re struggling. always remember that king.

#nature #sunrise #backcountry #backpacking by @_lucasriley

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20 days ago

I was watching the sunset tonight, and as that was unfolding, there were couples ranging from teenagers all the way into their 60s all around me, and it got me thinking… It’s interesting, thinking back to my early and mid 20s, shit, even early 30s feeling like whoever I was dating at the time was going to be my forever person. And then the next one, and the next one. And now, here I am, 35 and unwed, not in a relationship, yet… I remain optimistic and open to the opportunity for whatever life has in store for me romantically. Patiently holding onto that without any attachments, but, remaining hopeful. Continuing to do my work, whether my path is initiated through romantic relationship or some other means, by which, I have no control.
So, I focus on what I can control:

My health.
My peace.
My community.
My purpose.
My happiness.
My life.
My art.
My passions.
Adventure.
Self love.

There have been many iterations of myself that I’ve had the pleasure to meet because of and despite every romantic relationship I’ve been in, but also from all of the ones that never were, and never will be - & it’s wild to sit here and still believe in love, heartbreak after heartbreak, yet I do… because hearts never truly break, even though it manifests as physical pain for some… oh what a conundrum.

I know my person exists because I exist… and that’s enough to keep the coals lit and continuing to tend the fire.

#sunset #moon #love by @_lucasriley

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a month ago

I’ve never met a sunrise I didn’t like.

#sunrise #mountains #nature #explore by @_lucasriley

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a month ago