CURRENT MISSION

Make new stories

ABOUT ME

I spent most of my twenties as a tree-planter and crew-boss, doing various other kinds of bush work in between and the experiences I got from that life have a lot to do with who I am now. I live in a small off-grid cabin just outside of Dawson City, Yukon now and work firesmart contracts in the winter and wildland firefighting in the summers.

I spent a good chunk of my twenties living more or less permanently on the road. I cycled from the Yukon to Mexico, then around the North and South Island of New Zealand, spent a couple months on Haida Gwaii picking mushrooms, paddled the Yukon River into Alaska, and guided dogsled tours in the Kananaskis mountains in Alberta, among other adventures. I met a lot of great people through couchsurfing in that time and hosted quite a few when I lived in Victoria, BC.

PHILOSOPHY

We need to help each other through this thing, whatever it is.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

When I lived in BC in my mid-twenties my roommate and I hosted as many travelers as we could through couchsurfing and met a lot of amazing people from around the world.

While on the road I stayed with a lot of other great, inspiring couchsurfing hosts. Now that I have a space of my own again I'd love to host any travelers coming up North of 60.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

Couchsurfing is an amazing service that's introduced me to some really inspiring people. I've opened my place up to some amazing travelers who after only a couple days have left feeling like close friends.

Interests

music, literature, cryptozoology, philosophy, time travel, good times

• writing
• books
• literature
• reading
• woodworking
• music
• guitar
• piano
• drums
• cycling
• hiking
• canoeing
• parks
• mandolin
• fiddle
• brewing beer

Music, Movies, and Books

Music: Old Man Luedecke, Joel Plaskett, The Weakerthans, Nina Simone, Laura Marling, Iron and Wine, Paul Simon, The Mountain Goats, Drive-by Truckers, The Clash, Bob Dylan, The Band, Regina Spektor, Jenny Owen Youngs, Tallest Man on Earth, too many more to list

Authors: Gabriel Garcia Marquez, John Steinbeck, William Faulkner, Milan Kundera, Toni Morrison, Joan Didion, Louis De Bernieres, Chinua Achebe, Louise Erdrich, David Foster Wallace, Herman Melville, Leo Tolstoy, Richard Wagamese, Thomas King, Jorge Luis Borges, Franz Kafka, Albert Camus, Dava Sobel, Mary Roach, Kurt Vonnegut, Jose Saramago, George Orwell, Zadie Smith, Douglas Adams, Andre Alexis

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

In the course of one week in California, I was stalked by a cougar, trapped in a forest fire, turned away by some unfriendly monks, was reduced to living on the streets of Carmel (where I met a Celtic priest who had taken a vow of poverty), became the prime suspect in a federal arson case, and was nearly driven out of the town of Big Sur by a mob of angry villagers in a case of mistaken identity. I swear every part of that last sentence is true. If you host me I will tell you the story.

Teach, Learn, Share

I play guitar, bass, piano, drums, mandolin, harmonica and a little bit of violin and am currently teaching myself trumpet. Guitar is definitely my main instrument and I've taught it a couple times over the years, and I'd be happy to pass along some of the basics of other instruments and music theory.

Because of my work and lifestyle I have a lot of 'bush' survival skills. I've spent a good deal of time camping out in Yukon winters and I've been living in an off grid cabin for almost ten years now. I'm very happy to pass along what knowledge I have there.

I also know a bit about bicycle and vehicle mechanics, having spent the better part of three years living on a bike, and having owned a number of unreliable motorized vehicles since then that I've put a lot of work into to keep running. I'd be happy to pass along what little I've learned.

I do a bit of woodworking as well and built my own wooden canoe a few years back.

I spend a good chunk of my spare time reading and I love talking about literature and philosophy. The library is my second home. I love trading and discussing books. I like to pretend I'm a writer sometimes myself and have even had a couple stories published. A handful of probably misguided people have actually given me good money for words.

What I Can Share with Hosts

I always offer a meal whenever anyone hosts me. I also travel with my guitar and take requests if you're seeking entertainment. I have lots of stories to tell too. I can tell jokes, and know how to Sit and Stay. Really, I'll help you with anything if you can offer a couch for a night.

Countries I’ve Visited

Canada, New Zealand, Scotland, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

Canada

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