Expeditions and
Adventures
A collection of my adventures: Images and reflections inspired by having the time of my life, typically in austere conditions.
2025 - The Van and the Camera
After going home to take care of the family matters, I got a job as a Wildland Fire EMT. I began paying the loan on my friend's old van and set off north from Texas to Montana. Around this time I found my mom's old camera, a ten year-old Olympus with two lenses, worth in total around $200. I've been shooting ever since.
2025 - Taos (Part Two)
After my stint teaching (and learning) skiing at Taos Ski Valley in 2024, I felt it calling back to me, and so I obeyed. I finished my last few classes for college online, and then in one fell swoop, my life changed. My father passed away and I badly hurt my knee at work (an injury that would plague me for a year). A deeply transformative moment, Taos symbolizes the place that gave and took the most.
2024 - The Texas Coast
Craving a challenge yet bored with trying to graduate college (I did), I took my kayak over Thanksgiving break and attempted to paddle the entire coast of Texas ~420 miles), solo and self-supported, in just 10 days, so I could get back in time for my final exams. I made it nearly halfway before I called it, and it's since become my greatest lesson in turning back from adventure and developing a more mature risk-profile.
2024 - A Grand Weekend
With the disbelief of being back in school at UT Austin, my good friends and I hatched a plan to drive from Austin to Grand Teton National Park, summit the namesake peak, and drive back within a single weekend. We did it. It was my first alpine climb, my second trad climb, and my second rappel ever. I've gotten a lot better since.
2024 - Across America
After recovering my bank account from "broke" and finishing up a second paddling race, I packed up my recently-purchased motorcycle with far too much gear, and set my sights on the border of Canada. On my journey, I got my EMT from NOLS, saw the western U.S. with adult eyes, and learned the meaning of "go-with-the-flow".
2024 - The Texas Water Safari
My second go at the "The World's Toughest Canoe Race" was in a tandem canoe with a good friend. The 264 mile race took its toll, adding four hours to my previous time, and supplied an effective learning environment for developing my team skills for operating in difficult conditions.
2024 - Hardangervidda
A few days after testing my mettle in Svalbard, I flew down to Oslo, Norway and caught a train to the famous Finse, the home of polar expedition training. From there I began a 20 day, self-supported, solo ski-pulk, across the frozen tundra. A crash course in solo expeditions, it set the precedent for serious challenges in the future.
2024 - Svalbard
After deciding to pursue a new goal of skiing solo to the South Pole, I reached out to Eric Philips of Ice Trek Expeditions, and he recommended I join him on an eight-day ski-pulk trip through the Svalbard archipelago. Reaching -38 Fº at its lowest, it was my first time sleeping outside with snow on the ground.
2023 - The Texas Water Safari
"The World's Toughest Canoe Race" started a new era of my life with a bang. A 264 mile endurance paddling race with minimal sleep and obstacles like alligators and 105 Fº weather, it was my introduction to the world of extreme sports and kickstarted my journey of exploration.
Modes of Transportation
From ski-pulking to motorcycles, I enjoy movement by many different methods. So far I've practiced and begun my journey of mastering skiing (downhill, skimo, cross-country), paddling (sea-kayak, packraft, standard canoe, outrigger canoe), mountaineering, rock climbing (top-rope, traditional), cycling (road, gravel, mountain), motorcycling, and participate in long-distance canoe racing and triathlons.
2026 - What Next?
Many smaller adventures didn't make the list to be included here, but often those are much more fun. What's next?
2025-2027 - The Northwest Passage
My current project is now preparing for the biggest endeavor of my life by far; canoeing the fabled Northwest Passage with a large team. Filming, polar bear defense, and not losing more than 30 pounds over 90 days are just some of the challenges. Our projected launch has moved from June 2026 to June 2027.
2025/2026 - Ski-Bumming
While living in Taos and learning to ski in 2024, I found I had a desperate urge to ski as many places in the western U.S. as possible. Using my motorcycle route as inspiration, I moved into my late grandmother's 2003 Pontiac Vibe and started skiing as much as possible. I ran into more than a few challenges, the least of which being the worst snowpack in recorded history, but it was transformative nonetheless.