kayaking through the frozen open ocean in Antarctica. The wildest, most unforgiving, most beautiful part of this world. Changed me as a person, wholly and completely, not a day goes by I don't reflect on this wild adventure. Nearly froze to death a dozen times, but absolutely worth every single moment. - 11/17/2016
Vulnerability. Always felt like a curse word to me. Be stronger, fight harder, don't show weakness - all lessons you learn early surviving the concrete jungle. But just because those lessons are learned early on doesn't mean they have to be an albatross around your neck the rest of your life. - 4/19/2017
Day 4 ended in a torrential rainstorm, I went to bed deathly afraid that after all this work I'd have to experience the end goal in the rain. Awoke at 3:30am to perfectly clear skies, blessed to experience sunrise over Machu Picchu. I lack the words to describe the beauty, serenity, wonder and power of one of the most amazing sights these eyes have ever seen. - 9/13/2014
A few days traveling solo has me missing mi querido viejo, reflecting on our whole trip. What is it like to be a father? To look at a grown man that is half you, whose face looks kinda like yours, who has some of the same tendencies you do, while also being an entity all to himself? To be on a wild adventure side by side with your former fuck up kid?
The closest I’ve ever been is my godkids, but I get to be Nino, spoil them, sugar them up, tell them ridiculous stories and hand them right back. Pops had to go to war with me, battle me, fight with all his might to keep me from my worst tendencies. It wasn’t fun and games for a long time, but he stuck with me, never lost faith.
I looked at Pops a hundred times this trip, so thankful to be his son, so happy he’s able and willing to go off the deep end with me. But also wondering - what’s going on in his head? What emotions are passing through his being? How does he physically feel? He’s not the most expressive chap, so it’s all guesses for me.
Traveling with Pops is a deeper, more emotional and profound experience than I can properly convey. Walking through a narrow chasm in between towering, curved sandstone cliffs, turning a corner, and seeing the glory that is Petra. Even better? Then being able to look into my father’s face, eyes teeming with tears of elation, hug him and tell him how much I love him.
Not sure I’ll ever know it from his perspective, but it means the world to me to be able to bring him on adventures to some of the world’s wildest destinations, to share some of the great experiences of my life with him, to live our dreams together, knowing I’ll carry each moment close to my heart forever. Luckiest dude alive. - 7/6/2018
