The Beginning Of The Grand Adventure

How many of us think that chasing the almighty dollar to afford a particular lifestyle is the answer? That’s the message we’re given from society.  The lifestyle I was chasing was that of an outdoor adventurer. I wanted to be outside, go on adventures, and be feel fulfilled. What I found was that I was spending more time working than actually living the lifestyle I wanted. Can any of you relate?

The company I worked for was great. If there was an office environment for me to thrive in it was there. The culture was relaxed, they valued many of the same things I did, and they have plenty of opportunity to grow. The problem was that it was not me. The hours ticked by slowly and I just wanted to get outside.

So I hatched a plan with my wife to pursue my passions. Over the course of two weeks, it snowballed from the idea of applying for a job in outdoor sales to a complete life change.  This past Thursday afternoon I quit my job to pursue a career in the outdoor industry. I have a plan that will send my on a few adventures between now and July while getting the certifications I need to begin my career in the outdoors.  I’m blogging about this for several reasons. I want to hear your feedback and ideas. I want to reach folks that may be helpful in educating me. And I want to let others that are considering this same journey know the potential pitfalls, challenges, and rewards.

First, I will drive across the United States to attend the Sedona Mountain Bike Festival in Sedona, Arizona. That will give me 3-days of riding and meeting people who work in the world of bicycles. I hope to learn about the industry and places you can go within. What kind of career path can I find there. How can I use those contact to build something.

From there I plan to spend a few days exploring the Grand Canyon and Southern Utah through various adventures. It will be my first time in the American Southwest and after years of reading the writings of Edward Abbey I am excited to see it in person. Living in the desert with nothing but my pickup truck and bikes will be fun to me and a really different experience.

Moving on from the desert, I’m off to Portland, Oregon at attend the United Bicycle Institute for their  bicycle mechanic course. I hope that having these skills will be value added for the rest of my career. Being able to rely on fixing bikes, while maintaining my own bikes, offers me an income potential regardless of where I am.

Once I complete my course in Portland, I return to North Carolina to reset and prep for my next course. This one will take to me to Western North Carolina where I will earn my Wilderness EMT certification, Swiftwater Rescue, Wilderness Lifeguard, Canoe Instructor, Leave No Trace Master Educator, and more. These will put me on the right path towards building a guiding career.

Where Am I Going With This?

I’m taking a huge leap with this change. I’m about to turn 34 and need to do something that makes me happy to get up in the morning. One of the things that allows my to do that is pursuing my passions. I do love spending a day out in the forest or on a mountain, but what I love more is connecting people to the outdoors. Letting people see how a dose of nature or wilderness can help them.

This is also a mission that I want to use to help my fellow veterans. With more and more research coming back showing the benefits of recreational therapy it is a no brainer to try and use that to help veterans integrate back into the civilian world. I have had my struggles and know many of my friends have had their struggles. My passion for trail running is what helped me adjust back to civilian life.

So follow along as I take this adventure and we’ll see where it takes me. I hope this website goes from a personal blog to a full-time guiding business and you can watch the ride from there. It was a scary leap to take, but with the love and support of my wife I’m going to try.