My Final Thoughts on Living Out West...

Well it is my last night at my place in Keystone, CO.  To paint the appropriate picture, it has snowed almost 3 feet over the past ten days and the resorts had so much snow they re-opened after closing.  As much as I want to get out there and make a few final turns, I have so much to do with moving and I also feel I got my fill of skiing this year.  To throw a few stats out at you, I skiied approximately 82 days this year and close to 850,000 vertical feet.

The goal of this trip was to do something I have always wanted...go live out west in a ski town.  Why did I want this???  I am not sure...I have had a passion for skiing since I was ten years old and went on my first ski trip.  I received my first pair of skis (K2 Extremes, Raichle Boots, Marker Bindings) when I was 14 thanks to parents who saw my love and passion for the sport and encouraged me.  I knew I was a decent skier but I really wanted to become an excellent skier.  Well maybe that is the reason I moved out here.  Ok, reason 1...to become an excellent skier.  Now reflecting on that statement, did I achieve my goal...I would say yes.   I still have a long ways to go, but I am happy with where my skiing ability is now.

So besides skiing, why else did I move out here.  I love the outdoors...there is amazing camping and hiking out here along with so many other sports.  I cannot tell you how many miles I biked or how many trails I hiked...I do know that I climbed 5 14ers this summer.  I hiked most trails I could find in Summit county.  I biked Swan Mountain Road countless times and took the 26 miles tour around Lake Dillon at least twice a week.  I camped out in Aspen and around Summit County.  Ok...did I achieve my goal of loving the outdoors and camping/hiking...definitely did this one.

Why else did I move out here...while I moved around when I was young, since high school I have never lived outside of Georgia.  Perhaps it was a need to spread my wings a bit.  One year in Summit County, CO definitely is not Georgia:)

Hmmmm....is there something else...I can tell you the unintended goal of this trip, but I think the one that had the biggest impact on me is really and truly learning who I am.  You would be amazed at how much time you have to reflect when you live in a town with 3000 permanent residents.  When you wake up in the morning and dont have anyone to call to go hike with, or camp, or see a movie, or get lunch.  While I met some lifetime friends out here, it is not the same.  I did so many activities by myself and you know what...i loved every minute of it.  I loved sitting at the top of a mountain, looking out over Colorado and enjoying lunch.  I loved getting back in the trees at Vail or Keystone or Copper and feeling like I have the whole mountain to me.  I loved taking walks with my best friend houdini and being amazed at every view.  I learned through this reflection that while I love the mountains, I am a southern boy.  I will never forget this year and will always come back, but my home is Georgia.  I also learned how amazing my friends and family are.  While I did have lots of time alone out here, I also had times when my place was a revolving door of guests.  I have so much love for everyone who came to see me.  I hope I had a chance to show y'all the things I love about Colorado and you caught just a little of the bug out here (I know Kevin Clarke is a lifetime member of the ski bum club now!!!).  Anyway, it was just an amazing experience and one I needed to go on.  I will miss Keystone, but I look forward to applying everything I learned out here to my next steps in life back home in Atlanta.

I put together this cheesy little slideshow to wrap up the year.  Warning about 8 mins but enjoy if you decide to watch!!!

Thank you and much love to all my friends and family that supported me along this journey!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=888qh5cip_E&feature=youtu.be