Bears, scorpions, and chasing trails! 

Apparently I've had some pride wrapped up in my PCT journey.  Here I address it. 

The end of a chapter and the beginning of another. 

What I’ve learned in 500 miles along the Pacific Crest Trail.

They call me Pooparazzi!! 

The journey from Big Bear to Wrightwood  

Happenings between Idylwild and Big Bear.

2017 PCT Journal: Mount Laguna to Idyllwild

2017 PCT Journal: Days 1-3

This year is going to be big.  I've decided to take a leave of absence from work to hike the Pacific Crest Trail in its entirety from Mexico to Canada.  I'll be doing this with the support of Warrior Hike and am excited to share my journey with you!

From humble Midwest beginnings to the summit of Mount Hood (Wy'east) in Oregon, this is a story about patience, perseverance, and commitment to a dream.  

Though it was cut short, my 2016 Archery Elk season was one I'll never forget.  I was fortunate to spend it with close friends and be into elk every day.  So many great memories and lessons learned.  Take a minute to check out what my season looked like and how I did!

Backcountry problems are REAL problems.  I came to the realization on a recent backpacking trip that the problems we face in the backcountry have far more weight to them than the ones we tend to make for ourselves in our daily lives.  I think it's important to cherish these problems - big or small - and accept them head on.  For me, they help to baseline myself again and restore in my brain what REAL problems really are.

Never in a million years did I think I'd find myself backpacking alone with a handful of chicks, but that's exactly what happened this past May when four of my friends wives were the only ones to roger up for an overnighter on Mount St. Helens.  Whatever guy tendencies I had going into this trip would need to be checked at the door because I was outnumbered 4 to 1 and I figured that maybe this was a good opportunity to see the outdoors through the eyes of the opposite sex.  As it turns out, it was a trip I'll never soon forget.

Compared to my 2015 Loowit Hike, 2016 was pretty much the opposite.  Instead of low hanging clouds and cool temps, I was met with clear blue skies and 80-90 degree heat.  No matter what the conditions, the Mount St. Helens never disappoints and I think I might be even more infatuated with her now that I have two Loowit Trail hikes under my belt.

Nearly all of my outdoor knowledge comes from trial and error.  With this in mind, I'm going to begin writing a reoccurring post called "Backcountry Blunders" where I tell you all about how I've screwed up and what I now do to avoid making the same mistakes.  First up, "water crossings."

I didn't know it at the time, but I wasn't getting what I needed out of shooting a compound bow.  No matter how much I would shoot, nothing seemed to excite me about it until I got it in my head that maybe I needed to change it up and try a traditional bow.  Just a handful of arrows later and I was hooked.  

I've recently struggled with the idea of hunting, but thanks to the refreshing perspectives of Joe Rogan and Donnie Vincent, I've turned a corner in understanding what hunting is.

2010 was a year I'll never forget.  I not only harvested my first mature Blacktail, but I learned that my energy in the forest may actually play a much larger role than I ever before realized.

While hiking over 30 miles in the fog isn't what most people call ideal fun, I've learned to love my experience on the Loowit Trail and wouldn't trade it for the world.