To start off, I met Ross Baker last winter in Utah where we spent some time together traveling around all the Dew Tour and Grand Prix contests. I was lucky enough to get to drive with him for a few hours on the road, and it made me realize how well you can get to know someone in just a few hours. We talked about everything from our families and childhood stories to what we were both trying to get out of this life long obsession called snowboarding.
One story though in particular had greatly consumed my attention. Ross had taken a hunting trip for over a month by himself in the woods. Hiking around, watching the sunsets on mountain tops, sleeping outside his truck by the fire with nothing over his head except for the stars above him, and even a random stampede in the middle of the night running through his campsite, are only a few of the great things that Ross had mentioned about his epic adventure. I'm not sure if Ross could have ever known it at the time but this had sparked a new flame for me. It showed me that if you really want something. GO GET IT! You don't need anyone else but yourself to make some things happen.
About 6 months later, I bought a topper for my truck and packed it with some clothes, a mountain bike, some camping gear, climbing shoes, a Cot to sleep on, and my camera bag, and I set out for Jackson, WY. The last of the OLD WEST. I had only driven threw Wyoming one time and it wasn't anywhere near Jackson. I did not know a soul who lived their and I certainly had no plan.
I was searching for something but I didn't exactly know what. Change I suppose. Yet all I knew was that something was seriously missing in my life and all my inspirations were slipping away. I was lacking interest and motivation and questioning myself too often. I was starting to dislike my work behind a lens and everything in between.
I had a feeling that this trip was going to last a lifetime, and I wasn't just going for a couple of weeks. So I quit my Job of 7 years entirely, and set out for the Tetons.
One week into my trip I decided I was not going back to my hometown of Edwards, CO to live for the winter, I would stay in Jackson, find a new Job, and a place to live. I spent the rest of the month sleeping out of my truck, camping, applying for Jobs and houses, and doing as many activities as possible. I once told a friend in middle school "If living out of my car down by the river made me happy when I got older, than that's exactly what I would do." Flash forward to the fresh age of 21 and there I was living out of my truck in the woods down by a river in the great state of Wyoming, happier than I had ever been in my whole life. Even though I still couldn't tell you exactly what it was, I had found what I was looking for, and/or missing for so long. So after a month in Wyoming I packed up and headed home to Colorado. Traveling would be my new way of life, call me a gypsy, a hippy, a ski bum, I don't care, because I would forever look for new adventures, new places, new people, new sunsets, new horizons, and Jackson, WY was only going to be the beginning. Something told me Ill be needing a suitcase more often and more smiles will come.
Ross made a video about his travels to southern Utah, and after all the great new snowboard videos that came out this season and all the Hollywood blockbusters that I watched, even the ones in 3D. THIS Video is my favorite out of all of them for 2010. It captures everything that inspired me to take my trip and It was Ross and his words who ultimately changed my outlook on life, filming, snowboarding, and everything in between. The meaning of life, is the pursuit of happiness. So why let anyone slow you down? Grab your car, and Drive until you cant go any further. Stop when you want to stop, and see the things you want to see. Life is short. REALLY short. Maybe this video will inspire you as it did me. Thanks Ross!
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