CURRENT MISSION

Treating myself to a life of adventure and doing all the things I've talked about

ABOUT ME

I am very restless and spontaneous, interested in experiencing as much as I can in this world. An avid hiker and outdoors person, I have settled back into a life out west. I've had a number of jobs outdoors. I worked for Aspen Achievement Academy as a wilderness field instructor. I helped struggling youth by helping them find an identity and develop more self-confidence. I worked as a children's ski instructor at Taos Ski Valley next season. Now I am relocating to Alaska for the summer to try my hands guiding on glaciers or on the sea in kayaks.

I consider myself a progressive thinker, always working towards living my life with a reduced emphasis on material possessions (well, aside for fancy outdoor gear) and an appreciation for our natural heritage. I'm always striving to live a more sustainable life, and closer to nature.

PHILOSOPHY

I believe to really find one self in life, you must continue to re-evaluate everything, especially the selfish interests and materialistic values preached by society, and immerse yourself in a primal existence every now and then, far in the wilderness. Only by ignoring our fabricated urban environment and turning to the beauty of an untouched landscape, can we begin to understand the human relationship with the planet.

I also feel life is to be enjoyed and spent doing the things you are passionate about. After all, what use are your dreams if you don't follow them? If your life is not headed where you want it to go, an opportunity to reinvent yourself arises with each new day, as long as you have the courage to follow your instincts.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I usually incorporate Couchsurfing in all my travels across the country and I participate in CS gatherings when I'm not surfing or hosting. I am passionate about the southwest and four-corners region, the 14ers in Colorado, and, of course, skiing. I'm interested in educating people about the incredible places I've seen.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I've couchsurfed in Kent, Ohio; Lafayette, Indiana; Colby, Kansas; Colorado Springs; Anchorage, Alaska; Taos, New Mexico; Portland, Oregon; Klamath Falls, Oregon; Elko, Nevada; Colorado Springs, Colorado; Telluride, Colorado. Every experience has surpassed my expectations. Soon I hope to expand my couchsurfing over seas!

Interests

I am interested in hiking, climbing, mountaineering backpacking, skiing, kayaking, biking, running, drawing, painting, animation, philosophy (I especially love Thoreau), writing of any kind, reading, exploring nature, urban exploration and almost anything else I feel like doing at any given time.

• writing
• beauty
• environment
• running
• instructor
• reading
• painting
• drawing
• outdoor activities
• cycling
• hiking
• backpacking
• kayaking
• mountaineering
• surfing
• skiing
• rock climbing
• animation
• rivers
• mountains
• urban exploration

Music, Movies, and Books

Movies: Into the Wild, Shawshank Redemption, The NeverEnding Story, Monsters Inc., Finding Nemo, The Lion King, The Shining, American Beauty and many more I can't remember at the moment.

Music: Sunny Day Real Estate, The Fire Theft, Jeremy Enigk, Beirut, Eddie Vedder, Bad Religion, Weezer, The Rentals, Social Distortion, Enya, Loreena McKennitt, Nirvana, Marcy Playground, The Pixies, The Gin Blossoms . . . far too many to list.

Books: Into the Wild, Siddhartha, The Neverending Story, Island of the Blue Dolphins, Night, Into Thin Air, The Hatchet, and many more

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Anywhere there are mountains, I'm likely to turn up. Two years ago I climbed Mount Rainier, Mount Hood and Mount Adams in the Pacific Northwest. I also enjoy bagging the Colorado 14er's. So far I have done 23 on the list of 54 peaks.I have gone kayaking in Florida rivers, sometimes only feet away from alligators. I am also known for taking very long day hikes averaging around 25 miles in length. One of my most demanding hikes was 31 miles in length, in which I ascended three of the four Truchas peaks in New Mexico. I was on my feet for almost a continuous 13+ hours. I went on a NOLS Semester in Alaska and spent three weeks kayaking through the Prince William Sound, dodging pieces of ice from the calving Chenega glacier, backpacked through the East Alaska Range, and traveled through the glaciated Chugach mountains (and I even fell in a crevasse and had to be rescued.) I have explored several of the narrow canyons of Utah. I'm thankful that after a five year absence I am returning to Alaska this summer.

Teach, Learn, Share

I can't think of anything witty or smart at the moment, so I will leave you with one of my favorite Thoreau quotes:

"Go confidently in the direction of your dreams! Live the life you've imagined. As you simplify your life, the laws of the universe will be simpler."

Countries I’ve Visited

Belgium, Canada, Colombia, Costa Rica, France, Jamaica, Mexico, Netherlands, Nicaragua, United Kingdom, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

United States

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