Eyes Open

This is my life...

Since November is the time for turkey day, I figure what better time to write about what I am most thankful for in my life.

I am very grateful for my family and friends, even ones that I don't see as much. It seems there is so much that stays with me.

I am grateful that I am being paid to learn about compassion, leadership and how to help others be the best people they can be in their lives, at least work-wise. I can't think of anything cooler and more rewarding.

I am grateful that I have a mind capable of seeing and understanding the goodness and some of the little things in people, when others sometimes miss it.

I am grateful for having a great environment to live and work

I am grateful for having crossed paths with so many great people that at different times have believed in me and convinced me to never settle for less

I am grateful for all the trials, big mistakes and painful experiences that I have had to go through that have enabled me to become a better person and to feel and truly understand the joy in my life

I am grateful I can go run outside in the rain and truly enjoy the feeling of splashing through puddles

I am grateful that I know I have a choice everyday on how I choose to live

I am grateful for all the bad relationships I have had, otherwise I would never fully understand and appreciate how incredible Nate is and how lucky I am to have him in my life.



I am grateful that I have friends I can go hiking with and have fun moments



I am grateful I can go hiking to places like this

I am grateful for the moments...thanks to everyone who has added to them

Hate Goodbyes, but Love the Adventure of Beginnings

Alright it has been a while since I have blogged and all I can say is that it has been an unbelievable summer in more ways than one. I met and mingled with some outstanding people, who I will always be proud to call my friends and I have never had such a hard time leaving a place, but at the same time I am looking forward to some new adventures in Oregon, seems like the best things in life have that sort of pardoxical dynamic

Me and Nate out on the rim, truly one of the coolest guys I have known

Jackie and I on the rim

This shot was pretty representative of the four of us (we all ended up being pretty great friends)and the adventures we were are about to take on. This is probably my favorite one from the summer.

Gorgeous Canyon hiking up from Phantom Ranch at 5 am

Awesome Crew in the canyon

Pretty cool fire pics

Let the Fun Begin!

Alrighty, it has been a little while, but it is good to be back to the blogging world and see what everyone is up to these days. I started work on the Grand Canyon Helitack Crew in the middle of April and have been through a crazy training ordeal the past few weeks, as well as mixing in some SARS (Search and Rescues) and medevacs (crazy) in the middle of training! But I am loving it down here, I forgot how awesome the Southwest is; This last week we have been training to do rappels out of helicopters (see below) into fires, and yest it is very fun.
Me about to do my second rappel out of a helicopter, around 100-125'

This is some of my fellow crewmembers doing a rappel around 200-225'

Also, here is some footage...

Oh and I couldn't forget that I got hang out with my best friend Lindsay right before I took off to go to the Grand Canyon. It is always awesome to see and remember how amazing your super cool friends and family are (they never cease to amaze me).

Oregonians!

RUNNERS!!

Okay one of the coolest things about Oregonians is that they are so runner friendly; they go out of their way to let you cross the street, they smile and wave! This is easily the most friendly running place ever and Oregonians get a thumbs way up in my book for that!
Grad School!
I don't have any sweet pics of Corvallis, Oregon, aka home to Oregon State...but there is this cool pic of a beaver!!

The visit was absolutely amazing!!! I met with some incredible people who have done so much for others through their work and have greatly humbled me. They are facing some pretty drastic cuts in their department though, because of the economy :( So we will see how everything pans out.

On another thought, I have been having an a great time with my sister and her family. They are awesome people, who let me hang out at their house for weeks on end. It seems I have been at their place at least a few days of each month for the last 4 months!

More good skiing times

I thought these trees all bundled up amidst the snow was pretty cool

Ya know the prettiest time to ski is right at dusk, but then it also gets quite a bit chillier, but of course still worth it.

Hi!

I took a detour and did some snowshoeing with my mom, Uncle Bob and Aunt Linda at Bryce Canyon, which was fun

Mom, Bob an Linda

Can't stay away from the skiing too long, though I love this lookout, which takes a while to get to, but always is always rewarding with its views

I love the fresh snow where no one has been and you are breaking your own trail

Again, one of my favorite times is at dusk for reasons such as this amazing red rock that glows when the sun hits it

The moon was also awesome! This was just a taste of what the night looked like

How I feel everyday I get to touch, feel, smell, see and sense nature around me

Finally an Update!

SKIING!

One of the great things about being in Mammoth right now and taking a much needed breather, is that I am finally able to be outside enjoying the wonderful outdoors. I have been going backcountry skiing about every other day since Christmas and I can't get enough. I love the smell of the pines, the feel of the sun on my face and the slight kiss of the wind as it whisks by, the sound of the skis slushing through the snow and of course the amazing views that I have been able to see in solitude. It is always a humbling experience and makes me fully appreciate how great it is to be alive. Here are a few shots..
Skiing the Breaks is always awesome!

And a different view of the breaks.That's right, loving this!!


Okay, I am not much into sparkly, shiny things, but I love this sparkly, shiny snow up Deer Valley
Even the view through the trees is nice

Another great day up Cedar Canyon, although very cold

Love this pic, really captures the solitude

Okay, this was a rather frigid day, it was snowing and was somewhere in the single digits...but still awesome and look at the cool tree!

That would be my glove...not as tasty as everyone says...go figure

My winter playground

Christmas!!

Christmas was great! It is hard to beat being SNOWED in at Mammoth Creek at the folks house. My cute little niece Brighton was a riot; that girl has got some sass and I don't think we would trade her for anything.
Okay this is Princess Brighton, who I am pretty sure doesn't like taking off that tutu

The girls on Christmas Eve

My great parents on Christmas morning

Yep that's the snow on Christmas Day on the front doorstep...after we shoveled

Mom, Ash and Bri at Brice Canyon

Thanksgiving!!

So I went to Portland for Thanksgiving and had a great time hanging out with the fam; lucky for me I was able to stay longer through December and hang out with my sister's awesome family.

Dancing with my niece Brighton
Brighton doing a great job combing my hair


Brighton building a SNOW castle

My Sister Ash and Her cute Fam playing in the snow