I can't live anywhere flat (I've found through experience), and I need the great outdoors in great quantities.

I enjoy having new experiences, discovering new places and the whole process of discovery in general. I have a never-ending pursuit of knowledge; always learning -- I will never give up.

I'd been living in Iceland since late summer 2012 studying for a graduate degree in sustainable energy and geothermal engineering. I have been back in the States part of this last year.

[Update -- 2019]

I am currently working in Salmon, Idaho. Project Geologist + Explorations Manager + Field Logistics Manager for Century Cobalt Corp.

http://www.centurycobalt.com/

For work, I am living in Century Cobalt's 'work house', but there is a yard & space around the house, so backpacker / tent camper type guests would be allowed to camp on the lawn & use the kitchen & washing machines, etc... (but would have to 'be' respectful that the house is being used as a 'work house' for myself & the three geologists I will be the manager over, this work season -- all rooms inside the house will be occupied by Century Cobalt Geologists, this coming field season).

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I've hosted a little and surfed a bit more than that. Every interaction I've had with other CSers (with those who actually host, and that I've hosted) have been great !

(buuut), in practice 'finding' a willing host has been a rather bad experience for me (in the past). Its been a few years since I couch surfed, (and then 'gave up' on couch surfing when finding people willing to host 'a guy' was more headache than it was worth -- way more).

May

I've only gotten responses (of any kind, even to say no) from maybe 10-15% of people (Not responding & 'ghosting' potential guests is pretty shitty of people in general, but whatever... (That's why I 'stopped' using couch surfing years ago).

Interests

Listening to music, messing around on my computer (movies, games, etc), playing pool (billiards), backpacking, fishing, camping, shooting my bow, various snow sports (snowboarding, tubing and snow-shoeing), making/drinking coffee (espresso), various water sports (wake-boarding, cliff jumping, river rafting, and kayaking), skydiving, rock-climbing, 4-wheeling, spelunking, and lifting weights..... Acquiring and utilizing all manner of knowledge, eating new and exotic types of food, finding new exotic types of food to eat :) -- getting dirt tans and soaking up sun.

Academic: earth sciences, sustainable design and renewable energy.

• beer
• coffee
• movies
• reading
• billiards
• music
• outdoor activities
• fishing
• hiking
• backpacking
• kayaking
• spelunking
• camping
• snowboarding
• cliff jumping
• sports
• rock climbing
• archery
• engineering
• history
• philosophy
• physics
• science
• hitchhiking
• nature
• mythology
• learning languages
• sustainability
• gaming
• science fiction
• exploring
• learning
• sustainable development
• exploring nature
• brewing
• renewable energy
• sustainable living
• mead
• sustainable agriculture

Music, Movies, and Books

Music: I like music with good rhythm and fantastic vocals. (Favorite Icelandic band is Sólstafir). Overall rock music is definitely my favorite, but I 'see' / understand why people like other types of music. (For myself though, Rock music... with -very- good vocals, is my favorite).

Books: The Selfish Gene, The Ancestor's Tale, The Grand Design, Tolkien / LOTR, Cradle to Cradle; The Natural Step, ASOIAF (i.e. Game of Thrones), The Martian, Foundation Series, History of Rome by Michael Duncan.

Shows: Anything produced by HBO seems to be quality (and worthwhile to watch). Also 'South Park'... & several dozen science & history youtube 'content creators' that I 'follow'.

Movies: I love to watch movies (and have seen 'many')... Although I don't have (near) as much free time as I used to, so I don't get a lot of movie watching done these days. (Sometimes my every day life is like a movie, anymore, haha). ;)

If 'it' has a good IMDB rating, I'll watch it (and I'll also watch something with a 'really really really' low IMDB rating too, haha.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I spend a month+ hitchhiking through Iceland with two friends -- We circled the island by hitchhiking, ferry/ship, and several multi-day backpacking trips, going through some of the most remote areas in Iceland -- all for less than $200. (Because we lived in Iceland for school, but were also poorer than dirt, haha).

I've also crossed the continental divide by backpack in the United States (Bandaríkjunum), twice.

And I've been 'struck' by 'ball lightning': ask me about it sometime...

Teach, Learn, Share

PHILOSOPHY

"We don't inherit the land from our ancestors... we borrow it from our children". -Native American proverb.

"Measure twice, cut once" -Maxim

"Not all who wander are lost". -Tolkien.

What I Can Share with Hosts

Knowledge... ? (Vast amounts of knowledge ??)

Enthusiasm ?

Home-make 'backpacker' espresso ??

Countries I’ve Visited

Algeria, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Iceland, Mexico, Morocco, United Kingdom, United States, Western Sahara

Countries I’ve Lived In

Iceland, United States