There are two main categories of hazards we can encounter in the backcountry. Objective and subjective hazards. 

Objective hazards: These are hazards that exist naturally in the backcountry. These are things we can't control like lightning, rockfall, mudslides, flash floods, avalanches, storms, and dreaded Yeti attacks (Ok, maybe not that) etc. The only way to completely avoid these is to not go into the backcountry, but that isn't realistic. What is realistic is how we choose to go into these places and avoid or mitigate our exposure to these hazards while still having the experiences we all seek out there. 

Subjective hazards: These are dangers we create, which include going into the backcountry blindly when a major storm is coming, going without a realistic plan, not having proper clothing, inability to navigate effectively in whiteout conditions, inability to navigate in good weather, being out of shape, bringing old gear that breaks, bringing the wrong gear, and choosing routes that expose us to objective hazards because we don't know how to plan around them. These are things within our control!

Get Educated Now! Several years ago I found Mountain Sense, which has very solid courses online. It's a go at your own pace format run by IFMGA Mountain Guide Mark Smiley who is based out of Jackson Hole, Wyoming. This is an incredible online resource that has made a big difference in the skills I have in my toolbox when I go into the mountains for personal goals or when guiding clients. Some, not all, of the information you will learn in the Mountain Sense courses are covered if you were to take the AMGA ( American Mountain Guides Association) guide courses, but those are very expensive, time consuming and cost anywhere between $3k -$5k+ per course and include a lot of training and education in areas that aren't necessary for people who aren't trying to guide clients in the backcountry. For a fraction of that cost Mark Smiley, the founder of Mountain Sense, trims the fat and gives teaches you the essentials you need to know.

"Each course equips you with battle-tested techniques, not empty bravado, to excel in your mountain pursuits. You'll emerge more capable in your discipline. Dare to surpass your current skills. There's no lack of time-wasting bull$h!t instructional content out there. This, my friend, is the exact opposite." - Mark Smiley

I really encourage you to get the courses he offers that pertain to your endeavors in the backcountry. Additionally, these will make a solid gift to friends and family  in your life who do go into dangerous terrain in pursuit of their goals whether they be snowmobiling, cross country skiing, snowshoeing, hiking, backcountry skiing and snowboarding, climbing, mountaineering etc. 

I don't get a dime from Mountain Sense, or Mark for putting this information out! I simply believe wholeheartedly in the training and have seen it benefit my endeavors time and time again. For example, just last week a friend of mine and I were skiing off a 12'k peak here in the San Juan Mountains, and we soon found ourselves in whiteout conditions. At times we couldn't see 20' in any direction and it was like skiing inside of a ping pong ball. EVERYTHING was white. The wind was howling and blowing snow in our faces. You start to get vertigo because your mind isn't being given the visual cues we have 99.9% of the time in life. We couldn't tell if we were about to ski over a cliff band or if we were in a completely safe area. I remembered to pack a 20' bright green 6mm cord, which I learned from one of Mark's courses. What you do is tie the cord to your ski pole with a carabiner on the end for weight and "cast" the line, like a fisherman, in the direction you're heading, repeatedly, as you slowly ski down. The bright green cord gives immediate contrast so you can tell the slope angle and what the micro-terrain features are like directly in front of us. We safely made it down the mountain without incident, thanks in part to the education I received from a Mountain Sense course. The courses are geared towards mountain pursuits, however the Smartphone Navigation and Avalanche Safety courses will be very beneficial for anyone that goes into the backcountry as avalanches kill non-mountaineers and skiers regularly. If you happen to be a backcountry skier, climber, or mountaineer, the course offerings will be huge for you. If you are just getting your feet wet in backcountry pursuits, these courses will accelerate your knowledge and ability to plan a safer adventure and to deal with the inevitable "epics" that occur to us all! Even if you don't plan on going into the mountains, Mark's Smartphone Navigation course is invaluable in any terrain, even just the woods!

the information in these courses can save your life, and that of the people we care about that venture outside. You should be able to lead them. No excuses.

I recommend starting with the Smartphone Navigation course, for 50% off to our community! The NAV course is usually $49, but with the discount you pay $24.50 which is ridiculously good, especially if you find yourself kinda lost out there. We all pretty much have smart phones so the ability to leverage this technology is a game changer! Can you confidently navigate your way to safety in a whiteout, or thick woods? Can you confidently lead friends or family out of dire situations in the backcountry ? If not, get the course and step your levels up, now!

Check out the courses below!

Mountain Sense Course Offerings:

• Smartphone Navigation You get 50% off right now with code "stay found"
• Avalanche Safety Course
• Backcountry Splitboard Mountaineering
• Ski Mountaineering
• Crevasse Rescue
• Mountaineering Mastery
• Rock Climbing Anchors
• Rappelling Techniques

- Evan

Our goal is to get this film in front of everyone that can benefit from seeing it. Please share with anyone you think will get value from it. Also, feel free to email me personally with any questions or ideas, [email protected].

Thank you for sharing it!

 Awake. Violently awake. The pager evaporates a rare dreamless sleep on my last nightshift. 06:01, the shift ends at 7. Fuck. Almost made it. 

The initial information is sketchy. Something about a hurt baby. The update moments later clarify that there has been an out of hospital birth with no further information. My mood does not improve. 

Wiping the last of the sleep out of my eyes, it occurs to me that perhaps we will need two trucks depending on what we find. I have them notified. Ruining their sleep as well. 

The address is in a small town 15 km away. With a contrasting population of elderly, devout Baptists, and dodgy, unemployable hillbillies, there is little doubt what demographic we will be dealing with. 

My partner refreshes our memories on post delivery and neonatal care while on route. My policy has always been to assume the worst before you get to a call, so worst case scenario is you're never surprised, best case scenario it turns out better than you expected. 

In accordance with this policy, I envision myself fishing around elbow deep in a bloody toilet bowl searching for a blue, translucent fetus that never had a chance in hell with its half formed body developing in a soup of methamphetamine and fentanyl since the day of its unfortunate conception while the mother tries her best to bleed to death. 

With this bit of pessimism in my head, we arrive on scene and back into the driveway. A trailer. Of course its a trailer. 

Everything comes into the house: Jump bag, oxygen bag, defibrillator, baby bundle, extra linen, and an infant bag valve mask which weirdly isn't in the baby bundle. 

We walk past the puddles of blood in the snow in front of the trailer, up the steps and into the porch. More bloody puddles. Once in the porch the smell of cat piss insults our nostrils. "Sure hope its cats and not meth" I grumble mostly to myself. 

We're met at the door by a tall, skinny, sketchy looking dude holding what looks to be a year old toddler. "She's in the bathroom" he says while blowing a lungful of cigarette smoke onto the kid's head. 

It takes us a minute to get through the kitchen and down the hallway because of the immense amount of shit piled everywhere. "Sorry about the mess, we just moved in" the skinny guy says. I've heard that old excuse from every hoarder I've ever encountered. 

I take a deep breath of cat piss, brace myself, and enter the bathroom. The mother is standing in the bathtub, blood running down her legs. On the toilet is sitting another woman with what looks to be a living baby wrapped up in a dirty sweatshirt. 

I make the clearly selfish decision to go with the baby. My partner has never had a baby, and furthermore, she and the patient share a reproductive system making her in my mind eminently more qualified to evaluate and treat the mother than I. I take the infant to the kitchen table, and tell my partner to holler if she runs into any trouble. 

The female infant appears to be full term, clear airway, good respiratory effort, actively moving, warm, pink, no peripheral cyanosis, occasionally crying. A full ten on the APGAR. I'm beginning to relax. Listen to the chest. Clear lungs, strong fast heart rate. Examine the umbilical stump. It looks torn rather than cut. No bleeding. Good. Lots of room still to clamp. She opens her dark grey/blue eyes that all newborns have, and solemnly regards her filthy surroundings. She pees all over her blanket and begins to cry. 

The second crew has arrived by now. I'm happy to see the newbie and another old time medic. I send them to check on my partner with the mother. I am talking to the woman that I found holding the baby. It takes me a little time to sort out who is who in this situation. The tired, chubby looking woman I am talking to tells me that the sketchy dude is her boyfriend with which she has the toddler I saw earlier. The woman who has just given birth is a friend or roommate with which the sketchy dude had a baby last year. "I'm going to have a chat with him when you guys leave" she says. "I forgave him last time it happened, but if it turns out this baby is his too, I'm taking our child and leaving for good." She seems eerily calm. Like that moment before a tornado takes your home. I ask if she knows any history of the pregnancy that i can use in my call report. "All I know is she either didn't know she was pregnant, or just hid it. She just told everyone she was getting fat." Remembering all the blood outside, I asked where the baby had actually been born. "Oh she had it in the porch. Says she didn't want to wake anyone up." 

I ask my partner if she was all good. "Yup, we'll be on our way shortly, take the newbie to drive, and we'll follow you in a few minutes."

"Man, I was shitting myself all the way here" says the newbie as we get to the truck. I tell him thats normal. "Until I had a baby of my own, I shit myself through every call I ever had that involved an infant. It should be a prerequisite for all paramedics to have a child I think. It takes away a lot of the fear." 

I update the hospital about what we're bringing in. They sound as unimpressed as I felt at the beginning of the call. We have no car seat, so I sit in the back holding this unnamed infant and we look at each other. She's probably hungry, instinctively casting about with her mouth for a nipple. I have nothing to feed her, and she starts to cry again.

I used to sing The Green Fields of France to my own daughter when she cried with a great deal of success. Not the lullaby of choice for most people, a sad song about a dead nineteen year old soldier in World War 1, but it does the trick again. I hope the newbie can't hear me. 

We arrive at the hospital, I give my report to a doctor and three happily smiling nurses. Everyone loves a baby I guess. 

Thats it. My tour is over, and I'm on days off. 

I always effortlessly leave work at work, but I find myself still thinking about it. 

It will be Christmas in less than a week. A dirty porch in a trailer park smelling of cat piss is maybe more similar to a manger in a stable than many of us care to think about. There are no angels singing, and no wise men from the east. All she got was three tired, cranky medics and a starry eyed newbie. There was no virgin birth, and definitely no certain future for this baby with no name; but you can't look at the newly born without a certain amount of hope for things to come. Maybe it will turn out alright in the end after all. 

The Ballad of the Golden Arches 

 The call came in, a homeless guy stuck down in a sewer, for 3 days. Yes, three days. He was going to die if left down there. It was a mutual aid call. Not many people want to climb into shit for a homeless guy. Let’s face it, you’re going to get cover in shit. Your patient is mentally ill. You are going to get exposed to some not so good stuff. Will it be a story, absolutely!

I gear up. Harnesses, and anything I might need down in the hole. Our air monitoring is 100% within normal limits. If the air was bad, the dude would not have lived for 3 days. There is a team, and I am one guy. This team made this rescue successful. The credit is due there, and lots of it. They did all the not so glorious stuff.
When I saw slowly lowered down, I slid down walls covered in shit, piss, toilet paper, and pretty much anything you could flush down a toilet. I climbed over the vic. He had a really bad leg injury to say the least. I unhooked my rope to get the half back down, that was going to be used to pull the vic. As I was hooking the vic to the half back, this turd comes through one of the pipes. I laugh. The vic makes eye contact with me, and goes in a muffled voice, “yah”. A moment of comedy.
The hoist happens. My vic is going to the hospital. He lives another day, and hopefully goes no where near a sewer. He is taken to the hospital, and gets one more day. We are here for a reason. That reason, man, I dont know. I am still trying to figure it out. I dont know if this will reach anyone, but you’re important. I still struggle with my demons from the past calls. On this rescue my team & myself saved someone. I save this screen shot a long time ago, and I look at it everyday. This needs to be made into a shirt, and I will buy the first one. It is meaningful to me, because it got applied to this call I talked about.

Dont release the photos. It just gives proof to the incident. Thanks guys for being fucking cool. Andrew

"I have rolled with 30SecOut since the beginning. My father turned me on to the brand. I was never a “vet” brand kinda of guy, and he knew that. I was a firefighter in the USAF for 11 years, and now a civilian firefighter. I went back to college, and earned my Master’s in English & Creative writing. I was not a door kicker. The Boy Scouts were more elite commando than us. Now, when it came time to help people that was another story. When a rescue came in, I am your dude. That was my bread & butter, as the years go on, I have kinda realized I am more of a shit magnet than anything.

Slowly I realized, I had more in common with the brand. It was not your typical “vet” brand, which I liked. Thought the years, I would send a message to Evan or Tamara, explain to them what happened, and what they do seems important. 30SecOut is more of “idea”. It’s nice to wear that satire idea, it’s unique. I guess it’s important to me. I watched the short film “The Dark Edge”. It was compelling to the point, that I understood it. More of a reflection. That edge, I have been there. I understood it."

Brandon and I (on the right) were military guys that actually moved to the mountains. Here we are in Big Sky near Bozeman skiing with our special ladies.

Attention all military veterans and others that did different stuff for work! Are you tired of the hustle and bustle of city life? Are you over the sirens, traffic, and crime? Do you want to create a life where you’re in great shape but basically sore and fucking tired all the time from the locals dragging you around the hills? Do you long for the peace and serenity of the great outdoors? Do you want to hunt big game, ski powder, ride single track and become a mountain beast?! Of course you fucking do!

Well, have no fear because the ultimate guide to moving to an affordable mountain town after the military (or some other job) is here! Whether you're a skiing enthusiast, a hunter, a moto-head, a climber, or a hiking fanatic, we've got you covered with all the tips and tricks you need to find the perfect mountain town for you. Maybe you’re none of those things yet, but you want to be! From the breathtaking beauty of Montana to the cultural charm of New Mexico, and the high peaks of Colorado, this guide will help you navigate the winding roads and narrow trails to find the perfect place to call home. So grab your boots, ski poles, and those willing to go down this rabbit hole with you.

I spent twenty years in the military and was a mountain person at heart since I was a little kid. Spending summers with my grandpa in Washington State lit the spark. I didn't get much time in the mountains while I was in the military, but one thing was for sure, I was going to move there at some point! I spent hundreds of hours fantasizing about the mountains, reading Powder magazine and Rock and Ice to fuel the stoke. I moved to Sun Valley, ID, in 2013, when it was relatively affordable. It’s not anymore, so that’s my disclaimer on my experience. I would not try to move there if I was getting out of the military now. In the following paragraphs, I’ll describe mountain living as I experienced it in Sun Valley, ID. It’s a snapshot of living in an expensive town, but don’t worry. The towns I suggest are much more reasonable, and you won’t find all the roadblocks I discuss, just some. I included them so you get a 30k' view of what mountain life can be like. Every town is different, but there are patterns for sure.

Housing:

Our duplex in Ketchum, ID.

Since we’re not talking about living in the posh resort areas, the doors open much broader. I am not a financial advisor or real estate agent, so take this with a grain of salt, but I believe in getting on the real estate ladder as a strategic wealth-building tool. I know a lot of folks in mountain towns that never buy a house when they can afford it, and they get to a point where they get passed up by rising prices and can't find a way to get on the ladder. Many eventually are forced to leave as rents rise, and they get priced out. The same thing can happen with property taxes, so that's another thing to consider when purchasing. I recommend renting a place first, not permanently, so you know exactly where you want to live in the town unless you really know the area. If your VA loan is tied up in another property, that’s fine until you’re ready to buy. When you are prepared to pull the trigger on a home, having that VA loan as an option is a great ace up your sleeve, so you may need to refi the property, it’s tied up in, or sell it so it’s available to you. It may make the difference between being able to buy in the mountains or not. I used my VA loan to purchase half of a duplex in Sun Valley, then sold it in 2021, freed it up again, and used it to buy in Ouray. Do a deep dive into your finances a year or two before you commit. Get your financial house and credit score to be in a strong position. You don’t need to buy the dream mountain home you saw in Sotheby's magazine out of the gates. Purchasing a “stair step” property is a great call.
The dream house is at the top of the staircase, but you can start lower and work towards it systematically. You buy something affordable that’s easy on your cash flow until you get established and generate more income. Before I moved to a mountain town, I was convinced I should move as close to the ski hill as possible, but then I changed my mind. In my opinion, the peace and quiet of the communities around the area are a better long-term spot than living in a ski-in ski-out condo by the lift. Sounds crazy, but that’s what I learned. You don’t always want to deal with resort traffic, taxes, and a lack of long-term neighbors. Hence why renting at first can be a great idea unless there’s an opportunity you can’t pass up.

 Kids:

Kids love mountain towns, mostly.

Living with kids in the mountains can be fantastic for them and you. They are generally very active because that’s the culture. Some of my best friends in Sun Valley have kids, and they spend a lot of time outside. They still play video games, but it’s not all-consuming. They want to be out because it’s impressive and generally safer than urban and suburban areas. One thing to watch for is the other kids from affluent families. They have more money, which can equal easy access to coke and worse. It’s not hugely different from any other town, just that the concentration of wealth tends to be greater in mountain towns.

 Single People:

If you’re single with no attachments, just drive to the mountains and start living there. Sleep in your 4-runner for a while until you find some roommates. You’ll be fine, until you meet someone that wants more and isn't as dedicated to the hashtag vanlife as you are. Then it gets complicated. So just meet someone that loves the mountains and lifestyle choices as much as you do. There’s a saying in mountain towns, “you don’t lose your guy or girl, just your turn.”

Banksy, London. Fitting in this post . Took this photo a few years back, when I couldn't wait to move to the mountains, but didn't know how!

Mental Game: 

Ski patrol getting ready for another kick-ass day in Ketchum, ID.

You will have to figure out how to relax in your downtime. I’m serious. It can be more challenging than you think to adjust to this lifestyle. Some will find it very tough, and others won’t have much of an issue. Relaxing for me was getting after it most days a week for a few hours in the hills. If you’re moving with a family or significant other, care for each other more than ever. You’ve landed in a new life, so staying connected, loving each other, and finding activities you can enjoy together is imperative. If one of you feels intimidated by all the crazy mountain activities, take it slow and ease your way into new experiences. The locals will likely be better than you at everything, so don’t put yourself at risk like I did trying to keep up. In my second year skiing, I was invited on a backcountry yurt trip up in the Sawtooth mountains. I wanted to be accepted into a group of excellent skiers. The trip leader was Zach Crist, a former US Ski Team member and owner of Sun Valley Guides. I fell in a no-fall zone and tomahawked 700’ down a mountainside, destroying my right ACL and adding two respectable meniscus tears. Zach skied right next to me, trying to stop my uncontrollability because that’s who he was, until I stopped in a small cluster of trees before going over a rock band. I’m saying take your time gaining the skills you need to survive. Educate yourself on the gear required to tackle each type of objective. It could be Mtn biking, skiing, hunting at 11k’ etc. Go slowly and stay alive because the mountains don’t give a shit about us or our goals. 

Challenges:

The thing I sweated the most before retiring from the military was figuring out where I could actually afford to live. You can't live on a military retirement in a mountain town unless you just “hashtag van life” your way around until the family snaps and demands a solid roof over their heads. I was making the mistake of only looking at famous towns like Jackson Hole, Telluride, Aspen, Lake Tahoe, etc. I would look at home prices and the cost of living and get depressed. The famous towns are way too fucking expensive, but there’s an upside. You likely won’t want to live there anyway! Why? Besides the cost, it’s the people. Not the locals. It’s the super-wealthy second homeowners you may find challenging to relate to. Their mc-mansions sit empty eleven months out of the year. They live in Palo Alto, Manhattan, Seattle, etc. You never get to know them because they don't live there. You will see entire streets of second homes that sit eerily empty all year; at Christmas, there are people there, then it’s back to the empty feel the first week in January. There’s no community. It feels soulless because it is. They don’t have kids there for your kids to hang with. These are generalizations but accurate enough to give you the lowdown.

I have local friends in Sun Valley who rip on skis, mountain bikes, moto, climbing, etc. On the other hand, second homeowners generally won’t climb, hunt the high country, and ski couloirs with you. I found having a meaningful friendships with them challenging because we are very different animals, but are generally great folks. They won’t be in your circle because they are never there, but there are always exceptions, of course. 

On the other hand, the locals can often afford to live there because they were grandfathered in. They or their parents purchased property before the prices got ridiculous. Don’t get discouraged when you see regular people living there with regular jobs. They likely have been there a long time and have that advantage. You won’t have that.
Like you, I don’t come from money, and the prices I was seeing before moving to the mountains were fucking ridiculous. I learned later to look at suitable towns and stop doom-scrolling prices in Jackson. I kept believing it was possible, but I didn't know how to make it happen. I tried to give up on the dream and stop torturing myself, but I kept returning to it.

Moving to a mountain town can be quite an adventure, but it can be challenging. Families, in particular, may face some unique struggles. Do they want to live in a mountain town? Well, let me rephrase that. Do they think they want to? I say that because the idea of living in a small town is attractive and carries a simple and romantic feel that is alluring. The reality is somewhat different when you’re actually there. For one, the isolation that comes with living in a small, remote town can be difficult, especially for those used to the fast pace of city life. Uprooting kids from their school and friend group can be a big deal! The younger the kids are, the easier it is generally. However, trying to pry a teenager away from where they grew up may become a minor skirmish, especially if they have a serious girlfriend or boyfriend.
Restaurants often close earlier than you're used to. You may be unable to hit a diner at 10 pm because everything closes earlier than you are used to. Unless you're looking at Bozeman or a larger town with just about everything, there are likely fewer amenities across the board. Additionally, job opportunities may be limited, making finding work that pays well enough to support a family difficult. Housing can also be challenging, as the cost of living in even modest mountain towns can be pretty high, and affordable rental properties may be hard to come by. Schools may also be limited, and the quality of education varies a lot. Finally, access to healthcare and other essential services may be limited, and it may be necessary to travel long distances to find the care you need. This is a crucial point if you or your partner need special medical care for previous injuries.

Here is what I have seen happen quite a few times when a family moves to a mountain town. The honeymoon phase after moving in lasts just long enough to get settled and make a couple friends. You get the kids in school and start ripping it up skiing, hunting, climbing, fishing…whatever. Usually, one of you is more into the mountains than the other, and how you enjoy the environment can be very different. An idea of mountain living for one of you may be skiing 100+ days a year, mountain biking, hunting, climbing, etc. For the other, it may be a more chill approach. Playing golf, photography, or going to the spa. What can happen is a drifting apart with the activities. If one doesn't ski or snowboard, but the other goes all the time, it can become a friction point. These things are all workable if the less enthusiastic partner finds their people and activities. Having honest conversations and even writing down the benefits and disadvantages of the towns you are considering is essential. Don’t skip this part. Letting everyone in the family have their say and voice their opinion is vital. This way, concerns can be addressed and possibly neutralized.

Advantages:

Photo from my first tail guiding trip with San Juan Mtn Guides, 2023.

Living in a mountain town is like being on a permanent vacation. I've been in the mountains for ten years, and it NEVER gets old! First, the air is fresher than you're probably used to. You can take a deep breath and actually feel your lungs thanking you. 

If the kids and your partner know they are moving to a kick-ass town where they can do all these activities, it might be an easy sell!

And let's not forget the view. The panoramic views are breathtaking, and I don't mean that in the "I need to sit down and catch my breath" kind of way. I'm talking about the "I can't believe my eyes; it's like living in a postcard" way. No BS.

Plus, you can forget about boring old flat terrain because, in a mountain town, you can exercise while enjoying a beautiful hike, ripping single track on your moto, or skiing blower powder. And let's not forget the winter wonderland vibes, where everything is often coated in snow. Christmas in a mountain town is unbeatable because it looks, smells, and feels like Christmas is supposed to. And last but not least, the people. You may notice that people there are in excellent shape, on average. When I first got on ski patrol in Sun Valley, ID, several patrollers were over seventy years old, and they had decent abs! Fucking abs, and they skied relentlessly, outworking the young guns by far! I saw these crusty mountain crushers and immediately said, "I want to be just like that when I'm seventy!" We are the average of the five people we invest the most time with, so choose wisely and change your situation if necessary. 

 When I left Virginia Beach in 2013 and drove west to Idaho, I was happy to be changing how I spent my time. Back on the beach, the culture we had gotten used to was basically eating and drinking all the fucking time. Almost everyone I knew was overweight, me included, and I was embarrassed. Sure, many of us dealt with severe injuries that made staying in shape much more challenging, but I didn't care about my excuses. Mountain people are generally in excellent condition, and you will get there. It's almost automatic. The culture directs you to that path. In the first year of moving to the mountains, I lost 15 lbs without trying to lose weight. Also, some of these towns are zoned, so they don't have fast food to get fat off of. Between skiing, climbing, riding dirtbikes, and running, I got into shape by hanging out with active people and getting after it. I love the lifestyle to my core and always will!

Further unsolicited advice:

Hit this link and read "Twitching With Twight" if you want a kick in the ass to change the life that you've grown weary of. Beware because I showed this to some Naval Academy cadets who hated their life path. After reading it, they fucking dropped out, went to BUD/S, and became Navy SEALs! They all made it, thankfully.

Work:

My first job out of the military working for Alpine Tree Service in Ketchum, ID.

Some of you may have a monthly retirement check from the military or other sources to soften the blow every month? That’s great, but you’ll likely need another career. Don’t worry about landing your dream job in the mountains immediately if that door hasn't opened yet. It’s ok to find a position to get some income flowing and then advance your way up the ladder or find a better fit later in another occupation.

My first job in Sun Valley was working on a tree crew running saws and driving a 30-ton crane for $20 an hour. I loved it, as I was in my element being outside. I had an actual desk during my last year in the military, and it wasn’t a good fit. I did Ski Patrol full-time for three years but only made $13/hr, and you can’t live on just that. Many Ski Patrols are now starting at $15/hr so there's been a slight improvement but not enough to afford living expenses. I started ozdoganmakina as a side hustle to keep living there, which helped a lot. 

Forget about being a ski lift operator, barista, ski tuner shop guy, Ski Patrol, etc. Those jobs generally don’t pay shit and will leave you frustrated. You can make it if you decide to have two or three low-paying jobs, but there's an opportunity cost. You will be working all the time to afford to live there. You’ll be working when everyone else seems to be grabbing the first chair after a 20” snow storm, and you’ll be pulling your hair out serving mocha-frappo-chino-glutenfree-lattes to people in their snow sliding gear heading up the hill. If you have a partner, they may need to secure employment as well. Contract work is one way for military people to make a life there. The downside is you’re gone much of the year, and unless your partner is super stoked about mountain life, they may get worn out. Life will be similar to what you both went through in the military and what you are trying to get away from. I let my TS-SCI clearance lapse to burn that bridge. I purposely cut myself off from that option. I wanted to avoid contracting because, eventually, you have to start a new career away from that scene, and doing it sooner than later in life was the right move for me and my goals. Yours may be different, and that’s completely fine.

Here are a few affordable mountain towns. I used Zillow to get the cost of housing and google maps for the distance to the slopes from the town center. Population numbers are from the United States Census Bureau's latest estimate in 2020. You will get a snapshot of each area so you can dive deep on promising ones.

Let's get to it!

Montrose, CO: It's a ranching community that is going through a transition. Younger people are moving there because of its proximity to big mountains and lower costs. It’s just north of the glorious peaks of the San Juan Mountains and perfect for those who enjoy outdoor activities like hunting, hiking, skiing, biking, rock/ice climbing and mountaineering. It's affordable so you won't have to sell your soul to afford a house here, but it's being discovered and revitalized. We bought our building in the old downtown section where our warehouse and retail space is located.

• Altitude: 5,800’
• Population: 20k
• AVG Home Price in 2023: $417k
• Median Rent in 2023: $1,900/mo
• Closest Ski Area: Telluride
• Drive time to Telluride Ski Resort: 1 hr 20 min
• Nearest Major Airport: Montrose Regional
• VA Hospital: Montrose VA Clinic
• Major Employers: Montrose Memorial Hospital, Montrose County School District, City of Montrose, Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, and Montrose County government, ozdoganmakina Apparel (we might be hiring).

Laramie, WY: This town is home to the University of Wyoming and has a unique mix of culture and outdoor recreation. You can spend your mornings hiking or skiing and your afternoons attending lectures. Just watch out for the cowboys! Considered the most hipster town in Wyoming.

• Altitude: 7,165’
• Population: 32K
• AVG Home Price in 2023: $340k
• Median Rent in 2023: $999/mo
• Closest Ski Area: Snowy Ridge
• Drive time to Snowy Ridge Ski Resort: 45 min
• Nearest Major Airport: Denver International
• VA Hospital: Cheyenne VA Medical Center
• Major Employers: University of Wyoming, Albany County School District #1, Ivinson Memorial Hospital, Walmart, and Laramie Plains Federal Credit Union.

• Altitude: 6,969’
• Population: 5,712
• AVG Home Price in 2023: $400k
• Median Rent in 2023: $1,800/mo
• Closest Ski Area: Taos
• Drive time to Taos Ski Resort: 30 min
• Nearest Major Airport: Santa Fe Regional
• VA Hospital: Albuquerque, NM
• Major Employers: Taos Health Systems, Taos Municipal Schools, Taos County, and Taos Ski Valley.

• Altitude: 2,134’
• Population: 96K
• AVG Home Price in 2023: $442k
• Median Rent in 2023: $2,295/mo
• Closest Ski Area: Wolf Ridge Ski Resort
• Drive time to Wolf Ridge Ski Resort: 40 min
• Nearest Major Airport: Asheville Regional Airport
• VA Hospital: Asheville, NC
• Major Employers: Mission Health System, Buncombe County Schools, Biltmore Company, Eaton Corporation, and Ingles Markets.

• Altitude: 7,703’
• Population: 6k
• AVG Home Price in 2023: $522k
• Median Rent in 2023: $2,500/mo
• Closest Ski Area: Crested Butte
• Drive time to Crested Butte Ski Resort: 40 min
• Nearest Major Airport: Gunnison-Crested Butte Regional
• VA Hospital: Grand Junction VA Medical Center
• Major Employers: Western Colorado University, Gunnison Valley Health, Gunnison Watershed School District, and Gunnison County government.

• Altitude: 6,512’
• Population: 21K
• AVG Home Price in 2023: $567k
• Median Rent in 2023: $2,100/mo
• Closest Ski Area: Purgatory
• Drive time to Purgatory Ski Resort: 35 min
• Nearest Major Airport: Durango-La Plata County Airport
• VA Hospital: Albuquerque, NM
• Major Employers: Mercy Regional Medical Center, Fort Lewis College, Durango School District 9-R, Animas Surgical Hospital, and La Plata County government.

• Altitude: 4,820’
• Population: 51K
• AVG Home Price in 2023: $647k
• Median Rent in 2023: $2,700/mo
• Closest Ski Area: Bridger Bowl
• Drive time to Bridger Bowl Ski Resort: 30 min
• Nearest Major Airport: Bozeman Yellowstone International
• VA Hospital: Bozeman, MT
• Major Employers: Montana State University, Bozeman Health, Bozeman School District, Oracle, and Simms Fishing Products.

• Altitude: 7,083’
• Population: 5,926
• AVG Home Price in 2023: $651k
• Median Rent in 2023: $2,200/mo
• Closest Ski Area: Monarch
• Drive time to Monarch Ski Resort: 30 min
• Nearest Major Airport: Gunnison-Crested Butte Regional
• VA Clinic: Salida VA Clinic
• Major Employers: Heart of the Rockies Regional Medical Center, Salida School District R-32-J, Chaffee County government, Walmart, and Safeway.

• Altitude: 2,065’
• Population: 8,946
• AVG Home Price in 2023: $473k
• Median Rent in 2023: $1,800/mo
• Closest Ski Area: Schweitzer
• Drive time to Schweitzer Ski Resort: 25 min
• Nearest Major Airport: Spokane International
• VA Hospital: Cheyenne VA Medical Center
• Major Employers: Bonner General Health, Lake Pend Oreille School District, Schweitzer Mountain Resort, Litehouse Foods, and Quest Aircraft.

• Altitude: 2,231’
• Population: 7,944K
• AVG Home Price in 2023: $371k
• Median Rent in 2023: $1,400/mo
• Closest Ski Area: Wolf Ridge Ski Resort
• Drive time to Wolf Ridge Ski Resort: 1 hr 20 min
• Nearest Major Airport: Asheville Regional Airport
• VA Hospital: Asheville, NC
• Major Employers: Transylvania Regional Hospital, Brevard College, Brevard Music Center, Comporium Communications, and Walmart.

• Altitude: 3,028’
• Population: 7,044K
• AVG Home Price in 2023: $657k
• Median Rent in 2023: $2,200/mo
• Closest Ski Area: Whitefish Mountain Resort
• Drive time to Telluride Ski Resort: 20 min
• Nearest Major Airport: Glacier Park International
• VA Hospital: Cheyenne VA Medical Center
• Major Employers: Whitefish Mountain Resort, North Valley Hospital, Whitefish School District, Montana Coffee Traders, and Stumptown Art Studio.

• Altitude: 5,021’
• Population: 3,426’
• AVG Home Price in 2023: $512k
• Median Rent in 2023: $1,800/mo
• Closest Ski Area: Brundage
• Drive time to Telluride Ski Resort: 20 min
• Nearest Major Airport: Boise Airport
• VA Hospital: Boise VA Medical Center
• Major Employers: St. Luke's McCall Medical Center, McCall-Donnelly School District #421, Idaho First Bank, Albertsons, and Shore Lodge.

This was a fun project! Please add your suggestions for other towns in the comments. It's likely someone will get some value from your experiences as well. If you're on the fence about making your move to the mountains, hopefully this gave you some new ideas and perspectives. If you have questions on this, hit me up [email protected] and I'll be happy to shoot the shit with you about mountain living!

Evan

Get a close up look at a few of my experiences, decisions, and lessons learned up to this point in life. Like you, I've gotten a lot of value over the years learning from the experiences of others so I feel it's a good time to share mine.

Last year, Kayrom Studios approached me and asked if I would share my story with them for a short film. After a few discussions I agreed on the premise that the focus wasn't on my military experience, so we got together and made a short film! After the premier here in Ouray, CO we will let you know where you can watch it. I had already started to write down my story years ago for my kids and grandkids, so some of the legwork was already started. The film is complete and the book I'm writing is in progress. I would consider the details in the book "R" rated, not from military stories, but from growing up. The film leaves out a lot!

When the book is complete, I'll send you an email so you can get an early bird copy with some extras thrown in. I think you're going to love it, even if it keeps you up at night.

Andrew Schrader began his Urban Search and Rescue career in 2014 for the state of Florida. Schrader has worked as a Structure Specialist; he has deployed on rescue operations for four hurricanes and, most recently, the collapse of the Champlain Towers. After seven years of working for Florida's Urban Search and Rescue Task Force, Schrader has dialed the ins and out's of what to carry in your pack. His trusty backpack, the RUSH12, holds all of his necessary supplies. He clearly doesn't mess around when it comes to his morale patches, and we can't blame him. Outside of his pack, you'll find our morale patches. "It's important to keep some kind of sense of humor in absolutely humorless situations. If I'm not getting in an occasional laugh, my mind can go to a dark place very quickly. Fun patches help keep the mood as light as possible (Schrader)." We can all learn something from Schrader. Check out his article with OffGrid Magazine to get an in-depth overview of what he's packing.

"Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence."

Carl Sagan

There is too much information coming at us. We all know this. More specifically, there is too much bad information that obscures our view of what is true and what is not. In military terms, it's a version of a swarm attack, whether intentional and coordinated or not, by the other side. We are on the receiving end and the problem is ours to deal with if we are to survive.

Here's an example. Let's say we're all on a Navy ship, in wartime, and we have a weapon system that can eliminate up to ten missiles at one time. Not eleven, only ten. The enemy knows this, so they send more than ten simultaneously, but they only have the resources to actually arm ten. The others are not a threat. How do we know which ones to eliminate? Luckily, the dangerous missiles behave slightly different, due to the heavier payload than the harmless ones, and we know this. We have a system that detects the difference, if we decide to use it.

Let's decide to use it, immediately. The next time you encounter information that elicits a strong emotional response, put your guard up. That's a sign that warrants an intelligent and measured investigation. Why? Misinformation, by design or ignorance, often targets our emotions. Once our emotions are involved, we aren't as sharp. We lose the analytical edge. We are more easily drawn into the world of misinformation. 

Be on high alert for confirmational bias. We are all subject to this. If we look for evidence to confirm suspicions because we are already wanting to believe the thing, then we must put as much energy, time and resources into the search for the contrary. This takes discipline but let's keep challenging ourselves. It's the only way we will survive the swarm attack!

Have the guts to question everything. Claims that cannot withstand serious and intelligent scrutiny like the kind the scientific community applies, are likely bad claims. Learn to be okay with being wrong and change your mind when presented with overwhelming evidence that shows us what is real. We have an obligation to do this.

"Why is there a goat associated with this design? Because this is Logic Goat who ain't no sucka falling for conspiracy theories and unvetted quackery. Logic goat keeps it factual!" - Mike Tea, Artist 

 Somedays my time in service feels like last week and sometimes it feels like it was someone else’s life that has been grafted on to what I am doing now. The memories include someone who looks like me, but is it me?

 I got commissioned out of the University of Mississippi in 2000, was stationed in Germany as an Intel Officer and deployed to Bosnia in 03/04 as the head of the counter terrorism team at the National Intelligence Center. I got out of the Army, headed off to do humanitarian land mine clearance in Angola and later Abkhazia in the Republic of Georgia before getting recalled out of the Individual Ready Reserve to do a tour in Baghdad 06-07 as a civil affairs officer.

 We were there before and during the surge. I’d guess I was somewhere at about 50% for how rough or violent my tour was. I both really loved and hated my time in the US Army. It is hard to imagine a life without the friends, experiences, and lessons learned-but also damn man, why did some of that shit have to go down the way it did?

 Life lessons from your time on active duty?

 That there’s always a way through any hard time. 99.9% of the time, the way through will require team work and use of resources you don’t have sole access to, as well as people and advice that you may disagree with in other areas of life and war to get the job done.

 You cannot win a war, or build a lasting peace or understanding, without boots on the ground outside of the wire. Face to face communication is always the best. As a force, we spent too much time behind walls from our senior leadership on down to the newest enlisted troop. I got home to a world in 07 that was retreating into screens, I’ve been guilty of the same, if we want a country worth living in we need to get out from behind our walls and screens to engage with one another in conversation, not always in trying to prove the other person wrong or with a specific outcome in mind.

 What was your high point while serving?

 The people. I met some of the bravest, brightest men and women of the United States, immigrants who came to the United States to serve our country, as well as people in Iraq and Bosnia who cared so deeply about their homes and worked, or are still working so hard to rebuild their nations. I take a lot of daily inspiration and hope from all the people I met in and outside of the uniform.

 Low point?

 The leadership. There were a lot of great leaders I had the good fortune to spend time with and learn from during my time in service. I got to work with a lot of different branches and nationalities as well and still count a handful of those leaders as mentors and coaches today. But something happens along the way where leaders seem to stop worrying about accountability, owning and learning from their own mistakes, and instead focusing on ego and evaluation bullets. As we moved from finding weapons of mass destruction to winning the global war on terrorism to building peace and democracy in Iraq in the year I was there, I felt like our higher levels of leadership beyond the Brigade was not seeing the same thing we were on the ground and were more interested in what they could say they did during the war vs. what actually happened.

 What are some projects you are working on now?

 A couple of years after I came back, a friend I deployed with introduced me to rock climbing and that changed my life. It gave me something to live for vs. live against. It was a means to joy vs. anger and ultimately a path to meet a ton of people who had very different life experiences than me. It helped me realize it wasn’t just veterans who had hard times and helped me find a place back home other than always crowing about who I was-it gave me a path to become.

 I worked with other veterans in the outdoors for a long time and started to wonder if I could change the conversation and add to my own narrative of the places I had been to fight, if I went back to ski or climb-so that launched Adventure Not War. So far I’ve climbed in Angola, skied in Iraq and Afghanistan, and am planning a fly fishing trip to Bosnia this fall or in 2023, and want to also go back to ski in Abkhazia.

 At the end of our trip in Afghanistan, some Afghan skiers asked how we could help skiing in the region, so I partnered up with Doug Bernard and two crazy Dutch guys, Olaf and Peter, to support a bunch of Kyrgyz skiers in launching a free ride ski event for Central Asia. Folks can check out that film here: https://ozdoganmakina.com/blog/snowsports/adventure-not-war

 I also took what I learned from supporting veterans outdoors, partnered up with a mental health professional Koorosh Rassekh, and launched Happy Grizzly Adventures to support people in Intentional Adventure where they have the best chance at a transformational experience in the outdoors.

 How can people support your efforts?

 #1 is to go out and talk to, get to know, someone who has a different belief system than you do. Find out why they believe what they do and see where there might be things that connect us vs. drive us apart.

 #2, folks can donate to Silk Road Freeride and if individuals or companies are really stoked on what we have going on, get in touch and we can try and tailor something specific to your philanthropic needs and wants.

 What’s your favorite type/types of music?

I grew up with guys like Tennessee Ernie Ford, so after a youth spent in hardcore and heavy metal, Danzig is still in heavy rotation, I listen to a lot of Blue Grass and Americana these days.

 Favorite ski?

I rode Factions for a lot of years and they were a great partner in Iraq and Afghanistan. Lately though, I’ve teamed up with G3 and there’s nothing more fun than the Slay’r on even the smallest, let alone the deepest, powder day. Light, super responsive ski that makes all your dreams come true and is easy on my 43 year old knees! Also-always wear a helmet, and Pret feels as different on your head as a baseball cap.

 Favorite comedian?

I miss Eddie Murphy and Richard Pryor. I generally spend my lunch hour cruising standup comedy on line. I saw a bit from Margaret Cho that had me rolling pretty hard a week or two ago.

How can people find you?

 Stacyabare or happygrizzlyadventures on Instagram is the easiest way. Or check out www.happygrizzlyadventures.com or www.silkroadfreeride.com

www.adventurenotwar.com is the repository for the different films and articles we’ve made so far.

I arrived at the range, grabbed my gear, and was trying to figure out what the big deal was that day. He informed me Clint Eastwood was on his way over to do some shooting. “Yeah right,” I said. He just gave me a look, letting me know he wasn’t joking around. Sure enough, Clint rolls up 5 minutes later. 

Clint was cool. No oversized ego to navigate and no annoying celebrity qualities that are all too common, like neediness, complaints, and cringe-worthy snobbery. None of that. He came across as more of a blue-collar guy, right up my alley. 

We started out shooting pistols. Clint was a good shot, and yes, he shot one-handed a lot of the time. The only point of improvement I offered him was to get his shoulders more forward like he was about to throw or receive a punch. Other than that, he was solid with his weapons handling. I wasn’t surprised as he has gotten a lot of training over the years preparing for films.

Here’s the awesome part. The moment the range went cold for the last time, Clint removes his hat, takes a knee, and starts picking up brass! My buddy and I told him he didn’t have to do that, but he said, “It’s no problem. I shot it and need to help clean up.” So, we all picked up our brass together, then we all went and had a few Coronas at a buddy's house with Clint.

Clint Eastwood picks up his own brass, and he didn’t make a big deal about it. 

--Evan

For various reasons, we created an app; for starters, Facebook disapproved of our NO WEAK SHIT merch and many of our OG military designs; we weren't going to stand for it. So we created our app, where you can find our "racey" items, as well as all the other merch we offer. We also wanted to give you, our die hards, an easier way to find our products and offer in-app deals and exclusive products. Our founder, graphic designer Sean, goes into depth more here, but the basic breakdown of what the 30 SEC OUT App offers is :

1. Automatic 15% discount applied on in-app purchases

2. Access to all our banned items

3. Most new items will drop on the app first

4. Navigate the 30 SEC OUT site easier

5. You'll find exclusive deals and offers on the app only

You can download our app by tapping the link below if you're on a mobile device or by scanning this code using the camera on your mobile phone. The link automagically knows if you're an Android or an Apple. 

Adventure is at the heart of our community at ozdoganmakina. Adventures happen outside. We love being outside, a lot!

[Photo] ozdoganmakina staff in the middle of an adventure in Alaska, May 2021. Yes, it does look like one of those corporate motivation posters.  Anthony S.

We're stoked to announce our official brand alliance with Protect Our Winters! POW helps passionate outdoor people protect the places and lifestyles they love from climate change. They are a community of athletes, scientists, creatives, and business leaders advancing non-partisan policies that protect our world today and for future generations.

We are the first veteran owned apparel brand to form an alliance with Protect Our Winters! Why did we do this? We can imagine that some might see this unlikely partnership as really strange. A brand founded by a combat vet, which cares about the impact that human activity has on our planet? Yes, that's precisely what's going on here.  Like you, we listen to science. Then we look to see what we can do with this information to help make our country and world a little better than it was yesterday. Here's the definition of science we are talking about, so we're all starting from the same basic understanding. Overwhelming evidence shows us that human activity does, in fact, have a negative impact on the climate.

"Science is the pursuit and application of knowledge and understanding of the natural and social world following a systematic methodology based on evidence." - The Science Council

You can read more about systematic methodology, here. It's basically the best system in the world for discovering the truth. It doesn't cater to our beliefs, feelings or traditions. It is a shield against incompetence.

So what are we actually doing? Not enough, but we switched most of our packaging over to recycled materials and will continue to find ways to improve our products in this area. We joined forces with POW to help share the science and reality of climate change with our community. Our founder, Evan, still drives a gasoline powered truck, so he's a hypocrite, but he knows it. It comes down to progress over perfection and we have to start at imperfection.

In a nutshell, we're starting to do what is within our grasp to contribute to positive changes in our understanding of the world and the impact our actions have on it. Now back to our hippy drum circle. Onward!

"We can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them." - Albert Einstein

 

 ozdoganmakina

With that being said, 30 Seconds Out and The Ready State give you "Work the Plan." Featured in two different colors, make it what you want. Dr. Kelly Starrett, co-founder of The Ready State, gave us the inspiration behind the design. Starrett said, "It is about being consistent over being heroic, "Work the Plan" is the heart of the message; make the best choice out of the options presented to you. Trust yourself, don't overthink or second guess." The leopard is the core of the design, symbolizing a human being's full physical capacity. The leopard doesn't need a pep talk; it doesn't have to activate its glutes; it has access to this power at a moment's notice, ready to attack and defend in the blink of an eye. The third eye on the leopard represents the self-awareness of our capacity to be self-reliant, resilient, and badass creatures. Self-awareness can seem like a superpower from the outside, like having a sixth sense. The leopard knows what needs to be done.

Make sure you go checkout the The Ready State and all they do. On top of adding a new badass tee to your collection a portion of the "Work the Plan" tees will be donated to the Clean Water Corps, a task force specialized in focusing on combating the global water crisis. Operated entirely by veterans, they're serving there communities once again.

Inspired by Mark Twight, the incredible Alpinist.

"BURN THE BRIDGE. NUKE THE FOUNDATION. BACK YOURSELF UP AGAINST A WALL. HAVE AN OPINION ONE WAY OR THE OTHER, GET OFF THE FENCE AND RIP IT UP. CUT YOURSELF OFF SO THERE IS NO GOING BACK. ONCE YOU'RE COMMITTED THE TRUTH WILL COME OUT."

Cover tee photo by Paul Tilden. T-shirt art by Mike Tea.

We're stoked to have created a few limited edition designs for the crew at SpaceX, just in time for their launch a couple weeks ago. SpaceX and NASA have joined up to return manned space flight to the United States! Two NASA astronauts are taking the Dragon Spacecraft to the ISS. This is the beginning of an epic endeavor laying the groundwork for manned missions to the Moon, Mars and beyond. This is an amazing time and we are honored to have these custom flags and tees in the hands of these amazing people. (The flags and tees are only available to SpaceX employees and their families). Thanks to Cam for making this happen!

One More Wave got it right with this one. Help support their cause HERE.

See also, our gear with portions of proceeds being donated to some great causes: 

Green Face V2 (Limited Edition) T-Shirt

$1 from every shirt sale goes to the UDT SEAL Museum in Ft Pierce, Florida!

Day Blazing T-Shirt and Hat

$1 from each t-shirt and hat purchase will be donated to the Night Stalker Association.

No Weak Sh#t Hat- Limited Breast Cancer Edition

A portion of proceeds from each hat sale will be donated to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

Blackhawk Waves (Limited Edition) T-Shirt

A percentage of sales from each shirt will be donated to the Clean Water Corps.

ozdoganmakina is proud to share that we have joined forces with the Clean Water Corps division of Waves For Water to help in one of the biggest fights humanity faces: accessing clean water.

A percentage from each Blackhawk Waves t-shirt we sell will be donated to the Clean Water Corps. Our donation will go towards funding the deployment of veterans in the global water crisis. With this killer tee and your help, we will make a difference for those in need. This is about something bigger than t-shirts, bigger than all of us. It's about a basic life requirement being met where it's not.

The Clean Water Corps leverages the skills, experience and determination of military veterans to provide clean water solutions to those in harsh environments and during natural disasters. The CWC is a platform within Waves For Water, made for veterans to re-engage their world, to become part of a new team, united in a common and crystal clear purpose: bringing access to clean water to everyone that needs it. With their water filtration systems, they are boosting quality of life and helping prevent the spread of easily curable waterborne diseases among men, women and children.

We are here for this! Check out W4W and CWC's water filtration system and a short video about them below.

22 Marcus Clarke St,, 2601,Canberra Australia.

Last year we teamed up with Noveske Rifleworks and made t-shirts and stickers to raise funds for an awesome cause. Each company donated $2,500 to One More Wave so we could hook up two well deserving wounded veterans with surfboards and all the gear they would need to ride waves and help heal the wounds of combat. Addict Surfboards out of San Diego shaped the boards by hand to accommodate these veterans' injuries.

https://www.noveske.com

https://onemorewave.net/

🎥 Matt Lingo

Evan (and team),

 Hope you'll excuse a little personal anecdote in exchange for a picture of one of your slaps in the wild.

I hit a wall last week. Too much work. Too much being busy doing sh#t that doesn't matter. Not enough time alone, or outside, or with people that make me better just by being around them. Draining the tank faster than I could fill it. I was burnt out, angry, sad, and numb. My boss sent me home for a week to "get better," as if it took me a week to get to this place and I could dig my way back out just as fast.

I feel most at ease, most still, most quiet—most myself—when I'm out on the water. I've been going out every day to try to remind myself of what matters. This society demands we do more with less and do it faster. Faster. Always faster. And it makes us sloppy in our work, in our relationships, and in the way we think and feel. Hell, it even demands we get better faster. And it doesn't work that way.

Someone I respect a lot once told me: "take your time; it goes faster." So I'm slowing life down. Taking time to listen, think, and just, you know, float. I have a few of your patches and stickers in my car and on my medic bag, but never thought to put one on my SUP paddle. Now it's there, a reminder every time I go out not just to paddle slowly and focus on form, but to just generally approach life a little more slowly. More smoothly. Because in the long run, I think it'll get me to where I want to be—to who I want to be—even faster.

Thanks for the nudge.

With aloha from Austin,

🤙🏻 Lucas

I was invited on to Mark's podcast "Finding Your Summit" to talk about overcoming real adversity and finding a way out of dark places. Mark is a stud with a mission! He's attempting to become the first NFL player to climb the seven summits. He has climbed six out of the seven summits (the seven summits are the highest peaks on each continent). His final expedition will be to Mt. Everest, so it's an honor to hang with this guy and talk about things that matter, and more importantly has the potential to help others.

I really open up about some pretty dark things that happened to me when I was growing up and how that drove me to overcome it and find my version of success. I was pretty hesitant to tell these stories, but I'm just going to send it. If telling my story helps a few folks, it's all worth it!

I've learned to see goals like this. We will never reach any goal in life and be able to lay back for the rest of our years, sipping cocktails and getting fat as ticks. Celebrate, sure, but I get bored on vacation after a few days. Everyone I know does. It's natural, but why? Well, we love the hunt and the closure and then what do we do? We look for the next hunt. This is the sweet spot. Success and hitting goals are cyclical and repeating.

When we hit a major goal, we're at the top of the wave, and a part of us wants to set up camp there and live forever in perfection, but that isn't how it works! We can't stay on that peak forever, we have to build a new peak/goal to get that feeling back, but here's the thing. We tend to look at this cycle as a problem. Why can't I just be satisfied? Why do I always look for a new thing? Why can't I just freeze myself in this feeling in some kind of Han Solo Cryosleep and live in bliss forever? Again, It's not how this works and here's why...

The process, risks, experiences and action that we went through to hit that last big goal are what gives us such satisfaction, and there is a time limit on this. The drug wears off. It's what we do when it wears off that separates the average person from the exceptional.

I hate the feeling I have experienced when I had no big goal. I feel dead. So what's the answer? 

I think we already know. Advance constantly. Learn to despise mediocrity. Attack. In writing this, I'm doing it to remind myself.

If you missed part 1, click HERE!

Evan

Surfboards are personalized with custom artwork, designed from feedback from the recipient, and can feature wider shapes or added handles for veterans who may be disabled.   

Kyle, Micah, and Rob of One More Wave gave us a full tour of where the boards are shaped, painted, and finished before being shipped out.  These guys go through thousands of applications, handle hundreds of boards in production, and put their hearts into manufacturing awesome boards for our veterans in need.