I like to do cool stuff

Life is meant to enjoy. The way I like to enjoy it is by going outside and doing cool stuff. There are a variety of activities that make me happy, however my favorites are backpacking, snowboarding and mountain biking. I also love to camp, run, swim, disc golf, rock climb, soak in hot springs and watch a good sunset just to name a few. When I'm not outside, I am planning my next adventure and I'd like to talk about a few of my best adventures, just so I can impress myself. So here is a short recap of my greatest adventures to date.

Pacific Crest Trail, May - September 2017

Probably the pinnacle of my life's accomplishments was my 6 month attempt to thru-hike the PCT. While I was not successful in my dream to complete the entire trail, I was instead very successful at realizing my love for the outdoors, making memories that will last a lifetime and fueling my drive to go on many more adventures. One highlight from this trip was summiting Mt. Whitney, the highest peak in the lower 48. Seeing myself on the top was a joyous moment that took hard work and no one can ever take that away from me. In the end, massive forest fires stood in between me and finishing the trail, however the fire that burns inside me is now stronger.

Oregon Coast Trail, October 2017

When my PCT thru-hike was diverted due to widespread forest fires across the west, my hiking partners and I decided to keep hiking elsewhere. We made our way from Snoqualmie Pass, WA to Astoria, OR where the coastal trail begins. This type of hiking was totally opposite from our prior forest strolling and mountain climbing, instead we were treated to bare feet in the sand, ice cream sandwiches every day and luxurious State Park campsites. The lack of wilderness did not detract from an overall amazing experience topped off by the sound of waves.

Pacific Crest Trail Part 2, August - October 2018

Revenge! Since I couldn't finish the entire PCT I knew I had some unfinished business to handle, so I returned to the trail with vengeance. My sights were set on completing nearly 1,000 miles that I hadn't hiked the year before, starting in Yosemite and finishing in Crater Lake National Park. To celebrate the beginning of this trip I was able to score a Half Dome permit, which had always been a dream of mine. I completed this LASH (Long Ass Section Hike) alone, spending many days in Northern California without seeing a soul except for the squirrels after my trail mix.

Colorado Trail, September 2019

500 miles might seem like a forever distance to some but to me this is a perfect amount of ground to cover. In this month timeframe it's possible to escape the daily routine of life and truly find yourself in the mountains. It was my goal to finish this hike in a concrete amount of time so that I could celebrate my mother's birthday in Texas. This forced me to be very succinct with my mileage and rest days which turned out to be a great way to push myself. On this trip I summited my second 14'er, Mt. Elbert, and reached the finish line in under 25 days making it an average 20 miles per day.

Oregon Bike-packing Excursion, October 2019

Although I am typically a backpacker I enjoy many methods of traveling and biking provides a much faster way of sight seeing. Therefore, I planned a track spanning the east, central and coastal paths of Oregon. This was a very diverse experience, full of learning. A constant change in climate and surfaces to pedal through made everyday a new adventure. While it was not my first time bike packing, it was my first substantial trip with more than just a backpack, which meant a lot more could go wrong. The first rule of traveling is whatever can go wrong, will go wrong. A few flat tires and a few more costly trips to the bike shop about sums this story up.

Klamath Falls

Columbia River Gorge

Mt. Hood

Arch Rock

Redwoods

Sugar Bowl to Squaw Valley, March 2020

My first ever hut trip was spontaneous to say the least. When my local ski resort closed due to Covid-19 I had no choice but to earn my turns. Now this was nothing new to me as I had been backcountry touring for several years. However with ample free time on our hands due to the ongoing lockdown, we planned to spend multiple days looking for great backcountry lines. So a friend and me packed up a sled full of all the essentials (plus whiskey) then started out on a 4 day trip from Sugar Bowl resort headed to Squaw Valley. We posted up in two rustic yet very accommodating huts complete with solar power, wood-burning stoves and cooking utensils. Many memories were made however my favorite is when we rode all day then built a fire, had dinner and proceeded to take another lap under the stars. Once completed we had traversed nearly 30 miles and scored several desirable lines in perfect 2 ft powder conditions. This will not be my last hut trip!

Crater Lake XC Challenge, December 2020

When I look for new adventures there are a few criteria that I evaluate to determine where to spend my time. One of these criteria is how challenging the planning and execution will be as well as how many others have completed a trek. The 33 mile road around Crater Lake is seldom circumnavigated in the winter as it is very remote and the weather can be brutal. Count me in! The trek was mostly idyllic minus the frigid cold storm that blew in at midnight on my final day. This required me to pack up my tent in the middle of the night and hike to the finish line before sunrise (seems fitting). I am now in a elite class of individuals who have complete such a brutal trek.

Western States Road Trip, April - December 2021

After experiencing the Pandemic and feeling left short on adventure, I decided to set-off on a more than 4,000 mile road trip through most of western America. My route brought me through California, Nevada, Arizona, Utah, Colorado, Wyoming, Idaho, Montana, Washington and Oregon. This led me to 10 National Parks including Zion, Yellowstone and the Redwoods. Below I will highlight several of my experiences while on this journey.

The Sierra Nevada Matterhorn, April 2021

This trip was extra fun as it was day #1 of my epic road trip and the stoke was super high. I had just packed up the car with all the items that would equip me to have a successful road trip. Only two short hours into the trip I met up with a friend in the town of Bridgeport, CA. We proceeded heading to the mountains but not before eating some doughnuts and packing our gear for the night.

An early start led to some us reaching the headwall of Matterhorn by mid-morning. We had a difficult decision to make at this point, head left to the Ski Dreams line or continue right to the East Couloir. After sighting some skiers dropping into the former line we opted for the later, our desire for fresher snow being the deciding factor. A long boot pack to the crest ended in triumph. We immediately setup to descend as the sun was surely not waiting for us. The line was a bit thin in spots but all-in-all made for some fun turns and a bit of pucker factor. The way out was filled with talks of more adventures and thoughts of more doughnuts. Cheers to starting a trip off right.

Red Slate Peak, April 2021

Looking across the valley from the comfort of a natural hot spring tub, I sat in disbelief. The mountains surrounding Convict Lake are magnificent. Standing in all their chossy glory, I remember thinking "damn, I gotta get out of this hot tub!".

Later that day, as I watched the sunset with cooked rice in hand, I was starring at my mission. The North Couloir of Red Slate Mountain is a "dream line". 2,000 vertical feet of 35-40 degree pure awesomeness. My experience riding this line certainly lived up to the hype.

I awoke from basecamp at 3:30 am, still 4 miles from the summit, I had to move fast before the late April sun began to make quick work of the snow. As I reached the ridgeline, I decided to altered my route due to the sun angle, which sent me bootpacking up a short but steep slope. After taking a long but not too long break, I began making my way up to the summit. I didn't have much time to rejoice since the snow conditions were starting to push past prime. Without thinking too much I strapped in and started traversing to the couloir entrance. Before I knew it I was stuck on a 45 degree slope, hanging over a cliff band with a massive wind buff in between me and the North Couloir!

Now this would typically be time to panic, although my life depended on me pulling through in this moment. With my ice axe in hand firmly planted into the semi-fresh snow, I worked my board off of my feet. My heart began to race as I knew if my ice axe gave away I would surely fall to my death. Once my board was off my feet, I used it as a pick, digging my board into the snow with each step. Eventually, after what seemed like 1,000,000 kick steps, I reached the North Couloir.

Starring down this strip of snow gave me that giddy feeling you get when you know you're getting away with something you shouldn't. There was about 6 inches of mostly fresh, still unconsolidated snow that would remain stable enough for me to get one hell of a ride. Each turn led to a sluff run that seemed to last the entire runout. I was again hit with a grim feeling of caution, however I was able to manage this feeling by taking it one turn at a time. I hugged the walls with every carve to let the sluff pass, but each turn felt like the turn of a lifetime. Making my way back to basecamp required a bit more touring, however the stoke of riding the best line of my life kept me smiling all the way to camp. I packed up my stuff and headed back towards Convict Lake. Upon reaching my car, I was greeted with the look of someone who is out of place, as if skiing was the last thing on anyone's mind. Although a young Mammoth Lakes local did recognize me and asked about my adventure. When I told him I rode the North Couloir of Red Slate Mountain he replied with one word, "Legend".

Angel's Landing, June 2021

Everyone knows the feeling of standing too close to the edge. Walking along a ledge with a 1,500 foot drop on either side of you with only a chain to grasp is an experience like no other. Each step intensifies the thrill as you ascend to a relatively flat and open summit perfect for getting your nerves back in check. I was particularly impressed by the cooperation of complete strangers required to ensure the safe passage of those going up/down. You really can see the fear level in each person's eyes!

Due to not being able to secure a park permit ( unreal lottery system) I was forbidden from entering the main entrance. I would not be denied summiting Angels landing though, therefore I began the hike at 5 am from the west rim trailhead, some 15 miles from the base of Angels landing. The park ranger guarding the trail was practically forced to let me proceed when he heard of how long I had hike to get there. After returning to my car that night I had walked nearly 34 miles!

Teton Crest Trail, August 2021

Wyoming sure is grand and no place is quite as infamous as Grand Teton National Park. This stretch of trail was more of an inspiration, which led to my eventual free solo summit of the 13,775 foot mountain peak a few days later. However, it may have been even sweeter to witness this place in all it's grandiose from a slightly lower elevation and longer trail.

Free-Solo of the Grand Teton

My attempt to solo the Grand Teton was successful, obviously that is why I am writing this recollection. However, this might be the adventure that pushed me closest to the edge of my comforts and beliefs. The idea crossed my mind as I was hiking the Teton Crest Trail, constantly starring at the peak. I was destined to make an attempt, but with little climbing gear in my possession, I had only two options. Enlist the help of a friend or tackle the feat alone and commit to a life-or-death mission.

While recovering for a couple days in Jackson, I stumbled upon a climber who had just summited the Teton. With his inspiration and knowledge I felt confident in my logistics, now it was time to put my skills to the test.

As I was waiting in the ranger station to apply for my permit, I began to observe the mountaineering history of the Grand and all those who made their mark on the mountain before me. It has been the obsession of many men to reach the summit and my turn was coming. That night I hiked up to basecamp, some 3 miles and 4,500 ft to go to the top.

At 4 am, I was up and at it, making good progress by the time the sun rose. I was met at the Lower Saddle by the majority of the guided trips realizing I was right on time. It worked out great that I could follow behind a guide so that I could see the route and moves before attempting it for myself.

There is one move in particular along the Owen-Spalding route which is infamous, known as the "Belly Roll Almost". This requires you to straddle a rock and hoist yourself over it, while scraping your belly on the rock. The look down from there is a sheer 2,000 foot drop. It took all of my courage to make this move on the way up, however it was the down-climb that was the scariest. At the Summit, I was greeted with internal joy and external cheers. That moment will live forever in me as a time that I conquered my biggest fears and dreams.

Rose to Toads, September 2024

The night before I remember trying to sleep, but as my buddy said earlier that day, good luck. He certainly didn't mean that as a sarcastic joke however I couldn't help but to take it with some mockery. What I was about to embarc on was a mildly torturous mission. Rose to Toads is not a race persae but in order to finish (in the daylight) you must push yourself for the entirety of a day. The goal is to mountain bike from the most northeast point of the Lake Tahoe basin to the infamous Mr. Toads Wild Ride trail near the southwest corner of the lake. In total you have to complete over 62 miles of singletrack, climbing 8,480 ft and descending a greater amount of -10,788 ft.

The day began before I wanted it to, with a 04:30am wake up call. In order to ensure our best chances we needed to begin pedaling before the sun came up. I remember stopping at the first moment seeing Lake Tahoe. The skylight highlighted the day about to come with it majesty. This would be one of the few moments in which I really stopped to smell the Roses.... The rest of the day required a steady pace and resilience to maintain the course ahead.

Along the course there are four aid stations in total and with each stop came the small chance to rest as well as eat! While munching on delectable snacks such as PB&J, bananas, and brownies, I was able to get a sense of how the other riders were doing. I heard a lot of talk about past failures and plans to bail out early if things got too rough. I knew at that point, if not already, that I was in for DOOM; but only the physical kind of doom, with the exception of all the beautiful scenery and rad friends around. When I left the first aid station I was feeling pepped up however this would not be true by the time I reached the second.

The next course section included a large +2000 ft climb, a trail I do regularly for fun. This time however I knew it was only the start of the real challenge. As I went I could tell my body was beginning to regret the lack of hydration and salt content. I was able to force a strong push to the top of the climb, a spot known as the bench. When I arrived there were many bikers stopped for a break which I attempted to enjoy alongside however I soon knew that I couldn't overstay. Instead I kept pushing on the next few miles where my first bout of cramps began.

They got worse and worse over the next few miles, my muscles tensing up vigorously from time to time, causing me to dismount my bike. I would try to stretch, drink some water, and continue on but this only lasted temporarily. I ended up struggling mightily for about 8 miles until I reach aid station #2. At that point I was looking and feeling rough. I was greeted by some fellow riders with suggestions to take salt pills which I learned would be essential to my endurance. These good people supplied me with a surplus to fuel me til the finish line. After spending nearly an hour waiting for my body to metabolize I decided to push onward with the same goal I started with that morning.

As I made my way through the most challenging and most remote part of the course I could feel a bit of doubt. Not only in my own abilities to continue but also from the other riders. It was during this stretch that a lot of people made predetermined plans to exit early. I started to think that maybe my exit would be decided by external factors as well.

At the next aid station I was informed that the final rest stop would be instating a hard cutoff, which meant if I did not arrive sooner than 06:00pm then I would be told to take an alternate trail to the bottom. This is the ultimatum I had been resisting all day and I did not want to admit defeat so over the next section I gave it all I had.

There is a beautiful alpine lake about 15 miles from the finish line which makes for an excellent refresher. Star Lake also acts as a point of realization for many riders, where they decide to bail out. I could tell when I arrived that most of the riders there were considering not finishing the ride. When I showed up with a different attitude I was met with inspiration from others and more food! Those that were heading down left me with some extra supplies in hopes it would get me to the promised land.

I reached the final checkpoint by 05:45pm, just fifteen minutes before the cutoff time. I knew that some people would expect me to quit, however I insisted that if I had come this far that I was going to finish; and that is exactly what I did!

It took me nearly 15 hours but I made it to the finish line just after dusk (technically dark). The last mile is a rather mellow and enjoyable ride with a moment to reflect. As I pedaled I thought about how proud I was of myself to overcome such an immense challenge; a day I could truly never letdown. This feeling is the feeling I chase in life that brings me true fulfillment. As I crossed the finish line, spotlighted by a parking lot party still cheering for every finisher, I finally got off my bike. It felt so good to stop pedaling in that moment but I will never stop pedaling.

Tell the story about your truck stuck in the fire.

The kicker of this whole story is that when I parked my car that morning, somewhat beknowingly to me, a forest fire had been growing directly down the hill. The day before it had been announced that there was a fire ignited outside of Reno, NV. The race media team also announced that the race would go on, however they were monitoring the situation. I however did not monitor the situation and thought I would be fine to leave my truck parked there in the event I was too tired to retrieve it, which of course I was exhausted.

When going to retrieve it the next afternoon, my buddy plugged in the directions and we found out that the Mt. Rose highway had been closed. This of course was not a good sign but when I check on the fire I learned that it had grown to a threatening size. Less than 1/2 mile from where my truck sat.

All week long I worried about the tire, especially the people more impacted than I, so I would call the police every day to see if it was safe to return. It took over a week (8 days) to settle the fire enough so that I could be escorted up the highway by the police. It was pretty cool to ride 'shotgun' in the police cruiser, it was even cooler to see the area completely deserted of people. When the officer dropped me off I was rejoiced and decided to take a moment to admire the eariness of the place.