Post 38
As we’ve worked our way South along the Pacific coast through Washington, Oregon and finally into the massive arid expanse of California, my love for the West is reaffirmed and even deepens. These exceedingly scenic landscapes vary greatly from rugged ocean cliffs and beaches, fertile green valleys, glaciated alpine volcanic domes and densely packed conifer forests that bloat out the sun. They contain uniform sparsely vegetated rolling golden plains, jagged granite boulder fields perched atop towering mountains and harsh unforgiving sun scorched deserts. The landscape is truly diverse as it is vast, and that is one of the many reasons in particular that I love the West. The sweeping diversity around every corner beckons the curious outdoorsman to venture farther into it’s alluring wilderness.
Throughout our travels circling this beautiful country the scenery continues to adjust and reshape itself to the particular climate and geological influences that it has evolved from. Yet the people we meet along the way, particularly at our backpacking clinics, remain constant. We’ve found that we have an instant kinship with these people that share the same values and love for the outdoors as we do.
This affection for the outdoor community has been with us all along. In the past decade that we’ve been calling ourselves seasonal nomads living out our dreams by exploring the world, we’ve touched and been touched by individuals that also find solace in the outdoors. But playing our current roll as educators and inspirational speakers has brought a new and gratifying meaning to our place in the outdoor community. It has allowed us to actively motivate people and extend the minuscule influential reach that we’ve had in the past. Through our job as Get Out More Tour ambassadors we’re able to share the experience and knowledge that we’ve gained though our personal experiences. And the value that we’ve found that people place on us and our expertise is a profoundly rewarding feeling.
This immensely humbling power we hold was demonstrated to us during our Livermore show in Northern California on September third. At the end of our clinic a man named Warren raised his hand and in front of the whole audience asked if I were ever a waiter at the Bryce Canyon National Park Lodge. He then went on to describe how three summers ago I had served him and his wife during their visit to the park in the summer of 2012. He vividly recounted how I had taken the time to share with them some of the adventures I’d undertaken and a catalog of advice and recommendations for them to get the most out of their vacation. As appreciative as he was for the hiking suggestions, what stood out for him most was the inspiration and motivation that I had unknowingly instilled in him. Through this chance meeting and brief conversation I had evoked a deep yearning within him to explore his world. In his own words, “it was time to get serious about making time to get out more”.
I honestly didn’t remember Warren. Our meeting was over three years ago and during those busy summer days I routinely waited on and met hundreds of people a week. Also you can ask my wife and she’ll confirm that I have an absolute terrible memory. However, I chose to work and live in special places such as Bryce Canyon because I loved being there surrounded by pristine wilderness and sharing my passion and love for the outdoors with others. I would regularly joke and insist that I was more like a tour guide than a waiter. Hearing, even years later that you have influenced someone to enrich their life is a intensely rewarding experience. Thank you for sharing Warren.
Throughout our travels circling this beautiful country the scenery continues to adjust and reshape itself to the particular climate and geological influences that it has evolved from. Yet the people we meet along the way, particularly at our backpacking clinics, remain constant. We’ve found that we have an instant kinship with these people that share the same values and love for the outdoors as we do.
This affection for the outdoor community has been with us all along. In the past decade that we’ve been calling ourselves seasonal nomads living out our dreams by exploring the world, we’ve touched and been touched by individuals that also find solace in the outdoors. But playing our current roll as educators and inspirational speakers has brought a new and gratifying meaning to our place in the outdoor community. It has allowed us to actively motivate people and extend the minuscule influential reach that we’ve had in the past. Through our job as Get Out More Tour ambassadors we’re able to share the experience and knowledge that we’ve gained though our personal experiences. And the value that we’ve found that people place on us and our expertise is a profoundly rewarding feeling.
This immensely humbling power we hold was demonstrated to us during our Livermore show in Northern California on September third. At the end of our clinic a man named Warren raised his hand and in front of the whole audience asked if I were ever a waiter at the Bryce Canyon National Park Lodge. He then went on to describe how three summers ago I had served him and his wife during their visit to the park in the summer of 2012. He vividly recounted how I had taken the time to share with them some of the adventures I’d undertaken and a catalog of advice and recommendations for them to get the most out of their vacation. As appreciative as he was for the hiking suggestions, what stood out for him most was the inspiration and motivation that I had unknowingly instilled in him. Through this chance meeting and brief conversation I had evoked a deep yearning within him to explore his world. In his own words, “it was time to get serious about making time to get out more”.
I honestly didn’t remember Warren. Our meeting was over three years ago and during those busy summer days I routinely waited on and met hundreds of people a week. Also you can ask my wife and she’ll confirm that I have an absolute terrible memory. However, I chose to work and live in special places such as Bryce Canyon because I loved being there surrounded by pristine wilderness and sharing my passion and love for the outdoors with others. I would regularly joke and insist that I was more like a tour guide than a waiter. Hearing, even years later that you have influenced someone to enrich their life is a intensely rewarding experience. Thank you for sharing Warren.
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