A Roan Goat

2009-05-27T15:02:00.000-07:00

So...lets make this long story short. After Denali season in Alaska I flew off to North Carolina to visit with my family, do some skool'in and work at a tree farm while Sunnie explored India and Nepal for over a month.

Around Christmas time, we made our way to Lake Tahoe California!! We spent all winter skiing and working at a local resort.

This is in Desolation wilderness...we found an igloo.

On the way back up to Oregon after the ski season we had to stop by San Fran.

Also Lassen National Volcano Park

And finally in Oregon we met up with Liz and Dave to do a 4 day river trip on the Rouge.

More to come from the Lochsa River in Idaho, and mount Shasta wilderness

Talkeenta River Trip '08

2008-09-04T09:19:00.000-07:00

In the summer of 2008, after countless hours of hard work gathering gear, buying firearms and organizing logistics; the Talkeetna canyon trip finally became a reality! Myself and four of my now closest friends ventured into the wilderness via float plane into the unknown. The Talkeentna River is sometimes called the most continuous class IV whitewater in North America...the BEARS along the first stretch are famous throughout Alaska for their popularity along the banks. Needless to say, we were excited about the next four days.

(above: Tom, myself, Patrick, Dave, and Sunnie)

The plane ride to "Murder Lake"
Excitement as the plane flys away...

More excitement (Tom starts to look nervous)

Gearing up

Geared up!

From Murder lake we float down Prairie creek, which eventually joins the Talkeetna River after around 8 miles or so. We had two log jam portages, and saw only one bear, who fled the scene quickly.

Thats Dave Wernet on bear patrol...

We Finally reach the confluence as the clear waters from Prairie creek join with the almost erie cloudy green water of the Talkeetna. The water seems to glow around us as we celebrate the end of our first day.

Our first camp on a cozy gravel bar, tomorrow we paddle the sluice box canyon...

Drinking red bulls and getting pumped for the whitewater ahead. A comment was jokingly made that this could be our last group photo...

Sunnie and I on our way into the Canyon

Behold Entrance Exam, the first rapid. Thanks to Tom for catching the scout. We find a powerful river wide hole that leads into toilet bowl (class IV). The cliffs near by give us a perfect view of the rivers toughest rapid.

The four of us scout our line through entrance exam..

Tom, our safety boater, a young kayaker with mysterious fish-like skills, scouts his line as well.

We made the move and thanks to Patrick didn't flip on the second rock trough toilet bowl.

17 miles later of adrenalin pumping whitewater with countless blind corners we reach the gates... We're out of the canyon alive, with 2 days left of beautiful weather, slackline, a redneck independence day and non stop celebration as we float back into the town of Talkeetna.

This is what we found when we beached in Talkeenta...along with a case of Miller High Life, and 4 people I love. What else could you ask for?

Thanks to all the people that helped us to make this trip happen.

Denali '08

2008-07-14T14:33:00.000-07:00

Some fun pictures...

-------Trip to the Valdese Gold Mine on the Denali Hwy -------

Old cabin we found on our way up through the Clearwater mountains... and the old gold mine.

Eat your heart out...

2008-03-27T00:24:00.001-07:00

This is where I belong

Mtn. Gordon Lyon again. More beer, more backcountry. Zach and I on a late afternoon run.

Home sweet home...for now. Anchorage from the arctic valley rd.

Spring is on its way...

2008-03-25T00:38:00.000-07:00

Just some simple photos of what I've been up to.

Ice fishing in Wasilla. More like cold, wind blown beer drinking

View of an alpenglow ski slope with moon in the back ground. A beautiful day in the arctic valley.

View from the top, summit beers in hand. Mt. Gordon Lyon, the hanging valley in the distance. Great backcountry ride, long run right back to the truck. Thats Greg on the left, and my myself, many thanks to Zach for taking all of these photos.

Phil and some FAT ice

2008-03-11T21:36:00.000-07:00

Adventure Phil has finally made his way north to ALASKA! We took a trip to Eklutna canyon for a day of ice climbing.

Ripple in all its glory

Packing it up and moving on to something steeper!

Phil climbing TJ Swan

A Good Day in Alaska

Frozen Toes and a Subaru

2008-02-05T01:15:00.001-08:00

Alright guys, I am finally back in AK. Its been an eventful January for sure.

I flew out the 18th, to spend some time with the Nelsons back in Utah. And let me say: if any of you readers ever get a chance to bob sled...do it. It has all the thrills of a roller coaster without that annoying feeling of "safety" you get from being attached to a track.

Thats Kevin, myself, Mandy Moo, and the man that made it possible, John.

Back in AK and back to serious business. Alaska in winter is two things...Cold, and Dark. That means you need some boos and good friends. Peter and Anali, Rachel, Tyler, and Ben.

Lots of poker, lots of ice climbing, and lots of skiing. On another note, I have finally achieved employment, roofing...in Alaska...in the winter...and as soon as I swore off a week of roof top work at a brisk -5, I found myself spending my weekend holding two ice axes atop a frozen waterfall with my fingers and toes losing any and all sensation. Must have something to do with short term memory loss...

Bring it on...2008!!

2008-01-01T16:02:00.000-08:00

-Carter, Preston and myself-
We still cant figure out why we haven't been discovered yet...and yes, those are a pair of crazy straw glasses I'm drinking my beer with. This one is going on the night stand...

The last minutes of '07 were spent at Canyons in Blowing Rock, packed full of drunken college students, drinking champagne with strangers and getting kicked out of a crowed bar. Sorry, my ability to use a camera was impaired...its going to be a good year

Dirty Feet & Volkswagons, Welcome to the South

2008-01-01T14:21:00.000-08:00

This is my old 1972 super beetle...very cool. I remember driving to high school in this car. Snow would blow in through the holes in the floorboard...

Linville Gorge...Its good to be home.

Ah, just like old times...rained out of another well planned climbing trip. Notice my k-mart special tent, I opted for a tarp over the bush behind me.

Myself, Adventure Phil (coming to an Alaska near you), and Recco. Found some dry rocks at Blowing Rock boulders. I will never again take for granted the wonderful granite found in North Carolina!

Adventure Phil in action, who says white boys can't jump?

Just look at that sweet puppy face

Catching up...

2007-12-13T16:44:00.000-08:00

Here it goes, bringing us up to date...
I was born in Boone, North Carolina...Go Mountaineers.
This one is from prom, Avery County High Class of '04.

This was my home in the summer time...I guided rafts on the Nolichucky river in Erwin TN and lived in a school bus. (and yes it was as good as it sounds)

Looking for something more...

after Highschool I left home for Alaska in search of adventure.

In short...I found it.

I attended Alaska Pacific University, and in the summer I worked for Denali Outdoor Center on the Nenana River.

During my time I made friendships that will last for the rest of my life...

I also met this girl...Mandy Moo
We decided to leave together for Central America, 3 months later
here I am back in North Carolina...for now.