My Beginnings

RRG - Indian Staircase

I didn't always love the outdoors. My mom still likes to recount the days where I would say "There's nothing out here but trees and rocks," but now those trees and rocks are my favorite.  My first backpacking trip several years ago opened a path for me in life that I now can't imagine living without.  Shortly after arriving at the University of Cincinnati in the fall of 2014 for my freshman year of college, I found myself surrounded by a fantastic group of friends.  Luckily we all were so keen on spending time with each other and having a good time that we all joined the University of Cincinnati Mountaineering Club and went on our first backpacking trip to Red River Gorge Kentucky, led by the wonderful Rob Even.  I visited places like Indian Staircase, and Cloud Splitter that would become constants in my future weekend adventures.  That weekend, we spent time goofing around the campfire, staring up at the stars and enjoying a little time away from school.  For me this trip would be the beginning of what is now one of the biggest parts of my life.  In the morning, seeing the sunrise and the fog in the valley below was a gorgeous sight.  To this day when I visit, it reminds me of that first trip and where I started.

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RRG - Suspension Bridge

"...this trip would be the beginning of what is now one of the biggest parts of my life."

RRG - Cloud Splitter

Over the course of the next year and a half I would explore more of Red River Gorge and pick up new talents such as rock climbing and kayaking.  During the spring of 2016 two of my best friends and I hatched a plan to travel to Utah and Colorado and push our limits to a new level. We traveled to Zion National Park in Utah, conquering Angels Landing, The Emerald Pools, and a large section of the East Rim Trail.  After that we ate more food than I thought was possible and journeyed to Great Sand Dunes National Park in Colorado.  There we spent time wandering the seemingly endless dunes, getting to the top of High Dune and Star Dune, the tallest and most prominent sand dunes in North America.  This trip would plant a seed and lead me to do larger trips with bigger groups and crazier ideas the more and more I went.  In the following years I would travel to Wyoming to a place I consider to be among my favorite on Earth, Texas with a new and amazing group of friends and many more journeys and adventures.

Great Sand Dunes National Park - Colorado

Zion National Park - Angels Landing

These pursuits have taken over my life and I couldn't be happier.  I often find that when I'm in a rough place or having a bad day my mind flutters to thoughts of the next trip.  This makes complete sense to me though, most of my favorite moments are on these trips. Out there I leave bad thoughts and gather inspiration for my life ahead.  There's endless opportunity to leave the everyday behind and to reach new points you never thought you could.  Some people ask "Why do I do what I do?"  The answer is simple, I get to go places a fraction of the people on this planet will ever get to experience and I get to see places that are untamed by man, still natural and wild.  I'm keeping this blog to both share my experiences to others that find interest in my adventures and as a way of reflecting on my trips.  I hope you enjoy my stories, I know I have.

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"Not all who wander are lost" 
-J.R.R. Tolkien