Throughout most of my life, the Colorado lifestyle has defined me. Growing up in a ski town, I was a competitive ski racer, and post-university, I embraced the ski bum lifestyle back in my hometown.

Summers were spent hiking, fly-fishing, and savoring the Rocky Mountains, a testament to my deep-rooted connection to Colorado, which has been a part of me since my family’s early wagon train settlement in the region in the 1800s.

Throughout most of my life, the Colorado lifestyle has defined me. Growing up in a ski town, I was a competitive ski racer, and post-university, I embraced the ski bum lifestyle back in my hometown.

Summers were spent hiking, fly-fishing, and savoring the Rocky Mountains, a testament to my deep-rooted connection to Colorado, which has been a part of me since my family's early wagon train settlement in the region in the 1800s.

Being a Colorado mountain kid was simply my thing.

Being a Colorado mountain kid was simply my thing.

However, a unique new thing entered my life at the age of seven when my father, a former Peace Corps volunteer, decided to relocate our family to the remote island chain where he had served—the Federated States of Micronesia in the South Pacific.

However, a unique new thing entered my life at the age of seven when my father, a former Peace Corps volunteer, decided to relocate our family to the remote island chain where he had served—the Federated States of Micronesia in the South Pacific.

We’re talking about some real-life Swiss Family Robinson or Mosquito Coast type of stuff here. 

We’re talking about some real-life Swiss Family Robinson or Mosquito Coast type of stuff here.

If I had to play armchair psychologist with myself, I would attribute this rare experience as the catalyst for my enduring thirst for travel and adventure, which would take a deeper hold later in life.

If I had to play armchair psychologist with myself, I would attribute this rare experience as the catalyst for my enduring thirst for travel and adventure, which would take a deeper hold later in life.

That’s me with some island boys in front of an outrigger canoe. We brought the boy on the left (Lino) home to live with us for a year. He’s now grown, married and lives with his family in Hawaii.

That's me with some island boys in front of an outrigger canoe. We brought the boy on the left (Lino) home to live with us for a year. He's now grown, married and lives with his family in Hawaii.

If you’d like to read some great, in-depth accounts of my family’s Micronesia and Colorado adventures, my father wrote two great books. You can click and check them out here:

If you'd like to read some great, in-depth accounts of my family’s Micronesia and Colorado adventures, my father wrote two great books. You can click and check them out here:

Upon returning home from the South Pacific to the mountains of Colorado with captivating tales to share with my classmates, life quickly resumed its normal course. In my teen years, a ski camp and tour of Norway reignited my interest in international travel.

Upon returning home from the South Pacific to the mountains of Colorado with captivating tales to share with my classmates, life quickly resumed its normal course. In my teen years, a ski camp and tour of Norway reignited my interest in international travel.

I went to college in Minnesota—a decision to leave Colorado that I still find challenging to explain. Nonetheless, this journey introduced me to wonderful friends and provided the education that laid the foundation for pursuing my travel dreams.

I went to college in Minnesota—a decision to leave Colorado that I still find challenging to explain. Nonetheless, this journey introduced me to wonderful friends and provided the education that laid the foundation for pursuing my travel dreams.

I went to college in Minnesota—a decision to leave Colorado that I still find challenging to explain. Nonetheless, this journey introduced me to wonderful friends and provided the education that laid the foundation for pursuing my travel dreams.

After graduation, my first solo (or coupled, in this case) travel experience involved backpacking across Europe for six weeks with a girlfriend. Our adventures spanned Germany, Switzerland, Austria, the Czech Republic, Italy, Spain, France, and even a ferry ride to Ireland. This was my first taste of the “backpacker life”, and would set the stage for later adventures.

After graduation, my first solo (or coupled, in this case) travel experience involved backpacking across Europe for six weeks with a girlfriend. Our adventures spanned Germany, Switzerland, Austria, the Czech Republic, Italy, Spain, France, and even a ferry ride to Ireland. This was my first taste of the "backpacker life”, and would set the stage for later adventures.

Since this trip took place in 1999, there is no digital photo evidence. Perhaps, that’s for the best.

Since this trip took place in 1999, there is no digital photo evidence. Perhaps, that's for the best.

Following this journey, my girlfriend encouraged me to move to Minnesota and try to adapt to an adult urban lifestyle, complete with a job that I truly detested and a commute through rush hour traffic. I quickly realized that I didn’t fit the mold of the traditional Midwestern career path.

Following this journey, my girlfriend encouraged me to move to Minnesota and try to adapt to an adult urban lifestyle, complete with a job that I truly detested and a commute through rush hour traffic. I quickly realized that I didn't fit the mold of the traditional Midwestern career path.

I learned early on that I was not destined for the rat race and career path that most of my friends eagerly signed up for post-graduation.

I learned early on that I was not destined for the rat race and career path that most of my friends eagerly signed up for post-graduation.

As such, I returned to my hometown, Vail, Colorado, embracing the ski-bum lifestyle for a ski season while working at the famous Red Lion.

As such, I returned to my hometown, Vail, Colorado, embracing the ski-bum lifestyle for a ski season while working at the famous Red Lion.

As such, I returned to my hometown, Vail, Colorado, embracing the ski-bum lifestyle for a ski season while working at the famous Red Lion.

Eventually, I landed an entry-level PR job at a local agency and learned from some of the industry’s best at promoting mountain resorts and writing press materials. I’m still using many of those lessons today as I attempt to create this blog.

Eventually, I landed an entry-level PR job at a local agency and learned from some of the industry’s best at promoting mountain resorts and writing press materials. I’m still using many of those lessons today as I attempt to create this blog.

As I advanced in the company, my role primarily focused on summer PR for Vail, along with the opportunity to organize press trips to resorts like Telluride, Beaver Creek, Grand Targhee, and Big Sky Resort. In between, I coordinated large-scale media events in cities like New York City, Denver, Dallas, and Los Angeles.

As I advanced in the company, my role primarily focused on summer PR for Vail, along with the opportunity to organize press trips to resorts like Telluride, Beaver Creek, Grand Targhee, and Big Sky Resort. In between, I coordinated large-scale media events in cities like New York City, Denver, Dallas, and Los Angeles.

Our office was conveniently situated at the base of Vail Mountain, which allowed me to sneak in more than a few powder turns during work hours. Thankfully, my boss actually encouraged this behavior, as long as the work was still completed at a high level.

Our office was conveniently situated at the base of Vail Mountain, which allowed me to sneak in more than a few powder turns during work hours. Thankfully, my boss actually encouraged this behavior, as long as the work was still completed at a high level.

Despite working, in many respects, my “dream job,” a long dormant itch began to reemerge, and I felt the South Pacific and its spirit of adventure beckoning me to return. However, the Colorado spirit was still alive and well, so I set my sights on building a yearlong travel adventure around the concept of spending consecutive ski seasons going from Vail to Queenstown, New Zealand.

I put a plan in motion by securing a leave of absence from work, obtaining a working holiday visa for New Zealand, and purchasing an open-ended, multi-stop around-the-world ticket from a company called AirTreks.

The trip would entail one month of travel throughout Tahiti, Fiji, and the Cook Islands in the South Pacific before settling into a 6-month working holiday in Queenstown, New Zealand. Following New Zealand, I would spend roughly 6 weeks in Australia and another 2 months in South America.

Despite working, in many respects, my “dream job," a long dormant itch began to reemerge, and I felt the South Pacific and its spirit of adventure beckoning me to return. However, the Colorado spirit was still alive and well, so I set my sights on building a yearlong travel adventure around the concept of spending consecutive ski seasons going from Vail to Queenstown, New Zealand.

I put a plan in motion by securing a leave of absence from work, obtaining a working holiday visa for New Zealand, and purchasing an open-ended, multi-stop around-the-world ticket from a company called AirTreks.

The trip would entail one month of travel throughout Tahiti, Fiji, and the Cook Islands in the South Pacific before settling into a 6-month working holiday in Queenstown, New Zealand. Following New Zealand, I would spend roughly 6 weeks in Australia and another 2 months in South America.