Kurt
in a
Yurt
WHO I AM
Since I was a kid, I was hooked on the outdoors and travel. I always looked forward to the next family vacation and camping with the Scouts. When I was nine, I took my first ride in a plane. Our family stopped in the the Grand Canyon and decided to wake up early to watch sunrise over the Grand Canyon. Instead, we awoke to a thunderstorm. When we got to the overlook, we watched bolts of lightning go a mile down into the base of the canyon, and it made it wonder what else is out there to see.
As an adult I continue to travel, sometimes staying in nice hotels in big cities exploring museums, local cuisine, attractions, and the culture. Other times I connect with nature - camping, hiking, kayaking, and discovering the joy of state and national parks. A, I looked internationally, and after some trips to Europe and cruises, I planned my next big chapter a trip to climb Mount Kilimanjaro and go on safari in 2006. Several more trips followed culminating in a weeklong trip in 2012 the Alaskan wilderness that included kayaking, hiking, whitewater rafting, glacier hiking, zip lining, and ice climbing.
Although, I was able to spend an incredible week in Utah in 2014, going through five national parks, I began finding it harder to plan and find time for the great outdoors. In late 2016, I decided to take a leap and pursue sometimes I had been debating for a few years - I applied for a job in Alaska and to work for an outdoor adventure company in the summer of 2017. I got the job and drove from Florida to Alaska, in what must be one of the longest commutes ever. The experience along the way and while I was there was something I will always treasure and remember as one of my biggest leaps.
I returned to the traditional office life after that but continued to want to explore the world. In 2022 I made it to Vermont, completing my goal of reaching all 50 states. In 2023, I had an incredible trip to Japan, my fourth continent, and yes, I hope to reach all seven. Not only did Japan offer incredible sites and experiences, but the group of people that were on my tour inspired me to continue to grow.
In 2024, I'm making another leap, quitting my job to walk the Camino de Santiago (500 miles) across Spain. As in 2017, I don't know how this experience will change me, but I'm excited to meet the person I will become.
I believe coffee and dark chocolate are essential to life. My faith, family, and close friends mean the world to me. I am multilingual - I speak in sarcasm, movie quotes, and song lyrics. Laughter, even at my own expense, is THE BEST medicine.
