It Snowed In Park City....

Well, almost anyway. But at least its cold enough now to make snow. That's a step up from last week. It is starting to get a little frustrating though. Moral is low, and people are getting anxious. That's what happens in a ski town when the snow doesn't fall. Things may be looking up soon, but who knows. We do have a monster storm heading straight for us. If there are no drastic changes to the storm or the jet stream, it looks like it should hit around Tuesday morning. We then have a 30-40 percent chance of snow each day until Sunday. Like always, the storm is too far out to get overly excited about its effects. It does, however, at least shine a little hope our way.

I definitely have a different perspective on the snowfall than ever before. Before, it was always seen as a means to my addiction...skiing. It was a simple cycle. It snowed, I played. When it stopped snowing, I was off 2000 miles to a sunny river for the summer. Now that I have endured the journey through all four seasons here in Park City, I see the other side effects of the snow. If we don't have a big snow year this season the results will not only keep me from skiing, but I will also have to endure the resulting drought next summer.

Its funny to think how big of an effect that something so inconsistent has upon my life. The weather not only plays a role in my attitude, but it also guides my daily activities. No snow means no skiing. In turn, no snow means no kayaking in the summer. If mother nature decides to curse us with extensive rain in the spring to make up for low water levels, that means no canyoneering either (due to flash flooding). No snow in the winter, as well as rainy days in the summer, make for restless and disgruntled moods, too.

While this all seems negative, I wouldn't dare change it. It could (and probably will) turn out to be quite the opposite: Epic snow year, high-water river season, and minimal flash flooding in the desert. I certainly haven't given up hope, nor will I anytime soon. While snow isn't guaranteed, it'll come. So build a fire and do a snow dance...there's a storm a brewin'!

PS: Global warming affects all of us. Visit www.fightglobalwarming.com to see how you can make an impact.

Fat Skis Need Love Too

So I finally got my new sticks for this coming season. After selling my Mantras at a more than fair price, I decided to go ahead and drop the order in for my new toys. They arrived on Monday night. The final decision (after days and days of contemplating) was on the K2 Seth. They are the fattest skis I've ever had at 98mm under foot. The softer flex from the Mantras is definitely accounted for in the length (179's). Yesterday I finally muscled up and bent the brakes on my Fritschis enough to make them work on the new fatties. Next week I'm going to get my "go to guy" at Cole's to mount them up for me (cost = 6-pack of beer).

My decision was based on quite a few factors. First of all, I have an obsession with gear (hence my job..."gearhead"). Also, the Mantras I was on last season were just a little too stiff in the tail to get the pop I like. Also, on big booters they didn't flex enough to stomp sketchy landings. The flex on the Seths is perfect for tubbing and stomping big gaps and cliffs. The Mantras were also a flaired tail, while the Seths are a progressively cut twin tip. The extra fatty-bo-battiness will float them a little better in the chest deep powder La Nina has in store for us this season (yup, I'm callin' it right now...huge winter!). I CAN'T WAIT TO RIDE THEM!!!

PS: Bert, this post is for you. Utah is calling your name, I can feel it.

Backcountry.com Adventure Party 2007

Once again, I was reminded just how awesome the company I work for actually is. It seems like just about everyday I realize how great it is to work for a company of like minded people, doing what we all love. The most recent reminder came in the form of our company party.

Backcountry.com puts together an "Adventure Contest" every year for its employees. Basically you rack up points for recreating outdoors. Participants earn points for climbing, biking, vertical ascension, trash cleanup, kayaking, skiing...literally almost anything you can do outdoors. Since our motto is "We use the gear we sell", this is a great way to show how we actually use our own gear. After the contest is over, it is followed by a massive shin-dig to celebrate how much we love doing what we do.

Brianne and I attended the party (which was now 2 weekends ago, sorry for the late post). We received a discounted rate at the Shilo Inn right down the street form the party. The party venue was The Depot, a 3 story concert hall. It was HUGE, and the only thing bigger than the actual venue was the planning. It must have been a lot of work, because this party was one of the coolest "events" I have ever attended. The theme was "Pray for Snow", meaning everyone wore white. Upon arriving at the door, you could tell the creative nature of the people that I work with. There were togas, snowmen, white painted faces, sprayed hair, snowflakes, and many other interesting costumes. We were also greeted by an actual goat, which was very appropriate since a mountain goat is our logo. Once we got inside, we were handed our drink and gear tickets. Dinner was first, followed by a meet and greet at the upstairs bar.

Awards were given out and gear was won. There was over $100,000 worth of gear and prizes given away at the party. It was truly amazing. I left with a really nice Oakley backpack, a Backcountry.com logo duffel, headphones, and a North Face beanie. Bri got some sweet gear as well. The swag was cool, but the party was even cooler. There was a "glow station" to get decked out for the black lights, a Nintendo Wii station where you could try out the new console, a DJ station complete with go go girls, and a gear station where you picked up your prizes. We also had a band, Soul Survivors. I have never been to a Sundance Party, but I would imagine this was of the same caliber.

I think the coolest thing about it was that the founders/owners came on stage and gave a little appreciation speech. It is rare to work for a company where the president and CEO will go all out and have this much fun at the company party. They looked hilarious (like everyone else) and genuinely had a good time. It's pretty cool that the company they started out of an apartment in Park City not even a decade ago has turned into such a success. This party reminded me both how lucky and proud I am to be a part of it.

P.S. No party is really a party unless you have a live goat there.

'Tis the season...almost anyway

Dropping temperatures, 08 winter gear, ski movie premiers, and even an occasional snowfall. All of these can mean only one thing: Winter is coming. And with its arrival comes ski season. We have already had 3 snow days so far this fall and I couldn't be more excited.
When you live in a seasonal town, namely a mountain town, the people all around you are driven by different things. Some hiking, cycling, climbing, snowshoeing...all of which are great past times. In my case it just so happens to be skiing. But what drives me is more than just a past time, it is a way of life. It has directly affected where I live, my job, and even the vehicle that I drive. And it definitely affects my income.
When the weather starts to change in preparation for the snowfall my mindset begins to change as well. I am reminded why I live in such an amazing place with so many amazing people. In the ski community you meet folks from all walks of life, and there is no better way to celebrate who we are and what we love than a ski movie premier. I had the pleasure of attending Park City's first one of the 08 season a couple of weeks ago. Other than skiing itself, there are few things that rival watching others do what I love in the company of 1000 like-minded friends, a cold beverage, and great music.
I caught word that TGR's new movie "Lost and Found" was premiering in Park City on the 28th of September. I decided to check it out, despite my dislike for the venue where it was playing. While standing in a line of over 500 people and trying to justify paying $6 for a beer, I began to contemplate whether I should stick with it or just go down the street to meet some friends at a local pub (where there is never a line and the drinks always involve a bro-deal). Then a co-worker of mine noticed me in line. "Hey! You know you don't have to wait in this line, right? You're a VIP". And she wasn't kidding. I was handed a VIP bracelet and taken to the front of the line. Little to my knowledge, Backcountry.com (the outdoor company that I work for) was a major part of getting the premier together. We had the posh upstairs lounge rented out with a private discounted bar and an unbeatable view of the screen. After chit-chatting with some co-workers and sharing a few beers, I settled into my viewing spot content with my decision to stay.
While it was nice to view the film in luxury, about half way in to it I finally talked a ski buddy of mine into watching the movie the old way: Standing amidst the 1000 "normal" ticket holders on the floor, "whoo"ing in approval of a dicy line or a large cliff drop, dodging arms to catch a clear view of the screen, and meeting others that have the same passion and lifestyle as myself. This, above all else, reminded me why I make the sacrifices I do to live the life I love. While it would be nice to have a large salary, a mortgage, and a BMW, those things can never compare to pointing your skis down Square Top covered in 2 feet of the freshest powder. At this point in my life, I wouldn't trade that feeling for anything in the world.

Ding and Dang Canyons

My most recent excursion was a trip to revisit Ding and Dang canyons in southern Utah. I had previously visited Ding canyon on a trip with my former roommate Prom. Instead of doing the Ding-Dang loop, we blazed our own trail up an unknown canyon to the east of Ding and then took Ding canyon back to the car. The tradition of perilous canyoneering set forth in that trip was definitely upheld when Bri and I ventured into the proper Ding Dang loop.

The trip started with a drive down to the San Rafael Swell, about 5 hours away from our mountain town of Park City. Once we arrived at Goblin Valley State park, we took the infamous left turn off of the pavement and into the desert backcountry. The only car we passed while testing out the Tacoma's off road capabilities was a Rodeo with a Frenchman warning us to turn around, as he had been stuck in a riverbed for 4 hours. Instead of continuing down the wash we were following, we jumped up on an ATV road that I had discovered almost 2 years ago on a 10 day trip through the harsh landscapes of Southern Utah at the close of my first winter out here. After moving a couple of "rocks" (sandstone boulders luckily light enough to budge out of the way), we found our perfect campsite on the ridge line of Little Wild Horse Canyon. The view was surreal, camping on the ledge about 200 feet over the massive canyon that took millions years to be formed by wind and water erosion. The main danger in this country (flash floods) is the same main force that has created these beautiful landscapes. While we were in a relatively safe spot and no showers were in the forcast, I couldn't help but think of the phrase from a book I have read coutless times. "Geologic time includes now", meaning that the natural forces that have sculpted these ravines are still at work and the landscape can change at the drop of a hat. A boulder could fall or a flood could come at anytime with no warning. Luckily, we didn't experience and geological changes firsthand.

When we set up camp, the sun was beginning to set in the western desert sky. I made us a hobo stew dinner and cooked it over the fire we made. Since Brianne had never really been camping, she wanted the full experience. The meat, potatoes, and carrots all jumbled in a foil pouch turned out great after being roasted over the fire's coals. Backcountry dinner at its finest. After washing the grub down with a couple of frosty beers, we then laid out to watch the stars. With the nearest artificial light source nearly 100 miles away, the night sky was aglow with an array of stars, satellites, and probably even a planet or two, all shining brightly. We saw quite a few shooting stars while taking in the desert's comforting evening climate. Because of La Nina taking place on South America's western coast this year, evening temperatures in Southern Utah's deserts are more hospitable than usual. Instead of 25 degree weather, we were experiencing something more like 55-60 degrees.

The following morning, I got up at 7 as the sun had just come up to cook breakfast. Bacon, eggs, and coffee (all also made with the heat of the fire) were in the works as Bri awoke from our home away from home (my camper shell-enclosed truck bed). The coffee was the interesting part due to the fact that we forgot to bring the French Press. We made do, however, with some almost boiling water, aluminum foil, and a paper towel for the filter. It turned out almost as good as coffee brewed at home, with a much nicer view than my back yard. After a quick breakfast, we rallied the dogs into the truck and set off back down the sketchy "road" for the Ding Dang trailhead. We needed to get there relatively early to get into the slot canyon's shade before the desert's unrelenting heat set in.
After arriving at the trailhead, we filled up water bottles for both us and the two dogs, Lily of course and Bri's dog Pippin. Then we set out on the .9 mile travel up a flash flood wash toward the entrance to Ding Canyon. I led the way, with Bri, Pippin, And Lily close behind. Once we arrived at Ding canyon, we watered ourselves and the dogs and climbed into the Narrows of Ding. Ding was realtively easy (even with the dogs), so we made pretty good time getting to the other end of the canyon. We didn't really know what Dang had in store for us, but we got a lot of practice passing the dogs up one at a time over ledges, ols waterfalls, and slots in the canyon. After hiking about 1.5 miles in Ding, we reached the exit and the awaited Ding Dang Dome was signaling us to take a left and loop around the back to the entrance to Dang.
The beginning of Dang was easy. It proved to be wider and flatter at the top than its little brother Ding. This all changed when we got about one third of the way in. Suddenly our friendly walk through some of the most beautiful slot canyons Utah has to offer turned into a little bit of a problem. We came to a 30 foot drop with no easy way down in sight. After scoping out the hole that appeared before us looking for a route to the bottom, I looked down at my feet. Just to the right was a site that I did not expect to see. Not a snake, scorpion, or any other dangerous desert creature. No, it was something far worse than that. A Bolt. With a carabiner clipped into it. Contrary to everything I had previously read and researched about the canyon (which really wasn't a whole lot since these canyons aren't in any guide books), we were supposed to set up a rappel into the hole 30 feet below us. We had already completed 3/4 of the loop, and with temps reaching almost 95 degrees we didn't have enough water to turn around and go back the way we had come.

Due to previous canyoneering experience, I had thankfully packed a few climbing "essentials" for a just-in-case situation like this. While I didn't have the 60 feet of rope, 2 harnesses, or rappelling gear that we needed, I had what I thought would have to suffice. As I laid out the contents of my pack to see what we could use, I found: snacks, our remaining water (not much), a pair of Chacos, an emergency heat blanket, sunscreen, a pocket knife, a headlamp, a rain jacket, one climbing harness, about 15 feet of cord (NOT climbing rope), a daisy chain, and 2 carabiners. With these items, I was able to rig up a system attaching Bri (in the harness)
to the bolt and used a Munter hitch and a carabiner as a makeshift rappel system to get her to the first ledge below. Then I got her to attach the gear to the cord and I pulled it back up. Next the dogs were taken down to her one at a time, and then I lowered myself one last time while retrieving the cord on the way down for future use. We were then able to climb down the shelf to the hole below. The sketchy rappelling went well, but we had knowingly put ourselves in a risky position. We wouldn't be able to return up the canyon now that we were down, and we also were unaware of what other drops lay before us. Luckily as we kept traveling down the narrowing slot we didn't come upon any further recesses in the landscape quite that large. There were a few other 10-12 foot drops, but we managed to get one of us down and then hand pass the dogs one at a time. Thankfully, they enjoyed the experience as well.

We made it back to the truck just in time, as the heat had soared and we were exposed to the sun for the last mile of the trip. After being in the canyon for 5 hours, we were now headed to the nearest gas station (about 80 miles away) for a cool drink and some grub. In addition to having yet another awesome canyoneering experience, I also learned a valuable lesson: Always take more climbing gear than you think you will need.

Auburn Gameday

So yesterday kicked off the Auburn Tiger's football season. What a day! Standard tailgating, Utah style. Since college football isn't quite as big up here as it is in the South, I had to make sure everyone celebrated appropriately. We had a couple of people over for tailgating and the game. Burgers and weenies, football and beer. It's a good thing I work from home, since I didn't have the day off. The beauty of my job is that I can still enjoy gameday while getting my work done. The day started off with a great win for Georgia Tech over Notre Dame, an embarrassing 33-3 victory. Then the Tigers came on the field at 5:45 MST. While I don't have much confidence in our wuss of a QB Cox (and our best tailback is retarded and couldn't play), we somehow managed to squeak by and finally turn it on with just a few minutes left in the game. After playing like a highschool football team, we finally got it together and were victorious with a nerve racking come from behind win. 23-13. Kansas State shouldn't be overlooked in the future. While we basically gave them the game, they still looked really good. We have a lot of work to do!

Washington

So it's been a while since I have updated ya'll on what's been going on. I have been in Washington state for the last week on vacation. Bri and I went up there for a wedding, but we did a lot more than that while we were there. I had never been to the Northwest before, and it was surprisingly gorgeous (at least once we got within about 2 hours of Seattle). We drove through Idaho, Oregon, and then into Washington. In Oregon, apparently you can't pump your own gas. And I thought mormon's were weird. Once there, we stayed with her parents in Redmond, which is right outside of Seattle. Her parents were cool and made sure I had a great time while visiting.
We drove up on Tuesday and spent the entire day traveling. Our good friend Mareike rode with us and got dropped of in an beautiful little town called Cle Ellum. I'm pretty sure it is right outside of where the series Northern Exposure was filmed, but who really cares. We started the actual vacation on Wednesday morning with a trip to Starbucks. They really do have one on every corner, it is not a myth. Then we went into town (Seattle) and walked around Pike's Place Market. I sat on a pig there. Wahoo! Then we went to her "aunt's" house for dinner. Her "aunt" isn't really her aunt, but she was a hilarious old lady nonetheless. Thursday was the rehearsal dinner for the Lau-Pilgrim wedding (the main reason for our trip). They had a little wedding run through and then we all ate a Buca De Bepos, which was AWESOME! After the dinner, we went out for a beer and then home.
Friday was the actual wedding. I went to eat "breakfast" at about 1 O'clock in the afternoon with Bri's family while she was doing wedding stuff. Then I met up with the wedding party for some pictures in downtown Seattle. While they were getting nice pictures taken in wedding dresses and tuxedos, I got mine taken in front of a giant wall covered in chewing gum. Classy. I had about an hour to kill by myself inbetween that and the actual wedding, so I walked around Seattle and observed the street people. They were really fun to watch, but it was a little depressing seeing how unfortunate their lives were. I probably gave out over $10 in change that day. I was, however, pretty picky with the bums that I gave change to. If their little stories (which I'm sure were all lies) seemed honest or were just outright funny, then I would shell out a little change for them. I was very discriminatory with my vagrants. They were a lot of fun, but on to talking about the wedding. The actual ceremony was really short, which rocked. Nobody likes to sit through a long wedding. The party afterwards was a lot of fun. Open Bar. Who doesn't have a good time there?
I spent Saturday with Bri's family while she put on a Bachelorette party for another friend that is getting married soon. Her mom, dad, brother, and I took a ferry over to one of the islands in Puget Sound (the little inlet where Seattle is). We chose Vashon. It was beautiful. Funny side note, there were pictures of two foreign looking dudes posted all over the ferry with instructions to report them if you saw them on the boat. Apparently, they had been riding the ferries very frequently and taking pictures of their structural parts. Quite suspicious. After we got back from the ferry ride, her mother Durell cooked me dinner and then I was off to meet up with the intoxicated girls and crash the party. They actually loved the fact that I was meeting up with them, and I was OK with that, too. We went to a few dance clubs (I obviously didn't have a say in that) and a couple of bars while I pretty much stayed in the background while they continued their celebration. I know that sounds like a really boring agenda, but I honestly had a blast!
Sunday we hung out with Bri's various friends in Seattle and I got to see a little more of the city. Then Monday we went to the locks they have between Lake Washington and some other smelly body of water. The locks were pretty mundane, but there was this really cool "fish ladder" built into them. It aided the spawning process for the fish going upstream to make babies. It's nice to know that they spent over $1 million to help fish get laid. After watching the fish do it, we went to the Experience Music Project in Seattle (that was my choice, the fish brothel was not). This place was AWESOME.
It's basically an interactive music museum. I could talk about it for a really long time, but I'll spare you the details. Bottom line: Grand Master Flash's turntables were there. How cool is that!?!
After the EMP, her parents took us to a Mariner's game. While the game was a whole lot of fun and the stadium was SUPER nice, they sucked and got crushed 6 to 0. I'll still pull for the Mariners now anyway though. Their loss didn't really effect my fun, as I have a good time unless Auburn is losing or Georgia is winning. The next day we woke up at 7 to travel back to our comfy mountain town.
PS: I almost got food poisoning on the way home from uncooked chicken in a taco. Never eat at Taco Time. Ever.

Adult Field Day

So Saturday was the Adult Field Day - The First Resurrection. What an awesome time! Bryan and Alison started this absurd event 2 years ago, with a one year hiatus because of rain. They are some good friends that I used to work for out here. This year's gathering consisted of about 30 people, 2 teams. CJ (the guy currently on our couch) and I carpooled together and ran a little late because of a traffic jam. Bri met us there a little later. Once we arrived, there was a meet and greet volleyball game in place, beers in hand. We then gathered for the team selection (ours was stacked!) and Mark, another buddy of mine, carried in the torch and lit the "flame".
The first event was the "shoe find relay". Each team member had to run down to the drinking stand, slam a beer or a jello shot, and then find their individual pair of shoes mixed up with the others. Then the shoes were adorned and the team member ran back. Our team CRUSHED Bri's team in this event, as well as almost all of the other events. There was also the option for a pinch drinker, but I don't think anyone took advantage of that. Next we were on to the "500 event". This was a simple game of 500 with frisbees. Each team had two throwers and a score keeper for the opposite team (eliminating the cheating). Of course we won this event as well. By the way, Mark is awesome at 500. Then we felt bad and offered double or nothing, which was later negotiated to a 2 out of 3. Naturally we won again. Then we were back to the drinking stands and relay arena for the buddy planks. This was the classic relay with two people walking on planks, which we won yet again. It was getting ugly. Bri met a new friend and plank partner, who happed to have worked for the same rafting company we worked for. He worked there long before we did.
Next was water balloon volleyball. Each team paired up in two's with a towel. Instead of using hands, you had to use a towel to catch and throw the balloon. Standard volleyball rules. The other team finally won an event. They were a little better at this, especially when multiple balloons were in play at the same time. Not to worry though, we were still severely beating them overall.
Next was Dodgeball, my bread and butter. This time there was no nudity though. We played with sponge balls soaked with freezing cold water. And, of course, our team ruled it. We even took the side with the sun in our eyes. This arena wasn't quite as extravagant as most of my previous dodgeball experiences, but it worked all the same. Once you were out, the unofficial rule was to pound a drink. I don't think anyone had objections.
As far as I can remember, the next event was the last one. My memory had gotten a little fuzzy by that point. The Beer Obstacle course was the final event, and rightfully so. Not only had we been drinking during the games, but we had 5 minute recesses for pounding drinks in between the games as well. This consisted of a tube, waterslide, rubber chicken, hula hoops, spoons, ping pong balls, and of course beer and jello shots. It was done in relay fashion like most of the others. The team member started by running from the starting line down to the tube. After fitting through on of two tubes, they then jumped on the slip and slide and had to grab a rubber chicken from a hula hoop on the way down. Then a beer was slammed at the drinking station. After chugging, the chicken was thrown back up the hill through another hoop. Then a ping pong ball was carried on a spoon down and around a cone. The participant then ran back to tag the next victim. I regretfully must admit that we somehow lost this one, which Bryan strategically made worth enough point for them to still win. Even with his sneakiness, everyone knew who the real champs were.
After the events, we all relaxed with Jim's Rocket Fuel Margaritas. Alison had quite a sandwich spread, along with snacks, desert, and soup. What an awesome time! Oh yeah, one more important piece of information. My neighbor Joel passed out about half way through the games, disappeared, and was later found walking down the highway barefoot. Priceless.

Lilykins Von Petway

Lily is the newest member of the Petway family. Born on May 31st, 2007 Lily was one of 12 Rottweiler puppies born from a 150lb sire and and an 85lb bitch. She was adopted on July 12th on her 6 week birthday with a clean bill of health. She has continued to grow rapidly for the past 5 weeks. She went to the vet today for an early 12 week checkup and a round of shots. Weighing in at 19.2 lbs already, she's gonna be a beast. Lily already sits with a hand cue, no verbal command necessary. As far as puppies go, she is suspiciously well behaved and doesn't really get into any trouble. With a calm and caring personality already in place, I'm sure that she will grown into a gentle giant. I'll keep you updated on her probably just about as much as myself, as she immediately became the newest love of my life. Between bi-weekly walks on Main Street, frequent visits to the O'Shuck's bar patio, and concerts in the park she is quickly making many friends. She's a big hit with the kids (both young and old) of Park City. I do, however, fear for the lives of neighboring squirrels. Her playmate and best friend Theya is helping her learn the ropes. She responds to "Fatimus" as well as her given name Lily.

Shot Ski

So yesterday's rainy boredom did end up leading to something productive. The afternoon project was a shot ski and a bottle of Ice 101. Perhaps the night before I had to work at 7am wasn't the best timing for the project, but it had to be done. I used an old ski that was given to me 2 winters ago. 4 shot glasses and a little bit of superglue later the Dynastar Shot Ski was born. And it definitely works. This will be a valued new addition to the homestead.

My new house

We moved into a new house just a couple of months ago. The location is awesome, only about 7 minutes from my favorite ski resort. We also live within walking distance to a grocery store and out local pub called O'Shucks. There is a sushi joint within walking distance as well! Our key piece of furniture is our Fooseball table. We also have the old big screen from college in the living room to watch movies and football. War Eagle! As you can see, there is always a PBR on the table.

Everything up until the Blog started

Ideally, it would have been perfect to have started this blog as soon as I moved here, but unfortunately I was pretty much a poor ski bum and didn't have the resources to do so. Now I'm not saying that I make enough to do whatever I want whenever I want now, but I'm getting by alright. I have also realized that money is definitely not the most important thing out there, just a necessity to continue to enjoy the things you like. As far as jobs, I have worked for Deer Valley Resort, Skis on the Run, and now currently work for backcountry.com. These have all helped fuel my outdoor addiction in some way. As far as a "career", I obviously haven't made my mind up yet.
My view on working and job security is best described by a quote from Chris McCandless, from "Into the Wild." "So many people live within unhappy circumstances and yet will not take the initiative to change their situation because they are conditioned to a life of security, conformity, and conservatism, all of which may appear to give one peace of mind, but in reality nothing is more damaging to the adventurous spirit withing a man than a secure future. The very basic core of a man's living spirit is his passion for adventure. The joy of life comes from our encounters with new experiences, and hence there is no greater joy than to have an endlessly changing horizon, for each day to have a new and different sun."
I have found this to be true so far, and though I am young a still a little naive, I believe this will remain true for me at least for many years to come. As far as feeding my adventurous spirit so far, I'll compile a little list of experiences to get you up to date so as this blog grows it will make sense to you. Here is a little "timeline" if you will for my Utah endeavor so far:

• Summer 05: I became a raft guide for a summer job. I didn't know this at the time, but this "job" (if you can call it that) would help shape the rest of my life. Obviously I have been an adventurous person for my entire life, but the experiences I had as a raft guide will never be forgotten. Fueled by a concern from my Dad to work during the summer instead of wakeboarding everyday, he put me into contact with Outdoor Adventure Rafting. I immediately took to rafting with a passion. Driving up for training every weekend during spring semester was my main motivation to get through the week. Not to sound cocky, but I was a natural. I graduated from my training class at the top and way before anyone else. This made for a little hostility between me and the others training, but they were a younger crowd anyway. I quickly jumped into the "senior guide" crowd of the Ocoee Raft Guides and had a blast. Rafting had it all: Outdoors, stupid fun, partying, kayaking, and a fun living environment. I was hooked and didn't want to leave.
• Winter 05: I somehow graduated from college in December 05. My only real motivation was to get out to keep the parents happy and also to be able to do something like rafting full time. 2 days after graduation, I headed out for Utah. I had lined up a job as a "Liftie" at Deer Valley Resort. In a nut shell, I lived in employee housing, blew off work whenever possible to go skiing, and partied a lot. I was miserable in my job. Deer Valley had filled my head with an awesome outlook to working there before leaving Auburn. I soon realized this was all a lie. I hated working there and quit within a month. My parents visited me over Christmas (Mom couldn't stand the idea of me being away for that). They had never seen me so miserable. Soon I told everyone at Deer Valley where to go and what to do and found a new job. I also moved out of employee housing with 2 friends from Auburn (one I didn't meet until in Utah). I started wirking for a company called Skis on the Run and loved it. I made pretty good money and got to ski literally everyday. I have also become good friends with Bryan and Alison who own the small company.
• Spring and Summer 06: Back to Tennessee for another rafting season
• Fall 06: Back to Utah for another ski season. I worked for Skis on the Run again and lived with a buddy I talked into coming out from the river. Yet again, I skied literally almost everyday putting in over 90 ski days. I also began backcountry skiing, which has taken over my skiing activities. I still ski resorts, but I get out into the backcountry whenever possible.
• Spring 07:This year I decided to stay in Utah for the summer as well, awaiting the next ski season. The rafting company I worked for was being run very poorly and I was ready for something a little different. I got lucky and got a job very quickly with Backcountry.com as a "gear expert". My experiences with the outdoors and the knowledge of the gear for them that I had gained through doing them finally paid off in the form of cash. I was getting paid to basically answer questions about outdoor gear over the internet. My dog Mickey and my girlfriend Bri also moved to Park City. We had previously dated through the rafting seasons and now are dating once again.
  
• Summer 07: I moved into a sweet condo with some friends from out in Kamas ( a town close by) and began working from home. Now I answered gear questions, but from the comfort of my own home. Mickey had a hard time adjusting, especially when I got a new puppy. I got Lily the rottweiler shortly after moving and Mickey was having a really hard time. After attacking 5 different people (including myself) and then attacking the new puppy, unfortunately it was time for him to find a new home. I got lucky and found an older couple in Salt Lake that took him in. I miss him, but he will be happy with his new family and home.
  
• So that pretty much brings you up to date on my life so far in Utah. Obviously there are tons of details and awesome stories left out, but more will come soon. Bri and I are still together and very happy. Lily is doing great and growing very fast.