CURRENT MISSION

See/ Try/ Eat/ Hear/ Do new things; enjoy life

ABOUT ME

Like many people, I like to collect things. Thankfully, my preferred "things" are experiences and memories, not Hummel figurines or stamps. I love being able to look back on a year and count up my new experiences-- it makes me feel special and at one with life. I'm an avid naturalist and outdoors-person, and, often, my idea of a good time is hiking somewhere remote to see something fantastic.

My travel weapon of choice is my aging DSLR, which, despite its sizeable heft and bulk, accompanies me everywhere. I love taking pictures-- they offer me a convenient way to store and access my memories. It is my most sincere dream to someday self-publish an endless supply of thick, image-laden coffee table books for display in my living room.

I think that one of the most wonderful and inherent side-effects of travelling is the act of meeting new people. Everyone has a story, and we can find so much within ourselves by just talking to strangers over alcohol or caffeine-- this happens too little in the world today, which is unfortunate. My goal is to incorporate more of this conversation into my life-- CS should help me do that!

Writing about myself is always difficult... I'd like to think that there's more to me than what I can fit in a text box. The easiest way to circumvent this is to just tell you, the reader, to hit me up with any questions that you may have. I'm a pretty chill guy, and I'm always looking to connect with some awesome people!

PHILOSOPHY

Will two quotes from Tennyson's "Ulysses" suffice for a philosophy?

"... that which we are, we are... to strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield."

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

Mostly looking to surf at the moment, but I'd love to meet up with anyone coming to Corvallis and talk shop about OSU, the Pacific Northwest, and the weather over a beer or a coffee. I'm open to hosting whenever I'm able-- drop a line and we'll compare schedules!

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

Noob, but looking forward to filling this section with something awesome in the near future.

Interests

Doing (reasonably) crazy things, Taking pictures, Climbing things, Hiking, Camping, Rock-Climbing, Being on /Looking at mountains, Seeing new things, Trying new food, Drinking good beer, etc.

• animals
• writing
• books
• dining
• cooking
• beer
• coffee
• drinking
• shopping
• traveling
• magic
• stamps
• outdoor activities
• hiking
• camping
• boxing
• rock climbing
• mountains

Music, Movies, and Books

Rowling, Tolkien, Martin, King, Pollan... I'm an avid and voracious reader whose preferences are wide-ranging. I like it when I can lose myself in someone else's world.

I have eclectic taste in music; I rarely watch movies.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Camping in Bryce Canyon NP, the Milky Way spread out above. I had never before, nor have I since, seen so many stars.

Climbing up and back down Oregon's South Sister. Arriving at the car I was exhausted, sore, and satisfied to my core.

Waking up in Zion NP, parting the tent flaps, and seeing 2000' walls of red and white sandstone soaring above me on all sides.

Watching the Perseids fall over a darkened Crater Lake.

Stargazing amongst the Sequoias.

Being a member of an amazing, loving family since I was born. It keeps evolving and it keeps getting better.

Teach, Learn, Share

I grew up on the Western side of the Appalachian Mountains, in Pennsylvania. As anyone who knew me in high school can attest, I was on fire when it came to knowing what was living and growing in the woods. Trees, wildflowers, animals... you name it, I could identify it. Since moving to the Pacific Northwest, however, I've lost my outdoor knowledge (there is basically no overlap between the biodiversity of Pennsylvania and Oregon). I've spent the past two years trying to rebuild my repertoire, but I'm still rusty. Any opportunity I have to get outside and learn more about the flora and fauna of Oregon is a welcome one. I also love to hike, camp, and climb-- so I have lots of personal experience relating to local outdoor activities.

My area of study is natural resource management-- more specifically, approaching it from a community-based, collaborative direction. It's an interesting topic to discuss, and thoughts on resilience theory are always welcome!

Also, I've taught public speaking for many terms. I have some info., tips, and stories relating to the topic-- it's an awesome body of material to work with!

I also love to cook and bake-- I'd be glad to work some magic in the kitchen with anyone.