The Adventures Begin

Life loves to throw you a curveball, doesn't it?

I figured this summer would be like every one I've had since high school, spent behind a desk at work.  But when my company made me the proverbial "offer I couldn't refuse," I walked away, with no idea what the future would hold.

I went out to the desert for a couple of weeks to think about things, and one day, a friend and I made a day trip out to Joshua Tree National Park.  It was my first time there, and it was amazing!  Incredible beauty all around me during the day, and a quiet, star-filled night after the sun went down.

But I also realized I was seeing only a fraction of what the park had to offer: the parts I could reach by car.  And that lit a fire in my soul.  I wanted to get away from the roads.  I wanted to explore, to find the hidden beauty that could only be seen if you put in the effort.  I wanted to challenge myself, to leave my comfort zone, try something new, and find parts of myself that had been untapped in all the years I've been on this planet.

So I've spent the last few weeks gearing up, making trip after trip to REI (and spending a couple thousand bucks) to prepare for this new adventure.

Now, it begins.

My backpack is packed, and my maiden voyage has been set: the Rae Lakes Loop in Kings Canyon National Park. It'll be five days' and 40 miles' worth of the great unknown in the Great Outdoors, and I can't wait!  The solitude, the scenery, the self-discovery... it should make for an amazing experience, and I plan on sharing it all with you.  I'll be taking pictures, shooting video, and keeping a journal, so you get to see it all through the eyes of this Outdoors Newbie.

Welcome to my adventures... I hope you enjoy them!