Video from the Shoe

I just left the mountain for Xmas in Florida but here is an update.

POWDER!!!!!

The other night I could barely sleep... I was ready to go but sadly it was 4 hours until the mountain was ready to open and I was riding out the alcohol in my system from the night before. The snow had been pounding the mountain for almost a solid twelve hours and I couldn't wait for the mountain to open for an epic powder day... life is good

DAY COUNT THUS FAR FOR DAYS ON MY SNOWBOARD.... 12

number should continue to grow drastically after New Years.

Camera low on battery

I have been up here on the mountain for a while now and hitting the slopes daily. Sadly I have misplaced my camera charger and have been conserving batteries to make a video at the end of the season of all my days on the slopes. I think I the number is around 8 or 9 days on now.


Here is a map of the slopes up here. More open up every day and my couch is still as comfortable as ever. No break until after this weekend for the X-mas holiday so at least 3 more days on the slopes to get the most out of my season pass.

My Video Project

The era of "guy on couch" begins

In setting up shop on the mountain, Robbie and I took some of his stuff up to the top and I slept on the couch for the first time. I think I am going to like it there.

The Transition to "guy on couch"

I have staked my claim on the couch up on the mountain and already have my season pass now to "sneak" some of my stuff up there. It has been recommended that I can only have the shirt on my back to not take up too much space but I think if I take my television up life will be a little bit better for all.

I am considering writing a list of laws that all "guys on couch" must follow and as I collect data on this process I might begin to piece some of it together.

First Days On My Snowboard

I have already picked up my season pass for the year and I spent the past 3 days breaking myself in for the new season at Snowshoe Mountain. My friend Aaron moved up to the apartment the other day and as the official "guy on couch" I accompanied and managed to make my first runs of the season.

There was some natural snow out and the crowds were minimal which was great due to the fact that they had cut it down to 2 runs (that they call six but using the terms upper, middle, and lower don't fool me... I know what two options look like) and one lift but it was enough to start building up some confidence for the coming season.


Here is a shot of Aaron clipping into his board "The Lightning"



Needless to say I was enjoying myself.


If you have read my blog for any amount of time you might ask yourself, "How does he pay for this?" Sadly my funds (which I have saved up myself... if you want to sponsor me however I would be open to the idea) have run short and I am in the process of setting up some work abroad towards the end of this winter. Posts are sure to come soon as I get more info.

Winter Begins - I am back

Now that snow has replaced rain here in my part of the world my life is suddenly back in full swing. My friends have returned after hiking the entire Appalachian Trail and I am looking forward to a winter of snowboarding and remaining unemployed.... impossible you say?

Not when I have been deemed "guy on couch"

I have purchased a season pass already and can't await an endless winter of snowboarding.


These guys have hiked the trail and will now allow me to crash on their couch... (not the one pictured)


Here is a vid of the first snow of the season here in town.

Taking Time Off

I realize that I haven't posted in a while but to be honest I have been doing a whole lot of nothing. With a few options of what to do in the future I have been in limbo. It is just about that time of year for me to head to a mountain and do some snowboarding so I am sure there will be some updates in the near future...

Playlists to pass the days

I have grown addicted to listening to random playlists online at playlist.com with my free time (That I seem to have an abundance of recently). Please let me know any additions I should make to this one. It really has no theme to it so any track could be added. WARNING: Some Explicit Lyrics.

Dancing Halloween Style

Halloween - Northern Virginia Style

In my constant pursuit of fun I shot up to Northern Virginia to visit some friends and by the look of things carve a pumpkin. (this took a whole 3 minutes to clean and carve in time for the trick-or-treaters.

This was the gang... the Mystery Gang


I brought the douchy-frat-boy out of retirement.


The night was an epic success and I actually survived the trip.


What a fun time... Happy Halloween.

Hiking the AT - 15 more miles

For some fun I went and caught up with the guys for the night... actually they stopped through again almost immediately after some more freak feet incedents and we shuttled them back.

We hiked in roughly 10 miles in to the shelter and the next morning another 5 to the shuttle vehicle. I enjoyed it but then realized that I am now up to approximately 95 miles of hiking so it looks like I might have to go back and meet up with them before they finish to get over 100 miles on the Appalachian Trail. Granted I have done over that if you count the River Trail here near town, but I can always use and excuse to road trip.

Caving - Lost World

I realize that I haven't really been updating this but life at home seems different than it used to so I am still trying to re-acclimate a bit to it while still keeping up my sense of adventure. Recently my friend Ashley invited me to do some caving at Lost World Caverns here in Lewisburg and I couldn't pass it up.

Basically I spent the day living like a spider monkey (one that lives in caves that is)

I did manage to see some cave geckos, crickets, and bats while I was down there.


I blindly charged into compromising situations and luckily didn't find out that I was claustrophobic halfway through.

I also decided that a nice relaxing bath in sub 50 Fahrenheit water miles away from the entrance was a good idea to clean myself off a bit. Ashley told me that this was the first time she had ever heard of anybody doing such a thing.

Bath or no bath, I still needed a shower after over 3 hours underground... maybe I will take one someday.

Goodbye Beard and Hair

Beards and Blazers

The Video

T.O.O.T Lewisburg (Taste of Our Town)

Annually my hometown closes down main street and one other for a day of food and celebration of local businesses. With live music going at multiple locations and vendors selling samples of their cuisine either to draw in new potential customers and to raise funds for Carnegie Hall.


Music is a staple


There is always someone manning a grill


It is just a time to eat, relax, and mingle.

80 Miles Out On The Trail

80 MILES


In an attempt to reconnect with the country that I grew up in after a long time abroad I went to meet up with some friends on the Appalachian Trail. My friends Robbie (Below Middle) and Russell (Below Right) have hike over 1200 miles thus far down from Maine while en route to the finish in Georgia.


After spending a 80 miles of terrain with these two mountain men I realize why one would set out on such a journey. Much like my lust for discovering new countries these two pound out miles just as I attempt to add countries to my list, but that is not the only reason one does it.


By pushing one's body past the regular day-to-day routine can only be classified as spartan. The last 3 days of my adventure with these two consisted of 3 days of 20 miles of hiking mountainous and rocky terrain. Needless to say it was all I expected it to be and so much more. The climbs never seemed to end and a simple misstep could injure your ankle, foot, or knee with ease. That being said even the slightest injury could throw off you stride and lead to problems elsewhere.


Luckily for these through-hikers friends and family regularly come and get them off the trail (and drop them off to continue at the exact location of departure) and give them evening or daylong excursions that include copious amounts of food and often some beverages that ease the pain.


The picture below really encapsulates what it is all about. The trail gives one little rest but does give a true sense of accomplishment when one can look out over his surroundings and take it all in.


Also there is the addition of some truly great beard growing opportunities. Granted there are also females on the trail who I am sure compensate with some leg hair of epic lengths. I actually encountered a couple who were doing the entire hike for their honeymoon.


As for the packs that are carried along the trail they range from ultralight to quite heavy. My pack came in about 27 pounds with water (light by through hiker standards) while Robbie and Russell's both came in near or above 40 pounds.


Wildlife is also abundant on the trail. I saw a few snakes, a black bear, and a small mountain lion (or a bobcat) the verdict is still out while on the trail.


There are also huts to stay at in some areas, but these can also be a problematic if problem animals find them. All food has to be hung up away from shelters to keep it away from sleeping hikers in case bears try to find it. Rats living in and around the shelters can also raid the sleeping area and steal stuff. Russell managed to pick this one off with a rock. In his defense the log left at the shelter had numerous reports of it eating through packs and stealing stuff. (For reference it was as large as a nerf football).

The camaraderie on the trail will be remembered for a lifetime. Below is Robbie and Russell and their friend Crash who is also on the same journey.


Not to be left out I also wanted to show off my beard.


Speaking of Crash the issue of trail names should be addressed. Through Hikers are given a trail name by his/her peers. It normally comes organically and comes with a story. Robbie goes by Tumbleweed due to his tendency of falling on a regular basis early on in the adventure and Russell goes by Fisherman's Friend due to his early fits of coughing on the trail. I was given the honorary name of "No Deal" by the guys but that is a story for another time. Looking at the picture below you could see why I might think that Robbie's name be Woodland Ninja.



I don't have any pictures of the truly hard terrain because the thought of taking my camera out or even carrying it in my pocket was an epic chore at those times so I instead have a picture of one of the few easy moments of my adventure.


By the time I was leaving my feet were falling apart and yet I had just completed another 20 miles with a lot of bandages on them. This sign alone came within a mile of the end of my adventure and I was happy to see it, although reluctant to leave.

As for the guys, (Crash, Tumbleweed, and Fisherman's Friend) they were left in a small nearby hotel by my father nearby the trail for one of the rare nights of luxury they will have. Granted it is only luxury for a short time because hours later they would ultimately be hitchhiking back to the spot they departed the trail to continue the long walk to Georgia.


Enjoy the trail guys and I might see you again once my feet heal,

No Deal

ON THE TRAIL

I am heading out here in an hour or so to hit the Appalachian Trail to meet up with some friends. I will try and take some pics on the way but I am uncertain when I will be posting next.

VIDEO - Gameday in Morgantown

GO TO THE BLOG TO SEE THIS

Vital Trail Training - Bearditude (Tude of the Beard)

I have been studying the pictures from the Appalachian Trail recently and have noticed that any training I may have done previously may have been focused on the wrong area. I stole the next 3 pictures from facebook to demonstrate my point. The 3 individuals pictured below from left to right are Fisherman's Friend, Crash, and Tumbleweed. They have all hiked from Maine down to Virginia thus far and I will be meeting up with them on Friday. I realize that they have grown into hardcore endurance athletes over the course of the trip but that is not the growth that I believe to be most crucial... they all share one common element that fuels their success.



Look here at Tumblweed (AKA BOB). Before departing he was incapable of any facial growth except for that small patch under the lower-lip now his beard required 2 quarts of 10W-30 every month to keep him running.


Don't even get me started on this guy. He has spent a 2 seasons up in Alaska perfecting the shore-to-shore beard but without the cold winds of the ocean I was uncertain if his beard would follow him down into the lower 48 but it has only grown more enchanting. One can tell from the photo that it now has the ability to control snakes.


In realizing my efforts up to this point have been on physical endurance and not beard awesomeness I have resorted to searching the past for signs of hope for my bearditude. The beard photoed below was captured last year but it has become my new focus of motivation for my current attempt.


Knowing that I hit the trail on Friday I have focused all of my efforts on starting a beard that will fuel my adventure and this morning I awoke with beginnings show below. I fell asleep clean shaven but with a dream of the future and after great physical exhaustion I now have a chance of survival on the trail.

Training for some hiking

Apparently I will be heading to do some hiking on the Appalachian Trail at the end of this week for an undetermined amount of time. I have a couple of friends that have made their way into Virginia and I am hoping not to slow them down too much so I have upped my game running and riding the bike here recently.

Sadly this means a little less of practicing my curls...

Hopefully a little sacrifice now pays off in the long run...

Shopping... wastin more time with the camera

To pass a day I accompanied my mother out for a day of shopping. It is a definite culture shock after spending most of the last year plus traveling around the globe to set foot into a humongous Sam's Club like the one pictured above:


I also got the experience of going to arts and crafts stores.... I recommend hiding from any place called the Hobby Lobby...


I actually chose to hide inside of the Hobby Lobby... yes, the plants were fake.


I was then asked to leave.... how was I supposed to know that these signs were to take home and hang up? I can read French and they reserve these signs for certain locations. Clean up on aisle 5.


They did recommend that I head back to the adult diaper aisle though... yes there was an entire aisle at Sam's for them.